Christmas in the South

**MarshHen** · 12-07-2007, 03:58 PM

O.K., most of us don't and never will have a white Christmas, but we do have our special little family traditions that make our holiday's truly Southern. Maybe it's the food we serve, a special decoration we use, whatever it is, share it here, with us.

Here at my house it's dh shooting down the mistletoe from the trees here on the property and then me and DD's hanging it in all the doorways. We make tiny sprays tied with red ribbon. We then go out and gather pine boughs, magnolia pods and pine cones to decorate the rest of the house and make the wreaths for the front and back doors. We also make strings of dried cranberries for the tree.

**ktsmama** · 12-07-2007, 04:03 PM

I know this sounds crazy, but we like to try to find the "tackiest" decorated house. Just looking at all of the lights until we find the tackiest is fun.

Carolyn - Do you or have you been to Callaway Gardens for the Christmas lights? We went when we were stationed in Columbus. I miss it so much.

**Hamada** · 12-07-2007, 04:04 PM

I enjoyed your post. The "shooting down mistletoe from the trees" has me chuckling.

I would never have thought of doing this.

**Missy** · 12-07-2007, 04:07 PM

shooting down the mistletoe? huh??

LOL

**MarshHen** · 12-07-2007, 06:29 PM

O.K., mistletoe is really a parasite plant that grows usually in the tops of trees, and we have alot of it here. The only logical way to get it (unless you cut down the tree) is to shoot it out. It's easy to spot, especially in the oak trees, since they have lost their leaves but the mistletoe is still green. It kinda stands out, if you know what I mean.

**MarshHen** · 12-07-2007, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by ktsmama

I know this sounds crazy, but we like to try to find the "tackiest" decorated house. Just looking at all of the lights until we find the tackiest is fun.

Carolyn - Do you or have you been to Callaway Gardens for the Christmas lights? We went when we were stationed in Columbus. I miss it so much.

I've been to the Garden several times as a kid to see the lights. It's just beautiful! I would love to go back again one day.

LOL, we do this too. I'm telling ya, there are some doosies out there!

**Nantahala** · 12-07-2007, 09:30 PM

Our traditions are potlucks with friends, always some sort of Christmas theme and going for the candlelight tour at the Biltmore Estate (thank goodness for half-price tickets through work).