Family traditions at Christmas

Posted

Tradition. Tradition. Tradition. America is full of them. Traditions give order to the world around us, especially now at Christmas time. Without traditions our lives would be…chaotic, and as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.

According to People magazine there are some traditions that are uniquely American. They include tailgate parties, watching Super Bowl commercials,  trick-or-treating at Halloween, the Presidential turkey pardon, black Friday shopping and groundhog day.

Other traditions that come to mind are tipping for services, fireworks on the fourth of July, baby showers, high school prom and of course leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus.

You can probably come up with some more traditions if you think about it. No holiday is more abundant in traditions than Christmas. It has lights, a tree, songs, special movies, gifts and more,

Today I want to share my families’ Christmas traditions. Of course some traditions have evolved as our children went from diapers, to school, to college and moved away.

For our family it all starts the day after Thanksgiving…not what you think. Black Friday shopping is not part of our tradition. That’s when Connie starts to drag out the Christmas decorations.

She starts with a tall narrow decorated tree on the landing of our stairs and then adds garland and lights on the handrail. Then the fireplace mantel decorations are changed from fall to Christmas. Next our dining room and entry way get in the holiday mood.

By the weekend our 10 foot artificial tree — that we have had for 12 years — is erected in our great room. Finally the creche — made by my grandfather Ed out of barn wood from the original Koepke farm — is placed under the tree with everything but the baby Jesus. He arrives on Christmas day.

Within a week our house has been transformed and is ready for Christmas.

When our children were in grade school they had a tradition of going next door to grandmother’s house and making/decorating Christmas cookies.

On Christmas eve we dress up — suits and ties for the guys and dresses for the ladies — and go to holy Mass at 6 o’clock.

After church we gather at our home for some good ham sandwiches on rye bread, large peel and eat shrimp, meatballs, homemade cookies and a toast to Christmas with some adult beverages.

Then we pose for a family picture in front of the packages and tree because it’s tradition, tradition!

Our family sits in a large semi-circle around the tree as the packages are divvied up. The youngest — that’s Abby — picks one package to open. Then the next oldest until our patriarch, my dad opens one. As this happens a slide show of photos from past Christmas’ are playing on the TV.

Then the circle starts again.

The kids all throw the torn wrapping paper and ribbons in a big pile behind the couch. It’s their tradition.

Half way through we stop for hot cocoa with a shot of peppermint schnapps and more cookies. Then we play the Saran wrap ball Christmas game, a new tradition.

By the time we finish it’s almost 11 p.m.

After Connie in her kerchief and I in my cap have had a long winters nap we wake for a Christmas day breakfast. The last two years this has been at Jacob and Jess’ house as we spread the tradition.

Mother and I race to see who can proclaim the words “Christmas gift” first. This truly American tradition goes back as early as 1844. The person being told “Christmas gift” is expected to present the person saying it to them with a small present.

Later in the day the kids gather around my mother’s Christmas tree to see who can find the hidden pickle in the tree. It’s usually Hillary or Abby.

In the evening we gather at our house for the Christmas feast. It migrated from mom and dad’s house two years ago.

We sit down to prime rib or rib eye roast, twice baked potatoes, creamed pearl onions — this tradition goes back to my great-grandmother on my fathers side — and green beans. For dessert we dig into more homemade Christmas cookies.

Finally the ladies and young adults put together a Christmas puzzle. It’s tradition.

The best tradition of all is having our family together sharing each other’s love.

Whatever your tradition I hope and pray that your Christmas is full of blessings and love this year.