Unwrapping Timeless Christmas Traditions!

 As I (Marit) think about Christmas, my heart warms with memories from cherished traditions. Growing up in the Netherlands, Christmas unfolded over three magical days—Christmas Eve on the 24th, 1st Christmas Day on the 25th, and 2nd Christmas Day on the 26th.

When both sets of grandparents were still around, the holidays were a joyous dance between two sides of the family. The 1st Christmas Day was dedicated to one family, and the 2nd Christmas Day to the other. With only one grandparent remaining, we have made a commitment to visiting her during the holidays.

As times changed, our gift-giving tradition shifted from Christmas morning to the enchanting Christmas Eve, marking a new chapter in our festive celebrations. There is a back story about this. One year, we went to Disneyland Paris right before Christmas. I believe we were supposed to come back the 2nd Christmas day. On Christmas Eve we received a phone call from our grandma that grandpa had been rushed to the hospital. We left Disneyland and wanted to visit him the day after, Christmas Day. We came home and decided to spend the night opening gifts because we were not gonna have the time or joy to do that after. Since then it has been our tradition to do gift-giving on Christmas Eve.

A highlight among our traditions was the annual homemade Christmas dinner, a culinary extravaganza featuring steak, green beans, potatoes, stewed pears, and an array of delectable delights. In certain years, each couple in the family contributed a dish, transforming our celebration into a collaborative symphony of flavors—a testament to the love shared within our close-knit circle.

The melody of Christmas music became the soundtrack of our holiday season, filling our home from early December until the echoes of Christmas had faded away. This musical tradition began hand in hand with the day we adorned our home with Christmas decorations—a harmonious overture signaling the start of the festive season.

A cherished but distant memory takes me back to the days when we attended the Christmas play at Church on Christmas Eve. Joined by two other families, we would rotate homes each year, creating a mosaic of shared experiences. Though time has gently separated us from that tradition, the nostalgia it evokes remains a testament to the warmth it brought to our hearts.

As the time continues to shift, some traditions naturally ebb away, making room for new chapters and experiences. Yet, the prospect of forging my own Christmas traditions and perpetuating the ones etched in the fabric of my past fills me with excitement. This year brings a delightful twist, as I join Michael's family for Christmas. Despite the physical distance from my own family, the love and memories of our traditions will always be my steadfast companions, keeping the flame of warmth alive during this festive season.

Christmas is a complex holiday for me (Leah), filled with both fond memories and the challenges of navigating its various facets. Growing up, we celebrated with a strong emphasis on the Christian definition of Christmas, centered around the birth of Jesus and the essence of hope. The holiday season in the United States and Australia unfolded over Christmas Eve and Christmas; however, in Australia, the festivities extended to another day known as Boxing Day, similar to a post-Thanksgiving Black Friday event.

During my upbringing, Christmas Eve held special traditions—icing cookies and wrapping presents. Many Christmas Eves were spent attending a church service, followed by a rush home to prepare cookies and milk for Santa. Christmas Day, eagerly anticipated, brought the joy of discovering Santa's gifts, the empty cookie plate, and a letter from the jolly man in red. Some years, my siblings and I even left out food for the reindeer, observed hoof prints and sleigh marks in the backyard. Following the excitement of Santa's presents, Christmas Day continued with a church service and the eagerness of opening the remaining presents underneath the tree.

In my earlier years, residing in the U.S. close to my mom's parents, Christmas involved dinner and gift exchanges at their home. However, since moving to Australia without extended family nearby, our celebrations evolved into numerous FaceTime calls connecting with grandparents, brothers, aunts, and uncles across the ocean in the U.S. A festive Christmas morning brunch, followed by testing out each gift or simply lounging on the couches, set the tone for the day. Dinner, similar to that of an elaborate Thanksgiving feast, was a grand affair. Evenings were capped off with Root Beer, popcorn, and a Christmas movie, often the classic "White Christmas."

Now that I am back in the United States, my holiday traditions are fluid, shaped by the diverse celebrations of family members that I travel to that particular year. The constant travel to different homes during the holidays means adapting to the traditions of each family member. While I cherish these moments with loved ones, I do long for a time when I can establish and celebrate the holiday season in a way that feels personally fitting, free from the pull of various directions.