My Non-Traditional Christmas Eve Tradition
As we age and the holiday season surrounds us, I think it is very normal to feel nostalgic and reflect upon Christmases past. This year, as my own family is settling into our newfound traditions, I am reminded of a time where Christmas was full of magic, wonder, and joy. Of course, most of that stems from youthful innocence paired with the miracle of Santa Claus. But there are other factors as well.
The holidays look different for everyone; across the world, spanning religious differences, cultural differences, environmental factors, family dynamics, and so much more. As a small American family living abroad in Europe, we were geographically separated from our extended family and spent most Christmases as just the three of us. It was quiet, peaceful, and it was ours.
Despite our small size, our family unit still carved out our own family traditions. On Christmas Eve, as a child, I would be allowed to open one present. Of course, nothing from Santa, because he hadn’t arrived yet. This tradition filled me with so much joy and excitement. Over the years, with my own family as an ‘adult’, we’ve shifted from present-giving to experiencing. There currently are no children, wide-eyed at the possibility of gifts. Instead, practical adults, who are able to purchase items as they please. And so, the shift began. Starting initially with a week-long trip to Mexico and eventually settling into a week-stay in the mountains of Colorado.
Another tradition that developed, whose lasting excitement, followed me into adulthood was: discovering and trying out a new recipe each Christmas Eve, to replace the traditional dinner of the holiday. As a family of pescetarians, the traditionally meat-heavy Christmas dinner was not something we craved, or salivated over. One dish that sticks with me years later, is the year we started making garlic shrimp scampi spaghetti. The fun thing about this tradition is that, while each Christmas Eve, the dinner menu may change, you are learning and creating something new together. The new dish can then be carried through the year as a new staple dinner item, extending the joy from the holiday season– year round!
Whatever your holiday season looks like and whether you celebrate or not, there is always space to re-evaluate family traditions, create new ones, or even update old ones. There is no right way to do things, and whatever works best for you and yours, is what you should do! I know in my own life it is next to impossible to keep the celebration location consistent. While the setting may change, there are traditions that we’ll continue to carry with us.
Christmas Season at Longwood Gardens — 2021
