Growing up Christmas was never just one day. There was the
season of Christmas; Advent in our Church. On Christmas Eve we would have dinner
with our neighbor and then we would all go to Church for the service of Lessons
and Carols. Back at home after the service there was hot chocolate while we
hung up our stockings.
But Christmas did not end the next morning. My parents made
it a day-long event. We could unpack our stockings before breakfast. However,
presents weren’t opened until after we were dressed and had consumed a hearty
breakfast that would last us until dinner later that afternoon.
And then there was Boxing Day. The day after Christmas, (or
at least sometime during the holiday break from school), we would get together
with friends that were part of the family. My sister’s Godparents were another “aunt
and uncle” to us, and they had two kids our age. We would go to their house for
the day. We children would play together. There would be a shared meal. Family gifts
were exchanged. Christmas went on all week.
My husband and I have no children of our own and I tend to
think that we have no Christmas traditions. Upon reflection, that is not entirely
true. When we were first married my niece and nephew were quite small; 18
months and three, respectively. My nephew’s birthday is New Year’s Eve. So with
various in-laws among my siblings, and a birthday we wanted to celebrate, we
would spend Christmas with my husband’s family and New Year’s with mine.
The children are grown now. My niece is married with children
of her own. My father passed away almost 20 years ago. My sister and her
husband are like us, no children, but plenty of family and friends with whom to
celebrate. We now alternate between families. One year we are with my mother,
the next with my in-laws. It works well. Whoever we don’t see on Christmas we
visit later in the week; sometimes for New Year depending on how the calendar
falls and schedules work out.
In addition to family, there are get-togethers with various
friends. We celebrate our own Christmas together after the rush of travel and the
many different gatherings of family and friends. Christmas is a week-long event
for us.
My mother reminds us annually that there are twelve days to
Christmas. That Christmas is not over until January 6. In our tradition, mine
and my husband’s, this seems to be very, very true.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!If you enjoy my blog and would like to follow me on Facebook, I can be found at The Reluctant Survivor. And on Twitter @relucsurvivor.
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