A Guide for Celebrating Christmas for Military Families and Others Away from Home

My sister in Florida is part of a military neighborhood. Everyone is away from family, and Christmas could be a sad and lonely time. Instead, the neighborhood created a holiday block party and adopted one another as holiday family.

They began by assigning jobs to each neighbor. There are holiday games and small prizes for everyone, plenty of food, and a lot of camaraderie. This interchange became a neighborhood tradition and now, with many of the neighbors retired with grown children, has continued in a shorter version.

Decorations

The entire neighborhood was decorated in a combination of traditional and Floridian Christmas décor. Plastic flamingos with Santa hats sit next to the traditionally decorated tree. Perhaps a manger scene with one of the animals being a flamingo was a bit over the edge, but it fit with the zany celebration.

I do know that the competition that began so long ago, in home decorating, continues on even though the children are raised and this is truly now their home. My brother-in-law has added to his décor each year in an unwritten challenge with the neighbor. The glow from the incandescence of Christmas lights can be seen for blocks. You can hear the buzz of the electric needle moving as you enter the cul de sac, and the heat never trips on at night because the Christmas light bulbs keep the neighborhood warm.

Games

My sister told me of the various games, but the best one was the reindeer races. The little battery powered reindeer that take a few steps forward pause and continue were the focal point each year, so others loved the idea also. The neighborhood is a cul de sac so set up was easy. They simply blocked the street off, with everyone's permission, leaving a small area at the intersection for guest parking.

Each person racing had a reindeer that was placed on the ground at a "go" signal. The course wasn't long because the reindeer didn't move that fast, but it was exciting. The winner of the heat got to challenge the winners of other heats until a final grand champion was named. Reindeers were provided for those that did not have their own and a homemade plaque was awarded. Having watched these little figures move, I can understand how the race lasted a good portion of the day.

Food

This was truly a neighborhood celebration and food that is part of a family tradition was created for the occasion. Garage doors were left open with the main course at one and desserts at another. Drinks were kept separate and had two areas. One held the hot drinks that consisted of hot chocolate, coffee, flavored additions for the coffee (See my article http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/447845/give_holiday_food_italian_cream_feta.html for the recipe for one of the additions.), and teas. These warm drinks were kept available to counteract the brisk Northern Florida mornings. Juice, libations, and soft drinks were provided in another open garage.

Pots of chili, side dishes, and giant subs were the basis for the neighborhood feast. The sub was produced as a group effort. Several people purchased uncut loaves of French and Italian bread. Several brought various varieties of cold cuts and cheeses. One brought chopped lettuce, several donated the toppings such as sliced olives and tomatoes, and still others brought condiments. The sandwiches were assembled and cut, and toppings were added as desired.

Small homemade gifts were made with a tag that said identified the type of recipient; man, woman, or child and a "real" Santa delivered the gifts.

The celebration ended with a prayer for those deployed and Christmas carols. Following that, everyone went back to their home to complete their own family's celebration.

The military neighborhood created a tradition for those a that were relocated to a new area and brought them the family that they couldn't be with on that holy day.