Holiday Traditions

 

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

      Thinking about today’s blog and I thought about holiday traditions. Those things that you seem to do every year and now have turned into something special you enjoy doing. Do you have any holiday traditions that you did when you were younger or now?

 

1. Counting the Christmas Lights: any time we would drive anywhere my sister and I would count the Christmas lights in trees. My sister and I would turn it into a serious competition. There was this one restaurant that had about fifteen trees with lights and we would argue who saw them first every time we passed it. My mom finally said that the trees we off limits in our game.

 

2. Buying a new ornament: every year my mom would let us pick a new ornament to put on the tree. Most times we would go up to the mountains the day after Thanksgiving and find an ornament there. Other times we would make ornaments at home. We still have them all and put them up on one of the trees.

 

3. Decorating the tree: the weekend before Thanksgiving we would put up the tree after dinner. My job was to separate the branches into piles by the color. We would put the tree together. My dad would string the lights while we pulled out the decorations. My mom would have Christmas music on and make us some hot cocoa. It would take us about two hours to put the tree together.

 

4. Watching the Nutcracker on Christmas Eve: for over ten years I’ve been watching the Nutcracker ballet on Christmas Eve. I believe I started it one year when I was spending the holiday by myself. I started having a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine while watching it. It’s become one of my favorite traditions.

 

5. Making tamales: for our Christmas dinner it was always Mexican food and the main dish was tamales. This takes some time to do so the month before we would gather at my grandparents’ house and we have an assembly line and make them. By the time we were finished each family had about six or seven dozen to enjoy for months. 

Tis the season for joy and cheer! So glad you stopped by. Wishing you a wonderful rest of your [day/evening/morning], wherever your holiday adventures may take you. Until next time...

Old Fashioned Christmas

 

Bring in some Holiday Joy

 

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” (Norman Vincent Peale)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

  

    As we enter the final stretch of 2024, let's fill our days with the warmth and wonder of the Christmas season. Whether you're a full-blown holiday enthusiast or prefer a quieter celebration, there are countless ways to add a little sparkle to your life. Here are a few ideas to inspire you. Please share your favorite holiday traditions in the comments!

1. Decorate a tree

2. Hang lights in your kitchen, family or wherever you spend the most time in your home.

3. Listen to Christmas music

4. Watch a Christmas movie or cartoon

5. Read a holiday book

6. Bake some cookies

7. Make hot cocoa with some marshmallows

8. Find a new recipe to make for Christmas dinner or dessert

9. Burn a holiday candle

10. Have a snowball fight

11. Build a snowman

12. Drive around looking at Christmas lights

13. Send out some Christmas cards

14. Put Christmas stocking together, go to Dollar Tree and have some fun

15. Decorate a gingerbread house

16. Make a center piece for your Christmas dinner

17. Make some Christmas ornaments

18. Dress up for your holiday dinner, even if it’s just two of you.

19. Wear Christmas pajamas

20. Make a wreath for your front door

 

Tis the season for joy and cheer! So glad you stopped by. Wishing you a wonderful rest of your [day/evening/morning], wherever your holiday adventures may take you. Until next time...