Christmas Traditions at our House

Christmas Traditions at our House.

Christmas is full of traditions, from putting up a tree, to hanging stockings over the fireplace. During the years, our family has added to the list and I thought I would share a few with you.

My husband complains that commercialism has Christmas coming earlier and earlier. So in our house, Christmas is not allowed to start until Santa arrives in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We gave up TV five years ago, so we sit in front of our computer and watch the Earth Cams as they show the parade marching by. I always get a thrill seeing Santa on his float. I love Christmas and this year I squealed like a child, “It’s here, Santa is here!” My husband laughed at my overwhelming enthusiasm.

Another tradition we started is we decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving. Our adult sons come over to help and this year brought their wives and daughters. The women work inside and the men put up the lights and outside decorations. Then after dinner, we all decorate the tree. We have a special angel that we bought in Germany, while my husband was stationed there, that has been gracing our tree for over twenty five years. She of course goes on top. We also have ornaments that once belonged to my deceased grandparents that now decorate our tree, and every year, everyone in the family gets at least one new ornament.

For my granddaughters first Christmas, I bought them a small tree, pink for the oldest, and purple for the second granddaughter, and filled it with “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments I collected once they were born. This year, my oldest granddaughter put her ornaments on her family tree at home, while my baby granddaughter gets to look at the lights of the tree grandma gave her this year. I also bought each granddaughter a stocking to be kept at grandma’s house and then beaded their names on it with white and red pearls. Grandma loves to get hair bows, little books, and teething toys to fill it with, not to mention the traditional orange.

Another tradition we started long ago, is each night from Thanksgiving on, we watch one of the many Christmas movies we have on DVD. My husband’s favorites are “Scrooged” and “Christmas Vacation”. Mine are “The Holiday” and “Love Actually”. Then there are the timeless classics, “Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street” and “White Christmas” that warm our hearts every year. We now have more movies than days, so we have to pick and choose. My newest daughter-in-law added “The Polar Express” to our must watch list.

We actually have several more traditions, but I’m not going to spill everything. I guess you could say Christmas is celebrated in grand style at the Block House. To all of you, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and wish you the grace of Peace this Holiday Season. What is your favorite tradition at your house?