Thank you Sandy for the writing prompt!
My favorite tradition and most cherished Christmas memories all come from Christmas Eves spent at my fraternal Grandparent's house. We'd all pile in, all three families (my father's sister and her two daughters and husband, my father's brother, his son and daughter and wife, plus us, and my grandparents.)
Over the year's we'd later add grandchildren to the mix. Sadly this tradition ended when my Grandfather passed away. He died in January, and I remember trying to surprise him the Christmas before. We knew he was sick, lung cancer. We knew it was his last Christmas. We'd had a bad year, family wise. With bickering between the brothers and childish stubborness abound. PopPop was sure we weren't coming as half the family wasn't even talking to the other half. You know how it goes. But we had all planned to go there. To suprise him. To put our differences aside and make it the best Christmas Eve ever. The granddaughters, myself included promised to cook and clean to make it easier for my Grandmother. The day before I remember getting a frantic call from my grandmother that PopPop was upset, wouldn't stop crying that no one would be together for Christmas. We had to go and visit immediatlely and spill the beans. We told him not to worry, that we had planned to surprise him. He was all smiles.
These are the pictures from that Christmas Eve 2005... one I will never forget!
The following year we moved the get together to my Uncle's house. And after a falling out some time later, the tradition is now continued at my Dad's house. As we've gotten older, and added more family members, including my Dad's girlfriend's daughters and their family, its still just as important and fun. And this year, more then ever I am really looking forward to the annual get together. It will be Megan's first, the first with my brother and his WIFE! (they were married July 2010).
Way back when we were kids, and still associated with my Mom's family, that would be the destination for Christmas Day dinner. Mom has a huge family 7 brothers and sisters. The house was always packed. Years later that tradition would change, when I was with the Ex we'd spend Christmas day with his family. And now, we spend it with Mark's family. And I wouldn't change a minute of any of it. It works out so well, that both of my family's, (Marconi's and Ceaser's) have get together's on different days. Less stress, less travel time crunches. It's just ideal!
Other traditions that I enjoy include opening ONE gift on Christmas Eve. Though I like Sandy's way of family gifts Christmas Eve to leave room for Santa's delivery the next morning. Brilliant!
We'd also make it a tradition to visit certain events during the holiday season. Chriskindlemarket in Bethlehem, PA. A Dickens Christmas in Wellsboro. Jim Thorpe to shop. This year we added the Santa Train in Jim Thorpe to the mix as well.
This year, tradition is very, very important. Whatever we do, begins a lifetime of traditions for Miss Megan. Right now I am debating taking her to sit with Santa at a mall. The prices are ridiculous as Hubby pointed out, but the picture would be priceless to me. As noted in previous posts we corrected a mistake we almost made and ensured Miss Megan had a big tree for Christmas.
The Ghosts of Christmas Past...
1. music instrument ornaments from Aunt Doreen, saw her walk in the door with them from Thrift Pharmacy, and a few minutes later they were wrapped under the tree for later. :) She later passed away from ovarian cancer.
2. Uncle Leo opening a bale of hay for his horses as a gift
3. Playing Rusty Chevrolet by Da Yoopers.
4. Trying to get everyone together for the obligatory family photo (My dad was the photographer one year and was absent from the photo... so we cut his head out and taped it to the picture)
5. getting all the grandkids together for portraits at Sears to surprise the grandparents
6. playing Santa and being asked to hand out all the gifts, one at a time to the recipients
7. the story of a doomed christmas while my dad was a child, when PopPop came home drunk from an M&M Car Lot (where he worked) christmas party so MomMom through the DECORATED Christmas tree out the back door and said, No Christmas.
8. New Year's Eve parties, dancing and trying to stay awake for the ball drop.
9. working hard each year to make sure there's a homemade, memory-infused gift for everyone. for a few years it was scrapbook pages for the album they'd gotten a previous year, later it was framed prints, this year... well this year its something very similar...
No matter the tradition, it's the memories we create that matter most. Whatever your traditions may be, may your Christmas be full of your favorite things. May the wonder of the season be yours throughout the year.
