I’m not a sucker for much, but holiday traditions really get me. They are the one time of year when people everywhere, across various cultures and at varied times across the globe, people everywhere are trying to do something PLEASANT. Christmas lights, a succulent ham, shiny garland snaked around a colorful tree, winter solstice feasts, pine boughs made into homemade wreaths. Long holiday office lunches, and frosted cookies that taste better than they look. The Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Event, the Lenin Lighting, Santarchy.
In the spirit of “I’ll show you mine and you show me yours,” here are a couple of traditions I enjoy. Now you show me yours in the Comments Section:
- At some point in my childhood, Mom decided all her kids were old enough to participate in a rather messy holiday tradition: peppermint oranges. To make one, just press & roll an orange around on a table until the orange is soft and squishy to the touch. Bite off both ends of a candy cane that has an air hole down the middle. Then insert the candy cane into the orange like a straw. Drink up! Slurp slurp giggle slurp giggle. (Anybody know where I can get candy canes with holes in them in Wallingford or nearby?? Help!)
- For the last five years or so, my partner and I have carried out our own shopping tradition. Neither of us think the calendar should dictate gift giving, but neither of us are willing to give up the fun of opening gifts in our PJs while drinking cocoa and watching the TBS “A Christmas Story” Marathon. So we do shop a little, by necessity. But we made it really fun: We go to a specific local corner where there are plenty of shops, sync our watches, give ourselves a specified amount of cash, and shop for one hour without running into each other. And you have to spend it all, too. The hard part is not getting caught going into a specialty shop of any type, because that would give something away for sure. It’s always a blast, and Christmas morning usually brings with it some fun surprises.
- One family I know eats, drinks, falls asleep watching Christmas specials, then plays drinking games late into the night.
Your turn!
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My extended family plays a game every Christmas Day where we each compete to be the first to say “Christmas gift!” to everyone else. Over the years, phone calls, voice mails, emails, and now Facebook have all been used as delivery mechanisms for this game. And even when someone ambushes you first, you still have the whole rest of the family to try to beat!
How fun! Hey John, “Christmas Gift!”
Happy happy!
The U. Bookstore had the old fashioned peppermint sticks this year–very expensive before Christmas, but hard to find and maybe on sale now.
We have a family gathering at my sister’s place (since Mom died 4 years ago) for Christmas Eve and then have our children over for a Christmas brunch – eggs Benedict (with a great Hollandaise sauce), bear claws, broiled grapefruit with brown sugar sauce and mimosas. Then a nap. A much needed nap!
Thank you Jamila!
Seattle Alan, that sounds like a blast! Broiled grapefruit with brown sugar sauce… oooh now I am inspired!
Happy Holidays!
How’s this for a holiday tradition? A friend had her adult kids, grand’s and perhaps a few great-grands over for Christmas. Apparently a few of the kids are laid off or working reduced hours, so my friend made a rule: everyone has to bring a present for everyone, but you have to do all your shopping at the Dollar Store! Apparently, they had a ball! Might try it myself next year.
I want to know more about that grapefruit recipe!
I like that one Janey! Fun and something just about anyone can do even in this horrid economy.