It’s the holidays! My most favorite time of year.
I have a deep love for the lights and decorations and just general holiday cheer, regardless of which holiday (if any) you celebrate. I was raised with Christmas, but I also have taken part in many Jewish celebrations thanks to working at an independent living facility in Florida, where the split was about fifty-fifty.
My family’s holiday traditions really depend on the year. We fluctuate, depending on what had happened during the year, and how we are feeling.
One tradition that has held true for every year, except 2002 and 2018, is that on Christmas Eve, we drive through the neighborhoods ad look at all the Christmas lights, while listening to Christmas music, and talking about Christmas memories. We go out for an hour, or sometimes more. We have only missed this tradition twice to my knowledge. In 2002, we spent the evening with my great-aunt and uncle, who came down to help us get through the holiday season without Dad. In 2018, we’d just moved to California, and were still getting settled into our tiny apartment.
Another holiday tradition is one that I’m not taking part in this year. We always watch Wizard of Oz, Rudolph, Frosty, and A Charlie Brown Christmas every year, though in recent years we’ve missed one show or another. This year, I’m doing something a bit different (more on that tomorrow), so I’m electing to skip the Christmas cartoons and my nightmare fuel (Oz. Fuck those flying monkeys).
One tradition that never goes away is decorations. We always put up our advent calendar on December 1st. There’s always at least two windows decorated, usually mine and a main window. Garland on something, wooden ornaments on something else. Even after all these years, we do the same thing. On that note, I need to find my garland for Kook, our cuckoo clock.
Mom and I have one tradition that has survived all these years, until this year. The first weekend of December, she and I would go to the mall and buy all the Christmas presents for the family, and sneak some for each other. Of course, we would do more shopping later on, but this was the first big shopping trip of the season, so it would be the most important to us.
But perhaps the best tradition of all though, is how we celebrate the day. Regardless of what plans we have, my family always gets up by 7AM. Mom makes coffee, we prep the pancake batter. Then we try to find a channel on TV showing a yule log burning, because we are not graced with a fireplace. After that, we open the presents under the tree. Breakfast is eaten, and then… we all go back to sleep. We never have anywhere that we need to go to before 2PM anyways. After naptime, we spend the afternoon and evening with family.
But this year some of the traditions have changed.
Considering the pandemic, as well as the lockdown that will go into effect at midnight tonight, we decided to switch things up this year. We’re still planning on driving around and looking at lights, because that can be done safely. We’re still watching some of the holiday movies (around my project to be discussed tomorrow). We over decorated the apartment, but we didn’t do much outside on our patio. We did our traditional shopping trip via the internet, two computers side by side.
And as for Christmas morning? Well, the morning has changed. But we won’t see the family this year. We’re planning on dropping off safely wrapped presents for the kids a day or two before Christmas, but that’s it. I’ll probably spend the day playing video games or reading. Mom will definitely be reading. But no family.
But that’s ok. 2021’s holiday season will be just as bright, if not brighter. Provided that people are safe. So wear a mask (I have a holiday-themed one for shopping now), wash your hands, and social distance. Make the sacrifice this year so that the family table can be filled next year.
Until next time!
