If there is one thing American Christmas movies lie about, it's about Christmas Day itself. Most movies get the lead-up into Christmas right; lots of shopping, decorations and Christmas music abound, there are lots of Christmas parties to attend, and neighbors and friends exchange presents and baked goods. Most movies even manage to capture Christmas Eve quite accurately: when visiting family, this is usually when most people arrive, a lot of Americans do go to a candlelight service, and most families set out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa before going to bed. But then there's Christmas Day. For those of you not intimately familiar with a typical American Christmas Day, allow me to enlighten you.
First, Christmas in America tends to start a few hours before the crack of dawn.Honestly, I'm not sure which American came up with the idea of opening presents in the morning, as opposed to a more relaxed start time of sometime after dinner, but whoever this unfortunate soul is, they should obviously have their head checked. Even when you have children whom you would think are way too old to get up early for Christmas, they will surprise you. This year, I jokingly told Jimmie he could not wake us up before six am, but could not believe my eyes when the now positively bear-sized teenager came bounding into our room at 6:08am, hollering it was Christmas morning, time to open the presents, and we'd better not complain as he had waited until after six.
So all those movies you've seen where entire families are gathered the Christmas tree with light coming int through the windows, looking refreshed and awake? Yep, it's a lie. Most American Christmases start off with various older family members stumbling from their beds, pulling on robes or hoodies, trying to shield their eyes from the bright lights on the Christmas tree, and telling their children that, no, we definitely may not start opening anything until the grown-ups have had coffee, and yes, really.
Second, most Christmas movies I'm familiar with tend to skip straight from the opening of presents to the preparation of Christmas dinner. I'm guessing this is because the filmmakers don't want all y'all Europeans to know about the best part of the day. Or perhaps because they're slightly embarrassed by what Americans do during most of that holiest of holy days, namely, lounge around. In their pajams. Unlike European Christmasses, where people will, after a fancy candlelight-filled breakfast, run upstairs to take a shower and put on their Christmas best, and then sit around in that same Christmas best all day, most Americans (myself included) love nothing better than to play with their new toys, watch a host of Christmas movies, possibly take a nap or two, all whilst still in their pajamas. And you know what's even worse? A lot of Americans (again, myself included) buy or receive special Christmas pajamas. I kid you not.
Now, don't worry, as someone who used to be an outsider, I know this is quite a tough pill to swallow. No shiny patent leather shoes, no pretty skirts or ties, no cute dresses, just fleece pants and a sweatshirt. At first it seems nothing like Christmas, but let me tell you, it. Is. Awesome.
And finally, although most movies love to show you how all Americans get dressed up for their big Christmas dinner, which is usually attended by lots of well-dressed extended family members, this, once again, isn't entirely true either. You see, most Americans live way too far away from their family to just show up for dinner. If you visit family for Christmas, you've probably been there for Christmas morning as well, so the chances of you dressing up are, I would guess, 50/50. Take our family, for instance. Last year, when we visited my in-laws, we dressed up for dinner. This year, on the other hand, I believe only husband-dear and mother-in-law bothered to change out of their jammies. Once again: Awesome.
Oh, and on a side-note, do you remember how all those dinners are always held while it's dark outside? Yeah, not true either. For a reason that must only be revealed to Americans born in this country (as I'm still clueless), most Americans eat their Christmas dinner in the afternoon. Yes, the afternoon. No, I don't know why. Yes, it's very strange to call it dinner if it's held at around 2pm. Yes, it really messes up your eating pattern for the rest of the day. No, you don't ever get used to it. But yes, you can still use candles and render the whole occasion "gezellig".
So, there you have it, the three lies about Christmas Day Hollywood loves to share over and over again.
You're welcome!
4 comments:
Guilty as charged, except we do eat at regular dinner time and I did change into my most comfy Christmas outfit. A long velvet top with velvet leggings, might as well be a pajama ;).
On Christmas, I was baking and cooking and preparing for the fancy Christmas dinner at 5 pm. and none of us were wearing pajamas, our neighbor was wearing her fancy holiday broche even. But if it weren't for me, we'd have a lunchtime dinner with regular everyday country food and people would show up in their tracksuits/pajamas.
Sounds a bit like our Christmas, except this year I did dress a bit nicer because we were skyping with the family :)
And for the first time ever on Christmas I was the first one awake!
I want some christmas jammies! Swedes (the people, not the veg) eat their christmas dinner in the afternoon too, preferably just before OR after Kalle Anka on tv. (That´s Donald Duck to the rest of you- the kids are high on colorants and sugar, the grownups are high on christmas schnapps, time for a rest for everyone)Many people have more than one christmas dinner per day, they travel around and eat the same stuff everywhere. Swedish christmas food is awesome. But no jammies, snrrf.
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