Favorite Christmas Traditions #3 – Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was by far the greatest of Christmas traditions. Like many traditions it evolved over time, and only got better with each passing year. Initially, it mostly involved driving around to see Christmas lights and opening one gift before bedtime. By my late teenage years, the tradition was fully evolved to an entire evening affair.

The evening usually began with a rushed trip to church for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. Grace didn’t start doing this until my early college years, but it was still a fond memory. Then it was a longer than normal trip back to the house as we would go through a variety of neighborhoods to see the Christmas decorations (usually, dinner was eaten in the car as we spent a solid hour or more looking for lights). When we got home we’d usually change into our pajamas and then gather into the living room. We would then each get one gift to open from the tree.

After the gifts were opened, mom would bring out a variety of cookies, cranberry bread and a cheeseball, as well as hot apple cider. We’d gather again to watch the original 1935 Scrooge Movie – still one of my Christmas favorites and the best Scrooge ever made and best actor to ever play the roll. After the movie we’d head up to bed and all the brothers would sleep in the same room, a tradition that remained until the Christmas before I got married. Then we’d go to sleep listening to the scurrying of mom and dad downstairs setting out the last of the Christmas gifts.

It really is awesome how powerful traditions can be to form lasting family memories. In fact, in 2002 when I got engaged to Tiffanee, we had a long conversation with each other about what to do for the holidays, should we spend them together or apart. We both decided to spend Christmas apart to enjoy one final year of our childhood traditions and memories. We both knew that Christmas 2003 would bring new traditions and experiences. I can still remember the “thank you” my mom gave me Christmas night 2002. She was very excited for Tiffanee and me getting married and the new things to come, but she also felt deeply honored that we’d decided to give those traditions and lasting memories a fitting goodbye. Looking back, we certainly made the right decision.

It is my prayer that the traditions Tiff and I create for our family over the years will be as equally enjoyed and honored by our children.

Merry Christmas,
Jeremy