Expert: Steve Summers - 12/15/2004

Question
Hi there,
This might sound like quite an odd question, but I was hoping you could give me some idea as to what Christmas is like in LA? I'm guessing it would be quite different to the cold Christmases here in the UK - what sort of temperatures are there and what decorations (might be a stereotype, but I'm expecting palms more than pines) - that kind of thing.
Any info would be a great help,
Thanks,
Sam

Answer
Hi Sam,

We are certainly blessed here with lovely weather this time of year. All day long, I listen to songs on the radio about one-horse open sleighs, snow, rosy cheeks, etc. They are nice to listen to, but nobody who lives here can really relate unless they moved here from someplace cold. But here's an overview of Christmas in LA:

First of all, no snow. Only an occasional rain.

We LOVE to decorate our houses. Did you ever see "Christmas Vacation" with Chevy Chase? People in LA love to decorate their houses with lights, yard decorations, etc. For example, I have "icicle lights" hanging from the eaves, large 200-light colored balls hanging from the underside of the eaves, a lighted star, and 40 light-up candy canes ringing the yard. Inside, we have a 9 foot artificial fir tree with about 2000 lights (wrapped them around the branches myself), with garland, glass ornaments, and a star on top. I imagine it's a lot easier to put up the decorations in the warm weather, but it always seems so hot when I do mine. Every year except this year, there has been a heat wave and I'm decorating the yard and SWEATING in 85-90 degree heat. Just about everyone starts decorating on Thanksgiving weekend (4th Thursday in November).

A lot of housed have pines and other types of trees. There are still a few people with palms in their yards (like my mom). Inside the house, people use pines or firs (about 50% buy a fresh tree).

Shopping's a lot easier when you don't have to drive through snow.

This time of year, there are a lot of parties. Some people go to several in one night.

Our family decorates the tree with all the little ornaments. Sort of a tradition.

This year, we will be going to two Christmas services: One at our old church on Thursday the 23rd, and one at our present church on Friday the 24th.

Christmas morning, it is a lot of fun to go out on our street and see the toys the kids got for Christmas. The street is literally filled with kids testing out their new bikes, skates, skateboards, radio-controlled cars, and electric scooters and toy jeeps.

After we unwrap gifts, we go to my brother-in-law's house for Christmas Dinner. It is a comeplete food frenzy, and if you don't gain 5 pounds you weren't really trying. Here in SoCal, we like to have some regional food, like guacamole (gwock-a-MOE-lay)with fried tortilla (tor-TEE-ya) strips (we call 'em chips). We also like salsa with our chips. Most of the rest of the food is pretty traditional: Turkey or ham, stuffing/dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans in sauce, candied yams/sweet potatoes, and pie.

Hope this helps,

Let me know if you need more info


Steve