Monday, December 2, 2013

The Christmas Spectacular Blog Hop & Giveaway: My Earliest Memory of Christmas


Hello lovelies! :)

Today I'm taking part in the Christmas Spectacular hosted by the lovely ladies at One Chocolate Box, Simple Moments Stick, The Spot Where The Lemon Rain Drops and Hello, Sweetie!

 The theme for day one of the hop is: My Earliest Memory of Christmas.


Now, I have plenty of Christmas-related childhood memories, as it was always such a magical and special time at our house. My grand-grandma would come spend Christmas with us, and she would bring chocolate and pineapple with her.. Now, I know what you're thinking... what's so special about a pineapple? Well, you should know that I grew up in a post-communist Poland, and getting a pineapple at that time (or any other kind of fruit, really) was a HUGE and borderline impossible thing. 

When my grand-grandma would bring that *holy* pineapple with her, we would put it up on the shelf in the living room about a week before Christmas, and it would stay there until the Christmas Day, when it would finally be consumed. Hahah, it sounds so silly when I think about it now, but it was really quite a special thing for all of us. Can you imagine? Waiting the entire year just to get a taste of that juicy (not-really!), magical (bah!) pineapple!? Now that I think about it.. I don't even like pineapples all that much! 

My mom, grandma & I. I think I was about 6 months old here :)

But the memory that is the most vivid in my memory is.. being chased by our ginormous Christmas Tree :) Yup, you got that right!

See, during Christmas time - after we'd decorate the Christmas Tree (and that would happen about a week before Christmas Day) - I would make it my mission to get up as early as possible to steal some candies from our beautiful Christmas Tree. I would sneak up to the tree and try to grab at least one chocolate piece... at least one candy cane... And yes, I felt like some sort of Christmas Tree Ninja! 

At least until my brilliantly sneaky (or so I thought) plan backfired on me :) That day, my mom decided to get up early, too, and she sneaked up on me trying to reach a chocolate piece that was hanging just out of my reach. I was stretching, trying hard to grab that piece of chocolate and just when I touched it, she entered the room, scaring the living soul out of me. That caused me to lose my balance and pull on the chocolate a bit too hard... Next thing I know the Christmas Tree is chasing me - threatening to fall right on top of me! I was fast enough to move out of the way of the poor, falling tree (barely!), but all the beautiful glass ornaments that my parents and grandparents were collecting for years got smashed to pieces. 

Now, when we think back to that day, we all laugh, but trust me when I say, at that time my family was not very happy with my 5-year-old-Ninja-self. If the presents for me haven't already been bought, wrapped and placed under the tree, I doubt I'd get anything from Santa that year! :)

On the left: Santa Party at my Elementary School (if you're thinking that Santa looks creepy, you're damn right!).
On the right: Me getting ready to play in the snow! 


Now, for the fun part...

Giveaway:


What's your earliest memory of Christmas?!
Leave a comment sharing your Christmas memory with me, and enter to WIN a book of choice from Book Depository or $15 Paypal Cash - your choice!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And be sure to check out the Christmas Spectacular Blog Hop! It's so much fun!

27 comments:

  1. I remember baking christmas cookies with my mom and making gingerbread houses with my grandparents :D

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  2. Haha things like that are always funnier looking back than in the moment. I'm actually not sure what my earliest memory is. For my post I just ended up doing a random hodge podge of early memories.

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  3. I'm not entirely sure that it's the earliest, but I remember something about opening a present, getting a doll that could walk. She wore a pink dress and had VERY blonde hair. I didn't really like dolls, but I liked her.

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  4. Haha! Although the ornaments broke, that was still a fun and unforgettable memory. ;)
    My earliest Christmas memory was dancing with my sister by the tree and our mom taking pictures of us. :)

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  5. Those really great memories (except about the ornament breaking). I really like your pineapple story with your grandmother. :)

    I don't really have a lot of early happy memories (I always remember the bad ones more then the happy ones) but the earliest Christmas memories is one year my uncles girlfriend at the time and her son spent the Christmas with my family and my grandmother and grandfather. I was so happy because my uncles girlfriend got me a Barbie with a camping tent and other Barbie camping gear. Of course I played with her by the fire and I almost caught the Barbie tent on fire and if I remember right, I left the Barbie too close to the fire and I left her there while we ate and half her face melted. She looked like Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight.

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  6. Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite Christmas memory was getting this American Girl doll. All my friends and cousins had one so I felt like I was special and we had many memories and parties with those dolls later on; it was a big part of my childhood. <3
    -Cali W.

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  7. You're so cute. I can just picture little Evie going for a chocolate and it failing miserably. Glad you guys can laugh about it now!

    I don't know if it's my earliest, but my favorite memory is also a family tradition. My parents always make us wait at the top of the stairs to make sure Santa showed up, make their coffee, and breakfast. The three of us would sit at the top of the stairs and be so obnoxious that they would let us come down - not that they ever did. We even tried throwing our stuffed animals to the bottom of the stairs. Didn't work.

    Even to this day, when we get to my parents' house, we have to avert our eyes from the tree and walk right up those stairs and sit and wait for the okay to come down. My sister has even pulled my boyfriend into the tradition. I cannot wait to do it with my own kids one day.

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  8. my earliest memory would be when I was 5 and received a raggedy ann from "santa".

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  9. I remember taking photos with my younger sister under the pine tree...Awww, these memories makes me dreamy... (^.^)

    Thanks for hosting this amazing giveaway!!!

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  10. mine would have to be when I was 5 my dad got me my first pair of boxing gloves :)

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  11. Evie your blog is just gorgeous! Thanks so much for participating in the Christmas Spectacular :) sorry it's taken me a while to return your visit!

    What a precious Christmas story. You poor thing, you must've been terrified of that tree falling on you!

    Thanks for hosting your giveaway too, I'm joining! :)

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  12. We don't celebrate Christmas, but I do remember my Dad taking us around town to see all the decorations.

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  13. I can't remember earlier Christmases. Sadly. Although there is one thing I do remember, my dad putting that Christmas with The Chipmunks cd on when we were opening presents. Maybe I should buy that album and it will bring back memories. Thank you for the giveaway. Happy Holidays!

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  14. Taking photos with Santa (now I know it was my grandpa)

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  15. Hi thanks for this amazing giveaway! Mine would be when i was 6 my aunt gave me chocolates and a girl doll wearing santa's costume. :D

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  16. I remember one Christmas when I really young, my great-grandma gave me this beautiful glass piggy bank that I was absolutely IN LOVE with. And while we were all eating Christmas dinner, my cousin snuck out of the room and (for reasons unbeknownst to me--he was kind of a brat as a kid) threw my piggy bank against the wall, shattering it. I was totally distraught!

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  17. hearing satna and his reindeers landing on the nursery roof when I was 3!! lol

    Natasha @ serenityou.com

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  18. My earliest memory would be when I was 6 years,with my sister,decorating,giggles,and with joy in our heart :)

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  19. My memories aout christmas is getting big bag of candies under the tree

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  20. I don't remember how old I was but I do remember we'd gather at my uncle's place for Christmas Eve dinner and usually stay till after midnight. Then come the presents!

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  21. Hi thanks for this amazing giveaway!

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  22. We don;t celebrate christmas so no memories for christmas :)

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  23. I remember the large gatherings of family

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  24. lol, honestly don't remember. but we never endured till morning for presents, it was always evening before haha
    tnx for chance to win :)(dimka).

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  25. Waking up early to open our presents! My brother would do a head count and see if we had the same amount of gifts! :) lol

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  26. The year my sister was born! We don't really celebrate Christmas where I live but having a sister who was born on the 25th changed that. :)

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  27. I remember bring around the Christmas tree, opening gifts and just feeling happy :) Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Holidays.

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