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From ambrosia to elves, from a bread-dough ornament to sitting on Santa’s lap, traditions are the routines we celebrate that make holidays memorable.
Traditions don’t have to be unique; the ones that are “ordinary” become part of our culture, the ones that are unique make our family special. But whatever is repeated year after year, is the stuff of nostalgia.
A time we set aside to sit and talk with those who love us most is another essential part of American tradition. Lenore Thompson of Branchville puts it simply, “The most traditional thing we do is spend Christmas Day together as a family.”
Time with family is part of the essence of Christmas, but distinguishing it from just another holiday is how the time is tied into the family’s faith.
“My family has a traditional Christmas every year,” said Robin Lindner of Pine Ridge. “We go to church and then have dinner.”
“We usually try to visit the older members of the family so they don’t have to get out,” says Michael McCormick of Lexington. “We’ll spend most of the holiday season traveling around, almost a tour of the holidays. One of the major traditions in our family is to make sure we attend church so we don’t lose sight of what (Christmas) stands for.”
“One thing we do is go over to Thomas’ family’s house. We hold hands and have prayer before we have Christmas,” says Vickie Summers of Cameron. “Everybody’s weeping by the time it’s done.”
The special memories often involve the extended family that takes extra steps to create excitement for the children.
“My uncle would dress up as Santa Claus and go over to my grandparent’s house,” says Angie Eklund of Livingston. “And they (the kids) would tell him what they wanted. They weren’t looking for him there because it was Christmas Eve. That was always the big thing at my Nanny and Sugar Daddy’s house.”
“Santa sends one of his elves to stay with us between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” says Andrea Fogle of Lone Star. “The elf comes to life at night, and either does a kind deed for the kids, or does something devilish, something like toilet-papering the Christmas tree or turning all the furniture upside down.”
For some, the season begins with the tree. “We go to Webb’s Christmas Tree Farm to get our Christmas tree,” says Pastor Anthony Hughes of Orangeburg. “That’s our family outing, that’s when Christmas really begins for us.”
Brittany Livingston of North agrees. “The week after Thanksgiving, I go to Webb’s Christmas Tree Farm to get a tree. It’s kind of a tradition to get a live tree.”
Food is always the stuff of traditions, and it’s not always turkey or ham. “We would gather at my parent’s house, my children and wife,” says Bernard Gunter of North. “We would grill steaks, and have ambrosia and cook out.”
For St. Nick, it’s not always milk and cookies, either. “We always have to put out cookies and coffee,” Jamie Moore explains. “Santa can’t stay awake drinking all that milk.”.
Because it is the time of celebrating God’s gift to the son, Christmas is usually observed by, in turn, Christians giving to others in any way they can. “We put our money together and buy gifts for kids who can’t afford it,” says Lisa Wallace of Orangeburg. “We’ll find a family and we won’t tell them who it’s from.”
Whether a breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or simple supper, families pick the times that fit the schedules and distances that can bring the most of them together and that meal becomes the memory.
“The day before Christmas, the whole family gathers together,” says Thomas Hiott of North. “That’s the grandparents and everybody. Then we have dinner at my grandparent’s house.”
“We have a Christmas breakfast every year for Christmas. That’s been a tradition in our family for some time.”says Hazel Looper, Branchville.
“We cook dinner and (as a family) sit around the Christmas tree,” says Tameka Brown of Orangeburg.
As founder of a new Web site called Cafe Traditions, Madison, Wis., resident Colleen Carmona says, “Traditions are the glue that bind us together. They are the memories that we talk about year after year. They are the rituals that touch our hearts and create stronger relationships.”
Carmona created the Web site as a depository for traditions to provide inspiration for people to add something to their lives. Traditions strengthen family bonds, she feels.
Here’s a sample of Christmas traditions found at cafetraditions.com:
l “Santa’s Special Treats: I bought my son a special plate and mug for him to serve Santa and the reindeer their Christmas Eve snack. Before he goes to bed on Christmas Eve, he carefully picks out the best-looking cookies and the fattest carrots to put on the plate, then pours Santa a big mug of milk. In the morning, there are only crumbs left on the plate, along with a note from Santa thanking my son.” – Heather G., Alpharetta, Ga.
l “The Christmas Pickle: Many years ago, I found a strange little pickle ornament at my local Christmas shop. It had a small card attached explaining that the pickle is part of an old German tradition. When decorating the Christmas tree, the pickle is supposed to be the last ornament hung (and hidden) in the branches by the parents. Then the first child of the family that finds the ornament on Christmas Eve receives an extra little gift and is the first to unwrap his or her gifts.” – Tracey D., Madison, Wis.
-- T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.