So You Don't Celebrate Christmas Today, What's Your Plan Instead

Whether for religious reasons or because of work, not everyone is celebrating the holiday today.

For those who don't celebrate Christmas today (or any day) Dec. 25 can still be a nice day. Almost everyone has the day off, so maybe you take advantage of that to spend the day with family and friends. Downtowns, parks and streets are usually empty, so perhaps you hit a favorite ethnic restaurant that's open or go for a quiet run or long walk.  For those working, the day often means visits from family bearing the gift of a home-cooked meal and the promise of a Christmas celebration on another day. What's your non-Christmas Christmas Day tradition?

•  47 Comments
• Photos (1)

Grayslake Resident Collecting Ornaments for Area Hospitals

Bring a little Christmas cheer to those young and old who will be spending this holiday in the hospital by donating an ornament to HOPE Ornaments.

Living with a high blood pressure disease that has caused blackouts and seizures, Lyzzi Elliott, 28, of Grayslake, has spent several holidays in a place no one wants to be—a hospital. She's made it her mission to bring Christmas cheer to others in the same situation, by collecting holiday ornaments to donate to hospitals throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. Elliott said she was inspired to establish HOPE Ornaments seven years ago after bringing an ornament to her friend's daughter, who was hospitalized with leukemia. "The moment she saw the ornament she smiled, and it changed everything," said Elliott, who understands what it's like to be stuck in a hospital bed for the holidays instead of celebrating at home with family and friends. Elliott…

• Photos (5)
• Documents (1)

Holiday Recipes: Cookies, Candy and More

Patch editors from across Chicagoland share some of their favorite Christmas recipes.

Patch.com editors from across the Chicago area dug into their cookbooks and came back with some of their favorite holiday recipes to share with readers. We hope you enjoy. Happy Holidays! Share your favorite holiday recipes with Patch! Send your recipe as well as any photos to Editor Amie Schaenzer at amie.schaenzer@patch.com and we will include your recipe in this article.

•  15 Comments
• Photos (1)

How did you Decorate Your Christmas Tree This Year?

Tinsel? Garland? Glitter? Faux poinsettias? Let's see those decorations!

I took an interesting approach with my Christmas tree this year. Instead of garland (which my cat, Spooky, would just try to eat), I placed small bunches of faux poinsettias in the tree. There's also A LOT of glitter (I love glitter). I don't have a tree-topper yet, largely because I just can't seem to find what I'm looking for. What I think would make the tree look super fabulous is a small- or medium-sized top hat. If you know where I can find one, please let me know! What does your Christmas tree look like this year? Upload your photos here on Patch!

•  2 Comments
• Photos (4)

Korrina Grom

2:02 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Beautiful tree, Samantha! Love all of those stars!   more ›

Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Patch put together a map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms for the northern Chicago suburbs.

Are you one of the 21 percent of United States homes that have a real Christmas tree? That's the number of people that opt for the real deal, according to the University of Illinois Extension's Christmas Tree fact page, compared to 48 percent who chose to have an artificial tree. (The rest don't have a tree.) If so, then perhaps you're also part of the 21 percent of those with real trees who like to cut them down yourself at a tree farm. Patch has assembled this map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in the vicinity of the northern Chicago suburbs. Click on the pins for more information about the farm or move the map around and zoom in on an area near you. Happy chopping!

•  21 Comments
• Photos (1)

Life As I Know It

Christmas in October

Halloween is a speed bump in the race to December 25.

I think I'm suffering from whiplash. No sooner am I getting into the Halloween spirit and contemplating a costume when WHAM!, I start to see Christmas items for sale.  I haven't enjoyed Halloween this year. I haven't taken the kids trick-or-treating, I haven't honored my annual tradition of eating near-fatal amounts of Milky Way bars and Smarties, and I haven't loaded up on decorations because — and this is important — it's not yet Oct. 31. Target is just so eager to sell me Christmas lights and cards today, and if they are to be believed, I should stock up on them now. Thanksgiving, in case you were wondering, is an afterthought. I think even the retailers know that there are only so many turkey-themed dishtowels and sweatshirts that …