My Favorite Time of Year
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (127563)
Gainesville, Florida
December 6, 2025 9:29pm CST
Now that Thanksgiving is over (US holiday), we finally head into my favorite time of year. The Christmas season you ask? Well, sort of. I do love Christmas, but it's more than that. I just love the lights and decorations that are everywhere. The festive atmosphere that are displayed in homes, businesses, and yes, even theme parks. I also love the mildly cold weather this time of year. That winter Florida weather that millions of people envy and long for. It makes me want to get outside and enjoy all the Christmas lights. I will spend a great many evening strolling the neighborhoods near my home just to view decorations and lights. And there is usually a night or two where we'll drive all over town looking at lights. It's just such a fun thing to do!
And most importantly, I'm a huge fan of wonderfully decorated Christmas trees. I just get spellbound admiring them.
What about you? What's your favorite part of this holiday season? Yard decorations? Lights hung on homes and businesses? Christmas trees?
Photo is the Christmas tree at Disney's Hollywood Studious. I love that they set it up in the middle of a pond where all the lights reflect off the water.
10 people like this
7 responses
@Deepizzaguy (118745)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
7 Dec
I like the local radio stations playing holiday music,
2 people like this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
Me too! So many people complain about having to listen to the holiday music for a whole month, but I absolutely love it! I'm glad we have several radio stations here that start playing Christmas music right after Thanksgiving. We have one radio station that ONLY plays Christmas music for the next month. 24/7 Christmas songs. I absolutely love it!
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
@jstory07 Do you have a radio station that switches to exclusive Christmas music during the holidays? We have one that will play Christmas music 24/7 from Thanksgiving day through New Years.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (215083)
• United States
7 Dec
That's a lovely tree. With my husband gone, I've become a bit of a Grinch. I still enjoy the music; but I doubt I will put my teeny tree up this year. I'm not feeling very merry.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
Your feelings are very valid, and you shouldn't feel guilty for them. No need to force the "holiday spirit" if it's not in you. Just sit back and enjoy the music to the best of your ability.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (215083)
• United States
8 Dec
@moffittjc Thanks, Jeff. I'm hoping next year will be better.
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@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Dec
@LindaOHio I think that’s part of why we all make New Year’s resolutions, we are hopeful that the next year will always be better. That’s what keeps us moving forward.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (203646)
• United States
7 Dec
Seeing friends and family is always nice. I love the lights and the food during the Christmas holidays.
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@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
Oh goodness gracious, don't get me started on the food! LOL. From Thanksgiving all the way through New Years, I eat way too much and get much, much fatter. So much good stuff to eat!
@LadyDuck (494309)
• Italy
8 Dec
@moffittjc - I agree, a tall tree and the front entrance is surely missing and it would be nice to have one.
The neighbors in front of us have put outside nice decorations that they light in the evening. We all have decorations near our entry doors now, it's such a nice tradition.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Dec
@LadyDuck I’ll try to remember to take a picture to show you!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, they used to set the Christmas tree up at the front entrance to the theme park, but 4-5 years ago they moved it into the park and put it on the small island in the middle of the pond. I love the location where it is now, but I think they should have also kept another tree at the front entrance.
Most people here set up their Christmas trees inside their homes, but there are a few who will put up trees on their balconies, patios or backyard decks.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (130377)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Dec
That is a pretty tree. I enjoy the lights but not many decorate here anymore
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
When I first moved into my neighborhood 9 years ago, nobody decorated their yards/outside of their homes. I put up my decorations that first year, and then wondered if there were some community standards/HOA rules I was violating. Nope. Then the next year 3-4 other houses started decorating, and then with each subsequent year more and more started decorating. I would say this year about 75% of the homes in my neighborhood have lights and outdoor decorations set up.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (130377)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Dec
@moffittjc Glad more of them started decorating. Part of it here is a lot of the homes belong to older people now. They just don't like to get out in the cold or are not able to
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Dec
@wolfgirl569 That makes sense. I live in a community of mostly older adults, but this is Florida so usually the cold is not a factor that would prevent those older folks from decorating.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
I saw that on the news as well. It was a beautiful sight to see.
Do you and Vince put up a Christmas tree?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Dec
@JudyEv Awesome! How's the weather been? Is it hot there this time of year?
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@JudyEv (372811)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec
@moffittjc Yes, our tree is up and some of our lights. The rest of the lights we might do tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127563)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Dec
Me too. It's such a wonderful time of year. I know there are lots of people out there who become very stressed or depressed at this time of year, and I wish I could find a way to bring the Christmas joy to them.
