One of the things that I love most about the holidays is the re-emergence of traditions. There’s something about silly little nothings that work to bring people together – family, friends, neighbors. Traditions. Moments.
My favorite traditions:
Caroling and bell ringing in Beacon Hill. Of the two years that I lived in Boston this was one of the most memorable and heart-warming moments for me. Hundreds of people gather on Christmas Eve in the charming Beacon Hill neighborhood to sing traditional carols. It’s groups of people who are suddenly no longer strangers but friends gathered in a cheerful pastime.
Three presents from Santa. While I was growing up, Santa always put three presents under the tree for each of us kids. Three presents because that was what Christ received at his birth – gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The awkward family photos. Okay, honestly, I hated these growing up. Why should we suffer through endless number of photos, timer after timer while mom ran back and forth hoping that in at least one photo we would all look fairly normal. But now, I’m so glad my mom forced these on us. There’s the photo of all of us in horribly ugly brightly-colored winter coats, and the one in which we are all in perfectly matching Christmas outfits. There’s last year’s photo where I had had enough of the insanity and made a dogpile out of our perfect arrangement.
Christmas card garland. My Grandma Oke-Doke used to hang each and every card she received around the door frame in her living room. I loved being a kid and looking through every card. Now I do the same with the cards I receive.
Appetizer dinner. For dinner on Christmas Eve we used to have an appetizer-only meal. Each kid was allowed to pick their favorite app so the table was covered delectable treats. We’re talking shrimp, jalapeno poppers, breaded mushrooms, mini pizzas, mozzarella sticks, bacon-covered water chestnuts, taco dip and Tostitos, etc… The timing of the oven is a bit tricky, but man is it worth the kitchen chaos.
The star on 5th Avenue. When I lived in New York, despite all the amazing sites around, one of my favorite things to see was the star on 5th Avenue. It was big and bright and could be seen from blocks away. I would intentionally walk home from work often for the two months it hung overhead, just to take in the view.
Loved this post - thanks for sharing.
We no longer have ‘traditions’ - our kids have gone to the 4 winds, and we ourselves will soon be ‘on the road’ full-time in our motorhome.
Growing up, it was Dad under the tree Christmas morning, handing out presents one at a time. Lunch with Mum’s family at her parents, then home to dinner. Boxing Day (December 26) was off to Nanna’s (Dad’s mum) for barbecue, backyard/beach cricket (she lived over the road from the beach, there were a lot of balls chased into the ocean), until well after midnight.
Once we all (well, most of us) left home, it was our own families on the actual day, with phone calls to Mum & Dad, then out to their place Boxing Day. Dad would put on a Santa hat, and park himself under the tree, handing out gifts one at a time - he’d still wait until 1 was opened, passed around and admired before moving on to the next. When he died 9 years ago, Christmas died with him.
My mother has since remarried to a lovely man, and has moved away. She is back this year, and we are all going to my sister’s tomorrow for lunch - it will be beautiful and difficult at the same time; this may be the last Christmas I see my mum.
Once we are travelling, we will make new ‘just us’ traditions……
I too put my cards around the door frame. Merry Christmas my friend!
Still Blonde after all these YEARS recently posted..Hickory Farms, 60 Years of Hickory Tradition
So many traditions… one of ours used to be to make this one type of pastry and it has been so long I cant recall the name just that Mom always made it . It was like a connamon roll with extra stuff rolled up and she baked it in a cast oron skillet. I so wish I could remember how to even spell it.