Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Christmas Questionnaire

French brocante Christmas Postcard Corey Amaro Brocan

 This Christmas as Sacha will be with our friends Judy and Bill in Portland, and Chelsea and Martin will be in Mexico celebrating their Honeymoon, as well as the marriage of Martin's brother. Yann and I will be celebrating Christmas with friends at their home. In January Sacha will be coming to France, so we will delay our Christmas celebration until then. 

I did not decorate this year. Oh la la.

Someone sent me this Christmas Questionnaire, if you would like to answer yours please do so in the comment section:

 

 

 

  1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?    Both, with ribbons that I keep year after year.

 

  1. Real tree or artificial?  Artificial.

 

  1. When do you put up the tree?  Usually after Chelsea's birthday after the 20th of December.

 

  1. When do you take the tree down?  Twelve or so days after Christmas, a day or two after Epiphany.

 

 

  1. Do you like eggnog? Love it and miss it as I cannot find it in France. I have made it , but actually, I do not miss the calories.

 

  1. Favorite gift received as a child?  A Mickey Mouse watch.  As an Adult Chelsea's birth as she was born on the 20th.

 

  1. Hardest person to buy for?  Someone I do not know.

 

  1. Easiest person to buy for? Anyone in my family.

 

  1. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes, it is called a creche in French and the nativity is an entire village of « Little Saints » called Santons.

 

  1. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. How bad is that!

 

  1. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I know I should be grateful for every gift received. I know it is the thought that counts. But when the thought is « Paper Napkins ». I did not appreciate the thought, nor the gift.

 

  1. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

 

  1. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  December 15th or so. I like the rush.

 

  1. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Yes, isn’t Brocante recycling at its finest?

 

  1. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  Jean’s Christmas Pudding.

 

  1. Lights on the tree?  Yes. White sparkling ones.

 

  1. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Come oh Come Emmanuelle.
  1. Travel at Christmas or stay home? More often than not we stay at home. But I wish we could go home to the States every year.

 

  1. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Rudolf, Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Vixen, Prancer… oh no!

 

  1. Angel on the tree top or a star?  Usually an angel.

 

  1. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas eve … but when I was a child I use to open all my gifts before Christmas and re-wrapped them. I still do that sometimes… my family knows that about me. So they hide my gifts.

 

  1. The most annoying thing about this time of the year? That there isn't peace on earth.

 

  1. Favorite ornament ? I love opening the Christmas boxes and welcoming the little ole friends, retelling stories about the ornaments… my favorite one is a red and white polka dotted glass mushroom.

 

  1. Do you make Christmas cookies ? No… but I do make a Christmas log cake.

 

  1. What do you want for Christmas this year?  Good health, and peace… »Honey-Dos » 

Comments

10 responses to “Christmas Questionnaire”

  1. pc Brown

    Merry Christmas!
    I enjoy your blog, every post. It is a happy escape, a soft and lovely place to land. I appreciate your faith. I am always pleased to read about the love you share with your family. Your words never miss to paint a picture of a far off place that is continually searching for joy and genuine love.
    May you bless in the coming year with those things that will bring you lasting happiness.

    Reply
  2. Jacklynn Lantry

    I just love an interactive blog post:)
    Wrapping paper and ribbons and all kids of scavenged and reused stuff.
    Real tree and the biggest one I can fit into the room.
    Put it up after Thanksgiving, take it down after my sister’s birthday on Jan 15th.
    Eggnog, gross:( But put some Bailey’s in coffee and I’m all over it.
    A kewpie doll.
    Someone wealthy who can buy anything they want or need.
    My kids.
    No nativity scene but I’d put one up if I could find santon’s.
    Mail the cards.
    A perfume funnel. I do not wear perfume and he knew that.
    It’s a Wonderful LIie.
    December 26th, especially for decorations I loved but couldn’t afford (because they are on sale.)
    Home
    Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Blitzen, on Comet and Cupid and ??? Nixon??? Oh, Rudolph!
    Usually angel, but it can change.
    Xmas AM, maybe one the night before.
    I second “that there isn’t peace on earth.”
    Fav ornament is difficult to choose. We have collected so many over the years and I love them all for different reasons.
    Good health, peace, remember how fortunate I am and practice gratitude.
    Thanks C, that was fun. Merriest and best wishes to you and your family.

    Reply
  3. Jacklynn Lantry

    I forgot about the cookies. I do make a few, but I prefer to have someone else make them. Someone who is really good at it (I’m not, but I’m great at eating them.)

    Reply
  4. Diogenes

    #2 Artificial tree, white with white lights (who could have guessed);
    #5 Eggnog, yes, strong is good;
    #7 Hardest to buy for: everyone in my family;
    #11 hysterical, we got 3 sets of paper napkins as a gift this year, too funny it must be a trend;
    #12 Movie: White Christmas, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney although Miracle on 34th Street is a close second
    #17 Hollyw Joyy Christmas by Burl Ives
    #20 On top of the tree: a red spire, although growing up we had an angel

    Reply
  5. Diogenes

    #17 Holly, Jolly Christmas 😉

    Reply
  6. Debra

    ok, so you and I match up with over half of the questions – I was laughing so hard. Love, love, love to unwrap and re-wrap! haha
    Have an incredible holiday! xoxo billions des bises

    Reply
  7. Marilyn

    Have a wonderful Christmas, dear Corey!

    Reply
  8. Jan D-M

    “White Christmas” is a personal favorite of mine. I always imagined my father as that general. I still do. He was a damned good soldier.

    Reply
  9. Jan D-M

    1. Whatever works!
    2. This girl from Maine must have a real tree.
    3 & 4. Usually the Sunday after Thanksgiving and before I go back to school from break. I used to wait until Epiphany to take it down. Sadly, life is too hectic now.
    5. I can take it or leave it, unless it is homemade by my friend.
    6. A 3-speed Schwinn bicycle when I was in 5th grade. As an adult, a $5 red plastic hairbrush from my husband.
    7. ???
    8. My kids
    9. Yes, several. My favorite is a stained glass set that was made by a church member 31 years ago. She made me promise not to tell her business partner (another woman from church) that she gifted it to me. 🙂
    10. Me neither! But I love, love receiving them.
    11. It was actually a beautiful gift designed by my husband that was made by a person who now makes my stomach turn. I can’t discard it because my husband designed it, but it is hidden away where I do not see it often because it brings such pain.
    12. “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas”
    13. Bits and pieces all year long, but now I find Black Friday shopping from my sofa to be quite pleasant. That sounds terrible.
    14. Not for Christmas, but for birthdays, yes, because the gifts passed along memories.
    15. Crepes. It’s the only time I make them for my family so that it is a tradition and a memory to reflect upon.
    16. Agreed. White sparkly ones.
    17. In the Bleak Midwinter
    18. For years, we traveled back to Maine so that our children could have the large family Christmas Eve experience. Now, we keep to Indiana, unless good fortune and a good deal allows us to find a trip to Europe.
    19. Maybe
    20. Usually a paper angel made by my son when he was in kindergarten. It’s a little worse for wear after 26 years.
    21. Christmas morning and I love surprises, so I NEVER peek! 🙂
    22. That the more we evolve, the more we devolve.
    23. All of them. The memories of who and where they came from always tug at my heart.
    24. Only sometimes.
    25. To love and be loved. My wishes have been granted.
    Love you, Corey. Merry Christmas Yann and you. xoxo

    Reply
  10. Gillian

    Merry Christmas to you and your family Corey. I hope you don’t mind – I posted the questionnaire with my answers on my blog.

    Reply

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