Your Seasonal Celebrations and Traditions Over the Years?

[xman]

I have moved through marriage from generally English traditions to South American ones. Similar with some notable differences. Whereas we had xmas dinner on Xmas Day when I was a boy, now we gather on Xmas Eve which is traditionally done after mass in Latin American countries. Gifts are opened that night which is a bone of contention for me, and Xmas Day is left for us at home alone or perhaps with a guest who has nowhere to be.

My in-laws also gather for dinner on New Year's Eve and we socialise until midnight. There are a few drinks, but never many. I prefer that.

In my home, as natural observers we have added Solstice celebrations to our holiday rituals. After dinner there are several places to go in town to watch fires and lanterns glow, hear music and sing songs as well as reflect on the coming year. It's quite nice.

[Whidbey78]

When I was a kid we did the usual and almost cliche stuff for Halloween, Thanksgiving and New Year's, but Christmas was a whole other animal. My family has a strange way of gravitating toward professions where holidays are not guaranteed days off, and in some cases, will absolutely mean you'll be working--police, military, firefighters, a couple of doctors, EMT's, wrecker drivers, linemen, etc. Since most of the family worked on Christmas Eve, and came in at different times, our Christmas Eve dinner was a huge pot of chili and a big pan of cornbread. Everyone served themselves as they got home. Late Christmas Eve we all opened our gifts. Some went to work on the graveyard shift after that.

Us kids got our gifts from Santa early the next morning. Christmas dinner was more or less the usual, except we ate it as an early dinner at around 11AM. Then plates were made and put in tupperware and taken to the ones at work, as well as to their co-workers.

Years later, after spending some time in the Florida panhandle and going to New Orleans on a regular basis, I came upon several really good recipes for gumbo, which took the place of chili in my house. I kept the tradition, though it was unnecessary.

Nowadays we have a "new tradition." On Christmas Eve I fire up the smoker at about 5AM and we invite family and friends over for ribs and brisket, collard greens, sprouts, etc. After we eat we take the leftovers to the nurses at the old-folks home down the street and to the guys at the Sheriff's Office. It's very similar to what we used to do, but since most of my family has passed away over the last 25 years and my own generation is scattered about the country, I decided to keep doing it but extend it to people outside the family, and especially to those who give up their family time and possibly put themselves in harm's way while the rest of us have a good time.

I guess I should catch some sleep. I have wood to chop and have to start a fire in less than six hours!

[cessna152towser]

When I was a kid it was always Hallowe'en, then fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night, then Christmas and New Year.
Things changed as I grew older and as those of the family who had remained in Scotland died off.
This year I will celebrate Christmas with coffee and mince pies in the church this evening followed by carol singing and the Watchnight Service.
Christmas morning I will attend the joint Christmas Day Service in the big church in town and then go to a friend's for lunch. Late afternoon I will come home and cook dinner for one and will probably spend the rest of Christmas Day on Skype to family in Canada and to Gabrielle in Germany.
The next celebrations will be an early Burns Supper on 15th January and Gabrielle arriving back in Scotland on 21st January.

[Bugbear]

I really don't have any traditions associated with the new year, however I will be sowing wildflower seeds. I suppose that has become a ritual of celebration in my life. This whole time of year is busy with harvesting citrus, preparing soil for spring plantings, and piling winter's leaves into compost heaps.

[Father Bill]

Getting together with two other couples - same ones we've been with every New Years' since the 70s! Tomorrow the kids and grandkids arrive while I scoot out to do services and then return.

[JSFMACLJR]

Getting together with two other couples - same ones we've been with every New Years' since the 70s! Tomorrow the kids and grandkids arrive while I scoot out to do services and then return.

PS. Do give my best wishes to the people of St. Paul's in Princeton! It would be wonderful if you could pray for the quiet repose of my father's soul at Mass tomorrow. Their former Rector, Fr. John MacLean, died on 2 January, 2006. Thanks!

Sandy

[Father Bill]

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