The holiday season brings many, many traditions that are observed by family and friends.  Some of these have been passed down from generation to generation, some are created from the blending of families through marriage or commitment, and some are newly created on the spot in a single year that turn into an annual occurrence.

When I was growing up, the big night for our family was Christmas Eve.  Following an evening church service (where my brother and I were probably shepherds or uncomfortably dressed Persian Kings), we’d make the rounds to various family homes.  We’d visit my aunt, my grandparents, and then a stop at our own house, opening gifts at each location.  As a kid, it was a flurry of hugs, tissue paper, laughter, and Christmas cookies.  We’d end the revelry in the wee hours of early Christmas morning, feasting at yet another aunt’s home before forcing our excited yet tired bodies into bed, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas day.  Following a morning of Chris Kringle antics, we’d then gather again at my grandparent’s home for Christmas dinner in the afternoon.

As my own kids arrived and grew up, we continued gathering at various homes on Christmas Eve, and we tried to add in other things that were our own annual holiday traditions.  Watching “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on DVD, driving around to look at Christmas lights, and hiding the “Christmas pickle” on the tree became our own shared yuletide experiences.  Even today, although my kids are in college, they still love to come home to a decorated house, still get giddy about their full stockings on Christmas morning, and look forward to Christmas dinner at my mother’s house, where we have those English “crackers” that contain a paper crown and a cheesy toy or joke to share.  Where she finds those things every year I have no idea, but she does.

The season just doesn’t seem complete until I receive annual Christmas cards from friends and family, wrap my packages while listening to Nat King Cole smoothly croon “The Christmas Song”, or pop open a can of cranberry ginger ale.  I love to go and see the model trains at the Hagerstown Roundhouse, check out the lights in Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport, or see the period decorations at Plumb Grove in Clear Spring.  Other than that, you’ll find me on most evenings just sitting in my darkened living room, illuminated only by the Christmas tree, fireplace, and other Christmas lights, while I sip on a glass of wine and listen to classic Christmas music on my TV, quietly soaking up the ambience of the holidays.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

This year, the early weather reports indicate that we even have a chance for a “White Christmas”, with forecasts of snow on both the 22^nd and 23^rd.  Wouldn’t that just be icing on the cake? 

No matter what your family traditions are, whether they be new or old, I hope you all have a great holiday season!

I’ll be taking the next two weeks off for the holidays, but I’ll be back in 2023 with more musings from my muddled mind.  Talk to you in the new year!