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?
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.
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.
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 …
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 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.
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).
Best Christmas I’ve had was when my girlfriend and I first spent the holidays all detached from our respective families. No expectations that have to be met, no yelling, no surpressed needs, no fake happy harmonic family bullshit, no driving around - just silence and a few chill days together without any obligations whatsoever.
Since then we spend each years Christmas like that. A time dominated by tranquility and good food. Right now my girlfriend is playing computer games, I am scrolling the fediverse, perhaps watch a movie later.
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.
The Christmas morning I got my SNES, and spent a very bright, snowy day playing Super Mario World for hours upon hours.
Maybe when we got an electronic train thing and we built the tracks and delivered the rest of the presents with it. (A bit across the room or however long the tracks reached.)
Now I wonder if that’s even a correct memory. I doubt you can put a lot of load or size on those trains lol.
Let’s just assume it happened because back then toys were more sturdy
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.
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
