By Holly Martin
Holiday traditions seem to be different with every family. I’ve heard everything from cooking certain foods to some crazy “before bed” rituals. Everyone has their own tradition they follow every year.
When I was younger, my parents would surprise me with an advent calendar on December 1st. I would open up the small cardboard door each day to have my treat of a small chocolate. 24 chocolate candies until Santa arrives! Later that day, we’d pull out the christmas tree and decorate it with all the same glass ornaments I’ve seen every year, but every year the tree would look different. Once it got dark, we would drive around town and look at all the beautiful christmas lights. I still love seeing how each house is so different from the next. From the simple homes that look like gingerbread houses to the homes that Clark Griswald would be proud of. Then, right before bed, we turned on the tv to watch Polar Express for the one millionth time all while dancing and singing along.
I know all around town there are many different traditions going on. If I had to guess, I’m willing to bet everyone used to keep with tradition to leave Santa milk and cookies on Christmas Eve. Like clockwork, we’d pick out the best cookies from the cookie far and a nice tall glass of milk and race off to bed. Knowing Santa would show up at sometime during that night to enjoy his snack and leave all the gifts.
I remember in school hearing classmates talk about going to their local town’s tree lighting or parades. Some told me about their “special recipe” for food to feed Santa’s reindeer and local animals. Some people like to make cookies and pies while others make Yule Logs and gingerbread houses. For some families, the tradition of a holiday dinner is what they look forward to the most. All the different food from your family’s culture. There’s always the tradition of caroling up and down the street. If I’ve learned anything from the movie Elf, I know, “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
The winter months are great for other traditions like enjoying the snow and the sports that come along with that. Plenty of friends would pack up the family’s SUV to travel to the mountains to hit some slopes on their skis and snowboards. I used to grab my red plastic sled and try to find the steepest hill to race down while others ice skated on the nearby lake. Even a good old fashioned snowball fight is something I look forward to every year. There’s something truly satisfying about making that perfect circular ball of snow. Meanwhile, the neighbor builds their annual snowman complete with a scarf and carrot nose.
The last few months of the year can be cold and stressful, but the endless traditions remind us of all the fun we can continue to have. Happy Holidays and keep celebrating the seasons with all your wonderful traditions!
Holly Martin has been working in media since 2012. She has worked as a photographer and videographer throughout her high school and college career. Holly is a producer for WOND radio as well as fill in DJ for 103.7 WMGM Rocks. She loves being a concert photographer and working as event staff. She has worked as a reporter for Temple University’s Philadelphia Neighborhoods and submitted Editorials to the Philadelphia Inquirer. She has done multiple multimedia articles for Temple as well as Shore Local Newsmagazine. Her portfolio website is www.hollyamartin.com
