You’re probably wondering two things. First, what can I possibly share about holiday family traditions that you don’t already know. And secondly, why is that dog in the photo above so much bigger than all the other animals?
If you read my post last year about my French creche, assembled with Santons collected from the Provence, then you’ll know that this tradition began when my sons were quite young. One Christmas, to encourage charitable behavior in my offspring, I let them each select a ceramic animal from the collection. I then placed their animals far away from Baby Jesus. As Christmas approached, they could inch their animals closer to the nativity based on kind deeds they performed each day. Well, my youngest son selected the dog, but the canine never quite made that journey. Every time I placed him to the edge of the village, my son threw an all-out tantrum. THAT DOG NEEDS TO BE WITH JESUS. NOW. Hence, the mutant canine’s traditional place in our holiday creche is right there, smack dab in the middle of it all, drooling over the Christ child.
Okay. So not all well-intentioned family traditions turn out the way you’d like. Nonetheless, it is important to infuse some yearly traditions into your family routine during this special season. And I know a handful of very sweet little traditions that just might peek your interest.
There are plenty of traditions you’re probably familiar with – hanging stockings, writing letters to Santa – but there are a few you may not have heard of. And then, of course, there are several of my own I’ll share with you that actually did take root and work out much better than the mutant dog.
shoes for St. Nick
One tradition which originated with the Dutch but is celebrated in many places throughout Europe is the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. Children leave their shoes out overnight in front of the fireplace or on the windowsill so that St. Nicholas can fill them with small gifts and treats. My husband remembers doing this as a child, and I think it’s a lovely tradition.
the christmas pickle
The Christmas pickle ornament is a very old tradition from Germany. You may have heard of it, as plenty of Americans have been buying pickle ornaments for decades. In fact, Woolworths was the first company to import glass pickle ornaments from Germany in 1890. The pickle is the last ornament hung on the tree, and the first child to find this hidden ornament receives an extra gift.
Oh, and one more thing. I can’t resist sharing this wonderful little crocheted pickle from Stacey Trock at Fresh Stitches. You can find her free pattern on Ravelry.
Now, for a few modern-day family traditions of my own…
ameristop angel tree
The tradition of angel or giving trees is not a modern-day concept; however, my pegging this tradition as the “Ameristop Angel Tree” tradition perhaps is. You don’t have to travel far if you are looking for someone in need of kindness. On my way home from picking my children up from school, we often stopped at the Ameristop, a local convenience store, for a snack. Each year, the store owner sponsored an angel tree from a local orphange. Draped upon its branches were the names, ages and wishlists of these children.
Every year my boys would select a name from the tree. Of course, my youngest (yes, the owner of the mutant dog) never did anything quiet or small. He liked to live life large, with a loud voice and in a big way. He decided we should wait until the last day of the display, then take all the names that were left. Noble idea, but those not chosen had wishes scribbled on them like, well… CELL PHONE or DVD PLAYER or some other EXPENSIVE toy. Nonetheless, that became our tradition. We started this when my boys were in elementary school, and we did this until they graduated from high school. The memories of those little boys proudly bringing in their poorly wrapped presents to place under that tree are precious; but my memory of them as young men, carrying in a ten-speed bike they bought and assembled themselves is even more dear. Through a holiday tradition started on an impulse, these boys learned the art of giving.
miniature villages
I’ve written about my Department 56 Christmas village before, but it’s worth sharing again. I’ve been collecting these houses for years, and I never get tired of assembling the village every year, despite the fact that I probably go overboard. I labor over the details, from the tiny lighted lamp posts to the hand-painted river. But it’s always so rewarding! There’s just something magical about peering into a entire miniature village through the eyes of a child. You can read more about it here – Setting up a Realistic Christmas Village.
And, because I sort of have a village fetish rivaled only by my obsession with pugs, I have to mention my French creche. You know, the one with the monstrous dog. (Don’t judge. It’s no more creepy than your Elf on the Shelf.) My little French nativity is also a family tradition of ours. You can learn more about it here – My Christmas Creche.
And that’s the end of this post. So turn off your computer or put down your laptop, and go make memories with your child.
