Simplefying the Holidays

[ny biker]

My oldest son, who came out from Washington DC to spend Thanksgiving with us got back and commented that "Christmas had arrived and vomited all over the place over the weekend." That's about the best description I have ever heard for the sudden appearance of festive decor and how I feel about it. Of course here in stepford wives style Katy, they have been up since just after Halloween on all the public sites. But Christmas sure vomited all over the neighborhood with lights, ornaments, 20' inflatable things and 8 foot snow globes over the weekend. Where oh where are the strong winds when we really need them?

just sayin.

marni

Honestly, I'm offended by this. Just because you don't enjoy decorating doesn't mean it's okay to insult the people who do. Peace on earth, good will towards men, etc.

re: developing your own traditions, I have no traditions of my own, unless you count traveling to my parents' house for vacation every year. As a family, some new traditions sort of developed on their own as my siblings had kids. My sister usually cooks dinner for me, my parents, her in-laws, and anyone else who's around (some years one of my other siblings and their family will spend the day with us all). We used to do a Christmas Eve get-together with various family members, but it's generally pretty flexible. There's always a visit to my cousin's house for dinner or dessert at some point during the holiday week. Basically we just have the goal of spending time with the extended family but also allowing each nuclear family to do their own thing.

Some years back my mother found a recipe for "holiday french toast" in a magazine, and she now makes it every year on Christmas morning for us. So that's become a tradition, regardless of who is visiting that year and where we might be going later in the day.

[malkin]

To make a new tradition, find something you like and keep doing it!

[indysteel]

To make a new tradition, find something you like and keep doing it!

I know....but I'd love to hear how other couples/people have addressed it. In talking with friends, it seems like a lot of them struggle with how to balance what they've always done with their families of origin with developing their own thing as a new couple or family. Some of my friends have used their young children as an excuse to sort of break free a bit, but we don't have that excuse. Plus, I'd love to hear some more about what other people's holiday traditions are.

[limewave]

Most of our traditions do involve the kids, but we have a few of our own:

Making turkey sandwiches for Santa. Watching "Die Hard' while sharing a bottle of wine and wrapping gifts. . . . and eating turkey sandwiches.

Adopting a family or participating in Angel Tree--then shopping and wrapping gifts together.

Listening to my grandmother's Christmas albums on her 1950's record player.

Watching A White Christmas.

We always sit down b/w Christmas and New Year's and plan the races and events we want to do in the coming year. That's always fun and motivating.

A nekkid nap on the afternoon of Christmas Day. Thus thoroughly annoying DH's sisters when we are supremely late for the big In-Law Christmas gathering. lol.

Run the New Year's Day run together.

[Crankin]

DH and I made all of our traditions together, because we either A) didn't live near my family or B) weren't talking to his family . Our friends have always been more prominent in all holiday celebrations. When I first moved back to MA, I did do Jewish holidays and Thanksgiving with my grandparents, aunt and cousins, but after my grandparents died, as the years went on, I couldn't justify the issues that being with the others brought up. This occurred mostly after my kids left home. When the kids were little and we lived in AZ, we either drove to San Diego to be with my parents (4 hours of hell) or they came to Phx. My dad has come here twice for Thanksgiving since my mom died, but he is 86, almost 87, and although he is very active, I am not sure if he'll be able to do this again. My brother lives in San Diego, and so does one of my kids, so I don't worry about him.
I love the athletic things we have developed as traditions together, like hiking or nordic skiing on Christmas, and a bike ride on Rosh Hashanah.
Really, the only holidays I like are Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day (we always made a huge deal of this in my family of origin), and Passover.

[shootingstar]

I'm not sure what we will be doing here for Christmas. It is my 2nd Christmas in this city.

Probably have a nice Christmas Eve dinner at home, it's a tradition both of our families did. Menu is always different every year. Play some Christmas music which I always enjoy during Dec.

I don't have a TV. It would be nice to cycle for even half an hr. on Christmas Eve if we don't have much ice around. We'll see...

[malkin]

Some of the stuff we sort of just happened to do when my daughter was little became a tradition for her. Mainly I was just working around her dad's schedule and lack of consideration. So whenever she was home we'd open presents and eat fancy cheese plates and little tasty bits. Once we had game hens for a meal; I forgot about it, but then DD remembered and requested them and then that sort of became a tradition too.

I have a collection of Steinbach ornaments and that's about all we put on the tree now, so that's a tradition too, I guess. When the kid was little, I pretty much let her have her way with the tree, and that was pretty funny sometimes. Same thing with a gingerbread house.

I guess the main traditions are to stay flexible, try to spend time with people I enjoy and to try to enjoy people I spend time with.

I like cookies, so I usually do some.

The kid also went to a Jewish school for 5th and 6th grade. I really quite like the pyro aspect of Hanukkah, especially when we have dismal dark weather. You start with one little light and gradually it fills the world...well, especially with a menorah that is not quite wide enough for its candles--it seems like I might burn the house down in one great waxy fireball.

I guess I'm not traditional in any traditional sense.

[indysteel]

Thanks for sharing everyone! DH is particularly enthusiastic about the nekkid nap! Wonder why?!!!

[Crankin]

I also feel like I am going to burn the house down. Especially when there are 4+ candles and they all burn together. I always put foil underneath and at times I get paranoid and put the menorah in the sink . Perhaps this is why my mom had an electric menorah? Well, I could never do that.

[malkin]

At work I have a round plastic menorah that you spin and the background changes from blue to yellow, so the candle "flames" turn yellow. Perfect for my office window where even coffee pots are against policy. We routinely break the rules for birthdays, but I'm not ever there at sundown anyway.