We have quite a few family holiday traditions, so here they are- in no particular order. Like usual.
10.) Every year, for one or more family gatherings, I get tapped to make the fancy green bean casserole.
9.) We try to put up our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. Though, this year, it didn’t happen until last night. But, at least it’s up.
8.) We tie our Christmas tree to a hook in the ceiling with high tensile strength fishing line because…
7.)…the cats climb the damn tree.
6.) I also usually get tapped to make Welsh cakes. And then everyone argues discusses whether or not they taste like my grandma’s.
5.) Everyone in my family, immediate and extended, has a one of a kind, cross stitched stocking designed by me. So far, I’ve made 22 of them.
4.) My favorite holiday decoration is the last thing that my grandma knitted for me before she died. It’s this Christmas castle. It’s whimsical and fun and reminds me of her.
3.) It’s not unusual to get or give gifts in my family that aren’t quite finished. I can tell you how many times my grandma or my mom have given us fabric pieces that were cut out but not sewn, partially knitted items still on the needles, or sometimes, skeins of yarn and a pattern booklet. My mom used to write a note to us from Mrs. Claus who was usually overwhelmed or overworked and needed our mom’s help to finish the gifts. We totally bought it.
2.) I am literally Leslie Knope about Christmas. I’m probably the least competitive person you’ll ever meet. Unless…it’s a gift giving occasion. If it’s time to give a gift, I work really hard to either find, or make, the best gift for whomever I’m giving it to. I’m honestly kind of obsessive about it. My niece, Lex, often says that I “win Christmas” or I “win birthdays”. It’s a sickness. But, I also really, really love finding or making the perfect gift for someone.
1.) My mom started this one, but all of us kids and our spouses have cheerfully carried on the quirky tradition of how we address gifts. For instance, there are never presents from my mom or Santa. We address the gifts in such a way that gives a hint about what’s inside. Like, one of my brothers got a microscope kit from Marie Curie one year. Back in the 80s, I got leg warmers from Rudolph Nureyev. My kids have gotten stuff from Blackbeard, Long John Silver, and Grace O’Malley. (There was a really loooooong pirate period in our house.) I’ve gotten gifts from Nimue and Merlin and even Alexander Hamilton. It’s so much fun, and it gets squirrelier every year. It’s probably my favorite of all our traditions.
What are some of your family’s traditions? I’d love to hear about them!
I think it’s just me this week, though Jess said she might post hers later. If she does, I’ll update with a link.
We don’t do this anymore, but when the kids were little, we had the “Christmas Tree Camp-Out.”
The first night the tree is up is almost unbearably exciting for little ones. It’s too hard to turn off those sparkly lights and go to bed. So, we made sure to always put the tree up the first weekend in December, and then we’d bring out the sleeping bags and sleep right next to the Christmas tree, with the tree itself acting as our nightlight.
My kids are big now, but they still remember those days fondly. Maybe they’ll start that tradition with their own families someday.