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d-criss-news · 5 months

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In Tune With Crissmas

“Criss” Kringle’s coming to town a little early this year. And he’s got creative plans to spread some musical Yuletide cheer throughout the Motor City.

You might even say that it’s his civic duty.

“I’m in the service industry. As an entertainer, I’m here to play some music and take you through a bit of a holiday music Ted Talk,” says actor/singer/songwriter Darren Criss about his “A Very Darren Crissmas” tour coming to the Fisher Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 10. “Hopefully, people will leave with a little holiday pep in their step.”

Topping Criss’ concert playlist are songs from his A Very Darren Crissmas album which dropped in 2021. But because of the pandemic, Criss never got a chance to have a full-blown Christmas concert tour — until now.

“The album and tour showcase creative imaginings of classic tunes and rarely covered hidden gems along with two original Christmas songs,” says Criss, a 2009 Theatre Performance graduate of the University of Michigan.

Joining Criss on stage is fellow UM Wolverine and BFF Tomek Miernowski as his music director. Criss’ set list features “a wildly eclectic collection of songs from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes and modern-day folk-pop ballads,” he says.

Long before the Crissmas album — which features duets with Adam Lambert, Lainey Wilson and Evan Rachel Wood — Criss was writing original songs for the hit TV series Glee which featured Criss in his breakout role as Blaine Anderson. In 2018, he won a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In addition, he recently starred in Netflix’s hit series Hollywood, for which he also served as executive producer. And Broadway fans will remember Criss’ star turns in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and American Buffalo with Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell in 2022.

Though Criss won’t be able to squeeze in a visit to the Big House in Ann Arbor this time around, he’s already checking out the home game schedule for 2024.

“I make it my business to come back at least once a year, especially during football season,” says Criss, who attended nearly every game when he was a student. The last time Criss was in Michigan, he also visited the Motown Museum with his band.

“It was fun,” he says. “There’s a bit of Motown that’s infused in this album that was inspired by the Detroit sound. So, when we play [the Christmas concert at the Fisher Theatre], there will be a bit of a hometown vibe.”

Though Criss’ dad moved all over the country growing up, he spent his formative years in Detroit.

“So that’s why when I applied to the University of Michigan, and ultimately got in, it was such a big thing for me to be able to take my dad to the Big House for a football game. He hadn’t been to Michigan since he was 10. And I took him, easily, more than 50 years later to see a game there. That was a lot of fun,” Criss reminisced.

“I’ve got a lot of kinship with the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit.”

Birmingham City Lifestyle (December 2023 Issue)

#darren criss #city lifestyle #birmingham city lifestyle #avdc 2023 @ detroit #avdc 2023 #press #dec 2023

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sonnetthebard · 3 years

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Okay, wait. In “Northville High School” it says that Santa’s got ice in his veins, right? And in Rogues are we, Mr. Freeze has ice in veins. Using this information, I propose that Holy Musical Batman is the sequel to Santa Claus is Goin’ to High School, with Kris as Mr. Freeze

O h dear lord-

- Okay

- So are we gonna assume that Santa Clause is Going To High School is now a part of the DCEU (DC Entertainment Universe)?

- Because tbh that's believable

- I'm not even being sarcastic

- Have you watched Wonder Woman 1984?

- Santa Clause Is Going To High School may just be more watchable

- Anyways moving on

- So if we're going with this theory, HMB would be a cinematic sequel to it

- So within Hatchetverse it would exist as a movie

- Maybe released in something like 2021? THree years after the release of Santa Clause is Going to High School (2018)

- And It would be sort of like a Justice League thing

- Where they're trying to tie in all their franchises

- Wonder Woman? Check! Batman? Check! Santa Clause? Check!

- I'd be interested in seeing the transformation arc from Criss Kringle to Mr. Freeze.

- It would be intriguing to see how he went from Father Christmas to a DC villain lol

- Everyone is just so confused.

- The HMB movie probably gets banned because too many parents complained that it ruined Santa for their kids.

I love this lyric parallel, but unlike the Watchers With A Thousand Eyes line in TTO I don't think this one was intentional-

#holy musical b@man #black friday #santa claus is going to high school #nightmare time #tgwdlm #criss kringle #mr. freeze #hatchetfield #hatchetverse #starkid #headcanon #send more!

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enemymarkus · 2 years

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Masterlist

started: 30/4/22

ended:

wlw, mlm, poly relationships are allowed !

NO: the platonic ones are only platonic!

minors DNI! if its 18+ (yes there can be smut, but again minors DNI!)

no abusive relationships (if its explaining the readers or character past then thats okay)

i wont be using “y/n” i will either be using reader or if it a boy/man reader then “M/n”

Marvel

bruce banner

doctor strange

wanda maximoff

pietro maximoff

helmut zemo

loki odinson

thor odinson

peter quill

sprite (mostly platonic)

tony stark

ikaris

sersi

druig

makkari

howard stark

peggy carter

steve rogers

bucky barnes

yelena belova

shang-chi

and more!

the vampire diares

damon salvatore

stefan salvatore

matt donovan

tyler lockwood

bonnie bennet

enzo st john

kai parker

caroline forbes

elena gilbert

jeremy gilbert

vicky donovan

katherine pierce

the mikaelsons

alaric saltzman

victorious

tori vega

jade west

beck oliver

trina vega

cat valentine

andre harris

robbie shapiro

Z nation

10k

addison carver

dj qualls

st claire

cassandra

Twilight

alice cullen

emmet cullen

jasper hale

rosalie hale

edward cullen

carlise cullen

esme cullen

bella swan

jacob black

seth clearwater

leah clearwater

sam uely

embry call

Quil ateara

paul lahote

alec volturi

jane volturi

demetri volturi

felix volturi

mike newton

spiderwick chronicles

simon grace

jared grace

mallory grace

descendents

ben

mal

carlos

chad

doug

evie

harry

audrey

jane

jay

harry potter

ron weasley

the twins

bill weasley

percy weasley

ginny wealsey

harry potter

james potter

lily evans

sirius black

remus lupin

tom riddle

neville longbottom

luna lovegood

cho chang

cedric diggory

viktor krum

hermione granger

draco malfoy

goyale

crabbe

pansy parkinson

adrain pucey

oliver wood

Teen beach movie

seacat

giggles

brady

tanner

mack

butchy

rascal

the goonies 1985

brandon walsh

mikey walsh

data

mouth

andy

chunk (only platonic)

stef

euphoria

rue bennett

maddy perez

cassie howard

fezco

ashtray (only platonic)

nate jacobs

mkay

lexi howard

stranger things

mike wheeler

dustin henderson

steve harrington

eleven

billy hargrove

max mayfield

nancy wheeler

jonathan byers

will byers

lucas sinclair

robin buckley

erica sinclair (platonic)

Season 4:

henry creel (001/vecna)

eddie munson

jason carver

patrick McKinney

rappers

2pac

eminem

biggie smalls

cheaper by the dozen 2003

charlie baker

lorraine baker

sarah baker

henry baker

nora baker (only platonic)

hank

dylan shenk

devil all the time

arvin russell

tommy matson

lenora laferty

lee bodecker

preston teagardin

willard russell

IT 2017

bev marsh

bill denbrough

richie tozier

eddie kaspbrak

henry bowers

stanley uris

mike hanlon

reggie huggins

patrick hockstetter

victor criss

ben hanscom

Actors

johnny depp

chris evans

Arron taylor-johnson

tom welling

Many many more!

Slashers

billy loomis

brahms heelshire

chucky

stu macher

jason

micahel

freddy

pennywise

alot more that i cant fit

fear street (all of them)

deena johnson

kate schmidt

heather

cindy berman

simon Kalivoda

samantha fraser

nick goode

ziggy berman

josh johnson

sarah fier

ruby lane

The batman

bruce wayne

selina kyle

edward nashton

gordon(platonic)

hannah montana the movie

hannah montana

lily truscott

jackson stewart

oliver oken

rico sauve

travis brody

OBX

John b

jj maybank

kiara

sarah cameron

rafe cameron

pope

topper

wheezie (only platonic)

ward cameron

rose cameron

barry

Noelle

noelle kringle

nick kringle

gabe kringle

jake hapman

ParaNorman

norman

courtney

alvin

mitch

divergent

beatrice prior

Tobias eaton

peter

caleb prior

eric

will

christina

Fresh

steve/brendan kemp

noa

ann

chad

penny

mollie

The greatest showman

anne wheeler

jenny lind

phineas taylor

phillip carlyle

charity taylor

lettie lutz

and more!

Aliens in the attic

bethany pearson

tom pearson

jake pearson

lee pearson

ricky dillman

hannah pearson (platonic)

The 100

bellamy blake

octavia blake

lincoln

clarke griffin

monty green

jordan green

finn collins

ontari

raven reyes

lexa

murphy

cage wallace

roan

and more!

coraline

wybie lovat

coraline jones

ghost kids (platonic)

cat (platonic)

other mother

mama mia!

sky

donna

sophie

bill anderson

sam carmichael

harry

pepper

tanya(platonic)

rosie(platonic)

The amazing world of gumball

gumball watterson

darwin watterson

penny

tobias wilson

anais watterson (platonic)

Encanto

mirable madrigal

pepa madrigal

felix madrigal

julieta madrigal

agustin madrigal

alma (platonic)

dolores madrigal

antonio (platonic)

camilo madrigal

bruno madrigal (platonic)

Turning red

jesse

tae-young

Aaron T

Aaron Z

robaire

panda mellin

priya mangal

miram Mendelsohn

devon

tyler Nguyen-Baker

Z-O-M-B-I-E-S

Addison

zed

bucky bunchan

Eliza

bonzo

bree

zoey (platonic)

Tracey

stacey

The maze runner

Thomas

Gally

Newt

Alby

chuck (platonic)

minho

teresa

The black phone

finney blake

vance hopper

gwen blake ( platonic)

bruce yamada

billy showalter

griffin staggs

robin allerano

If you want to request please msg me or add my instagram enemymarkus

im going to post the stuff i will write wont write for <3

I will add more later :)

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infected-wiggly · 3 years

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Darren Criss was originally going to voice Santa Claus in Black Friday?

.....Guess you could call him Criss Kringle

#pleas e dont block me #starkid #black friday #darren criss #nick lang

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now-two-people-are-mad-at-me · 3 years

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Recasting Black Friday with other starkids

Lex: Meredith Stepiens. For this one I just pictured every starkid screaming "my mom's a bitch" and she was the one who fitted the better

Ethan : Darren Criss. I think he'd be good. No further arguments

Tom: A. J. Holmes. I don't know if he has the shoulders to play the vet, but he definitely has this dad energy

Becky : Britney Coleman. She has this caring aura, but at the same time I'd love to hear her rendition of Do you Want to Play

Linda: Ali Gordon. Like, honestly, you could tell me Linda Monroe is Vanessa's sister and I wouldn't be surprised. She'd be great

Franck Pricely: Joe Moses. An angel face and voice, just like Corey. Too sweet? Maybe. But I would love to see his rendition

Gary, Wiley: Clark Baxtresser. Just look me in the eyes and tell me Clark wouldn't rock Made in America

McNamara, Tim: Brian Holden. Chaotic. But at the same time, I wanna see this Neanderthal child again in the form of Tim

Wiggly: Brian Rosenthal. Idk why, but I see it

President Goodman, Peanuts Owner: Chris Allen. I mean, isn't Howie just a woke Duder Reese?

Sherman: Jim Povolo. Xe would definitely add something sweet, but I could see it

Hannah: Tiffany Williams. She's sweet, and could rock that scared character

Chris Kringle : Darren Criss: It's Blaine. It's basically Blaine, but straight

Noëlle : Tiffany Williams

Jingle, Jangle: Meredith Stepiens and Brian Holden

#Black friday #starkid #teamstarkid #Hatchetfield #Lex foster #Hannah foster #frank pricely #Sherman young #john mcnamara

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gatheringfiki · 3 years

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The following ficlet was written by @flow-it-show-it based on this photoset.

Pairing: Fili/Kili Rating: M for suggestive banter.

You can also read this story on AO3.

If you’ve enjoyed this story, please leave a comment either in replies or on AO3. :)

Short and Sweet

—

As soon as Fíli sees what’s coming up the road, he begins to plate up the cookies.

Demon! a shout echoes across the snowfield. Get out here!

Temptation time, Fíli whispers to himself.

His cloven hooves clatter across the flagstones as he hurries to the foyer. He fluffs his hair (preposterously blond for one of Krampus’ minions), peeks to make certain the cookies are stacked just so, and flings open the cabin door.

Kringle’s henchmen don’t usually look as grim as Kíli does now. The cause of his ire, however, is obvious. It clops behind him at the end of a lasso, flexing its broad ebony-feathered wings.

YOU! roars the angry wight.

Hello, dear neighbor, Fíli purrs in return.

Don’t hello dear neighbor me. This… BEAST of yours got loose again! I caught her running with our herd!

Oh, Hulda, Fíli coos directly to the steed. Do I not feed you enough?

Stepping delicately on the ice, he picks his way down to the gate, making certain to include some hip-swaying action for Kili’s benefit. He hopes that the wight takes notice of the fact that he’s just freshly polished his horns. They’re quite comely, if he does say so himself. Small, though; not nearly as impressive as the great ram-spirals sported by Krampus’ older minions. Well, someday…

His adversary’s cheeks are ruddy, whether from pique or frost, it’s hard to tell. Those dark eyes glint with vexation, just the way Fíli likes them. So dark, so glowering…

Kíli would make the perfect imp. He sticks out amidst Kringle’s happy helpers as much as fair, cheerful Fíli does amidst Krampus’ sinister, shadowy hosts. Both bosses have actually wondered aloud whether or not these two sprites were switched at birth. Fíli’s cloven hooves pretty much settle that argument, though truth be told, he’s bitten his lip more than once over a fantasy of Kíli having them as well…

As if he knew and meant to taunt Fíli, Kíli impatiently stamps one fur-booted foot on the hard-packed snow. He looks for all the world like an indignant young bull, and he bellows like one, too. Heed me, demon! I bring the words of Kringle himself. He does not want to see this creature on his property again. This is the twelfth time in two months, and I assure you that thirteen is not a lucky number even for demons.

Speak you of luck, pixie? Fíli performs a nose-wrinkle of purest mischief. You’re lucky Hulda has no taste for what reindeer eat. Or for that matter, reindeer meat.

You’re lucky I brought her back. The workshop’s running low on glue.

Lashes lowered, Fili sing-songs, I-give-you-my-solemn-word-I’ll-latch-the-gate-more-tightly—

Wings, Fíli. She has wings. I don’t think latching a gate she can fly over is going to solve the problem. Kíli huffs out a cloud of white vapor. Tell your boss to build a proper stable.

Sweet as sugarcane: You might tell YOUR boss the same.

Reindeer are nomadic. They’re supposed to roam.

Oh, I know all about their roaming. If you recall from last week? The whole of my front yard?

This shuts Kíli up.

Hell’s bells, thinks Fíli, he’s luscious when he’s angry.

It doesn’t help that Fíli has a terrible fetish for elfwear. Kringle’s workshop issues its staff a limited-edition sweater every Yule, and this year’s design – bright red pine boughs criss-crossed on heather-grey shot through with silvery threads – is a winner. Kíli’s mittens are new, too; stitched out of the softest rabbit fur. Fíli files away that detail to tease him about later. Kringle’s crew are always so holier-than-thou, but they’re not exactly vegans, are they?

Holding the cookie plate aloft, he yawns and executes a stretch– rather a lascivious one for so early in the morn.

What have you got there? Kíli growls, unable to ignore either treat.

Oh, this? It’s your plate. I was planning to return it later today. It seemed impolite to bring it back empty, so I took the liberty of filling it up—

Kíli tosses his head dismissively. As if your kind ever worried about being impolite. What are they?

Red velvet sandwich cookies. New recipe.

I liked your pfeffernüsse last time. Spicy.

I liked your shortbread the time before. Bland.

Imp and wight engage in a staring contest until their focus is broken by a plaintive whinny.

All right, Hulda, you may go, sighs Fíli. Leave us to our bickering. He thrusts the cookie-laden plate at Kíli. For you and only you, he warns. No sharing.

The recipient’s cheeks redden even more. You know that’s not how we operate.

Come on. Be selfish, just this once, for me.

Little does he know how selfish Kíli really is when it comes to him. Hoarding butter and eggs… sneaking into the workshop kitchen at night to bake cookies not one of his colleagues gets to taste…

Ready for the Wild Hunt, demon? Kíli hopes his customary gruffness conceals the feelings stirred up by this plate of… oh, sweet Saint Walpurgis, the bloody cookies are heart-shaped…

Oh, yes, says Fíli, chuffed at the violent effect his treats are having. Fresh chains and birch switches for all. Just yesterday we knotted off on the final gunny-sack. Show me the brat who can wriggle through our seams!

We’ve got a few more crèches to decorate, Kíli dutifully reports. The candle-crowns for Saint Lucia’s Day turned out especially pretty—

You know, there isn’t really a Saint Lucia, Fíli begins one of his habitual taunts. Never was. Lussi’s one of ours, an Ancient One. She runs her own Wild Hunt up north. The whole point of the candles is to ward her off.

Must you ruin everything sacred?

Your lot are no stranger to the practice. Fíli leans seductively against the gate, lightly scuffing the tip of one hoof against the frozen rime. One of these years, I’d like to take you with me on the Hunt. I’d come and knock at the workshop door as proper as you please. You’d ride with me on Hulda—if she’ll have you. I know I would. A pause. Have you.

Kíli appears to have swallowed his tongue, a cue for Fíli to use his own tongue to lick his own pretty lips.

You’d ride behind me, naturally, he muses. Nice and snug up against me, your arms around my waist. You’d have to hold on tight, you know. It’d be hours before I’d let you dismount.

The cookie plate clutched in Kíli’s mittened hands begins to quiver slightly.

We’d go everywhere. Sometimes traveling fast and hard… sometimes nice and slow. Fíli lovingly runs his gaze over his trembling victim. I’d show you all the best spots. I’d have to ask you not to tell anyone, however. Not just anybody gets invited to my special, secret, hidden places.

I’d never tell, Kíli whispers.

Oh, how desperately Fíli wishes he could actually lure this virtuous morsel over to their side! Or at least to his own cabin. That would be quite an initiation into the mysteries…

We’d explore them until the wee hours. Ah, Kíli, what a ride we’d have! he tells the wide-eyed wight. You’d have to take the next day off to recuperate. Take it from me, after a long night in the saddle, it can actually be hard to close your legs…

Kíli blanches white as the snow all around him. I have to go.

Oh, do you? I was just about to invite you in—

I have to go.

Kíli backs away from the gate. The move has the unintended effect of allowing a full and unobstructed view of the territory south of his waist, where some rather scandalous things are taking place…

But when am I to get MY plate back? Fili demands. At first Fíli thinks he’ll get no answer, but then, his quarry clears his throat.

I’ve— I mean WE’VE— gotten in fresh almonds, Kíli mumbles. I suppose I could make marzipan.

My favorite, Fíli beams. You’ll be by tomorrow, then?

I don’t know, demon. Maybe. I’m not going to promise anything. Kíli whirls and begins to walk as quickly as his adorable pointy boots will allow.

As he recedes into the distance, Hulda sidles back out to the gate and stands beside her rider.

Again tonight? she nickers. I’ll pass on the marching orders to the reindeer while I’m visiting.

That would be splendid, Fíli replies vaguely.

He’s already wondering what Kíli’s opinion is on cinnamon red-hots in place of cookie sprinkles.

#Gathering 12 Days 2020 #Fili/Kili #FiKi #Durincest #the Hobbit #submission

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dudebroghost · 7 years

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Hey now at least Criss doesn't try to pass off what he does as real magic (at least not that I know of?) He knows he's an entertainer, unlike Zak who thinks he's the real deal and the best investigator on the planet. Criss deserves better than being a bringer of the apocalypse imo

I love how insulting Criss is the line I’ve apparently crossed.

#criss kringle.... fish sticks....#anyone else like the movie get smart

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lopez-richter-fangirl · 4 years

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I don't think I've ever read the script in full but I really like being able to look stuff up (the spelling of MacNamara for example). Some things I really wanted to know from the BF script are: correct spelling of Chris/Kris/Criss Kringle, what Corey's scripted lines are in the hard-to-make-out bit of Feast and Famine since I noticed it was different between the two digital tickets and if I recall correctly those are both different from what I heard live, and generally knowing the actual lyrics

Yeah the lyrics is the biggest thing I’d like to know honestly. I also like it when the script isn’t actually the final version so we get to see what got changed and cut

#black friday spoilers

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hellowallflowerfriend · 5 years

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For it is in giving that we receive. -- Saint Francis of Assisi

During our last yoga teacher training, we talked a little bit about Christmas traditions. It made me think about my family and the things we have done to honor this special holiday which is so important to so many.

At the end of our weekend training, we shared our different holiday traditions with each other. We sat criss-cross in a circle and told each other the things which make this day so special to us.

I remember a few memories with so much fondness. Kelsey, my twin sister, usually woke up before my younger sister, (Keaton,) and myself. She would climb into my mom’s bed and wait until my mom said it was time to wake up. One morning, Kelsey heard something -- who knows what -- maybe a plane flying overhead. My mom told her that it was the sound Rudolph’s nose makes, and that was more than enough to help Kelsey quiet down. As an adult, I think this is so sweet and precious, that my mother helped my twin sister ignite her imagination: “That is the sound Rudolph’s nose makes!” I imagine my mom whispering it, covers warm and safe, Kelsey lying next to her, just a little girl and full of wonder and hope.

The day after Thanksgiving, we always put the tree up. Some of my favorite ornaments included my mom’s antique ornaments, so fragile and light. I have always been afraid to touch her antique ornaments. They were so breakable, so beautiful, and so full of history. Some of the ornaments were even passed down from my great-grandmother!

We also put up a few ornaments my mom made as a little girl -- including a, “snow globe,” which was made inside one of those plastic containers which toys came inside of out of those quarter machines. There is a little tiny snowman and tiny, “snowflakes,” in it. I have spent several hours perhaps looking at this ornament, imagining my mom as a little girl, with her small hands and hopeful smile, creating a miniscule Christmas scene.

There is a sparkly, beautiful angel that I gave my little sister, made out of a clothespin, which I remember spending money on (from my Mom, of course,) at a school function. I love this ornament because of how happy it made Keaton when I gave it to her.

My mom also used to put skiing tickets on our tree. These are from when my mom and my dad were married. I remember watching her face, the sadness and loss that she seemed to try to hide as she placed these tickets on the tree. They are some of my favorite ornaments because they tell a story of love and recovery.

My great grandma was also quite a master at crocheting. She made some ornaments, the, “God’s eye,” ornament, as well as a miniature basket full of yarn which she crocheted. I love the family history that hangs on evergreen branches each year.

My mom created a tradition with us on Christmas Eve which is in some ways non-traditional. We went to Mass at the Catholic Church, and then we came home to eat appetizers for dinner. We ate summer sausage, cheddar cheese, crackers, midget pickles, and mozzarella sticks. We baked cookies for Santa and set out carrots for the reindeer. We even sprinkled the lawn with reindeer food. Afterward, we were allowed to unwrap one present, and we always pretended to not know what was inside. But, every year, my mom neatly wrapped matching pajamas for us Wylie sisters. We almost always took a picture in our pajamas together in front of the tree.

The next morning, we would wake up -- Kelsey first, then Keaton, then me. (I have always been a sleepy head!) We weren’t allowed to go downstairs until my mom played Christmas music. Then, we would run downstairs, and yell excitedly about what Santa brought.

The carrot always had a big bite out of it. The cookies were always left in crumbles. The milk glass was empty. My mom even admitted to going outside to pick up the reindeer, “food,” we put out, (straw and sparkles,) so that we would continue to believe in Santa.

Christmas morning, the first thing I would do is kneel by the tree and pray. I thanked God for giving us Jesus as I sat by the sparkly tree. (How many times had we played, “I Spy,” looking at that tree before?) I bowed my head and thanked God that He gave my family someone who loves us so much.

My mom and dad would sit by the fireplace and watch us unwrap our generous gifts. My dad had a way of laughing, almost sounding like Santa himself, that sounded something like, “Oh-Ho-Ho!” His eyes would sparkle as he watched our happiness unfold on Christmas morning.

As I grew older, I started to question things. I had always been such a believer, but I started to wonder how Santa could be anyone but my mom. Heck, even the labeling on the presents looked like they were in her handwriting, just shakier. My wish-lists to Santa began to mostly be letters of gratitude. In my letters to Santa, I told Kris Kringle how grateful I was for everything he did for us and how much I loved him, suspecting all along that it was my mother.

After my parents’ separation, it was all girls for the first time: it was me, my twin sister Kelsey, and my younger sister Keaton. We also had Molly (our dog,) there with us. My mom had already started a tradition that we could not go downstairs until we heard Christmas music resounding downstairs. Upon hearing those beautiful notes, we would run down the stairs and first look in our stockings. I usually trailed behind, looking deeply at my mother and knowing that she was probably Santa, knowing from our shared nights together the tears which it took to leave my father.

My mom let us eat a cookie and some Christmas candy for breakfast, and she usually prepared Stratta (one of the last vestiges of our German heritage, an egg casserole with cheese, sausage, and onions.) We opened our presents one-by-one, and usually had a, “fashion show,” after all the gifts were unwrapped.

Fast forward to this year:

It will be the second year that my mom has lived in her small, one-story home. My sisters and I have never lived in this home, but it still feels like Christmas. I think this is because, in our minds, wherever my mom is feels like home. Kelsey, Keaton, and I will spend the night with her on Christmas Eve, and we will eat appetizers for dinner. Eventually, my mom will invite us to open one present. We will pretend to not know what it is, but we will know that it is our matching pajamas. We will put them on, full of smiles, even as adults -- our matching pajamas, and we will line up for a picture in front of the tree.

I will search the Christmas trees for my heritage hanging on a hook. I will stare deeply at the flickering lights. I will not pray, but I will meditate on the beauty which surrounds me in my life. I will think of all the sacrifices, the love, and the beauty which my Mom has made to make my life so meaningful.

We will have a big sleepover, all girls. My mom will wake before us, and she will play Christmas music loudly enough to wake us. We will get up and walk into the living room to see the presents she snuck out overnight -- as if Santa was still real. We will take turns opening presents, one-by-one, savoring the beauty that comes with sharing love in the form of gift-giving.

We will eat cookies, candy, and stratta for breakfast.

I believe still more than ever in the Love which surrounds this holiday. I still kneel by the tree and reflect on everything which I am grateful for. I hope that each and every one of you find Love more than anything else during this holiday season. I hope that the Good in me helps grow the Good in you. If any of you are having trouble finding meaning, love, or purpose during this time, please feel free to reach out to me -- your Wallflower Friend.

I also want to give a special dedication here to my mother, Joie Rathbun Wylie. Thank you, Mom, for making sure that the Magic always lives on with our little family of girls. I love you and am so grateful to have learned the Reason for the Season through your example.

Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy Holidays! Namaste, dear friends.

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