December brings warm feelings to our hearts. The holidays have arrived. They bring along a very joyous time of the year - Christmas and New Year celebrations. Each year, about two weeks before the 25th, our home becomes the focal point in our neighborhood. On that day Father Christmas arrives to bring all the children gifts. Since my children were small I have been arranging this event each year. Our neighbors, their friends and family join our friends and family for a fun filled Christmas party.
The purpose of this party is to have fun, but it is really a party for the children. Father Christmas (my husband) all dolled up in red and white Christmas gear and a cotton wool beard arrives with a large pillowcase filled with gifts. As the years went by the number of kids grew, as did the number of gift filled pillowcases. Excitement is created by Father Christmas arriving with what ever transport we could dream up, he has arrived on a bicycle, on a horse, on the roof of a small truck, popping out of an open car roof, and many more. With a very noisy bell he announces his arrival.
As all the parents are a party to the creation of this spectacle they all contribute one gift from Father Christmas for each child that does not exceed a maximum value of usually around $10. These gifts were usually brought to our house days in advance. There are of course those that are brought on the day that have to be sneaked to the neighbour`s house (where my husband is busy dressing into his Father Christmas costume) to be added to the pillowcases without the children knowing. Once dressed, Father Christmas would depart from the neighbour`s house ringing the bell.
Every year it remains a thrill to watch our young kids run after Father Christmas living the fantasy. The older and wiser kids protected the fantasy by staying tight-lipped about who Father Christmas really is? I try to make my very skinny husband as unrecognizable as possible by stuffing him with two pillows and giving him black-framed spectacles.
With a ho ho ho, Father Christmas would gather all the children around the Christmas tree and read out their names on the gifts. What I have always found interesting is that there are always one or two kids who find Father Christmas a bit scary and would refuse to go and fetch their gifts. Oh, what it is to be a child?
After the second year I decided that these makeshift Father Christmas outfits should be replaced with a better-made suit. My friend who is a wiz with the sewing machine sewed a really lovely suit, really baggy to allow for at least two pillows to be added creating a tubby Father Christmas out of my very skinny husband.
To you all, have a joyous, happy and peaceful Christmas.
For more Christmas party and gift ideas visit us at Perfect Party Planning http://www.perfect-party-planning.net.
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