Many families have some holiday traditions. A few of our regular routines have morphed into family traditions. I hadn’t set out to establish specific annual traditions. They just seemed to spring to life over the course of time.
Each year, my Jewish friend helps me decorate my Christmas tree and stair railings. Her creative nature and artistic eye always elevate my home décor. We enjoy the opportunity to catch up during the whirlwind of the holiday season. Treasured holiday decorations are awakened from hibernation and lovingly displayed, each a tender reminder of their special origin.
Many traditions revolve around food…and not just chocolate. We usually serve huevos rancheros and quesadillas for brunch, a nod to my mother’s Hispanic heritage. And Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without my mother-in-law’s orange rolls, funeral potatoes, layered strawberry Jello, Catalina salad dressing, pineapple sauce, etc.
My husband grew up dining on Æbleskivers on Christmas morning, a traditional Danish treat of spherical, fluffy pancake balls. My sweet 91 year-old mother-in-law joined us for Christmas and prepared multiple batches of the yummy dough balls. She also made sugar cookies for a cookie decorating party. We used the leftover toppings and frosting to decorate our gingerbread houses and molded holiday rice Krispies.
The grandkids look forward to the annual Nativity program, complete with costumes, and the pipe bell Christmas carols. I wised up and got jingle bells for the littles to shake instead of clanging the headache-inducing metal pipes. The adults participate in a White Elephant gift exchange on Christmas Eve, and the kids go on a scavenger hunt on Christmas Day. This year we added some team-building activities at each station for cousin bonding.
The thing we look forward to the most, though, is simply hanging out together. S’mores cooked over the firepit. Popcorn and a holiday movie. Card games. Hunting for seashells at the beach. The simple things in life…enjoyed together.
As I type on my computer, I watch the family photos cycle through my digital picture frame. My kids uploaded some new holiday pics…they warm my heart and make me smile.
