traditions
Here we are again in the midst of the winter holiday season. I find myself trying to figure out what I want these holidays to be for me. As someone with zero religious inclinations it’s sometimes hard to reconcile a holiday based around something without meaning to me with my desire to celebrate. I realize that christmas is hardly a religious holiday at this point for most so what does it matter? It seems like the time to make our own traditions.
I really enjoy giving handmade gifts and sending out cards. It’s nice to have a reason to take some time to show people you care about that you’re thinking of them. So much so that I may have a tendency to come up with a few too many projects for myself to make. How fast can my little hands sew and knit before it’s too late to give something to someone? Of course, with something handmade, there’s always the worry that someone won’t like the gift at all. It’s feels more personal when it’s something you’ve taken time to put together than something you’ve selected for purchase (though that can be an equally difficult and time consuming task).
Shawn and I have never had a christmas tree since we’ve been together, even though I love trees, mainly because I always talk us out of buying one. One year we found the the most sad and scrawny fake tree but the store refused to sell it to us, because it was the floor model. I still wish we had that tree. It was perfect. This year I didn’t even want to put up or decorations. I can’t say why exactly, but the thought of having to put them away again later in the month seemed like too much. We lucked out this year and my mother let us borrow her aluminum tree and it’s quite lovely and the cats haven’t tried to eat it yet so I’m happy about that.
I love festivities and when things feel special. I had so much fun making a yule log last year. I’d like to make a gingerbread house this year. Though it’s just managed to get a bit chilly here in Los Angeles, it never has the same celebratory feel as other colder states. I’ve been watching snowy movies to make it feel more like winter here.
What are your traditions? What are your favorite things to do to celebrate during the winter months?
My Shawn and I haven’t really cultivated our own traditions yet, but we both absolutely love this time of year! When I was growing up, my family’s tradition was to go out and pick a tree together and then spend the rest of the evening decorating it. We always got our tree as close to Christmas as we could and then would leave it up through February sometimes, as long as it held up! And Christmas morning we always had to let my parents sleep in but then my father would make everyone breakfast, usually pancakes, and we’d open gifts while we waited.
I’m not religious either and to me the holiday has always been about family and celebrating being together, having food to share, and gifts to give. I never miss my family quite as much as I do this time of year. We never celebrated Thanksgiving growing up so Christmas was always the bigger holiday for us. I’m looking forward to sharing that same excitement with Shawn as each year passes. We got our first tree together last year, and we’ll be getting another one this year!
I think part of my problem is that I didn’t really have traditions growing up so I don’t have something to fall back on. I sort of feel like I can make up whatever I want at this point.
I love to bake for my friends and the people at my office for the holidays.
This time of year, I generally have “Love, Actually” and “The Holiday” DVDs on repeat and I walk around singing various Christmas songs. And, of course, the “Christmas Story” marathon on Christmas day.
One of these days, I’m going to get over my fear of burning down the house and build a fire in my fireplace, too.
P.S. On a completely unrelated note, have you read Wonder yet?