The Contest!

As a kid, my family celebrated both Hannukah and Christmas. My dad is Jewish, and my mom is an atheist-- but she did want to pass on the Christmas goodtimes that she enjoyed as a kid. My favorite things about the holiday seasons included picking dried wax off of the menorah, the Vienna Boys' Choir record my dad ritually puts on, and reading from the beautifully illustrated 1958 paperback, Jolly Old Santa Claus.

Now, one of my favorite holiday things to do (in addition to egg nog and parties) is to go to antique stores and browse their Christmas wares...

The Most Awesome Lamp, Christmasified.

I love all the greens and blues-- the room in general was kind of Floridian themed, but I took the picture mostly because I actually stifled a scream when I saw this mannequin.

Why I didn't buy this clock, I don't know. I deserve all the coal.

Take a page from Bettie's book and do Christmas, naked!

Vignette comes complete with fossilized fruit cake and a very festive sock monkey.

This ubiquitous curvy gazelle statue takes a turn for the "ohh lala" in pink, matched with its own, tonal pink tree.

Now I pose this question to all of you--- what is your favorite thing about the holiday season? Leave your answer in the comments. The drawn-at-random winner will receive the kind of holiday cheer which can only be delivered by a copy of Beavis and Butthead Do Christmas. It is a used copy of it, because I find myself gainfully employed at a used DVD place, but it is nonetheless in perfect, hilarious condition, and looking for a place on your shelf next to "A Christmas Story" and "The Santa Clause" (or next to "Baseketball" and "Bewitched", depending on how your organize your stuff)! I can't wait to hear what you come up with! Contest ends at 12am EST on December 19!



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