I love holiday traditions – the memories that are made live on forever, from generation to generation. This time of the year is especially filled with traditions in my family.
The Traditions Begin!
The day after Thanksgiving is the start of our traditional “marathon”. Outcome of the tree, ornaments, and all other decorations. The tree would be set up and we’d start on the lights. Apparently, my husband was the only one that understood my mom’s insisting on the correct way to string the lights. Now we have pre-lit trees which makes it 100 times easier!
Next, we unwrap all of the ornaments, and memories start flowing. Every year, until they were stopped being produced, my parents bought a Hallmark rocking horse ornament with the year on it. They are placed chronologically going down the tree. In my house we have the clay families with the date on them…it’s fun to see just R and I, and then there is one where I am pregnant with R, and then slowly the family members (and pets) have made it onto an ornament and our tree. By the time we are wrapping the stair rails and hanging the stockings, we are pooped. BUT the house looks so warm and inviting – I love this time of year!
What’s Christmas Without a Little Disney?
The past three or so years we have gone to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas at Disney World – it is the unofficial start of our Winter season. The snow on Main Street, the hot cocoa and sugar cookies, and especially the most amazing parade – I am like a little kid when it comes to the toy soldiers marching down Main Street! My kids usually fall asleep right before the parade starts…this year was no exception. N fell asleep first (not a shocker) with G following shortly after. Sleepy, one of the Seven Dwarves, made a point to stop in front of the two sleeping beauties (haha) and made the hand sign for wanting to fall asleep as well. An elf in a little car made a big scene, which was super hysterical, yelling to the boys to wake up, that they were going to miss Santa Claus. They didn’t even flinch.
Yes, We have one…
We didn’t have an Elf on the Shelf when I was growing up (Mom and Dad, you were so lucky!). Our house welcomes Fred Nihilus on the morning after the tree is up. I am in no way as creative as my friends and fellow Pinterest-ers. I can’t tell you how many nights at, oh about midnight, my husband or I wake up and are like, “Oh S$#%, we forgot to move Fred!!!” The lack of sleep pays off when we hear one of the boys yell out that they found him the next morning.
Christmas Eve Festivities
Christmas Eve we serve the seven fishes. My grandma, and now my dad, makes this delicious fish salad. At dinner (when I was growing up, but sometimes now lol) he would take the tentacle portions of the octopus and hang them from his mouth, wiggling them around and making funny sounds – knowing that my sister and I were not too fond of them. We bake shrimp and scallops, and then mussels, baby lobsters (sometimes), all eventually totaling up to the number 7. Why seven fishes?
In the early years, on Christmas Day morning, my sister and I would come downstairs in our matching pajamas, my dad videoing the “grand entrance” and the looks on our face when we saw what Santa left for us! I still do that with the boys, although I have to practically threaten them not to go downstairs before we get up. I know they are super excited, but I need to brush my teeth and hair. We unwrap gifts, one recipient at a time, oohing and ahhing.
Christmas Day
Christmas day was, and still is, always filled with friends and family from near and far. We start cooking right after opening the gifts (and breakfast as we needed the energy for the rest of the day). We would make an antipasto, rolling the cold cuts around the different breadsticks. Slice the tomato and mozzarella. Prepare the stuffed mushrooms. Bread and bake the chicken and/or eggplant and then “parm” them. Baked ziti, meat gravy, a big tossed salad, Italian bread, garlic bread – I know I am missing some dishes. The house would be filled with warmth from a combination of the oven being on and the amazing company we held.
Hanukkah!
Hanukkah we would light the candles every night with my mom, and I would always laugh that my mom would put a paper towel on top of her head. Now that I am older, I know why (married women are to cover their heads). We would sing the prayer, light the menorah and then open our gift for that night.
I wouldn’t change my traditions for anything in the world and look forward to creating new ones as time goes on.
What are the holiday traditions that you relive this time of year?
Susan says
We always put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving… as well as take out holiday photos. We actually started that tradition when my 1st son was born. We also get those personalized ornaments. It is fun to see the ones we’ve collected over the years. Other than that, we always try to see holiday light displays and the big tree in Delray. We just got an Elf on the Shelf so it should be fun!
I hope that we can make Disney during Christmas next year, it probably is beautiful this time of year!
Dana says
Susan, where do you like to go for the lights displays? You’re going to love the Elf on a Shelf 🙂 it’s so much fun to think of creative ways to display him! (Pinterest is heaven sent for that!)
Angela Tolsma says
Your holiday traditions sound like so much fun! I love the idea of hanging the decorations down the tree in chronological order!
Dana says
Thanks Angela! I love this time of year!
Dana says
Thanks Angela! You just reminded me that I need to get an ornament for this year!
Ahhhhhh!
Leslie says
I think my family needs to start a new tradition. I rode through what is called Christmas town in my area last night for the first time. I’ve lived in the same place for years and just avoided the traffic like crazy every year.The lights were amazing, decorations were awesome, and the ambiance was out of this world.
Dana says
It sounds like Christmas Town put you in the holiday spirit even more than previous years! I hope you start some new traditions 🙂
Esther @ The Cuteness says
How fun that you get to experience and celebrate multiple traditions! We celebrate Chanukah and it’s one of my favorite times of the year.
Dana says
We have a lot of fun integrating the two holidays into our traditions. Have a very Happy Hanukkah!!
Valerie says
Ha Ha Love the elf on the shelf tradition! I see him a lot around here at the school I teach at..thanks for sharing this fun post!!
Valerie
Dana says
The elf on a self is a lot of fun, but I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gotten up in the middle of the night in a tizzy because we forgot to move him!! 🙂
Leah says
I love having traditions the same every year. I hope that my boys carry them on when they are adults, too!
Dana says
I hope your boys will as well…same with mine!
Cara says
Going to Disney World during the holidays sounds magical! We also open presents one at a time, I think this is more special.
Ashley L says
We have a Christmas horror movie marathon the first weekend in December (my husband’s idea, he loves scary movies) and we go to the botanical garden light displays every year. Other than that I’m not sure we have many traditions for Christmas.
Dana says
The horror movie marathon is such a cool tradition! What is your favorite horror movie?
Lauren Jane says
we previously did elf on the shelf and this year I just haven’t because it was too much to keep up with what we did last year! one of my favorite family traditions we actually started with our kids is partaking in the live nativity with our church. this will be our third year and we love every minute of it!
Dana says
I completely agree with you about the Elf on a Shelf being a pain in the butt at times!! The live nativity sounds like a beautiful tradition to have with your kids every year!
Alissia Haggard says
Probably my favorite one for our little family is a breakfast on 1/1 to ring in the New Year as a family. Really loved the post.
Dana says
Your breakfast sounds super sweet! I’ms o glad you liked the post Alissia!
sara says
What wonderful traditions. We do not have very many, but the ones we have make many memories.
Dana says
It truly isn’t the number of traditions, it’s that you have these traditions! Thanks for visiting Sara 🙂
GiGi Eats says
Traditions in my family = always eating the best food EVER!!! 😉 That’s it. HA HA!
Dana says
GiGi, that sounds like a FABULOUS tradition!!!!
Jessica says
I love your holiday traditions. I need to add these to our group!
Dana says
Thanks Jessica!!
Ariel says
Love all of these! We put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving too! Thanks for sharing your awesome traditions!
Dana says
Happy Holidays Ariel!
Murielle Marie says
I love holiday traditions. Disney is definitely part of my family’s traditions. Every year my husband and I love to go and enjoy the decorations and the holiday spirit!
Dana says
Awww, you guys go too! Wait, do you live in FL? If so where? (email me at dana@pellerini.com!)
Lisa Sharp says
Terribly jealous of the Disney tradition! I want to go around Christmas some day. I’ve been many times throughout the year but never around Christmas.
Dana says
I highly recommend trying to get there around Christmas time if you can!!