Spending Christmas in California

Christmas in California is something that people in colder climates can't imagine. In some parts of the country the colorful Christmas lights reflect off of pristine snow. The sounds of the snow-plow accompany the jingle of the sleigh bells in the crisp night air. In California we are treated to the sounds of the birds chirping happily in the sunshine and the echo of high volume car speakers booming as cars cruise through the labyrinth of freeways.. We have our own unique ways of celebrating the Holidays here in California, despite the differences in climate and environment, Christmas in California is still celebrated in traditional ways for most residents of the "Golden State".

We have many different types of topography here in California. We celebrate our diversity. One can visit the mountains, where a person can lounge in front of a roaring fire while drinking hot chocolate after skiing a snowy mountain trail in the morning, and by evening, don a wet-suit and try to catch a wave. We have cactus in the desert and pine trees in the mountains. There is nothing quite as cheery on a mid December's night as seeing a cactus decorated for Christmas, complete with flashing neon colored- lights. In Southern California you may see snow but it is usually off in the distance visible on the tops of our local San Bernadino Mountains on a particularly clear day. In most cases when you see snow in neighborhood yards it is usually the artificial kind that can be rolled up and thrown away after Christmas.