JFF - Tell Me About Your Holiday Traditions

Well, this Thanksgiving is going to be entirely new! We will be home, alone with just our household. Usually we either go somewhere or we host the meal here. Sometimes with family, other times with friends, occasionally we have neighbors or acquaintances with no place to go.

This year, my family is on an alternate schedule because of hunting and work (not retail), my husband's family is volunteering or working, our friends all have plans, and we don't know anyone that is alone this year to invite. So - just the four of us. I'm still making dinner, but very much scaled down.

We visit with family the weekends before and after Christmas. Christmas day is just for us. We took a page from our Jewish friends and often see a movie in the afternoon if there is something family-friendly showing, and we get Chinese takeout for dinner. The employees in the theater are 100% volunteer and get 2.5x pay, btw.

I guess the only tradition about Thanksgivingving is what is served... Though we do have a special dip that is reserved for special occasions and holidays. (It is a garlic dip that will make you REEK for a week or so, plus it is mostly cream cheese and very fattening; so we eat it very rarely. Lol.)

We celebrate a combination of Christmas and Yule.

My favorite tradition is (LOTS of) balloons on Christmas morning. My dad started it just for fun, and I loved it so much I have used it for my daughter.

Our other tradition is our "Yule" log... Because we don't have a fireplace to burn a traditional log. So I usually find a suitable small pine log, flatten the bottom, and carve three holes in the top. Then my daughter and I decorate it, and we burn red, green, and white candles (to represent he changing of the season) in the weeks preceding Christmas Day.

My daughter also makes an ornament every year. So far, I have made a plaster mold of her handprint and let her paint them, and attach that year's Christmas picture to the back before glazing.

While we didn't grow up doing this. I am keen on having an annual cheesy x-mas family photo with matching pyjamas, or ugly sweaters or something of that ilk. It makes me happy in a kitschy way.

Best,
F. B.

We did a new one this year.
Started Jan 1st, the kids put in a 2013 box of good thoughts, verses, sleepovers, vacations, and who knows what eles...new friends, a party, a visit.... anyway it is packed !!!!!!!! at least 10 a month has been inserted over the year. On New Years Eve, we will read them all. So excited.
I have always done pics but this will be unique to share for what happen in 2013.

My family didn't attend church regularly when I was growing up, and now church is a major part of our holiday celebrations. We start celebrating on the first Sunday in Advent when we put up the tree, decorate the house and have a special advent supper. During advent we attend special carol services at our church as well as friends churches, we go on a community sleigh ride, go to the festival of trees and lights, attend several Christmas parties and concerts and attend the symphony. Christmas Eve we have a special dinner and attend the late service at church. When we get home the kids open one gift, a new pair of pj's, then we put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The kids open stockings Christmas morning, then a big breakfast followed by opening gifts. We spend most of Christmas day at home watching movies and playing games, and maybe go out tobogganing if it's nice, then we have a nice supper. Boxing Day we go to my brothers for a big family dinner. Over the break we go skating, tobogganing, to the theatre for a Robert Munch play, the museum, and the drive through Christmas light display. We celebrate right through New Years, when we attend the levy at the legislative buildings,until Epiphany, when we have a special dinner and take down the tree.

We cut down our own tree and greenery (make a wreath and other decorations) each year...the permit is $10. We go up in the mountains from our house with the kids all bundled up. They can use snowshoes if it is deep or their x-country skis. To me, this is very special. We like to do a family project making some gifts. Last year my son (who was 8) and I did tin art and made punched tin ornaments. He was really into it. I always make homemade jam for family members and something like a small artwork. We have the tradition of doing my grandma's sugar cookie recipe each year that we roll out and then use my mom's old cookie cutters. The kids have a blast decorating these with a bunch of colored icing. We also make gingerbread houses...either a kit or even just a graham cracker one. We always go skiing and ice skating as well.