Christmas Traditions

 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS – THEN AND NOW

Written November 24, 2013

 

The Christmas season officially begins with the arrival of Eddie the Elf.  He arrives December 1 and he returns to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve.  He is our friend but, just like the song, he reports to Santa and tells him who’s been “naughty or nice”.  Eddie began visiting us beginning with Jill in Oak Park and he has continued to visit ever since. Eddie is magic.  He can fly – he moves around the house – sometimes he sits on a shelf or the window sill or the Christmas tree.  We all love Eddie but especially Jill, Anna and Sarah and now our grandchildren.  He is a part of every Christmas.  We are all sad when he leaves with Santa but we know he’ll be back the next Christmas and every other Christmas after that.

Just going through Christmas "stuff". Found letter that Anna wrote Santa on 12-24-83. "Dear Santa, this carrot is for Rudolph. Here is some brandy for you. I hope you give me what I want. Will you write a letter and put it in my stocking. Love, Anna P.S. I hope you don't get stuck in the snow. I love taking care of Eddie (the elf)."

The girls have always helped with decorating the Christmas tree.  We have almost always had a real Christmas tree – the smell of pine fills the living room.  There are bubble lights – special ornaments and the Christmas angel placed on the top of the tree.  Decorating the house and tree, a shared family tradition.

 Through the years our Christmas traditions have evolved – we have the new but so many of the old live on and continue today – the old and new – so meaningful to our family – the old Nativity set (from my youth) – Christmas music – Drummer Boy – Spike Jones and his crazy band – a visit to Frankenmuth – Advent calendars - Christmas pig (not eaten) – cocoa – Christmas Eve church service – shrimp – steak cooked on woodstove fire – goodbye  Eddie - Christmas morning – Christmas gifts – Christmas stockings – lottery tickets (almost always losers) – toast and tomatoes – Christmas day at Ada’s – Christmas Day at Sarah and Troys – traditions of the holiday season then and now.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS – FELIZ NAVIDAD

                 HAPPY NEW YEAR Y UN PROSPERO ANO NUEVO!