Saturday, December 11, 2010
Advent Calendar - December 11 - Other traditions
Another holiday tradition in our family involves giant stockings. We all love those really really big stockings and at one time, there were 12 of us with them. Santa has to come up with all kinds of things to fill those stockings, but usually included a coconut in the toe, and giant sized apples or oranges with the stems on them at the top, with candy canes of all colors hanging on the outside. Favorites in the stocking were unshelled nuts of all kinds, golden chocolate coins of all countries and books of Lifesaver rolls. A recent tradition has been added by our family of a bag of favorite chips at the top and a box of Queen Anne cherry chocolates. And yes, it has to be that brand, because they're liquid inside with a real cherry not gooey and not marachino. As you can tell by my posts, alot about our Christmas traditions revolves around food!
Advent Calendar - December 9 - Christmas gifts
What were your favorite gifts, both to receive and to give? Are there specific gift-giving traditions among your family or ancestors?
My favorite gifts have always been those that were either handmade with care or those thoughtfully purchased and made individual for me.
My family has a tradition of allowing each child to open one gift on Christmas eve, and once they had grandchildren, my mom started purchasing special Christmas pajamas for all the grandkids to open and wear. Traditionally, we open our gifts on Christmas morning, everyone all at the same time, with Grandpa or Dad doing the passing out.
My favorite gifts have always been those that were either handmade with care or those thoughtfully purchased and made individual for me.
My family has a tradition of allowing each child to open one gift on Christmas eve, and once they had grandchildren, my mom started purchasing special Christmas pajamas for all the grandkids to open and wear. Traditionally, we open our gifts on Christmas morning, everyone all at the same time, with Grandpa or Dad doing the passing out.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Advent Calendar - December 7 - Christmas cookies
Baking was such an integral part of Christmas at our house that I really believe that we created some type of delight every single day of Advent! The cookies abounded. There were so many and such variety that I really believe we must have tried every recipe that my mother came across. My all time favorite though, had to be peanut butter, not just to eat but to make!
When rolling the soft dough, if my fingers could make it a perfect ball, then taking a fork and pressing oh so gently one way, then the next would create an absolutely round cookie with a perfect grid on top. What fun that was! We would make a batch of those that way, then another day, we would make the same recipe, but use our thumb to make a little groove on top. These cookies were baked and then, when soft out of the oven, we'd carefully press a chocolate kiss into the thumb groove. The warmth of the cookie made the kiss melt just a little into the cookie itself and that was a tiny taste of Heaven on earth!!
I do believe that I will create that memory in my kitchen this very evening! YUM!
When rolling the soft dough, if my fingers could make it a perfect ball, then taking a fork and pressing oh so gently one way, then the next would create an absolutely round cookie with a perfect grid on top. What fun that was! We would make a batch of those that way, then another day, we would make the same recipe, but use our thumb to make a little groove on top. These cookies were baked and then, when soft out of the oven, we'd carefully press a chocolate kiss into the thumb groove. The warmth of the cookie made the kiss melt just a little into the cookie itself and that was a tiny taste of Heaven on earth!!
I do believe that I will create that memory in my kitchen this very evening! YUM!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Advent Calendar - December 6 - Holiday parties
Did your family throw a holiday party each year? Do you remember attending any holiday parties?
For our family, the entire season was a party! Cooking and decorating, singing and laughing. The most wonderful time of the year!
Our family did have a tradition of a New Years Eve party, where we played board games and ate snack foods until midnight, then at midnight, we all grabbed pots, pans and spoons and rang in the New Year (and woke up the neighbors!) It was great fun!! And then, everyone had to eat black-eyed peas for good luck, at least as many as you were old (for the little ones who hated peas!)
For our family, the entire season was a party! Cooking and decorating, singing and laughing. The most wonderful time of the year!
Our family did have a tradition of a New Years Eve party, where we played board games and ate snack foods until midnight, then at midnight, we all grabbed pots, pans and spoons and rang in the New Year (and woke up the neighbors!) It was great fun!! And then, everyone had to eat black-eyed peas for good luck, at least as many as you were old (for the little ones who hated peas!)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Advent Calendar - December 5 - Christmas Santa
Todays prompts involved Santa traditions.
I believe in Santa and write a letter every year. I don't remember visiting Santa to tell him my list ever when I was little. I think I would have been too scared. (Debbie, Melba? Did I?)
Our church sponsors a Breakfast with Santa every year and we've done that for 13 years running now to see Santa, take a photo, and give him their wishlist.
My children write their letters to mail to the North Pole usually the weekend after Thanksgiving. A few times I have had to send an update via chimney mail for them closer to Christmas, as things change (and with a December birthday!).
In recent years, we've also sent him an email to make sure he gets it.
We also LOVE to watch the NORAD Santa tracker and have done that for years!!!
I believe in Santa and write a letter every year. I don't remember visiting Santa to tell him my list ever when I was little. I think I would have been too scared. (Debbie, Melba? Did I?)
Our church sponsors a Breakfast with Santa every year and we've done that for 13 years running now to see Santa, take a photo, and give him their wishlist.
My children write their letters to mail to the North Pole usually the weekend after Thanksgiving. A few times I have had to send an update via chimney mail for them closer to Christmas, as things change (and with a December birthday!).
In recent years, we've also sent him an email to make sure he gets it.
We also LOVE to watch the NORAD Santa tracker and have done that for years!!!
Advent Calendar - December 4 - Christmas Decorations
Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?
For many years, we were the only ones in our neighborhood that decorated with lights and there were not that many in our small town at all, actually. We had a chain link fence and my Dad would spend an entire day out there stringing those giant multicolored outdoor lights on the top of the fence and outlining the eves of the house. I love outdoor lights!
About 20 miles away, there was a house of an older couple who died and left a trust to maintain a Christmas display every year. It was an entire yard with moving elves on a carousel and merry-go-round and 'decorating' a tree, complete with music. There were candles in windows and lights all over the house. It was our family tradition to drive over there on Christmas eve to just sit in the street in front of it in awe.
For many years, we were the only ones in our neighborhood that decorated with lights and there were not that many in our small town at all, actually. We had a chain link fence and my Dad would spend an entire day out there stringing those giant multicolored outdoor lights on the top of the fence and outlining the eves of the house. I love outdoor lights!
About 20 miles away, there was a house of an older couple who died and left a trust to maintain a Christmas display every year. It was an entire yard with moving elves on a carousel and merry-go-round and 'decorating' a tree, complete with music. There were candles in windows and lights all over the house. It was our family tradition to drive over there on Christmas eve to just sit in the street in front of it in awe.
Advent Calendar - December 4 - Christmas cards
I am late with my posts again. Sorry!
Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards from your ancestors?
Yes, my family has sent out cards for decades. My parents would send out about 75 cards. We have a huge extended family and many family friends that they stay in touch with. My mom would always take about 4 strands of silver tinsel and create an entire wall draped with a zigzag pattern to hang the cards we received. And we have saved every card from everyone, all neatly arranged by year in boxes. I still send out about 30 cards each year. I have moved to an electronic version of the now-popular yearly recap letter complete with photos, to brag about my children.
Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards from your ancestors?
Yes, my family has sent out cards for decades. My parents would send out about 75 cards. We have a huge extended family and many family friends that they stay in touch with. My mom would always take about 4 strands of silver tinsel and create an entire wall draped with a zigzag pattern to hang the cards we received. And we have saved every card from everyone, all neatly arranged by year in boxes. I still send out about 30 cards each year. I have moved to an electronic version of the now-popular yearly recap letter complete with photos, to brag about my children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
