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Perspectives
by Patti M. Clark
NH Publisher
Traditions add
to the season
Time is growing short. Only four more days until Christmas morning
dawns and sleepy children — young and old — leap from
their beds eager to see what Santa has left beneath their Christmas
tree.
As we finish up this Christmas season, many of us will be participating
in a variety of Christmas traditions.
At our house, the day usually starts with our girls waking us
up and then sitting at the top of the stairs until it’s
time to go to the living room. They know that mom and dad have
to go down first to check and make sure Santa didn’t leave
any unexpected surprises when he stopped by.
But before we get to Christmas morning, there are a couple of
other traditions that make the season special.
One of those occurs while we’re putting up the tree. Certain
ornaments can only be hung by certain people. For example, the
girls each have a “Baby’s First Christmas ornament”
that they hang on the tree. Then there’s the ones that commemorate
mine and Brian’s early years. And some that go back even
further that our parents have given us to add to our own Christmas
celebration.
All the ornaments have a story behind them. Many of them have
been handmade and all are special to us.
Sometime during the Christmas season we also try to make it to
Georgetown to see the lights at the horse park. Even though the
girls are older, they still enjoy all the decorations that are
in place for Southern Lights.
On Christmas Eve, we head to Brian’s brother’s for
dinner and present-opening there. Each person takes a turn opening
a gift with the hopes of drawing out the process. By the end though,
paper is flying everywhere.
After attending Christmas Eve services, we usually head home so
we’re asleep by the time Santa arrives. Then, on Christmas
morning, each person picks a present to be opened. It can’t
be theirs though. They have to pick a gift for someone else. After
that person opens their presents, they select a gift for someone
else, and the cycle continues until all the gifts under the tree
are gone.
Then we head to Paintsville to have Christmas with my family.
In between, this year, we’ll go to church as well.
If we opted not to do even one of those things, I think my kids
would be disappointed. I probably would as well.
A couple of weeks ago, we asked Owen County residents to share
some of their Christmas traditions.
A group of students at the middle school responded to the challenge
and sent in some of the things they do to make the season special.
Here are a few of them:
• Kayla Simpson said she gets an ornament with the year
and an animal on it each Christmas from her grandmother.
• Mattie Cook goes to her Nanny’s house on Christmas
Day. After opening their gifts, they eat Christmas lunch. They
always have a “big ham.”
• Avery Gover’s family always puts the star on the
tree last. His dad always puts the star on the tree and “it’s
been like that ever since my mom married my dad.”
•At Brittney Sloma’s house, each family member gets
a new ornament with their name on it.
• Sawyer Williams’ family watches “The Christmas
Story” on Christmas Eve.
• Miranda Owen’s family doesn’t put up the Christmas
tree before Thanksgiving.
• Rachel Herring’s Christmas is made special with
the routine teasing from her grandfather over the angel on the
top of their tree, and;
• Rianna Gayheart’s family takes turn hanging one
of the many special ornaments they’ve received over the
years.
As we move closer to the big day, I hope each of your Christmas
traditions bring you the joy and peace that the season promises. |
