I’m not much of a Christmas person myself, but I’d still like to hear some wholesome or funny stories. What is your most memorable, most extraordinary, or simply happiest Christmas memory so far?
Seeing a special screening of Brazil in 1984, when no one was sure it was even going to get released.
I was driving home from the East Coast, saw the ad for the screening in LA (way pre-internet). Now, I could have continued home and seen my family or … who am I kidding? My family was terrible!
I said my car broke down and couldn’t find a mechanic because … it was Christmas! Maybe that’s not what you’re looking for, but definitely my favourite.
That’s exactly what I was looking for, thanks for sharing! It sounds very cozy to flee from the stress into the comforting darkness and silence of a movie theater. You’re probably the only person in the world who now views Brazil as a kind of Christmas movie, I’ll give you that.
You’re probably the only person in the world who now views Brazil as a kind of Christmas movie
Brazil pops up in my Plex feed under the “Christmas” category. I just recently added it to my Plex library, but I still haven’t seen it. I guess I need to watch it today.
I’m nothing if not a moviegoer. Most people Die Hard and Christmas Story. Me? Brazil and Tango & Cash (also released Xmas day). So definitely wrong associations …
1984: Brand-new Megatron transformer was wrapped and under the tree. Unwrapping that and seeing the box, then pulling the toy out, was a level of joy unrivaled for a long time to come.
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I broke that shit in 45 minutes. (so did a lot of other kids)
Zero regrets.
I wanted that one so much.
Last year I found a box full of my old transformers and micromachines. My son and me had great fun playing with them. Sadly the transformers weren’t in good condition.
Best 45 minutes of Christmas ever
It really was.
2006, the year the PS3 came out. I asked for one and they were sold out everywhere. We were out shopping and I finally got my hands on a 20GB one, and my mom refused to buy it. She said she knew I had asked for the 60GB model and thought we’d find one eventually. I was devastated because I knew there was no way we’d find one anywhere before Christmas.
I woke up Christmas morning at like 2AM and opened the box over the tree, and it was a 60GB model. My parents had a friend the next state over who was able to find one, and they had already hidden it in the attic by the time I had found that 20GB one, so my mom had to make up excuses not to buy another one.
I plugged it in so it could start updating, then put it back in the box so I could “open” it in front of the family once everyone else was awake.
At the stage of the pandemic when there was still a travel ban we had a wonderful Christmas with just friends rather than our obnoxious families. It was glorious. This year we wanted to do the same, but my mother in law got sick and we have to take care of her while my oldest brother in law is away (which is fair enough).
The Christmas morning I got my SNES, and spent a very bright, snowy day playing Super Mario World for hours upon hours.
Getting bicycles was pretty cool, even if we knew they were probably coming. Also the year I realized Santa didn’t exist because I went to the bathroom and heard ‘Santa’ cursing at something and realized it was Dad cursing putting the bikes together.
Really liked getting the pressure canner this year.
My brain is filled with holes, I don’t remember many others.
Cursing bike building Santa sounds like an impressive memory
The last christmas with my complete family. The one person who transformed all the other christmas gatherings into a screaming fest was dying of cancer. It made them and us realize what christmas is really about. Probably not what you wanted to read, but for me it was the first and last time to experience what you would call the best christmas in my life. I can say that now because I don’t celebrate christmas anymore. (This was decades ago, I’m fine now).
Thanks for sharing! While I am sorry about the demise of your family member, I am happy that your family used to have such a great person that glued you all together. That person is very lucky to be this beloved and remembered.
I can’t remember how long ago, I think around 10 years, instead of a bunch of presents I took my kids to an indoor water park for Christmas. I invited the rest of my family as well so we had my kids, all of my siblings and all of their grandparents. We rented a cabana and played in the water park all day. It was hands down the best Christmas I ever had and the kids didn’t give a single shit that they only got a couple very small gifts that year.
Had to have been 98 at a big family Christmas; grandparents gave me a box of giant, bright red whitey tighteys which was awful and ultra embarrassing, but buried inside was Zelda Ocarina of Time. My brother got the N64. Also everybody was still alive or much younger then, so that’s a really nice memory.
Oh that was a cool bait and switch!
Wasn’t intentional. I was just thinking back and remembering, and realized that a lot of the people there are now gone forever. Life is so short. Decades fly by like the snap of your fingers. Sure, stuff happens, but it’s all too fast. Eventually, we will all be the oldest generation and responsible for all those that come after. Maybe I’m just dumb, though, and struggle with truly comprehending my own existence.
I meant wrapping the actual present in embarrassing underwear 😄 But I can see where you are going with your thoughts. I too have trouble wrapping my head around the shortness of existence sometimes.
Oh yeah, that too. They totally got me. I was VERY embarrassed in front of my entire extended family.
In 98 I was in my early teens, and I got Banjo-Kazooie I was so happy, I jumped up and down, told my parents that this was exactly the game I wanted. I was thrilled. They were thrilled that I was. Life was good.
Unbeknownst to them, 2 weeks earlier I had carefully opened the gift, and had been playing the game over Christmas break. What I opened that night was an empty box, as the game sat inside the N64, where I was halfway to the end. Everyone won that Christmas. I won by playing sooner, and they won with my momentary fake enthusiasm (which was real, I really was thrilled to get the game).
Something something, life was never that good again, and I can only hope to give half that feeling to my kids now.
Thanks for sharing! That is adorable. Did you ever tell your parents the truth?
Eventually yes, many years later.
Some friends moved to Canada from abroad and their first Christmas here, we did every Christmas tradition we could think of with them, even ones we didn’t normally partake in ourselves. Introducing them to Christmas really brought back the joy of it for me.
