Christmas Traditions

Our 2023 tree. dwm photo

 There are other family traditions I grew up with during Christmas, beside the annual shopping trip. 

 

 For most of their lives, my parents had a live tree in their living room. It was purchased two weeks before Christmas.  The place I recall going for many of the trees was a stand on Janesville's south side that was a drive-in during the summer.

 

 When we got it home, Dad cut off a little of the trunk so it would pull water out of the tree stand easier.  Then took it inside, set it up, with Mom advising Dad on whether the tree was standing straight or not.  Once she was satisfied, Dad and I could put up the lights.

 

 From there, Mom put the ornaments in place before patiently adding tinsel strands one at a time to finish the tree.  The tree was a tradition that looked remarkably the same year over year.

 My sister and I attended St. Paul Lutheran School which held a children's service Christmas Eve in the school's gym.  We never missed it and most years we would go to a second service in the church that featured a lot of Christmas music.

Then we walked home, going west on Holmes Street before turning right on Forest Park Boulevard to our home.  We lived so close it was unusual for us to drive to church.  At home, Dad would usually light a fire in the fireplace while Mom made hot cocoa and then the four of us would exchange gifts. 

Christmas morning, after breakfast and usually after attending the Christmas Day worship, we drove to Illinois.  Since both Mom and Dad grew up around Peoria and the families got along (I didn't realize that was unusual while growing up) the job of hosting the family holiday dinner rotated around my grandparents, our house, and my parent;s siblings.  

 

In our Augusta home. dwm

We usually spent at least one night at one of the grandparents and then head home.  That where the last rituals happened, first writing thank you cards for gifts received, and then, we'd take down the tree (I think that was usually on New Year's Day but I think we waited until Epiphany a couple times). 

 

Mom started the deconstruction of the tree by removing tinsel one strand at a time to save them in the
boxes that held them safely throughout the year.  She'd take care of the ornaments, then Dad and I would remove the lights and carry the tree to the curb.

 

We didn't have a real tradition of our own until our kids came along.  We bought live trees for the first few years before switching to artificial trees as a cost-saving measure. 

Our family tradition on Christmas Eve was a spaghetti dinner before the church's candlelight service, then taking a drive to look a Christmas lights.  When we got home there were snacks and everyone unwrapped one present.

It's OK for traditions to evolve and change.  The centerpiece of the holiday, though, is worshiping Christmas Eve the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Merry Christmas!