Christmas Traditions

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by Optimistic Patriot

Here’s an interesting article on Christmas traditions. But for those of you not interested in carrying hay around your church three times on Christmas Eve to ensure fatter cattle in the new year, there are simpler ways to bring yourself good fortune. For example, we burn a Bayberry candle taper for good luck on Christmas Eve until it goes out. It’s a tradition that my family has practiced for a number of generations and apparently dates back to colonial times.

If you have family Christmas traditions, feel free to share them in the comments section below.

Archived in: Holidays

December 23, 2007 at 10:21 am | Trackback

10 comments

1 Hotspur { 12.23.07 at 11:56 am }: Fascinating material, Pat. I going to keep eyes peeled for a kneeling Donk. Oh, that was DONKEY! Sorry.
2 Helen { 12.23.07 at 12:31 pm }: When we were very little my mother stored our gifts on the tippy-top shelf in her huge closet…..and behind the zipper bags that didn’t reach the closet floor. Early Christmas eve she announced the moment when we could dash up the front stairs to the closet and one by one carry each box down the stairs and to the tree. When we were older we attended our Christmas Eve service first. The nighttime sanctuary was so beautiful…

…but Christmas Day, the roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, carrots and creamed boiled onions brought us to the chair each one of us knew as our own everyday, but this day was so, so, so special…

…..the gifts and the relatives too
3 Optimistic Patriot { 12.23.07 at 7:13 pm }: What a lovely tradition, Helen. We always had our big family meal and gift exchange on Christmas Eve.
4 Hotspur { 12.23.07 at 7:29 pm }: After we boys gave up the idea of Santa, we also opened gifts on Christmas Eve. When we lived in the South, local folks thought this custom was crazy.
5 Optimistic Patriot { 12.23.07 at 7:46 pm }: Opening on Christmas Eve meant we could be lazy and play with toys on Christmas Day. I think it’s a great tradition.
6 Helen { 12.23.07 at 8:20 pm }: Wishing all of you the hush of peace, wide-eyed wonder and the breath of hope this Christmas.
7 Judy Aron { 12.23.07 at 9:54 pm }: Well - we usually go see a movie and then go out for Chinese food.
(We are Jewish)
Merry Christmas to all of you!
I wish you all peace, happiness, and joy!
8 neo { 12.24.07 at 12:10 am }: Merry X-mas!
9 Vermont Woodchuck { 12.24.07 at 12:52 pm }: Judy, absolution for eating pork or lobster because you didn’t know. Heh-heh.
My neshomeleh ziskayt of 25 years drags this sheygets out for the Christmas nosh. You guessed where.
10 Hotspur { 12.24.07 at 4:15 pm }: Thanks, neo. Nice looking blog, btw.