Christmas Traditions

Christmas has always been a time filled with tradition. Family traditions dictate how the tree is decorated, when the presents are opened, what food is served for breakfast, what dishes are served at the big holiday dinner. These traditions serve to provide a comforting, warm family celebration.

My family had their own fair share of traditions for the Christmas holiday. When I was a kid, my Mom would make homemade cookies, chocolates and fudge. Chex Mix was another holiday favorite that was made every year (I only liked the rice Chex at the time, although now I eat the wheat ones too). Our tree was always topped by a star, and paper bells and balls hung from the ceiling, draped with crepe paper. In later years, when it was just me, Mom and my Step-Dad Wayne, they would have shrimp cocktail and oyster stew for dinner on Christmas Eve, while I had tomato soup, because I didn’t like either of the things they were having. When we got up on Christmas morning, we would open our stockings while cinnamon rolls baked in the oven, and then we would have breakfast together. After breakfast, and after whatever of my siblings showed up that were in the area to come for Christmas day, we would open up the tree, with the oldest boy in the house playing “Santa” to hand out the gifts.

Once the gifts were all opened up, Mom would arrange all of hers under the tree, while the rest of us took ours to our rooms (and I would tear into whatever toy/electronic/game that I had gotten that year). We would have dinner in the early to mid-afternoon, and dinner was always the same – ham, corn, biscuits, mashed potatoes – all of the yummy holiday dinner stuff. Pies would be served for dessert, and just like that another holiday would be over.

Things have changed quite a bit for me now. My Mom and Step-Dad are both gone. My brothers all live in different states, so I don’t usually see them for the holiday at all. I still have tomato soup for dinner on Christmas Eve, usually, and I still have cinnamon rolls for breakfast (and have a lot of leftovers for later). But that’s where the similarities end. I haven’t had a stocking in six years, because there hasn’t been anyone to make one for me. I don’t make dinner at my house, and in fact don’t even usually spend most of the day there at all. I go to my sister’s house to exchange gifts and to have dinner with her family. Times have changed, and now they’re changing again.

This year I have a new person to add into the mix. I told J that I hadn’t had a stocking since Mom died, and he seemed appalled at that idea, so something tells me that I’ll have one this year – and I’ll be filling one for him, too. I have a star on my tree this year, so Mom’s old tradition of having one is back. Those paper balls and bells are hanging from my ceiling, albeit without the crepe paper. I’m not going to be alone on Christmas Eve, so I might not have my tomato soup for dinner – but that’s okay. I’m sure we’ll come up with something good. We probably will still have cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas Day, because they’re just too yummy to skip, but the rest of the day is going to be completely different. My sister isn’t doing Christmas until the 26th, because one of her sons is coming in from California on Christmas night, and will be spending that evening with his wife’s family. So I might be going to J’s house for Christmas Day. And actually, I’m going to his Aunt’s house for part of Christmas Eve, too.

New traditions are being created, with a few old ones in the mix. If J and I are together next year, then these new ones will be carried on, which is a good thing. But I’m still happy for the old ones that are carrying forward. These old traditions carry with them a piece of my past – they bring the family who are gone and those who can’t be here into the celebration. I see Mom in the star on my tree, and in the majority of the decorations in my house, most of which were hers or which she gave to me. Wayne’s Sugar Bear decoration is on the tree in my bedroom. I’ll still see my sister on the 26th for dinner, gift giving and family fun (and I’ll be bringing J along). My Christmas traditions this year are in flux, but they still bring the holiday home for me in a good way.

What are some of your holiday traditions? Are they changing this year? Are you starting new ones? I’d love to hear!

(Also, do you like my new Christmas header? The super talented Sarah made it for me. Thanks Sarah!)