Traditions

[In_His_Shadow]

With the holidays coming it starts me thinking of all the things my family (extended) has done over the years that have become traditions in our family.

Example: For Thanksgiving we all (Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Parents, children etc.) gather around the table and before we say a prayer we go around the cirlce one by one and tell what we are thankful for that particular year.

Christmas: My girls even though grown become very upset with me if I even mention not putting up this silly felt thing I made when they were small girls. I just took a piece of felt and cut 25 slashes in it and put a candy cane in each one. When the girls were too young to count they could visibly see how many days until Christmas. First thing every morning they would run to take that days candy cane down. It's one of the ways my youngest learned to count.

So many happy memories. Where did time go?

CJ

[Karenluvs6]

Christmas, it is everything!
I have all good memories of Christmas time....none to complain about at all.
Christmas is a great excuse to go back to my childhood.

[kezzer]

On the weekend of our anniversary we have our annual Pumpkin carving for Halloween. On Christmas Eve I read the kids Twas the Night Before Christmas just like my grandfather used to do for me and my cousins.

[In_His_Shadow]

Those are wonderful memories. I love this time of year, it just gives you the warm fuzzies.

CJ

[Debby]

Not to be a downer or anything, but I think this Thanksgiving and Christmas will be the worst I have ever had....my mother passed away three years ago, which was bad enough, but then my father just died in August this year, so It will be a very rough holiday season for me this year.

[In_His_Shadow]

Debby I am so sorry to hear about your losses. We have had several members of our family pass in the last couple of years and these times are really hard. Just try to keep yourself surround by people you love.

I will be remembering you during these holidays and pray that you will be comforted during this time.

CJ

[Debby]

thank you...the thing that really gets me through the rough spots is praying and also the love of my wonderful friends who are so good to me...when dad died I wanted to sing a song at his funeral, but of course I wanted to tape it off, because I could not emotionally bring myself to sing it the day of the funeral, so I ordered the cd of just the music, off the internet, and it cost about 40 dollars to get it here (what with the next day air) and my friends went behind my back and took up money amongst themselves to pay for it for me...I was so surprised and touched! I do love the holidays, and I know my friends will make it as painless as possible for me. :)

[In_His_Shadow]

Friends are a wonderful blessing.

CJ

[blinc]

What about foods? Down here in the south it's considered good luck to eat collard greens on New Years day. Supposed to bring luck throughoout the year.

It's becoming a tradition to get together on Christmas Eve for my husbands parents and us... to exchange gifts privately, then have the whole family get together Christmas day to chow down and have fun. *sigh* Good times. :)

[In_His_Shadow]

I don't know how South you are but, way down here in South Texas we don't eat Collard Greens for New Years. Though I love them any day. We have Cabbage for good luck and black eyed peas for money and then corn bread well, just because it's good. :)

CJ

[Debby]

What exactly are collard greens? I have heard that name before...but never had any, are they similar to spinach? We don't have any New Years Eve food traditions that I know of here in Iowa.