Sharing Your Holiday Traditions

Our readers share some of their families’ most memorable holiday traditions.

Many of the most meaningful memories of our lives stem from holiday traditions like baking cookies, decorating a tree, or opening gifts. Such simple acts – repeated year after year – become ingrained in our minds, and we look forward to them for the memories they bring back and the ones they promise to create.

Last week, we?wrote?about a few of our favorite traditions and invited you, our community, to share yours. We were overwhelmed by the incredible stories. Some were filled with humor and others brought back warm memories of lost loved ones. All reminded us of the importance of traditions in strengthening relationships.

We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we do!

A granddaughter remembers her grandparents

Raine from New York sent us a wonderful memory of her grandparents and how she’s planning to continue the tradition with her family.

"After Christmas dinner, my grandfather and grandmother would dress up as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, sneak around the back of the house, and knock on the front door. One of my family members would open the door and in comes Mr. and Mrs. Claus with a sack of presents behind their backs!

They would sit down and start taking out presents with someone’s name on it and each of us would sit on Santa’s lap, tell him what we wanted for Christmas, and we would have our pictures taken. Even the adults participated!

At the end of the party, we would all have an album of pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus that we could cherish throughout the year. We all loved it! What an amazing tradition – I can’t wait to carry it on with my family."

Decorating the tree with memories

Cookie wrote us about a sentimental?ornament?from her great aunt and uncle.

"For my very first Christmas, a great aunt and uncle gave my parents tree ornaments that were a tiny pair of white roller skates, with the date written on them. My parents put them on every tree as I was growing up and when I left home, they were given to me for my tree. They have been on every tree every year as I grew into an adult, married, and had my children.

My kids have all grown up, and moved out of the house, so now, it’s just my husband and me. Those tiny white roller skates will go on the tree again this year, with faded writing, but many fond memories wrapped into 73 years."

A mother's ornament tradition

Krista wrote to us about her kids, ornaments, and?cinnamon buns.

"Every year since my children were born, I have gifted them with a meaningful ornament. It reflects a moment in time that, when we reminisce about each ornament, is a reminder of a part of their journey growing older. These ornaments represent important moments in their lives.

Now they are older and at 14, 20, and 22; however, they still look forward to the ornament specially gifted in honor of their life story that year.

On a lighter note, I also make cinnamon buns. Nothing fancy. Straight out of a can. One year I forgot, and I never heard the end of it from my kids. This just proves that memories and traditions do not have to be fancy, just meaningful."

A daughter’s memory of her dad

We received a particularly moving memory from Helen about her father.

"When I was a little girl, we were very poor. I was the youngest of four kids and our house was small. But we never knew how poor we were. We always had clean clothes and full bellies.

My dad would always go into the woods and would get our cedar Christmas tree. He would set it up – after a few choice words not meant for kids’ ears – and would tie it to the wall so it stood and stayed in place. Dad always put the lights on it with the greatest of care. Then mom would come along and put the ornaments on. This was back in the 60s, so my siblings and I weren’t allowed to handle the ornaments since they were glass; however, we got to put the icicles on the tree.

I learned as I got older how dad always found the perfect tree, and that he shot it down. That’s right, he would shoot our tree down because he thought it kept the top beautiful and green. I guess it also prevented any squirrels or raccoons from coming home with him.

I really miss my dad and his trees. How I would long to hear him grumble when the tree wouldn’t stand straight. He passed away 12 years ago in a tragic accident, one of the worst days of my life.

So, this year in his honor, I have a cedar tree. I grumbled a little when I put it up, I broke out in a rash because I’m allergic to its branches. But dad, this one is for you. I could feel your presence as I put the lights on.

I will forever cherish our tiny house and beautiful trees. I hold you in my heart dad, and even though I didn’t get to say goodbye, I love you.

Love your youngest born, Helen"

Thank you to everyone who shared a holiday tradition and memory with us. We hope these stories inspire you to continue your own traditions – and create new ones for the years ahead!