Hi friends! Welcome to our December series… how could it be dedicated to anything other than the holidays? We hope that as you prep for the holidays or are in the middle of celebrating them (Happy Hanukkah!), that you’ll share some of your favorite moments from this time of year with us! Good luck with the online shopping, trying to get your tree lights to work, and finding time for all the fun!
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Funfetti:
When I think of holiday traditions, it’s hard to think of holding them anywhere but my childhood home. I remember being young and imagining waking up Christmas Day, married, and I still lived there. Although from the looks of my dreams, I had inherited the house and moved up into my parent’s bedroom.
From my parents, I certainly learned the importance of a detail. Every year, my dad and I would go get our tree one day during the week from our church. My mom would always stay home, and later when my sister was old enough, she tagged along too. It was always so exciting to pick a tree. I remember the first time I could grab a tree by trunk by myself, smell the pine. Sometimes the people working at the church would give us part of the trunk to keep in the car. Christmas tree scent everywhere.
My dad would always put the lights on the tree. I would set up the nativity. Later, my sister got that job and I did the decorating on top of the fireplace. Make the perfect presentation of well collected snow globes, candles, handmade ornaments. We put up the ornaments together (there were a few occurrences when we had to do this more than once because our tree fell over). Perry Como on our CD player, Johnny Mathis on the tape deck.
Every Christmas Eve, my parents hosted my dad’s sister’s family. We would go to church shortly after a Polish meal, my parents diligently made from scratch that morning. Later, we would exchange gifts and have seconds. My cousins and I would listen to Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You and every year, my cousins remind me they danced to that song once (yes, that got annoying). Santa would drive along our town on a fire engine and my mom and aunt would race each other to the door, hoping for a wave. Sometimes coffee flying everywhere.
Without a doubt, a video camera would wake me every Christmas morning. My dad was always up first and then there was my mom armed to capture every single moment. (Ugh, I hated that. I have never seen one of those videos!) We’d open our gifts, have some breakfast, watch the Disney parade, and head to my Grandma’s. Until about ten years ago, after she passed away, and we tried to start another new tradition. Honestly? That one didn’t catch on and we’re still working on it. It’s getting there.
Tradition is a funny thing. It’s constant, and it grows. But it also needs to be flexible. Because things change. Like me moving out, or my cousins getting older and having kids. Or sadly, death. I’ve grown to depend so much on these small moments, a tiny fraction of my entire year that I so look forward to.
Picture source: http://www.talis.com/source/blog/2006/09/
Red Velvet:
I love Christmas - it’s the one holiday that always fills me with excitement, no matter how old I get. As a kid, it was all about Santa, opening presents and spending time with my family. Now, it’s about that plus friends, food (baking!) and creating my own traditions.
I decorate the Christmas tree. My family had been using the same fake Christmas tree and same old (somewhat falling apart) ornaments for as long as I can remember. I’d come home one day from school (or work) and just find the tree set up. Last year I decided that I was going to take charge. I went to Target and bought a new tree (didn’t realize there’d be so many choices!) and new ornaments (including some Hello Kitty ones, of course). Then my family and I actually decorated the tree together. Even my aunt, uncle and two cousins came over to help that night and have dinner with us. I’m planning to do this again this year. It’s how I imagine putting up the Christmas tree should be like - with family and some holiday music playing in the background (and me nitpicking about how everything should look).
Christmas parties. Specifically, non-family ones. I never went to any growing up. It was always just Christmas Eve/Day spent with my mom’s side of the family. During college, I was invited to a friend’s annual family open house. Every second Sunday of December, they host a big party, with plenty of food and wine (and more food). But my favorite part of the night is when we gather in the living room, singing Christmas carols while my friend’s mother plays the piano. She even prints out the lyrics to all the songs beforehand and makes music books for the guests to read from. It’s become a precious and very warm tradition (like a scene right out of a Christmas movie!) that I look forward to each year.
Holiday dinner with my best friends. The four of us started these holiday dinners a year after we graduated from college. We pick a restaurant (cue long email thread as we narrow down our choices), get dressed up and exchange presents. Almost every year is different. One time we made it a whole day event (pedicures, blowouts and getting ready at my house). Another we played Rock Band after exchanging gifts. Now we’re doing Secret Santa. I love that we have this tradition together and four years later, we still make time for it. If I had my way, we’ll keep having these dinners until we’re old and gray (and still wear fancy dresses for them!).
Even though it always amazes me how quickly the Decembers seem to come each year (I feel like it was JUST summer!), I’m glad it’s here. Can’t wait to get started on this year’s round of traditions!
