Nostalgic holiday memories/traditions

[yossi]

I remember driving around the county with my father, looking for the houses that were lit up and decorated. Some would maybe frame a window or two and run lights along the roof line, but others... I was always so impressed by major displays of lights. How much time, effort, and thought must have gone into the elaborate set ups, and it was magical. I drive around now, sometimes by myself, but also with friends, and it still hits me the same way. I'm glad it only happens once a year, because I don't want to tire of it. I always want to have that feeling of awe as darkness settles and the houses transform into miniature wonderlands.

I'd love to hear some of your memories, if you still carry on certain traditions, and the like.

 

[islandman]

Being in situ at the stroke of midnight on NYE.

That one's a relatively new tradition.

 

[rimmy]

I remember waking up every Christmas morning thinking "Why the fuck am I Jewish? I want presents."

 

[islandman]

Mazel!

 

[rimmy]

Mazel!

Bastard. Ironically, Jesus woke up every Xmas saying the same thing.

 

[yossi]

Being in situ at the stroke of midnight on NYE.

That one's a relatively new tradition.

Making new traditions is always fun.

I was trying to work in a ball dropping joke, but I just couldn't get there.

I remember waking up every Christmas morning thinking "Why the fuck am I Jewish? I want presents."

You get presents for eight days!

 

[neci]

toys for tots doesn't have a hanukkah drive.

 

[GimpyIntellect]

What is a yossi?

You're very pretty, and I want to know.

As for the traditions, growing up my family would always spend the mornings with my dad's side of the family. After that, we would come home, rest up, and then spend the evening with my mom's family. Only one grandparent remains.

Christmas was more fun as a kid.

 

[rimmy]

You get presents for eight days!

A new pencil case and pillow don't really count. We was poor.

toys for tots doesn't have a hanukkah drive.

Rub it in, why don't ya.

What is a yossi?
.

Some Israeli guy.

 

[gravyrug]

Fried chicken for xmas morning breakfast. We've kept that tradition my whole life, and I've passed it on to the Ruglets.

 

[unregistered]

 

[GimpyIntellect]

Some Israeli guy.

This isn't the first time I've been catfished!

 

[scrymettet]

6th December
Saint Nicholas bringing present and chocolates.
None of that Coca Cola's Santa bullshit

 

[neci]

we always opened a present on christmas eve, after attending the christmas eve service. those presents were always pajamas, so the photographs the next morning would be all matchy.

 

[yossi]

What is a yossi?

You're very pretty, and I want to know.

As for the traditions, growing up my family would always spend the mornings with my dad's side of the family. After that, we would come home, rest up, and then spend the evening with my mom's family. Only one grandparent remains.

Christmas was more fun as a kid.

Some Israeli guy.

Heh, yossi is just a shortened version of my old s/n. Yossarian is a favored literary character of mine.

A new pencil case and pillow don't really count. We was poor.

We didn't have much money growing up either. Hence the lights as a nostalgic memory.

 

[SexyWench]

We were the house to be for christmas meal
Mom cooked everything!
Sit down meal for about 15 people
I've carried on that tradition
except I host for 30+ immediate family members
(I probably should have thought that through marrying a guy with 5 siblings!)

 

[FGB]

Can’t say that I have or do.
Growing up at my house, especially after the age of eight we would crank off the Holidays whatever they were with my dad arriving home from work and opening a beer.
It goes downhill from there. Yes there was some good times but they were often interrupted by acts of drunken cruelty, stupidity or insanity. He usually picked out someone to target. He would spend the time berating, criticizing and running the person down as much as possible until he passed out.

Naturally this time was interspaced by drunken attempts to kill one or more of us. For some real fun he would enlist us in doing sort of project…nothing like a drunk crazy man with a chainsaw or tractor and brush hog or any other piece of machinery. Having to go ANYWHERE out in public was an added bonus guaranteed to raise the embarrassed factor sky high if any friends happened along.

Shit, could go on for many pages.

So ah, NO I do not.

 

[Noor]

Going to Nela Park in East Cleveland and looking at all the lights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nela_Park
http://archive.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=270998
Cool they are all LED now.

 

[RobDownSouth]

I used to have a home in Florida with a really steep roof pitch. I loved putting Christmas lights on the outline of the roof, but that would entail some pretty dicey maneuvering on top of the roof (there were some places where I'd have to dangle off the side...50 foot straight drop if I fell.

My kids used to love to get their little lawn chairs and watch the yearly spectacle of me hanging lights. They'd sip lemonade and the oldest would hold the cell phone to dial 911 in case Dad fell (serious business!)

One year it was in the high 80s temperature-wise and I was absolutely baking on top of the hot asphalt tile roof. I was wearing jeans but had blisters from the heat (through my jeans!) on my butt by the time I was done.

It was a real....wait for it.....pain in the ass. *rimshot*

 

[RobDownSouth]

Oh and I was reading about old-school "Christmas Demons" in Europe coming to America and for some reason thought of Lovecraft68 here

 

[Que]

I grew up in a family of nine. Christmas eve one present for each would be picked to be opened that night. Much as everyone liked a sneak peek at what you got it was always cool that a sibling picked the gift from you to open. Especially if it was a sibling one had a rivalry with. The differences set aside for the night was 'Christmas-y." There was actual electioneering going on to try to get people to pick your gift if you were especially excited about what you found for them.

I tried to carry on the tradition with the kids, but starting young, they understandably did not want to stop at one and their mom would campaign to let them open more.

Christmas morning in our house was usually fairly meager with the better stuff hinted at and opened the night before.

I don't know how other people do but in my family growing up stockings were empty to be filled by Santa. A modification from my wife was that anyone can add to the stockings through-out the season.

 

[RobDownSouth]

6th December
Saint Nicholas bringing present and chocolates.
None of that Coca Cola's Santa bullshit

Okay, what is the significance of December 6th?

I dated a Dutch girl once and she gave me chocolate alphabet letters as a present on December 6th.

 

[RjThoughts]

Going to my Polish great-grandmother's house for Christmas Eve dinner. It was supposed to be mostly fish and sweets, but we had freshly smoked kielbasa, shit ton of ham, salads up the ass, and pastries.

For January 6 - the Epiphany - after church we'd head back over to my grandmother's house for a small meal, usually lunch, and receive money and chocolate.

 

[Noor]

When I was young, stockings on Christmas morning with oranges and nuts that we never got otherwise, and a small gift like a pocket knife.

My Christian grandmother sending me these big filled commercial stocking things full of candies. I didn't buy any candy at stores until I was an adult. My mom made candy canes at Xmas and most of the whole Christmas thing was for my dad and grandparents if they came but they usually came on my birthday/Thanksgiving.

Arriving at my parents a few days before Xmas and there would be no trees or anything, and I would ask my dad and he would be blah on Christmas, my parents are not religious and were not both brought up Christian, and my brothers and I going out on Christmas eve to the tree stands and buying a tree very cheap, and setting it up for my dad. He liked that.

Going down to Marshall Fields to see the Christmas mechanical windows. Shopping with my grandmother there and losing her in the Christmas crowds
Eat roasted chestnuts from a street vendor.

Going to my friends' house and see old friends, their kids, spouses and grand kids to the lutefisk dinner on Xmas eve.

Winter Solstice on December 25, outside around the fire.

Gambling with a dreidel on Chanukah, making Latkes and applesauce. The Menorah and telling the story. Maccabee games. Gelt and giving a portion to charity.

On Thanksgiving watching the Macy's Day parade and original Miracle on 34th street.

On Christmas Day watching Lion in Winter usually followed by a Man for all Seasons. This past Christmas Byron watched it with me, they were two of his favorite movies as well as mine.

Near Christmas watching a performance of the Nutcracker and listening to the music all December. Also seeing A Christmas Carol. Christmas Eve reading Twas a night before Christmas out loud.

Twelfth Night Dinners, Jan. 6.

 

[eyer]

I, my beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed wife and each of our blonde-haired, blue-eyed children, will once more gather with all our blonde-haired, blue-eyed relatives...

...to celebrate yet another White Privilege Christmas.