Christmas Traditions

Sume Christmas Tree 2015

I have been thinking lately about traditions our family has, those that make Christmas CHRISTMAS. We can hunt down a tree in under 10 minutes, hang enough lights on it that you can tan yourself in its lovely glow. We prefer putting up the outside lights on the house on the coldest day of the season—probably because the hot coco we guzzle afterwards tastes all the sweeter.

My dad’s Christmas legacy is that we open the majority of our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. My dad loved Christmas and by Christmas Eve he was so over the anticipation part and ready to commence with the great ripping of paper and the ohhing and ahhing over presents.

My mom’s tradition of Santa putting an orange in the toe of our stockings continues, even if “Santa” has now switched to mini “Cuties”—Clementines instead. And I’m pretty sure my sister has continued her traditional stealth attack of early unwrapping and then re-wrapping of gifts with her name on them. “Do Not Open Until Christmas” is just so much white noise to her. Anyway, that’s the excuse I use if my wrapping job ever looks askew.

When my kids were small I thought it would be fun to start a tradition called “The 12 Treats of Christmas” wherein, over the course of the entire month of December, I bake or make a dozen different type of holiday goodies. It seemed like a good idea at the time—31 days, 12 treats...divide by...carry the one...ANYWAY—it seemed do-able. But, as with most things in life, putting it in to practice was another matter entirely. As December draws to a close I often find myself postulating that stirring hot water in to coco THAT I BROUGHT TO A BOIL constitutes treat #8.

This Christmas I wish you and those you love a season full of traditions, new or old. Merry Christmas!