Merry Christmas!
We at The Monticello News wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas, and the happiest of new years.
As we struggle to get this last paper before Christmas out, I was thinking of Christmas traditions and Christmas memories.
When we are young, it’s all about the presents. Well, not really. I remember Daddy always read to us on Christmas eve. He read Twas the Night Before Christmas. And, he read something out of the encyclopedia. I think it was the “Yes, Virginia,” story, but I’m not really sure.
But I’m sure he found it in the encyclopedia and read from it. Do kids today know what an encyclopedia is?
Christmas morning I remember opening presents, and later in the day calling my friends and comparing notes on what we got.
We had country ham and garlic cheese grits every Christmas morning. We still do.
When we were little, mama and daddy set a time we could get up. If we woke up before that time, we girls (there were four of us) would gather in one room, usually on one bed, and whisper and guess what Santa brought.
When it was time, mom and dad would go make coffee, and give us the okay to come down to the tree. Then there were oohs and aahs as we saw what Santa had left each of us.
Fast forward a few years…my children will tell you of the same experiences…almost identical. Until now…now Santa wraps everything (except stocking stuff), and we all open presents together. And, because my children and husband are so generous and kind to me, I have as many presents as they do under the tree.
And, the presents are super-terrific. But, you know what is more memorable? The fondue we eat every Christmas eve after the candlelight church service. The garlic cheese grits and county ham we have every Christmas morning. The Christmas eve get-together with friends to celebrate the season.
Until Dad died two years ago, after my family had Christmas morning, we cleaned up the trappings, then Dad and all my sisters and their families came over. But alas, those families have grown, and dad is gone, so we start new traditions. One day, my girls may have children, and the traditions will change somewhat at my house, but some will live on at other houses.
And the transition periods can be difficult. My children and I went to my grandmother’s for Thanksgiving for years after my mama died. Then Grandma died. We found ourselves floundering. Cook at home; go to my sisters; feed the hungry; can the extended family come? We have gone to my sister’s house the last two years…that may become a tradition, who knows.
By the way, not all traditionsare formed in childhood or etched in stoone. Fondue is a tradition we (my children and I) started. I wanted something special for Christmas eve. So, I came up with the idea of fondue. We first enjoyed it probably nearly 20 years ago, and now each year, once a year, we pull out the fondue pots, and sticks, and celebrate Jesus’ birth in a special way.
I hope you can enjoy all your Christmas traditions and they bring joy to you this year as you celebrate, and as you reflect on years past and how the traditions came to be.