It's been a hard couple of years, hasn't it? This Christmas seems a little easier because we're vaccinated, but we still aren't doing the usual holiday events yet. We're hoping that Yuletide with the symphony and Cristkindlmarket and other stuff that we've always attended will be possible for us next year. Until then, we'll continue with our family traditions.
We always eat pie and watch Holiday Inn on Thanksgiving night--Bing and Fred dance us into the holidays. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we go to Son's for a family second-chance dinner and to help the kids decorate their house for Christmas. After decorating and huge Son-cooked meal, we all sit down to watch White Christmas together. Another Bing moment, this time with Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. And someone always comments on how thin Vera Ellen is, which immediately prompts someone else to Google her and verify that she wasn't anorexic, just skinny as all get-out. Watching her dance, you've got to know she'd have to eat her weight in carbs every meal just to pay for all the calories she burns.
The rest of December is shopping and wrapping and decorating and baking--next weekend, Poppy and Grandboy will make their cookie-gun cookies. The following weekend, Son and I will bake butterhorns for our neighbors. At some point, we fit in attending a performance of either Nutcracker or Handel's The Messiah. This year, it's The Messiah--a virtual performance broadcast from the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
Christmas Eve is candlelight service at church and chicken and noodles with sis and her husband. Our something new this year is that the four of us are doing the Icelandic book-exchange Christmas Eve thing. I'm excited about that. Christmas Day, we spend at Son's with all the grandparents and four dogs in attendance. Gifts and music, good fellowship, and great food and wine ensue.
What are your favorite traditions? Share in the comments, and be sure to click to enter our Rafflecopter. My giveaway is a $10 Amazon Gift card, a handmade Christmas bracelet, and your choice of a Christmas romance from my backlist. To enter to win, just click the rafflecopter link to follow me on BookBub and Instagram.
So, stay safe, stay well, wear your mask, and most of all stay grateful!
Happy holidays everyone!
My favorite traditions are so...traditional. Trees, Christmas Eve service, my village that requires the clearing of a countertop, lights, Christmas movies (lots and lots of them), Christmas romances... kids and grandkids, all of whom have grown up on me and are making traditions of their own.
ReplyDeleteGetting together with friends and family is my favorite thing at Christmas. Last year was pretty quiet so I'm hoping we get a little more this year. The connections are all that really matter.
ReplyDeleteEven diehard traditions get pushed aside sometimes, but one I have tried to adhere to is putting out my crèche scene, and leaving the baby Jesus wrapped up until Christmas Eve. Some may not believe, but I do!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite traditions are the ones involving my grandson! For example, he comes over to help us decorate our Christmas tree every year.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this wonderful giveaway. I love holiday baking.
ReplyDeleteMy family doesn't have many traditions, we just spend time together and eat too much. We do open presents on Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.