CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
BY R. AUBREY LA FOY
Families’ gathering at Christmas is a time honored tradition with many families. A time to assemble with the one we love the most. It is a time to get the family in one place and best of all to see each other and have a feast. Children should grow up with wonderful memories of the happy times the families have at Christmas.
Growing up in Iowa we always associate Christmas with snow. Pine trees are decorated with tinsel, lights and ornaments. The stores and communities get into the holiday spirit with wreaths, decorations and colored lights. In my hometown it was traditional for many years to place a huge Christmas tree in the center intersection on Hwy. 71. That tradition was stopped when the state declared it a traffic hazard.
Christmas can be a fun and happy time. For many years our family passed around a triangle shaped box which we always-wrapped very specials with Christmas paper and ribbons. That box went from one member of our immediate family to another year after year. Who will get it this year? Another special Christmas present passed around contained a Polish calculator. Some joker long ago had glued an electric light cord with a plug in on one end to an extremely large lead pencil. No way would one plug it in but it always brought a chuckle from everybody. If one of the new daughter-in-laws was the reciprecant of either of those two it was like the family saying, “We love you and welcome to the family.”
What do you have to eat at Christmas? At our house Christmas Eve has a special tradition. My wife brought one from her family and over the years we have developed another tradition. Her family always had oyster stew on Christmas Eve. When we started our family we continued that oyster stew tradition but because several of our boys didn’t care that much for oyster stew we added thick chicken noodle soup a family favorite. So today no matter where we are we always have oyster stew and chicken noodle soup on Christmas Eve.
Christmas day dinner was always a feast for both of our families. Today and for many years we have a turkey and ham with all the trimmings. Having turkey was not found our family’s table at Christmas time and it wasn’t until years later that we bought one. Our family always had fried chicken and ham. My wife’s family lived on a farm so they had chicken, duck and goose. Mashed potatoes with thick gravy are a must along with dressing, squash, corn and watermelon pickles. One of our daughter-in-laws families always had cooked rutabagas so that dish has been added to our menus. For desert a pumpkin or mincemeat pie was always plentiful. Many families included wine with their Christmas dinner but neither of our families had that traditions and the only beverages were milk, coffee and tea.
Several years ago we were fortunate to be with our daughter-in-laws Italian family for Christmas. Her Father was the cook and traditionally had always prepared the food. Wine was poured out long before the dinner was served and a different wine was served before every course of the meal. Most of the dishes were like our traditional dinner except the first course was a big bowl of lasagna. In her family the kitchen was the gathering place and that is where most everyone congregated. A great time was had by all and especially Grandmother as who was the “grand lady” and everybody made a great fuss with and over her.
Tradition has it that the Baby Jesus received gifts so today we give gifts to our loved ones. It is always difficult for young people to look at the presents under the tree and not get open them until Christmas morning. In our family that is the traditional time to open gifts. But knowing kids we long ago started the practice of allowing them to open one present Christmas Eve. It is always exciting to watch them make that big decision. Which one shall it be, which one should I open? What fun!
Christmas morning can come mighty early especially if youngsters are in the house. The kids seem to wake up very early and I can still remember my sister shaking me and say, “Get up, get up its Christmas morning.” A traditional rule we have that on Christmas morning “all” must be gathered before anyone opens a present. Santa always comes during the night and leaves some things for the kids. Traditionally milk and cookies that were left for Santa were gone in the morning indicating that Santa had consumed.
As the children get older and develop their own families they may continue traditions learned earlier as children or they might acquire others. When we first moved back to Iowa from Colorado we told our families that we were having Christmas in our home. They were welcome to come and join us but it was our time with our family and our traditions. As our children grew up and had their own families we said the same to them, “Christmas is time for your family and for you to develop your own traditions. If we are here in Iowa we hope we will be included.”
What Christmas traditions does your family have? Religion plays an important part in many families and attending services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our church has had a traditional church service conducted by the choir for many years. Christ was born in a setting far removed from Iowa yet we have built our Christmas traditions that include evergreens snow and cold weather. With tongue in cheek isn’t it too bad that Christmas doesn’t come in warmer weather, day like June. Traveling in Iowa at Christmas time can be hazardess but most people will risk the weather to be with friends and family at Christmas. But if Christmas came in June then we would have the opportunity to have vacation in December when both students and teachers can get away from each other for a good revitalization of body, mind and spirit. Traditions are the glues that hold our society together and although they differ from family to family Christmas traditions are what dreams are made of.
Followers-What are your family traditions? Comments requested. Aubrey
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