Heartwarming Holiday Traditions & Memories

Tammy - Attending services with my Grandmother on Christmas Eve then returning to sing carols and we always were allowed to open one present before we went to bed. My uncle and I would stay up and watch Scrooge - which I would typically fall asleep watching.

Annette - Christmas Eve we attend a Christmas Eve service at a small country church, not our regular church, but this one is connected to my husband's family. Then we come home and our kids (6 of them) get to open one present. It is always new pajamas, to have to wear that night. Then they go to bed, my husband falls asleep on the couch, and I play Santa Claus and wake him up when I'm done!

Laura - Our favorite holiday tradition is the youngest member of the family puts the Angel on the top of the Christmas tree. (Of course with the help of Daddy).

Karen - Every year, I would take the children to have "Breakfast with Santa". Even as an adult, I would get so excited for my children when the bells would ring letting everyone know that Santa was here. Finally, my youngest daughter told me that her sister told her that "there was no Santa, but she didn't want to let me know they didn't believe because they knew it made me so happy to think they still believed in him". Now I take other people's children to have breakfast with Santa and still get happy with them.

Tanya - Growing up in a very poor household, with my mom raising my brother and me by herself on a secretary income, Christmas seemed to be the only time when everyone was really really happy and we could pretend, for just one day, that we didn't have to struggle. No matter what, there would always be a turkey with cranberry sauce, and a present under the tree. Every one smiled, everyone laughed, nobody cried or yelled! I remember one year when I was 8 or 9 and I desperately wanted the Barbie camper. I wanted it for my birthday and after I didn't get it for my birthday I still wanted it for Christmas. My mom told me point blank. We just can't afford it, what else do you want? and I gave her my list of other things and put my dream of the Barbie camper on the shelf. I don't know how she did it. She must have saved from before my birthday as soon as she knew I wanted it, but on Christmas morning, it was under the tree, in all its glory! When I think of it now I can't remember what the Barbie camper looked like (except I know it was yellow), but I can remember how I felt and I can remember (with my hindsight) the sacrifice mom made. That is my favorite Christmas memory from childhood.

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