Hi y'all! Carrie here on a Thursday - what?? Oh yes, because when Ruthy says you post on Thursday, that's exactly what you do ;)
Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love all the traditions that go along with it. From reading the Christmas story, to stockings, to Christmas carols, to favorite snacks and goodies.
My family is big on tradition. Ok... my mom and I are big on tradition and we force everyone else to follow suit ;) I decided that today would be the perfect time to give y'all a peek inside my family and some of my fave family traditions.
First, what's Christmas without Santa Claus?!? Even if you don't emphasize this part of Christmas, his real story is pretty special. Fortunately for my family we have a built-in Santa Claus in my dad - add my photographer brother and adorable nephew to the mix and we're a Christmas card waiting to happen!
*above two photos by Josh Booth Photography
Next is my & my mom's annual trip to this delightful little restaurant in the basement of an old school turned antique shop in a teeny town called NoneSuch, Kentucky. (Isn't that the greatest?!?) The restaurant is called The Glitz and they serve a Roasted Chestnut Soup that I call 'Thanksgiving in a bowl' - oh my word it's so good! The entrees vary but the soup is a constant at Christmas, as is their Grandma Snyder's Christmas Cake which even my often-dessert-eschewing mom loves. This photo is from a couple of years ago but we also just went there this past Tuesday :)
Probably the most meaningful tradition we have (although they're all meaningful to me) is our Names of Jesus ornaments that we add to every year. Sometimes we do this on Christmas Eve, sometimes Christmas Day and even sometimes New Year's Eve - depending on what's going on and who is together - but at some point every Christmas season, each of us shares a "name" of Jesus & how He has been that to us this year. For instance, one of us may pick Teacher and talk about something He taught us in the past few months. Another one may say Great Physician or Wonderful Counselor and reflect on how He has healed something in our lives (not just physical) that year. The possibilities are pretty endless - Redeemer, Truth, Life, Alpha & Omega, Prince of Peace, etc. It's so sweet to hear how God has been working in our lives, and since we make a new ornament for each name shared, we get to look back on those moments whenever we decorate my parents' tree.
If you celebrate Christmas with a family who doesn't follow Jesus, this is still something you can do in your own worship time during the holiday season - a nice touchstone to remind you that you aren't alone, that He is there and very personal toward you.
Another tradition at Christmas? Making a list. Checking it twice. When you're bookish like me, some of that list-making involves compiling the best books I've read this year and the ones I'm looking forward to for next year.
Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite Christmas traditions - OR your favorite book of 2018 - OR just say hi - and I'll enter you in the giveaway for this super cool list-making book for bookish folk - Literary Listography: My Reading Life In Lists. Open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your country!
PLUS!! Don't forget to enter to win one of TWO KINDLE FIRES!!!
Good morning, Carrie! I love the "Names of Jesus" ornaments. So meaningful.
ReplyDeleteAnd with a built-in Santa Claus and photographer AND a beyond-cute nephew, you have ALL the holiday bases covered! :)
Hi Glynna! Thanks! The ornaments have been so special over the years.
DeleteSince I have never been.married and lived away from family, I developed traditions for.myself that work great for me.
ReplyDeleteOne of the the things my parents did was to have a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve. We quoted Luke 2 and sang Happy Birthday. Then opened all the wrapped gifts. On Christmas morning we did stockings and Santa. We knew from day 1 it was just a game we played. All the toys were set up and ready to play.
But we all knew the real reason was Jesus.
I love that, Wilani! What a special tradition!
DeleteCarrie, what a fun post! I love your family's tradition of making ornaments that depict the names and character of Jesus! What a beautiful way to remember who He is, and how He's shown Himself to you all year!
ReplyDeleteOne tradition our family has is that we kind of make the day about spending time, just the four of us. Hubs, the boys, and I go out for lunch on Christmas Eve. We come home and read the Christmas story, and then we open presents, one at a time. We open the presents we got each other, and then the ones from my husband's family. We spend Christmas day with my family, who live about 75 minutes away. I love spending time with family during this season.
Your nephew is adorable! I hope you and yours have a beautiful Christmas!
That sounds like such a special Christmas Eve & Day, Jeanne! Being together and enjoying time with family
DeleteThe names of Jesus tradition is fantastic! I grew up in the military, so we had to have traditions that traveled everywhere we went. It usually involved special foods like Pfeffernuesse and spritz cookies, and the watching of White Christmas. Those are now in addition to the traditions we have with our kids: we put up the tree on Thanksgiving weekend and watch Christmas Vacation. We drive around to see lights. We eat wild rice soup on Christmas Eve and ham and cheese crepes on Christmas morning.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing. What fun Christmas can be when we don't get caught up in all its trappings!
That’s so true. The trappings can be fun but when they start to take over it’s time to refocus on the true meaning of Christmas!
DeleteCarrie, I just love the idea of the Names tree!! I've never heard of that before and will tuck it away as a possibility for next year! There's always room to start new traditions. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I mentioned our tradition the other day. My husband always reads The Night Before Christmas to the kids, followed by a reading of the Christmas story from the Bible. We still do that every year even though the kids are grown now!
I love that, Missy!
DeleteCarrie, I love your traditions! The thought of going to the same quaint restaurant each year seeking out their Roasted Chestnut Soup and Grandma Snyder's Christmas Cake makes me tingle all over and long for simple, meaningful get-togethers. The love of Jesus is so reflected in you and your family, I'm certain God pauses and looks twice at your household as He gazes over His creation.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the Santa photos!!
Our traditions? Hmm, I had to stop and think a moment. I guess the most consistent tradition we have is "Maker December" where my husband and kids bury themselves in the shop and each make a special Christmas gift to give (they don't let me in because I'll cut off a finger or something like that - I'm in charge of the Christmas letter). That tradition stems back to a time when the kids were just toddlers and we literally had a hundred dollar bill to get us through Christmas - food, diapers and all. I crocheted and my husband built gifts out of wood. They were simple, but oh so meaningful. The kids wanted to be part of the "fun" the next year and they've made gifts ever since. Looking back that was probably my favorite Christmas ever.
Wow, talk about a step back in time!! Thanks for sharing, Carrie!!
What a beautiful thing to say over my family, Audra - how sweet! and that’s such a great memory & tradition to remind you of God’s faithfulness and provision every year!
ReplyDeleteThose are great traditions. One of the traditions our family has started is driving around looking at light with our mugs of peppermint hot chocolate and Christmas music blasting. It's almost more fun to listen to my preschoolers exclaim over them than to see them myself.
ReplyDeleteoh i bet!! How fun!! And peppermint hot chocolate - YUM
DeleteCarrie, I love your family traditions! We've done a "what I'm thankful for" round-robin table discussion at Thanksgiving before, but I really like the way you celebrate Jesus with your Christmas name-game tradition. THAT is so neat!
ReplyDeleteOh, and we also have black-eye peas on New Year's Day. Not a believer in luck, but it's a fun thing we've done since I was a kid. Those and some really delish punch that my Mama makes with lime sherbet and 7-Up and floating cherries and pineapple rings. :-)
Favorite book of 2018? Why do you ask the hard questions? Lol Sooo many, but one of my FAVES is The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner!
Merry CHRISTmas, dear Carrie and Seekerville friends! xo
yummm i want punch now LOL - and YES that is one of my fave reads this year too!!
DeleteNot many traditions now that my kids are grown and the daughter is on her own. I also live over 2000 miles from my family and my sister-in-law is a four hour drive. My husbands family is also just as far, they haven't been close in many years. So that negates much family around during Christmas. I remember growing up we'd all gather at my grandma's house (6 aunts, my mom and 2 uncles plus a few of us older cousins and spouses)for the day. My grandma made almond bark covered pretzels and have her cut-glass candy dishes full of ribbon candy & other goodies to munch on while everyone visited. Then the big dinner came and the family gathered around the table where there was much laughter and chatter. I miss those days so much!!
ReplyDeleteHere at my house, it's pretty simple. We watch as many Christmas movies as we can and I make the big meal topped off with my homemade pumpkin pie with cool whip. We toast each other with sparkling cider and reminisce about times past and how God has worked in our lives for the year. Christmas eve we each open a present and then Christmas day finds us opening the rest and hanging out in our PJ's for the day. I love that lazy day :-)
Of course, with the almost 5 year old grand-girl it's fun to watch it all through her eyes. And all the excitement when she sees all her presents...yes, us grandparents get to spoil her! She knows the true Christmas story and that's one thing we invest in is her spiritual person, telling her the story of Jesus birth. We also watch Christmas movies that empathize it....ever seen The Star? If not, you should! It's a wonderful rendition of the birth of Jesus told from the animals perspective. It's fun starting new traditions with her! Teaching her the importance of why Jesus came to earth, celebrating His birth and quality family time :-)
I loved learning your traditions Carrie! Family is the most important thing in life, I think. Spending special times together and reflecting on Christ sounds wonderful. I'm sure you guys treasure that time because I treasure my own memories :-) Wishing you and yours a blessed Merry Christmas!
oh Trixi, those are delightful holiday memories! And isn't Christmas so much fun with littles? They are sweet to celebrate Jesus's birthday - as well as their own presents haha!
DeleteHi Carrie:
ReplyDeleteI think starting new traditions can be as important as upholding the old ones. Things change, much of the best of the past can fall away over the years as our dear elders pass away. Remembering past traditions long after they no longer can be implemented can still warm the heart and bring the departed closer to us just one more time. In a way, traditions are forever.
I think you are fortunate to have such a rich trove of Christmas tradition memories and I thank you for sharing them with us.
Merry Christmas.
Vince
I absolutely agree, Vince! Traditions carry so many memories with them :)
DeleteI love your Christmas traditions, Carrie! And your trip with your mama to share a meal has me missing my mama who is so many miles away! :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite traditions is going to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It's so beautiful and solemn and joyful at the same time.
I love our Christmas Eve service too! One of my favorite nights of the year :)
DeleteI love your Name of Jesus ornament tradition! I want to do something like that with my kids next year. One of our favorite traditions is opening one small gift for each person on Christmas Eve and playing with them (usually a family game or multi-player video game or a movie).
ReplyDeletethat's so much fun - some of my favorite memories are of playing games or watching a movie with my family during the holidays!
DeleteCarrie, I love, love, LOVE the names of Jesus ornaments. You may have just inspired a new tradition for me. Because as we all know, you can never have too many ornaments.
ReplyDeleteYAY! You'll have to send me pics if you do this :)
DeleteYour names of Jesus ornaments tradition is PRECIOUS! I find that Hanukkah is more meaningful to me than Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Carrie and family!
Merry Christmas to you, dear Caryl :)
DeleteLove the antique store/restaurant! We have a place similar to that close it Owensboro, in “West Louisville!” It’s not close to Louisville! Lol! Love your traditions, and love YOU!
ReplyDeleteI have a former classmate who lives in Nonesuch but I haven't been there. I love the Names of Jesus ornaments that you mentioned and that would be a great tradition to begin with our 4 1/2 granddaughter. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute post! We don't have many traditions at our house. We don't live near our families, so it's always been just us and the kids....we're very low key when it comes to holidays.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of the names of Jesus ornaments! I need to cross stitch some Chrismons.
ReplyDeleteWhat great traditions, Carrie. One of my traditions is to make the fudge for Christmas, which I will be doing this weekend. I am finishing the end of a two week sub job tomorrow and then two weeks off for break.
ReplyDeletePlease put me in the drawing.
Thanks for sharing your traditions. Although as I get older we do less at Christmas. My children are grown and busy.One tradition that has stood the test of time is making Christmas cut-out cookies. My mom made them with my sisters and I. I made them with my children and half the neighborhood. Then it shrunk to my first grandchild. Now at 20 he helps me assist his brother and cousins continue the tradition. Today is the day actually.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, I hope to visit The Glitz and walk through their antique store. On Christmas Eve, my family and I spend our evening watching movies or playing games and eating Japanese food. Then on Christmas Day, we open presents, eat dinner, and lounge around in our pajamas all day long.
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ReplyDeleteAwww. I love your traditions! We really didn't have many Christmas traditions growing up but my Darcy and I started one years ago to watch It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas!
ReplyDeleteCARRIE!!! Just catching up on my Seeker blogs this week, and I love, Love, LOVE the idea of ornaments with the names of Jesus -- WOW!! Talk about creative and special, my friend ... just like you!
ReplyDeleteLOL ... have never heard of NoneSuch, Kentucky, but I love it!
One of my favorite Christmas traditions was going to see a movie on Christmas Eve before we went to a family get-together. That was the only time we ever went to the movies pretty much, so it was extra special. :)
Traditions are not only fun -- they add such depth to family holidays, so bring them on!
I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs,
Julie
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