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Paige Cuccaro | Traditions
December 7, 2011
I've totally lost track of the time of year, but with good reason. My family and
I just moved into a new house. The move started on November 18th (my
birthday) and as of today (December 7th) we're still not done. Ugh... Moving through my birthday was no big deal. My birthdays notoriously suck (my
fault. Low expectation, teamed with self fulfilling prophecy=annual birthday
suck fest.) So ignoring the anniversary of yet another trip around the sun was
no biggie. But moving during the Thanksgiving holiday totally threw a wrench in
our traditions. Too busy cook the traditional turkey I've done every year since I got married, I
had to order Thanksgiving dinner. Our new dining room table hadn't arrived yet
so we ate off of the folding card table surrounded by boxes of our accumulated
stuff. My children are older, 20, 18 and 15, but we've had our holiday
traditions since they were little and the upheaval of the move had them missing
that holiday spirit. They all agreed that it didn't feel like Thanksgiving. But when my youngest
asked me if we were even going to have a Christmas this year, I was shocked. I
missed our old traditions too, but I knew I wouldn't let anything stop me from
making our time together over the holiday special, traditions or not. I decided to do what I could to save Thanksgiving and give my family some of
that warm fuzzy holiday feeling despite the new, slightly less than ideal
situation. After dinner, instead of filing into the living room to sleep off the
turkey in front of the TV, I had my daughters pick a board game. (Made sense, I
mean we already had the card table up.) We sat around that tiny wobbly table for
hours, playing games, talking about school and friends and hopes for the new
year. And somewhere along the way we let go of our disappointment over lost
traditions and realized that the real tradition, being together, was what made
the holiday FEEL like the holiday. So yes, to my youngest child. We WILL have a Christmas this year. It may not be
exactly as you remember, but I'll be there and so will your dad, and your
sisters and through us, and you, it will feel like Christmas. Turns out there's really no such thing as tradition. I mean, even long held
traditions change every year. Kids grow up, move from the little people table to
the adult table. One year they bring toys to the holiday gathering, the next
year they bring boyfriends. One year they're full of teenage attitude and a few
years later they're chasing their own future teenager around the holiday table.
Life is ever changing, and traditions shift to accommodate. The only real
constant is our love for people dear to us. Hold on to that, and you've held on
to the best part of any tradition. So what about you guys? Anyone else struggling to hold onto old holiday
traditions, or muscling through new ones? What do you hold most dear about the
holidays? One commenter will win a copy of HELLSBANE (ebook
version) Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaigeCuccaro Follow me on
Twitter Visit me on the web: www.PaigeCuccaro.com
Comments
23 comments posted.
Re: Paige Cuccaro | Traditions
Well, we normally go over to my sister's for x'mas... but I think that we have finally reached the point where there are too many kids and we can't all fit into her house... We'll probably go out for dinner one night instead and just do a smaller get-togethers...
I just love getting together with everyone since it's hard to be together all the time now....
(May Pau 4:18pm December 7, 2011)
With all of our kids grown with familys of their own...and 3 out of 4 living approx 150 miles away...it's tough to get everyone together. My husband insists they we arrange a time when we can all get together (did I mention there are 9 grandchildren as well?)...which is frustrating for everyone. I try to tell him to just get together with whoever is avail whenever...no big deal. They are much busier than we are...but he forgets what it was like with a house full of little ones. I think I might have to put my foot down this year and tell him to stop harrassing the kids! Christmas can be any day we want it to be...
barbbattaglia at yahoo dot com
(Barbara Battaglia 5:18pm December 7, 2011)
We haven't followed the traditional Christmas since my hubby lost his job and we had to move to a different province. We have just the four of us made the best of being together and celebrating!
(Diane Sadler 7:16pm December 7, 2011)
We still do some things that we have continued to do for years... but this year I am so far behind on getting stuff done... being together is the most important thing... Happy Holidays!
(Colleen Conklin 7:53pm December 7, 2011)
I'm holding onto 3 traditions. Since I won't be with my family, I've started new ones with my Husband in the place that I now live. This year I will be baking my Mother's cookies, and sharing them with my Landlord (who will be here) and take some to friends who love them. The second tradition is to decorate as much as I can, because I love Christmas, and want it to be a Holiday to remember. The third tradition is to get these contests changed to a choice of copy or e-book, because I don't own an e-reader. I can't afford to buy one, new or used. I prefer a hard copy of a book, anyway, and love the cover of your book. It would be advertising for me to walk around, reading it. I hope that you have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:16pm December 7, 2011)
I combine various traditions and like the carols and the cookies.
(Alyson Widen 8:52pm December 7, 2011)
HI PAIGE, SINCE 1997 AFTER MY DOUBLE STROKE TRADIIION WENT
OUT THE WINDOW ALONG WITH MY 30+ YEAR CHRISTMAS TREE. SAVED
MY TEDDY ORNAMENTS FOR DAUGHTER SO SHE CAN DO HER OWN
MEMORIES AND I JUST REFLECT ON CHRISTMSES PAST.
(Linda Bass 8:53pm December 7, 2011)
Oh yes - back in the day we had lots of stuff going on - lots of baking - mom used to make a birthday cake for the Baby Jesus - etc - but over the years, things totally scaled back, which is kind of sad in a way, but there are always ways to make new traditions as you said! We always have Christmas music going though - mostly the older, "traditional" songs we know and love mixed with some newer stuff!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 9:13pm December 7, 2011)
My favorite part is driving around looking at the Xmas lights and visiting with friends and family. We don't really have a lot of traditions and our family is far and wide.
(Lisa Kendall 9:23pm December 7, 2011)
Thanks for a lovely post. My family doesn't really do "traditions". We just gather together to catch up, exchange presents and eat!
(Erin Fender 12:19pm December 8, 2011)
Christmas has changed for us. My daughter is grown now and has a life outside of her parental units:-) We've taken our small family and added it to a cousins, and we have a wonderful dinner and then sit and chat. It's all low key and relaxing. I still miss all the crazy fun we had when the kids were small and the paper would go flying, the cats in the 'real' tree and we nearly resembled 'Christmas Vacation'!
(Gail Siuba 2:14am December 8, 2011)
Growing up in a home that didn't have many extras, but did have an abundance of love, made Christmas a wonderful time of year. Presents were few, but after all it is the thought that counts, or used to anyway.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 9:00am December 8, 2011)
In the last couple of years, we've lost some very dear family right at the holidays. Due to these losses, we've struggled to push through missing them, knowing that the loved ones wouldn't want such unhappiness to mar the joy that comes with the holidays that they enjoyed so much. Helping our childen through these times has brought us even closer.
(LaRonda Atchison 12:56pm December 8, 2011)
We hold all the main Holidays at our house, I usually cook for around 18 people. It is wonderful. just getting us all together is great. Merry Christmas
(Debbie Ellis 1:51pm December 8, 2011)
Now there is just my husband and me to celebrate the holidays by ourself--and we still haven't figured out exactly what to do. I still cook a big dinner, then we have leftovers for a weeK!!
(Sue Farrell 2:26pm December 8, 2011)
Now that we have a little one, we still try and see all the family, but make it known that Christmas morning is for us now.
(Summer Grinstead 2:38pm December 8, 2011)
Well I traditionally cook for Thanksgiving. But as our children have grown and moved away the crowd is getting smaller. I once cooked turkey for 43. This year is was just 15 and my father-in-law was in the hospital. He has since passed away. This was not a good thanksgiving. I am hoping next year is good again. The men and children also go on a hike in the forest preserve every year and that is one tradition we try to keep. It has been happening for at least 18 yrs.
(Patti Paonessa 3:45pm December 8, 2011)
Unless we go East it is just my Husband and I. So there is no tradition when we stay home. A roast chicken or a Rib
Roast and no decorations. bah humbug.
(Kathleen Bianchi 4:37pm December 8, 2011)
I have always loved since I was a small child, a tradition in our family, that my brother still holds dear and does each year on Dec. 23 or 24, taking the family to look at the many beautiful Christmas lighting displays in front of the homes, etc. Also, love getting together with my siblings and all their children (as many of us that can each year, since several are from one state, but not all of us), and we have a huge buffet that everyone contributes to that is always fantastic. There are 8 sisters and brothers and 31 children & grandchildren. So it's a huge houseful if most show up and a noisy, fun time together! I also, prefer reading my books from paperback or hardcover, since I do not own any type of e-reader and wish authors would consider the option, for those of us that do not, in their giveaways. Thanks!
(Linda Luinstra 5:28pm December 8, 2011)
The last several years, my parents have come to our house because of our kids & the frustration of trying to bring gifts from Santa on the trip without our kids discovering them, but this year we will have to go there because my grandfather is very ill. That is a sacrifice we will gladly make.
(Jenny Finstrom 7:06pm December 8, 2011)
Struggling with it. The kids are now teens and it just isn't the same, they are not really into it but still want the magic they remember from their elementary days. I am trying to get them involved by giving to others and doing deeds for each other. My one son took my other sons broken chain in and is getting it fixed for him as a surprise for Christmas :)
(Darci Paice 10:27pm December 8, 2011)
looking at all the lights and time with family
(Jennifer Beck 11:19pm December 8, 2011)
Original ideas don’t always come easy. All of us need a little kick start from time to time, to get our minds ticking. To get excited. The short black of inspiration.
i-Phone case
(Risy Kco 4:17am December 17, 2011)
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