Tradition!

This year I find myself thinking a lot about traditions. Perhaps it is because this will be the first year without my mother. She absolutely loved Christmas. She would always say, “As long as I can swing it!” As a child, we would always have the whole production – lots of presents on Christmas morning (or midnight – what were we thinking), lots of yummy foods, and of course, Christmas Mass. Christmas Mass was a beautiful concert folded into a traditional mass.

Now that I am adult, we have continued those traditions and have added a few of our own. My birthday is on Christmas Eve (hence my nom de plume – Eve) so we always go out for a nice birthday lunch. Soon after, we head to Christmas caroling by the lighted Christmas tree by the pond in our town.  This is followed by mass and driving around to see Christmas lights.  Sooo fun! Oh, and, as a family, we write this blog.  Challenging, annoying, fun, interesting and gratifying all at the same time.

Christmas morning is all about the Christmas presents. Some may be anticipated, but some may be total surprises.  Then some movie watching and/or games.  Just an all-around good time with family. Except one person won’t be there which will be really hard. I am trying to come up with ways to honor her in her absence; I am open to suggestions.

New Years is never too big a deal for us.  We enjoy hanging out with friends in a low-key manner.  One New Years Day tradition we have tried to do whenever we are at home is to do a First Day Hike.  For all of you on-hikers out there, this has become somewhat of a thing in the last few years or so. Simply, it is going on a hike on the first day of the year. Various organizations will often organize hikes for people to go on, but you can just as easily just do one yourself. You would be surprised how many people are out there enjoying a chilly January day!  And what a great way to start the new year – out in nature with family or friends working off some of those holiday treats.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition? And if you do First Day, where do you go?

Thanks for reading!

Eve