‘Carey’-ing on with teas and traditions this holiday season

Dear Readers, Do you ever find yourself in a bipolar- like funk around the holidays, or is it just me? It’s a mix of childlike glee marveling at Christmas lights and enjoying carols, yet I also feel a bit like the Grinch. I mean, how many times can we listen to Mariah Carey in a single month? And this comes from a gal who flew to Oakland, Ca., just to see Lionel Richie perform with special guest Mariah Carey. She’s certainly impressive, but it’s a lot. Still, let’s give her credit — creating a Christmas album was a brilliant move for her bank account, so I certainly don’t fault her. However, I think we all know there are plenty of other Christmas albums that could be included in the store playlists.

I know that some folks put up their tree before Halloween and some before Thanksgiving, but for me, the tree should only be erected in December. This year, I splurged on a tiny pink Christmas tree for €4.95, and that might very well be the extent of my decorations.

Last year, I went all out with white paper chains and snowflakes adorning my sonless apartment, in the way that Will Ferrell’s character decorated all the spaces in the movie, “Elf.” These homemade decorations indeed brought me joy, and it bolstered my holiday spirit so much that I hosted a Christmas Eve dinner for a medley of international expats living in Portugal. It’s a memory I'll cherish forever, but this year, I’m feeling ‘meh.’ Maybe hanging stockings could potentially lift my spirits…perhaps we’ll never know.

One thing that consistently brings me joy is making and sharing “Christmas tea” using a recipe that my mom found ages ago, labeled as “Russian tea.” I have no idea why it’s called that, but amidst the current global turmoil, calling it that doesn’t sit right. We’ll call it “Christmas tea” henceforth.

It’s a concoction of dry ingredients — instant tea, Tang, powdered lemonade, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. I used to mix it up and divide it into little tins or baggies with a bow and distribute them to neighbors, teachers and momma helpers with instructions to place one to two tablespoons in a mug with hot water. It’s actually quite delicious. As I am reflecting on how my boys enjoyed distributing these small gifts among our former courtyard community compadres on Jackman Street, I’m thinking that maybe whipping up this tea mixture for my new Portuguese friends might just lift my spirits. And offer me a new caffeine selection.

Sharing a cup of homemade tea isn’t just a beverage; it’s a warm hug in a mug, and the scent of steaming cloves just sings right into your face. Take that, Mariah Carey! I say we embrace our unique holiday quirks, whether it’s a preference for putting up our trees in the summer, baking lasagna rather than ham, or a sudden urge to hang stockings in the middle of the night.

This season, let’s remember that joy doesn’t always come in the grandeur of decorations or sticking to traditions. Sometimes, we may find joy in a cup of canister-gifted tea mix, a strategically hung mistletoe or a hearty laugh at the absurdity of it all. ’Tis the season for us to “Carey” with us a sprinkle of sarcasm, a pinch of saltiness and a dash of holiday “meh-gic.” We’ll get through this tea-gether. Xoxo,

Kelly Stone is an educator, comedian, mother, and author who loves the heck outta the river. She welcomes questions and accolades at kellystonecomedy@ gmail.com and via snail mail at Rua de Faria Guimarães 650, 4 esq, Porto, Portugal, 4200-289