As we grow older, we realize that holidays aren't just about material items. They're about spending time together as a family and making memories. It's not about how much you spent on someone, but the brief time you have under the same roof. Since extended families don't often live in the same neighborhood they way they did decades ago, it's a great time to catch up and get nostalgic over the times when you didn't need a plane ticket to see each other. It's good to cherish the time that you have.
Traditions are also great since they can be passed down from generation to generation. If there's something special that you and your parents did around the holidays, like buying a tree at a well-known lot or hanging up decorations as a family, you'll probably make sure to pass those moments on when you're celebrating with a spouse. Even small habits can become important traditions.
While some traditions may be similar, each one is different in its own way. Two families might use the same cookie recipe. But they'll likely taste a little different based on the person making them. Maybe one house uses Splenda while the other uses sugar, or perhaps nuts are added to a recipe that never called for it. Aside from looking forward to these traditions each year, you might find them to be even more important in the future. When relatives pass away, it's nice to remember them by re-creating their special holiday touches.
We reached out to individuals to share some of their own special traditions. Each one is different yet filled with love. Just remember — if you're looking to create your own tradition, they usually come naturally. Think about the elements of the season you love the most and how you can share them with the rest of your family.
Waiting Until the Last Minute To Decorate
"Every year you watch It's a Wonderful Life with your family and someone usually wonders aloud, who the heck is still decorating the tree on Christmas Eve?
"Well, we are. Not due to procrastination, but by tradition. As strange as it may seem — there are some of us that don't decorate our trees until Christmas Eve, and then don't take the tree down until the feast of the Epiphany.
"It's a tradition that goes back to my mother's youth, and it was one of my fondest childhood memories. Our family would prepare a huge buffet: cold cuts, cheese, crackers, chips and dip, petit fours, cookies, Hickory Farms smoked sausage (in case you're wondering who still buys those). Neighbors would stop by, bringing more food, bottles of wine, ornaments to contribute to the tree. Friends came together to chat, laugh, sing a few carols, decorate our tree, many would stay late and go with my mother to midnight mass. That was mom's own tradition; Dad was responsible for prying us kids away from our Christmas loot and getting us to church in the morning, so mom could sleep in and get Christmas dinner started.
"It has always seemed a little strange when many of our friends put up Christmas decorations the first week in December. For our family, keeping this tradition always seemed to add to the building anticipation of Christmas.
"The tradition has evolved; these days it's less of a neighborhood gathering, and more just a few close friends and family. But I host a Christmas Eve gathering every year, guests arrive to find a table full of food, and an unadorned tree, ready to be transformed." — Caroline M., MD
The Sibling Presents
"One terrible thing my mom had us do, was for the kids to buy each other kid a gift. Like when we were 9 or something. I was just clueless what to get my sisters, and for too long would just get things from the checkout aisle in the grocery store. That's a keeper of a present, no?
"When we were small, my sisters would have to wake me up since they inevitably would wake up before me. Particularly my older sister, who although only 11 months older than me ruled me and my younger sister like a military commander. It'd be a plethora of gift opening, starting like at 6 a.m. Then we'd have to go to mass.
"But as we got older, we'd help each other more and find some great gag gifts, or just a very needed gift. So, Christmas Eve, we'd get ONE gift, and one gift only, to open that night. Then, being Catholic, Christmas morning was church first, and then gifts.
"And then in our late teens, sometimes we'd stay up late and open gifts, so we could just sleep in the next morning. My mother, who was always a 'rise and shine' person, I think she hated this practice the most." — Bob K., CA
The Comedy Bit
"On Christmas Day we'd drive to Albany and our whole extended family would be at our cousin's house — my mom's aunt/uncles, all our cousins, our cousins' grandparents, even family friends. And we'd start practicing songs and such, and I think some costumes, after Thanksgiving.
"At my cousin's house, they'd sometimes be making clothes and props in advance. It was a THING. And so it'd be like me and my sisters sing a song, then some cousins, then another group, then like a comedy bit, and then finish up with big Christmas songs. And being Irish several of the audience members might have had a few too many over the course of the day that we'd get some drunken outburst too.
"When we got video cameras, some of this would get taped, but sometimes it was embarrassing, and I don't really recall these tapes were much played again." — Anonymous, NY
Checking Out the Neighborhood Lights
"The week before Christmas, my family went out to get dinner (and not necessarily anything fancy — sometimes Burger King was enough) and then took our time getting home. We used to drive through all different types of neighborhoods and memorable streets. My dad, who grew up in the same town, used to check out the house he grew up in and see if they decorated in any particularly special way.
"Sometimes, we laughed if the decorations were particularly bad — not to be cruel, but more or less a way to bond and discuss what we've seen. Just that moment in the car with the four of us was enough to make it special, but being able to talk about something on the same level was even better. It wasn't about school, or work, or holiday pressures. It was just the four of us slowly driving around, checking out how our neighbors chose to decorate their homes for the occasion. I'm already planning the perfect day for my own neighborhood drive." — Adrienne C., NJ
A Trip to the City
"Growing up, my sister and I would always go into Manhattan where my father worked and visit him and his office during the day on Christmas Eve. Probably so my mom could wrap and get stuff ready, and we'd be out of her hair — but I never really thought of that at the time. It was really exciting getting dressed up and taking the train. Also to play on his work computer, before most people had one at home. Then we'd eat dinner together and watch Scrooge, which is a musical version of A Christmas Carol from 1970. I love that movie. That was probably my favorite family tradition." — Kelly B., NJ
One Hidden Gift
"My family opened one gift on Christmas Eve, but there was also a gift hidden on Christmas Day that we had to find. It was always a big gift, and my dad would give us hot and cold directions to help us find it. As a kid, we would also go to a candlelight church service on Christmas Eve, which was always nice because it was candlelight and quiet and kind of spooky." — Katie B., PA
Game Night
"We opened sibling gifts on Christmas Eve, and followed by having a family dinner and game night. Now, as adults, we play a lot of Monopoly, Scattergories, and Cards Against Humanity. For food, mom would always make polish kielbasa and homemade baked beans, along with a cooked ham for sandwiches." — Danielle R., PA
The Christmas Pickle
"Our big holiday tradition was the Christmas Pickle. Santa hides a special pickle ornament on Christmas Eve. Whichever kid in the family finds it first on Christmas morning gets to open the first present. I always liked it, since it brought some order to Christmas morning." — Jerry D., MD
