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As it is getting closer to the holidays, I am starting to think more and more about traditions.
I remember when I was a little girl, my grandmother and mother would decorate from floor to ceiling with garland, candles, ribbons, pictures, knickknacks, etc. It looked like a Christmas factory blew up at my house. I would always get to place the star or angel on top the tree.
I also remember them turning the Christmas music up and baking all kinds of goodies. There were cakes, pies and candies galore!
On Christmas Eve I would get to open one present. I always wanted to open the biggest one but I was limited to a small one. Then I would have to be made to go to bed early but I hardly ever slept. I would toss and turn and wake up frequently throughout the night. I was just too wound up to sleep. I would get up bright and early so I could eat a big breakfast and open presents. There would be paper and bows flying everywhere.
One of my favorite things about the whole ordeal was that my cousins would come and spend a whole week with us. We didn’t get to see each other very often so the time was treasured when we were together.
As I got older, I was allowed to start helping with the decorating and the baking of the goodies. I no longer had to be lifted up to place the topper on the tree. I could do it all on my own. I also didn’t shake and rattle the presents anymore.
My grandparents are gone now and it’s just my mother and me. We still decorate and bake and we still open up a present on Christmas Eve. I also love to be surprised so I don’t want to rush the opening of the presents.
We’ve been left to carry on the family traditions and start our own. Somehow it’s just not the same. It’s funny the little things you miss such as the smell of the caramel icing for the applesauce cake or the taste of snow ice cream.
What about you? What are some of your favorite holiday memories? Do you carry on family traditions or have you started your own?
