Favorite Holiday Traditions

When asked what my favorite holiday traditions were, I began to say, "But we do not have any holiday traditions, we do the same thing every year!" But when I considered for a moment, I realized there are a few things that we do every year during the holidays to help make the season more special and memorable for us.

Thanksgiving for a family as large as ours is a big event. With Dad, Mom, and we twelve children, it is not difficult to build memories that are not easy to forget.

For thanksgiving, we would gather together at my mom's parent's house with all of her siblings and their children to share in food, fun, and fellowship. But several years ago, my dad decided he wanted us to spend Thanksgiving at home together as a family. We planned and decided on what we would prepare, and, though I'm not sure whose idea it was, it was decided that each child would make a different dish for the big Thanksgiving meal. (The youngest child helping to prepare always sliced the cranberry sauce.)

As more of us children got old enough to help with the baking and cooking, we had to think of more dishes to go with the scrumptious dinner, and when it comes to eleven or twelve dishes... there is a lot of food!

After dinner we would each take turns, starting at the very youngest and working up by birth order. Each one would share something that he or she was especially thankful for that year. This creates a very special part of our Thanksgiving.

The Friday following Thanksgiving, we all load up into our big, fifteen-passenger van, and head to the Christmas tree farm. After our arrival, we all tumble out of the van amid the many admonishings, "Girls, keep an eye on your buddies," "Don't go too far," and similar cautions, we begin the task of choosing our tree.

Now picture this a moment, thirteen people walking among the feathery green of dozens of Leland cypress trees, trying to choose the "perfect" one, it can become a pretty lengthy process.

Sometimes certain ones of us will have our hearts set on a tall, regal tree that year, and will get together and scrape up the extra money needed to make the difference. Other times some think it would be cute to have a small and fuzzy, well rounded tree on a little table in the corner of the living room. Ultimately, it is Mom who has the final deciding vote.

When we arrive home and put the tree in the stand, my brother Christopher and I have the wonderful task of putting the lights on the tree. By the time the placement of the lights and tree are to everyone's satisfaction, and our arms are red from scratches and prickles gotten in the process, it is time to take out and reheat the leftovers, eat supper, and head towards bed.

The next day we clean, and then towards evening, we pull out all the decorations and then decorated the tree and house. We take pictures of each sibling hanging their "special" ornament, and take the cross and cradle from the attic. We set up the nativity, each child, beginning with the eldest, choosing a piece to put on the entertainment center.

After the house is filled with the warmth of Christmas array, we partake in our special tradition of hot chocolate, creamy eggnog, and warm, crisp sugar cookies.

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is "The Name Game". The first part consists of placing the names of every child into a hat. We then each choose a name from the hat, not telling anyone who we picked, and then we buy a gift for that person by Christmas day. No one knows which child has who until they are handed the gift. We began this tradition in previous years when we couldn't afford to buy everyone gifts, and have found it such fun we continue with it every year!

The second part of "The Name Game" is for the gifts our parents give to us. My mom creates a secret code each year for every child, and when the packages appear under the brightly lighted tree, the labels tantalize you with nothing but a mysterious mixture of numbers and letters. We children try to crack the code before Christmas, and the first to do so receives the "prize" gift.

The day we celebrate our Christmas together, we all gather together in the living room after breakfast, and Dad reads to us about the greatest Gift ever given. It is so precious to see everyone scattered over the loveseat, sofa, and floor. (I am so thankful God gave us a big family!) After the Christmas story we all work together to finish cleaning up the house and preparing our Christmas dinner. It is not quite as big as our Thanksgiving dinner, but just as delicious!

After dinner we all go back into the living room and open gifts. It is always fun to see the surprise of what was given, and finally finding out who got your name, and what code was for you!

I am surprised now, as I look over all our family's holiday traditions, at how important each little article has become in making our holidays special. These traditions help to create so many unique and fun ways for us to enjoy our wonderful family. How different things would be without our holiday traditions!