If you haven’t guessed by now, I really get into holidays-
in my own peculiar way. I just enjoy the idea that a day, or series of days
is extraordinary and to be a reason to celebrate and enjoy any or all of the following:
♥ dressing up
♥ making and giving gifts
♥ delicious special food + drink
♥ making parties
♥ frolicking with family + friends
♥ music-making
I feel extra lucky and blessed to be able to say
that all of the above have been fulfilled this hexmas.
(By the by, in the spirit of creating our own traditions/cosmology/reality,
I have adopted the term HEXMAS from Mlle. Verhext.
It makes me very happy, and has the heathen connotation
that winter festivals are/were rooted in. Which is where it’s at for me.)

This is the very first time that I’ve ever spent the holiday
in my own home, since I moved out of my folks’ house when I was 15.
I was feeling some trepidation about the prospects of waking up
in the house this morning, for a variety of reasons that are hard to sum up-
but have something to do with the fact that I’ve been
consciously and subconsciously avoiding this for years
by always finding myself out of the country, or staying elsewhere
on the eve and morning of. The responsibility of making holiday
magic happen for yourself and others is big kid stuff-
when you are wee, it just seems to be happening all around you,
for you to enjoy. I discovered this year that doing it for yourself,
and especially for others is pretty amazing.
I know this lesson can be applied to a multitude
of situations with similar results, wouldn’t you say?

We set up our wee little tree with vintage ornaments from my childhood
on a beautiful old O’keefe + Merritt stove we aren’t using for cooking yet.
The stockings were hung from the gas knobs with care
(before being stuffed silly with all manner of goodie and whatsit!)

I ended up working on hexmas eve, which was actually a lot of fun-
(despite my dark circles and glumster face!)

Naturally, I had to dress the part of an alpine candy elf-
it made me feel happy and it seemed to delight all the
frazzled folks I encountered throughout the day.

Last night we had an impromptu birthday gathering for
our friend Faith Delphi, a christmas eve baby.
Songs by the fire, mulled wine, wild buffalo curry
and fresh tamales- with lots of laughter and good company..
The perfect way to ring in the Yule!

Look who I found under the tree this morning!

I found these pictures of awkward russian kids and incredible weird santas
on RiotClitShave today that made my heart spasm with joy:

Also, from Lady Lavona, some wonderful writings on
Krampus and La Befana that are bound to illuminate and delight you-
I hope your hexmas was fantastic, dearies!