The arrival of winter at Graceland was always a special time of the year. It meant the holiday season was fast approaching and the anticipation of all the fun things the season would bring, although Elvis loved to receive gifts, his favourite Christmas activity was giving. He gave generously to many of his home town charities.
His friends normally got cash bonuses. But the presents for family members ranged from jewelery to new cars. Elvis loved their reactions to his extravagances. After most of the guests went to bed or went home, Elvis and a few of the guys would bring out Lisa Marie's presents and put them under the tree.
The early morning hours of Christmas day were often the best times at Graceland. Elvis would talk about his mother and about the Christmases of his childhood. Then he would wait with the eagerness of a child for lisa to awaken and find all her presents under the tree.
When it came to Christmas, Elvis never grew up. The holiday season made him unabashedly sentimental. Purchasing Graceland gave him the opportunity to celebrate the holiday in style. He loved to decorate Graceland for all his fans to see, the driveways and the main house were lined in blue lights, and in front were six 8 foot Christmas trees decorated with multi coloured lights. Inside, his Mansion was completely decked out for the season, with the focus on a huge Christmas tree in the dining room.
After dinner, everyone would gather around the piano to sing Christmas carols.
"It really is the best season of the year. The Christmas carols, trees, and lights just grab you. There's something about Christmas and being home that I just can't explain. Maybe it's being with family and friends, and of course, there's the snowball fights and sleigh rides and, yes, just home."
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