It's a Family Tradition

The holidays bring about a host of fun traditions. They’re how we reconnect with loved ones because, let’s face it, life often gets in the way. Chances are you have some of your own, whether passed down in your family or self-made. As for me and mine, we’ve got a handful of traditions that make the holidays – and Christmas in particular – even more special.

For us, Christmas starts the weekend after Thanksgiving when we go to a Christmas tree farm to purchase a real tree. Santa’s even there to greet us. After getting our tree up and running, it’s essential to adorn it with the proper ornaments. We have one bendable Santa who takes his place on top of the tree. 

Additionally, we dress the tree with ornaments we’ve collected from around the world – as far away as Norway and a touch closer to home, like New York (where I’m from) and New Hampshire (where my husband Carl is from).

My husband had been requesting a design of our family crest for a while. After mulling it over and considering what to include, I created a crest as a Christmas gift a few years back. We currently use it as a stamp on our Christmas cards. It’s a beautiful way to share a piece of our family ancestry every year. 

Another important part of the holiday season? Food. I love baking homemade cookies. As a kid, my mom would bake these incredible sugar cookies with jelly inside and topped with confection sugar. Nowadays, Carl and the kids are fans of my mint chocolate cookies (I don’t blame them). We’re also fans of comfort foods, which pair perfectly with the colder weather. Anything with butternut squash or stew does well in my home.

Then, every Christmas Eve, we go to Yank Sing in San Francisco for delicious dim sum. The kids love it. We’ve also attended shows in past years.

I have my own tradition that’s separate from my family. I love going on hikes. It gets me out of the house and is a form of self-care for me. There’s nothing wrong with having a holiday tradition that’s just for you.