I have wanted to use that line for years. I always forget. I don’t remember the story it comes from but I do remember it has been very special to me.
Christmas is my favorite holiday. I think that is true because of the traditions of Christmas. Each family has traditions. And through the years the traditions have changed.
Growing up we spent Christmas Eve at my grandmother’s house. I’m sure she would cook for us and then we would exchange presents. Most of the time Grandma gave me a flannel gown. We would go home and get ready to go to midnight Mass. We always went to St. Joseph Church in Butchertown. It is such a beautiful church but midnight Mass is gorgeous at St. Joseph. When my sister was in the first grade she put baby Jesus in the crib. That was always so special in our house. Christmas Day was my mother’s birthday. Santa Clause came over night but we had to make a big deal about it being Mom’s birthday. We would go to her mother’s house and we would celebrate her and her twin’s birthday the rest of the day. Mama (Mom’s mother) had one of those aluminum trees that had a spotlight with different colored filters. Mama had glass balls on this tree. One year my brother and cousin were in the living room by themselves and they took those glass balls off of the tree and smashed them into the carpet. They were in so much trouble. Everyone always reminisced about that.
Through the years our Christmases changed but not really. When my grandparents died we ended up just going to our aunt’s house instead, or everyone came to our house. The big thing to do was to see if we could get Mom to cry. We wanted to give Mom the present that would make her cry. My sister was the best at that . One year she got Mom & Dad a bicycle built for two. Another year she bought Mom a rocker. Mom would just cry.
My children try to get me to cry. One of them usually do. Even though our traditions we still have plenty. Christmas Eve morning we go to Cracker Barrel to have breakfast. After that we head over to the mall. Jimmy always gives the kids some money with the express rule to buy themselves a present that they really want. They used to do that but anymore they hoard the money to buy gas or groceries or presents for others or dog food. But we are just taking a laid-back day. Sometimes we go to the grocery to get what we need for Christmas Day. I always cook ham and potato salad. We always go to midnight Mass that is held at 10PM. For years Jimmy’s family would have breakfast after Mass. I would love to do that but it would be a lot of work and it’s so late and you don’t know how many would come. Maybe I’ll do that one year. Christmas Day is very laid back. I’m all about opening presents right away so that we have all day to enjoy the presents. Jimmy always has to be last in giving out his presents. One year he waited all day before he gave me my presents. I was so mad by the time he gave them to me. He hasn’t done that again.
I always told my kids that Santa Claus only comes if you wake up in my home. I make sure they have presents but Santa doesn’t come. I understand that they want to stay home with their children. It’s just a new tradition. We get together after Christmas. We’ll go to a Kentucky State Park and spend a day or two together. Hopefully that gives them the best of both worlds. A couple of years ago I told them we were going to do stocking stuffers and that has turned into a whole lot of fun. One year all of the power went out at the park and we opened our presents in the dark. The next year everybody got flashlights and lanterns.
Traditions are important. They are who we are. Why don’t you celebrate yours today? Better yet, share them with us and with your family.
Merry Christmas!