I thought I was in the Christmas spirit when I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but I was wrong.  Or, it was short-lived.

What do you do to "get into the Christmas spirit?"

Here are some ideas, but I wouldn't mind hearing more:

1. Listen to Christmas music.  This is a surefire trigger for my modulating mood. I throw some Mannheim Steamroller into the CD player, crank it up, and - man - I even feel like cleaning!

2. Wrap presents. Seeing all the festive wrap and shiny bows may spark the feeling that it really is the Christmas season.

3. Decorate cookies or a gingerbread house.  You can do other seasonal cooking, too. The main idea is that you are cooking things that you only do at Christmas. It may also trigger fond childhood memories. Christmas seems to have a certain smell and taste. Can you remember it?

4. Send Christmas cards. When you write all those personal greetings, you may get in the reminiscent mindset that so often accompanies Christmas.

5. Read the Christmas account from Luke.  I can hear Linus read it every time.

6. Watch Christmas videos. I'm watching the old claymation version of Rudolph as I type. It's not my favorite, but it certainly says "Christmas." My personal favorite is Charlie Brown's Christmas.  I tear up every time I hear Linus read from Luke. I resist the urge to dance robotically with the cast members and  tell Charlie Brown his little ol' tree looks just fine.

7. Do Christmas crafts. Make cards, presents, or decorations, if you enjoy crafts.  If it feels a lot like work, then leave it. It probably will make you more Scroogish!

8. Put your tree up.  I think that's part of the reason I haven't fully accepted that it's December. We generally put our tree up early, because we get so busy. But, we didn't this year. Not yet, anyway.

9. Attend an Advent service. All that talk about getting ready for the Savior prepares my heart. It also puts my mind in a very peaceful anticipation mode.

What puts you in the mood for Christmas?