Tradition!

Written Thursday, December 24th, 2009 by Anne Coleman

Each family has traditions they hold fast to during the Holiday season, whether it's Aunt Mabel's fruitcake or the star that tops the tree, the comfort and familiarity of family traditions enhances the celebration. We are no exception to the rule. Although some of our traditions went by the wayside and others have come and gone, there are a few that we hope our children will cling to and pick up as they move on.

1. Our tree is always real. We used to be able to get to a tree farm and cut one down, but the past few years have found us at the corner lot picking up an already-cut version. One year we had absolutely no room for a tree so I improvised and made one out of paper. I hung it on the wall above my grandmother's hope chest and strung lights on it. It worked and the kids didn't seem to miss the real tree at all.

We also have several ornaments that must be on the tree each year. Three of them were given to me by my mother with a small not attached. They are ornaments from Bronner's in Frankenmuth, Michigan - a Christmas village where you can find anything and everything Christmas related year-round. Mom and dad had bought the ornaments early on in their marriage, and after my father passed mom gave them to me. The angel above is one of the three.

2. Our annual Christmas Eve party. This is a party just for the kids and us, nobody else is allowed (unless there is an extenuating circumstance and there is someone we know who has nowhere else to be) and we light every candle we have, light luminarias on the front walk and porch, turn on Christmas songs, put out a table full of appetizer-type food and eat 'til bursting. We usually watch a Holiday movie and attempt to get the kids to bed before midnight.

3. My husband and I stay up after the kids are in bed and wrap presents by "Christmas light" and exchange a single gift between the two of us.

4. In the morning we wake the kids (YES, we are up before they are!) by ringing bells and telling them they just missed the Big Guy.

5. Food! While our main dish changes from year to year, there are several desserts that would be sorely missed if we didn't have them. Nanaimo Bars, a plate of fish and crackers, pumpkin pie, and cut cookies are the staples here.

6. A bowl full of oranges (Clementines) in remembrance of my grandfather, Theodore Sharp. When he would wake on Christmas morning there was an orange and a penny in his stocking and they always had homemade vanilla ice cream on Christmas Day. I want my children to always understand how fortunate they are that we are able to have so much. We are not well-off by today's standards but I still believe we are richer than most in what we do have, and I am very grateful for it. I want them to learn that as well.

What are the traditions your family holds to if you're celebrating winter holidays?