BY STORMIE PERRY
Family traditions are important, especially around the holidays. Every family has something traditional or has a specific meal or an order of opening presents that they do every year. Even if its "normal" its still different within every family.
My family "tradition" is traveling up to Kentucky every year for Christmas. Most of my family lives in Kentucky, and Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas unless I am surrounded by family. A tradition we have is eating squirrel and rabbit for either Thanksgiving and Christmas or both!
Christmas Eve is always fun because we get to open some presents. On Christmas Eve. my parents and I go visit all of my dad’s family and have lunch and open presents from them. We also visit all of my mom’s family and do the same thing. In the evening for Christmas Eve, after dinner, my grandparents, my uncle’s family, and my family will open presents that are only for and from my uncle’s family because they go back to their home for Christmas morning. We always open presents from youngest to oldest, starting with my younger cousin to my older cousin to me to my mom, all the way to my grandparents. After my uncle and his family leave and some movies are watched through the night, it’s time for bed. Always a restless sleep awaiting the thrills and joy of Christmas morning.
The morning finally comes, the sun is shining, and I wake up full of sleepiness but also the Christmas spirit fills me. It’s time for presents! I get to see my family’s faces as they open their gifts, and I get to see what I got which, of course, is always fun. My family and grandparents open our gifts and are joyful and thankful.
Those are my family traditions. They are not different from a lot of other family's holiday traditions, but my family makes our "traditions" unique and fun.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
A Holiday Tradition
BY HUNTER SADLER
My personal favorite Christmas tradition was going up to my grandfather’s land and cutting down a Christmas tree from his fields. We always cut down a cedar tree, because that is the only kind of Christmas tree on the land. It was always fun getting in his truck and going out and finding just the right tree, and then getting a chance to cut it down. My brother and I would take turns using the saw.
After we got it back to my grandfather's house, we would put it in a tree stand that used to be an old pump stand and was way too small for the trunk of the tree, so we would have to shave off a lot of the trunk. After that, we would spend time decorating the tree with old lights and ornaments that he had for several decades.
Though my grandfather has passed away since last Christmas, the memory is still alive.
My personal favorite Christmas tradition was going up to my grandfather’s land and cutting down a Christmas tree from his fields. We always cut down a cedar tree, because that is the only kind of Christmas tree on the land. It was always fun getting in his truck and going out and finding just the right tree, and then getting a chance to cut it down. My brother and I would take turns using the saw.
After we got it back to my grandfather's house, we would put it in a tree stand that used to be an old pump stand and was way too small for the trunk of the tree, so we would have to shave off a lot of the trunk. After that, we would spend time decorating the tree with old lights and ornaments that he had for several decades.
Though my grandfather has passed away since last Christmas, the memory is still alive.
Cookies, Carols, and Candlelight
BY AMY DANFORTH
Sometimes the anticipation of a good thing is just as fun as the thing itself. This certainly holds true for me regarding the biggest holiday of the year, Christmas. The weeks leading up to December 25th are filled with fun and exciting traditions that are often just as enjoyable as Christmas day itself.
The traditions start the day after Christmas with the baking of gingerbread cookies. I love cutting stars, Christmas trees, and angels out of the dough as the rich smell of spices fills the air. Another tradition is our church's Christmas Cantata, which usually takes place around the middle of December. This concert always puts me in the Christmas spirit with its repertoire of Christmas carols, both old and new. Decorating the tree while listening to Christmas songs is another fun tradition. On the same night, we put up our icicle lights and our big lighted star.
In the days right beforethe big day, we cook up a storm. More gingerbread, pies, rolls, and whatever else we can think of. At some point, we also go light-looking, and drive to the Capitol and elsewhere to see the light displays.
Finally, on Christmas Eve, we attend our church's Candlelight Service, where we sing carols by candlelight to prepare us for the wonderful day to come.
Sometimes the anticipation of a good thing is just as fun as the thing itself. This certainly holds true for me regarding the biggest holiday of the year, Christmas. The weeks leading up to December 25th are filled with fun and exciting traditions that are often just as enjoyable as Christmas day itself.
The traditions start the day after Christmas with the baking of gingerbread cookies. I love cutting stars, Christmas trees, and angels out of the dough as the rich smell of spices fills the air. Another tradition is our church's Christmas Cantata, which usually takes place around the middle of December. This concert always puts me in the Christmas spirit with its repertoire of Christmas carols, both old and new. Decorating the tree while listening to Christmas songs is another fun tradition. On the same night, we put up our icicle lights and our big lighted star.
In the days right beforethe big day, we cook up a storm. More gingerbread, pies, rolls, and whatever else we can think of. At some point, we also go light-looking, and drive to the Capitol and elsewhere to see the light displays.
Finally, on Christmas Eve, we attend our church's Candlelight Service, where we sing carols by candlelight to prepare us for the wonderful day to come.
Family Time
BY JAKE SADLER
One of my favorite family traditions around Christmas time is our family coming together to celebrate the holidays. Even family from out of town comes, like my aunt from Georgia, and my grandfather from Hagarville. Our aunt usually comes into town about a week before Christmas, and our grandfather comes in a day or two beforehand.
On Christmas morning, everybody comes to my house and we all look in our stockings to see what Santa brought us, then we open our presents. After we pick up all the wrappings and ribbons, we all get together for a morning brunch. Normally, we have things like bacon, eggs, gravy, biscuits and pancakes.
Later in the day, we usually go to my grandmother’s house. There, we talk for most of the day and have lunch or dinner. The lunch normally varies, but one constant is these glasses our grandmother only uses on Christmas. They are made of red crystal.
Sometimes we also visit our family in Alma, and spend the night up there. On the way back, we usually get ice cream from Brahm’s, easily the best ice cream anywhere nearby.
One of my favorite family traditions around Christmas time is our family coming together to celebrate the holidays. Even family from out of town comes, like my aunt from Georgia, and my grandfather from Hagarville. Our aunt usually comes into town about a week before Christmas, and our grandfather comes in a day or two beforehand.
On Christmas morning, everybody comes to my house and we all look in our stockings to see what Santa brought us, then we open our presents. After we pick up all the wrappings and ribbons, we all get together for a morning brunch. Normally, we have things like bacon, eggs, gravy, biscuits and pancakes.
Later in the day, we usually go to my grandmother’s house. There, we talk for most of the day and have lunch or dinner. The lunch normally varies, but one constant is these glasses our grandmother only uses on Christmas. They are made of red crystal.
Sometimes we also visit our family in Alma, and spend the night up there. On the way back, we usually get ice cream from Brahm’s, easily the best ice cream anywhere nearby.
My Family's Christmas Tradition
BY KURT KAMPHAUSEN
It has been called the most wonderful time of the year, and for good reason. The joy of eating lots of food, hanging up lights, shopping, and watching those great Alltel commercials made from claymation is too wonderful to pass up. On the other side of the spectrum, however, are the things that aren't so obvious. Special things we all do called "traditions."
Every year on the day after Thanksgiving--or on Thanksgiving--my family gathers around the television set, snuggling in our blankets to watch "The Muppet Christmas Carol." The joy we get when watching Michael Caine sing with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the other characters is one we share every year. When watching the movie, you get a feeling that you are apart of it in some funny way and you can't help but smile when hearing their joyful voices.
Although this Christmas tradition may not seem like a typical one, it suits us well and we love it….each and every year.
It has been called the most wonderful time of the year, and for good reason. The joy of eating lots of food, hanging up lights, shopping, and watching those great Alltel commercials made from claymation is too wonderful to pass up. On the other side of the spectrum, however, are the things that aren't so obvious. Special things we all do called "traditions."
Every year on the day after Thanksgiving--or on Thanksgiving--my family gathers around the television set, snuggling in our blankets to watch "The Muppet Christmas Carol." The joy we get when watching Michael Caine sing with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the other characters is one we share every year. When watching the movie, you get a feeling that you are apart of it in some funny way and you can't help but smile when hearing their joyful voices.
Although this Christmas tradition may not seem like a typical one, it suits us well and we love it….each and every year.
Christmas Traditions
BY BEN DANFORTH
Our family has, over the years, developed many colorful and interesting traditions on Christmas day. On Christmas, we all awaken at approximately nine o’ clock and start off the festivities by eating a scrumptious breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Then, we all gather around and read the Christmas story from the Bible in the book of Luke. Once we finish, we proceed to the exchanging of presents. My dad dispenses the gifts one by one to the family--all nine of us. This goes on for an hour or two, as we are in no particular hurry.
When we finish, we set off to enjoy our various presents. At 11:30, we pile up in at least two cars and head over to my grandma’s house. There we eat a delicious lunch of ham, turkey, hash browns, banana pudding, stuffing, cookies, brownies, and all sorts of other delicacies. After the meal, we have yet another batch of gifts. We sit around visiting and enjoying each other for a while then, after snapping a few family photos, we drive over to my mom’s parents’ house.
Throughout the evening we both play and watch football and other games outside. We eat another amazing meal and have one last round of gift giving.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year-- my favorite-- and I look forward to it all eleven months.
Our family has, over the years, developed many colorful and interesting traditions on Christmas day. On Christmas, we all awaken at approximately nine o’ clock and start off the festivities by eating a scrumptious breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Then, we all gather around and read the Christmas story from the Bible in the book of Luke. Once we finish, we proceed to the exchanging of presents. My dad dispenses the gifts one by one to the family--all nine of us. This goes on for an hour or two, as we are in no particular hurry.
When we finish, we set off to enjoy our various presents. At 11:30, we pile up in at least two cars and head over to my grandma’s house. There we eat a delicious lunch of ham, turkey, hash browns, banana pudding, stuffing, cookies, brownies, and all sorts of other delicacies. After the meal, we have yet another batch of gifts. We sit around visiting and enjoying each other for a while then, after snapping a few family photos, we drive over to my mom’s parents’ house.
Throughout the evening we both play and watch football and other games outside. We eat another amazing meal and have one last round of gift giving.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year-- my favorite-- and I look forward to it all eleven months.
Christmas with Gloria and her Mom
BY GLORIA HARRIS
On Christmas, my mother and I always wake up early in the morning to open up presents, even thought the last couple of years I open one present a day the week before Christmas.
After we get dressed, we go to my grandma's house. My mother is the cook over there--talk about scrumptious! Most of my family on my mother's side of the go over to my grandma's house for the occasion. We all talk about what happend during the year and our expectations for the next one while the food is cooking. When the cooking is done, we all gather around the table to bless the food. My grandaddy isalways the one who blesses the food. Then, of course, we eat. About an hour later, when the majority of people are finished eating, we open up our presents. The youngest are always the first to open theirs, then the older people. When that's all done, the kids clean up the wrapping paper while the grown-ups clean up the other areas.
After we leave my grandma's house, we visit my papa and his wife. By that time, I would need something else to fill my tummy, so I fix a plate to eat and another one to take home. Once we finish eating, we open and share our gifts, then we clean up. We watch a movie or two until we get restless, then my mother and I head home to rest for a while. After that, we go back out to get and give our family members and friends their gifts.
My family doesn't have many traditions, but this one we do have is wonderful in many ways!
On Christmas, my mother and I always wake up early in the morning to open up presents, even thought the last couple of years I open one present a day the week before Christmas.
After we get dressed, we go to my grandma's house. My mother is the cook over there--talk about scrumptious! Most of my family on my mother's side of the go over to my grandma's house for the occasion. We all talk about what happend during the year and our expectations for the next one while the food is cooking. When the cooking is done, we all gather around the table to bless the food. My grandaddy isalways the one who blesses the food. Then, of course, we eat. About an hour later, when the majority of people are finished eating, we open up our presents. The youngest are always the first to open theirs, then the older people. When that's all done, the kids clean up the wrapping paper while the grown-ups clean up the other areas.
After we leave my grandma's house, we visit my papa and his wife. By that time, I would need something else to fill my tummy, so I fix a plate to eat and another one to take home. Once we finish eating, we open and share our gifts, then we clean up. We watch a movie or two until we get restless, then my mother and I head home to rest for a while. After that, we go back out to get and give our family members and friends their gifts.
My family doesn't have many traditions, but this one we do have is wonderful in many ways!
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