Happy Holidays to All - Share Your Traditions
Holiday - From the Old English haligdaeg, from halig "holy" + daeg "day;" in 14th century meaning both "religious festival" and "day of recreation."
~ from the Online Etymology Dictionary, (C) 2001, Douglas Harper
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Yule! Happy Holidays!
Regardless of your religion, the December holiday season is observed by many as a time of faith, hope, love, renewal, celebration, and fellowship.
In my last several blog posts, I've asked you to support others (booksellers, publishers, authors, the families of wounded soldiers) in a time of need. Now it's my turn to support you, my wonderful readers, and wish you the very best holiday season with the best gift I can think of for readers: the gift of books.
There are twelve days left from now until New Year's Eve. From now (December 20) until December 31, I'll be giving away $15 gift certificates to either Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com (winner's choice) -- that's enough for two paperbacks or a trade-paperback novel (or one paperback and international delivery if you buy from amazon.com). Not to leave Borders out in the cold, I'll also give away a $25 Borders gift card on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
How to Win
Winning is simple. You only need to do two things: (1) post a comment on this blog any time between now and December 31st sharing one of your favorite holiday traditions, and (2) email a copy of your post to cheryl@clwilson.com along with your full name and mailing address. (This last is to prevent duplicate entries and to stop me from having to track down winners for addresses later. I will not keep your address, reveal your information to a third party, or use it for any other purpose, but I do require a full name and mailing address in order to include your post in my daily drawings.)
I will pick one winner per day (except Christmas and New Year's Eve when I will pick two).
I want to be clear, posts are not restricted to Christmas or Hanukkah traditions. I have friends of many different faiths all over the world - Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Wiccan, Secular Humanist, Muslim, you name it. (In fact, one of the best results of having my books published has been making the acquaintance of so many fabulous people who've written to me and befriended me since LORD OF THE FADING LANDS made its debut.) If you don't celebrate a December holiday, pick your favorite or most important holiday / day of celebration, and tell us a little about what and how you celebrate.
If you have trouble posting a comment to Blogger, simply skip step (1) and email me your post and address information and ask me to post your tradition for you. I'll be happy to do that.
How Many Times Can I Enter?
You can post comments as often as you like, but only one unique Holiday Tradition post per person will be entered in the drawing. The sooner you post your tradition (and send me your name and address) the more chances you'll have to win.
My One Request to Winners
If you win, I ask only one thing, please--please--use the gift certificate to buy a new book. Authors and publishers only receive payment for each new book sold, which means only new sales keep authors and publishers in the business of writing and publishing books.
Thank you so much. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a peaceful, joyous and prosperous new year.
C.L. Wilson
posted by C.L. Wilson at
4:51 AM
85 Comments:
One big tradition in my family occurs on Christmas Eve. My parents and my sister and I go out for dinner and we go to Midnight Mass. There we put gifts under the giving tree for those less fortunate. After mass, we go to my parents house where we give my mother her birthday gifts because her birthday is on Christmas. And she is a Mary! :D
One of our big traditions is Baking Cookies... For about a week I make Cookie dough and bake.. I make tons of cookies for the entire family... when I am done there isn't a container in my house that doesn't have cookies in it... LOL
The tradition my family has is that on Thanksgiving after the extended family is gone we put up and decorate the tree together. This usually ends up just being my mom putting it up because she says we don't do it right haha! She's so picky. :)
Ever since I was little we have carried on the tradition my Pappaw started, he died when i was 8 and i am now 33, the Sat after Thanksgiving we have our annual Christmas parade here all of the family gets together and attends,fireworks are afterwards, then we have money that is split amongst us and we hit the sales and go shopping, my pappaw started this with my cousin and I, it was only just us 2 girls so we had a date after the parade every year and he would give us our money and take us shopping, he was a wonderful man, he died of cancer, and even that last year he made sure someone took us cause he was too sick to do so but now my parents and hers divide money up amongst our kids and they take them shopping. I miss my Pappaw and it thrills me to see my Dad carry out this tradition with my kids and I think he does it cause he misses his Dad too!
One of our Christmas Tradition.... On the 24th is my mom's birthday. All of siblings stop by so we can celebrate and for opening her gifts. Then later in the evening we open up are Stocking Christmas presents.
Christmas is a holiday that is not only one day long in our house. The weekend befor Christmas the kids and I "adopt" a family for christmas. We chose a family that has one girl, one boy, a mom and a dad. If we can find out with pets listed that is also fun. We then go to the store where each of us pick presents for the a person in the other family. To make if fun my son will buy for the little girl, my daughter for the boy and so on. We deliver the presents, hand wrapped by the kids, to the charity. The days before christmas is spent visiting our family and friends. Christmas eve is a baking fest here and we give the goodies to our neighbors. Christmas day is all about our kids. We spend the day playing with them and their new toys. We do not get dressed but rather lounge in our pjs all day. Then at dinner time we have a nice christmas dinner.
Every Christmas my husband's family draw names for secret santa presents. You see, there are 7 children in his family, and now there are two more of us who married in. With so many kids, it is not easy to buy so many presents- hence the exchange. The parents get a gift for each of the children and spouses and the children get one gift for another sibling. The lists are usually very practical because they never buy anything they don't absolutely need. So, we give socks and bike pumps and camping equipment. We also have a fantastic dinner, as my in-laws grow all their own fruits and vegetables. The home-made wine comes out later and we all catch-up and play games late into the night. It is always a lot of fun. Thanks for celebrating, Cheryl- Have a Happy Holiday and great New Year!
We don't have any hard and fast traditions per se, but one thing I enjoy when I visit my family at Christmas is how one side does their gift opening compared to the other. On my mom's side, the kids dole the gifts out until nothing is left under the tree and then it's a free-for-all, everyone opening at once and a huge fun time ensues. You'd think we'd miss something in the melee, but not so. Of course, it's more for the kids than anything and they love it.
On my dad's side of the family, the youngest always doles out the gifts -- one at a time, and another one is not given out until the previous one is opened, all get to see what it is, who it's from, and thank yous have been said. There's something to be said for the slow going of this routine, you get to chat about something you haven't seen before, a story about how that gift was purchased, etc.
Two very different takes, but they all happen after the family meal where blessings are counted and prayers are said. Something both sides of the family are very grateful for.
One tradition is any new baby in the family gets a Christmas ornament to start of their own collection for when they are older.
We have lots of relatives close by and end up visiting house to house since we all can't fit in one place. Many of us like to play games, like Trivial Pursuit, so those of us who don't have to go home early make our last stop at one aunt's on Christmas Eve. She buys a new game every year and we make teams, feasting and drinking and having fun, Christmas carols playing. On Christmas Day, Santa arrives later in the day with his sack of presents, the young kids love it.
One family tradition that we have is on Christmas Eve. All our immediate and extended family is gathered at one of my siblings house (we switch every year) and as we are doing Karoake, we start hearing sleigh bells all around the house. The kids start going wild because they hear the reindeer. Finally after 5 minutes, there is a knock at the door and in comes Santa Claus. He gives all the children one present. He tells them that although they may have been bad during the year, their goodness was much more than their naughtiness!. My nephews and niece love it. The little ones truly believe it is Santa and their faces are so full of happiness and magic!
My families Christmas tradtions is that the entire family gets together at my grandparents house and we have dinner. Then we open presents and just spend time together.
One of my favorite holiday traditions would be making Christmas goodies aka cookies, fudge, pies and cakes, with my son. Each year we make so many together and I teach him new recipes. He always makes at least one thing on his own. He's only 9 but he has made some pretty good treats. Ten we go around to out neighbors and hand out the goodies that we made.
My favorite tradition is putting the Angel on top of the tree. It is older than I am (41) and I remember my Dad picking me up to put the Angel up. It is just a picture of an angel (who looks suprising alot like Shirely Temple :)) on a white tube (think toilet paper tube, hehe). When I had kids my Mom gave me the Angel to carry on the tradition. It didn't make my sisters happy but it sure made me happy. Both my kids (19 & 17) have requested to get the Angel when they have kids, plus old old ornaments my son refers to as "old school" decorations for them to have for their familys. I think it is great and have started boxes for them that I pack their picks away each year in with their name on them. However, the Angel remains with me until they have kids...which I'm hoping they start in like 10 years from now!
May all have a wonderful Holiday Seasons!
and YES, BUY NEW BOOKS!!!!!
Every year at Thanksgiving time I start baking fruitcakes from a family recipe my mother-in-law gave me. The best part is involving my children. We started when our older daughter was two years old. She would sit on the counter with her legs wrapped around the large Tupperware cake carrier with a large spoon. As I added ingredients, she would stir. Even as she grew older, she insisted she had to sit on the counter. Now that she is no longer with us, the memories are absolutely priceless and I think of her every year during fruitcake baking time. Each batch makes six cakes and we need 18 to give away and mail to friends and people in the community who have been kind to us during the year. It takes three hours of baking at a low temperature - the house smells SO good and gets us into the spirit of giving. One friend cried when we moved because he didn't think he would get another cake. This year is the 20th time he has gotten one in the mail. :) Our younger daughter took over helping me with the stirring. She is grown now and in her own home, but tender memories go along with yummy fragrances.
No real Christmas traditions. When the kids lived at home they would put out their shoes for St Nichalaus to visit bringing candy or switches. Christmas Eve, we go to my in-laws to exchange gifts and listen to my MIL complain. Christmas day, everyone else comes together to exchange gifts and eat way too much. All in all a good time is had by all.
Terri
My family, sadly enough, has no Christmas traditions. If there were any they all died out long ago.
HiCheryl. Traditions are sometimes hard to keep but for me we get together (all siblings and children)with our families.. with our parents for a big meal during the holiday season. It can get quite large as the families keep growing. But for awhile when my children were younger we had a small tradition of joining the less fortunate at the local food pantry on Thanksgiving Day. The meals were offered free to anyone and we always left a big donation to support the effort so that those less had more on Thanksgiving. Though we quit doing this once the children left home. They will tell me sometimes that those were the best Thanksgiving Days they had because it meant something to others.
This may be a little different from most traditions, but when I was 8 years old there was a full Moon and such a beautiful night on Christmas that my family and I went outside on the deck and started howling. That night my mother said 'We should make this a family tradition' so we did and we have howled for the Moon every year since, even when it is a new Moon (much to our neighbors' dismay I'm sure).
I started my own tradition once I got good at playing the flute(I think I was 11 when I started this)- every Christmas eve and Samhain I play the most beautiful songs I know how to play. I play them for the people I knew who have passed on so they will know they will always be loved and remembered.
I don't know if those count as traditions or not, but they're what we do!
One of my fave traditions is putting the Christmas tree up and looking at the ornaments we have collected over the years. Our pictured ones, my nieces first Christmas one, the Santa Claus one I made in grade school and many more.
My husband and I created several unique traditions when our kids start arriving, the first starts with Christmas Eve when everyone gets new pj's, a robe and slippers so the Christmas Morning pictures aren't to yucky. The most important is Christmas Day though. Because my middle son's was born at 4pm on Christmas Day, we split the day in half and from Noon on anyone coming in as to say Happy Birthday before they say Merry Christmas. Since it's only family or close friends coming to his party it's easy for everyone to remember. Plus now that he is getting older he asks people not to wrap his birthday presents in Christmas paper, thus insuring he either gets two presents or he gets two cards with cash. He's a very smart 10 year old.
Hi Cheryl!!
One tradition we have now is that each year, in memory of my mom, we buy a new angel ornament for the tree. Two years ago when I had surgery, my son and hubby surprised me and picked out the ornament. This yer my daughter told me she is going to pick out the angel ornament! And told me now we too can take turns picking one and surprising us! I can't wait to see the one she got. Our tree is a small one and this will be the 8th ornament and each is a different angel. Its beautiful and its a beautiful feeling now when we do this for her and for us all! Thanks for letting me share. Cathie
Hiya CL! I don't need to be entered in the contest...just wanted to say Merry Yule and reiterate what you said about giving new books as gifts...or at least gift cards for books! I'm giving my huge family (8 bros and sisters and more neices and nephews than I can remember) bookstore gift cards this year! Elissa
Our Christmas traditions are kind of corny and simple. We go to our Church Programs and we go to Cottonplant, MS to see "Christmas in Cottonplant". There is this house that has hundreds of inflatables and a light show. We love to walk thru and see the different lights and "blowups" as my son likes to call them. This place also has the best hot chocolate ever. We see Santa and the Grinch while we are there, so we get the obligatory Santa picture. I have a book that I made at a Relief Society function(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints women's group) that has a Christmas story, a scripture verse, and a Christmas carol for each day from December 1 until December 25. We read from that book every night. On Christmas eve, we read Luke 2 and watch a Christmas movie. During the days leading up to Christmas we watch: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, and White Christmas.Christmas Day finds us all going to my Mom's to eat dinner and my inlaws usually join us there.
The biggest tradition in my family it making christmas dinner. It usually take all of christmas eve and most of christmas day. The whole family joins in one way or another. we make all our pies, cakes, casseroles...ect. from scratch. Because we live in Fl many of our other relatives visit for the holidays so there are always lots of food to be made which is why it takes us so long. But its one thing I will never forget.
Every December 1st a wooden manger we hand crafted is pulled out and sat amoungst a pile of straw, which resides in front of the fireplace. Then we write our names are written on a piece of paper and dropped into a bowl. One by one we draw a name. After everyone has ensured they don't have their own name the papers are folded back up and kept in a little brown basket my mother keeps on her desk. It becomes my joy and delight to do things for my "person" WITHOUT getting caught!! Things like turning their covers back, to laying out their washcloth and towel. Sometimes its picking up their shoes and putting them up to making their bed. For each deed accomplished a piece of straw can be added to the manger (without being seen)! The ceremonial drawing takes place the next week and every week that follows until Christma. Hopfully by Christmas eve baby Jesus will will have a nice soft bed.
Our tradition is to celebrate Yule. Every year we have a yule ritual, in which we have our fire, sing songs and we exchange gifts with each other, as well as leaving a plate of cookies for those who have gone on before us, as well as the magickal creatures who reside in our yard. We also celebrate Christmas, going to mass with my in laws and opening gifts Christmas Eve, and again on Christmas day.
Wow. I love these traditions. Thank you to everyone who has posted their holiday tradition. If you followed Step 2 and emailed your post along with your name and mailling address to cheryl@clwilson.com, you will already have received a confirmation email back from me thanking you for your post.
If you have not received a confirmation email back from me, and you wanted to be included in the drawing, make sure you complete STEP 2! :)
I just want to say, again, thank you so much for sharing your personal holiday traditions. I'm a big softie, but several of you made me go misty-eyed reading your traditions. Each and every one is special--and so long as the tradition is special to you, that's all that matters.
Blessings of the season!
Cheryl
WINNER FOR DECEMBER 20TH - Maureen F.M.
congrats Maureen!
When my family all lived in town, or at least close by, we would all get together on Christmas Eve to exchange gifts and go around the room talking about our goals for the new year.
With my kids (who are now grown)they would pick a gift on their own Christmas list and instead of buying it for them, we'd buy it for the children's home and take it to them along with other goodies. Funny thing is I wondered in the beginning if my kids would pout, not getting the gift themselves, but they never did. They learned to give to others and the joy that brings.
In my family we have a tradition started long before I was born and I have kept it going with my own children. Each year we make new ornaments to go on the tree. We have ornaments dating back to my great Grandmother. We call our tree, a tree of memories and each year it is a lot of fun looking back at each ornament that is put up and laughing and remembering when it was made. My children surprised me this year and made me 2 special ornaments on their own just for me. I hope that this tradition far outlives me cause it is special and a neat way to remember and celebrate those that have come before us.
My favorite tradition is on New Years day. We gather at my parents house and my dad makes Olla Bolla (Oil Balls). Its a dutch pastry with apples, raisins and beer in them and deep fried. We have had theses as long as I can remember. It wouldn't be New Years with out them.
My favorite holiday tradition is getting together with family and friends each year for a potluck meal and party. Gifts are provided by the host family and anyone that would like to donate. They are displayed unwrapped so that everyone has a chance to choose something they like and that is age appropriate. Names are drawn for first choice. New books were included in this years gifts.
It was very cold here this season, so we had hot cherry apple cider -yum, yum. And we had enough gifts for everyone to choose twice !!!
Our family tradition is to get up early on the day of Christmas or Thanksgiving, depending on which we have at our house, and baking breakfast rolls. They are similar to cinnamon rolls, but instead of cinnamon they are made with brown sugar and walnuts. Instead of frosting them, we put them in a bowl and pour milk on them, although the milk is optional (we do have those that don't like milk). This is the bonding time for the women in the family.
This is a good one!
Well we celebrate with family on Christmas eve, my two aunts affectionately refered to as the Christmas Queens, run the show. Years ago, when I was a small munchkin, they create what was called the christmas box, it was wrapped as a present and inside the box were various dares or things to do to get the right to open a present. Some dares were worth more presents etc.
They came up with this to find a way to make the night fun and to also slow down the gift openings so everyone could see who got what, etc.
One of the favorite stories of the chrismas box, was of a great-grandmother pulling one of the dares out of the box, that told her she had to go outside onto the front porch and yell Merry Christmas to the whole neighborhood. lol
Over the years, the tradition has been change by the christmas queens to various other games, formated to fit the holiday season, with their own custom made, jokes, questions, etc. There has been christmas pictionary, you name it. Even a christmas bingo one year and then every once in awhile, they pull out something that is based on christmas's of past and the family members. Either way, it is all about earning presents. Recently they changed it, to whinning the right to hand out your presents to the rest of the family, that way everyone is getting to open something throughout the night. It is quite fun, usually entails a bunch of laughter and usually a minor bicker or two, but overall, it is great.
Then Christmas day is left for the individual families, although many of us do go to the movie theatres, another yearly tradition.
Our big tradition for christmas is we start off with a hungarian dinner called sauer bratten which has been handed down on my husbands side then after dinner one of the kids will read a passage out of the bible (usually when baby jesus was born) before we open gifts after the gifts we go to midnight mass then when we get home again we will have another small meal which always has osyter soup in the menu that noone seems to eat much but we still keep the tradition just the same.
Any person who has ever had to deal with excited children knows how many times they ask to open "just one gift" early at Christmas time. My husband and I have developed a family tradition on Chrsitmas Eve that satisfies that request but also passes on our love of reading to them as well as creating a warm, intimate family moment. On Christmas Eve, just after dinner, you will find our children gathered in the living room waiting for our usual Christmas Eve traditions. Each member of the family has their own Christmas mug to drink hot chocolate from while their Dad reads the story of Christ's birth from the bible. When the story is over we bring out a birthday cake, with five candles, one for each of us and sing happy birthday to Jesus. We each blow out one candle and tell each other what we love about our family. Then we give the kids a wrapped gift. What the gift is has never changed, not in 17 years...it's a Christmas story book. The stories change every year some are simple, some are funny, some are longer and more mature but without fail we read through all three before heading off to bed to "wait" for Santa. I have boxes of Christmas stories the kids have gotten over the years and they love them all. This is one of our favorite times of the year.
I am so looking forward to reading all the traditions.
The tradition that springs to mind has been broken the last two years as my grandparents have passed away. However, almost every Christmas I would visit my grandmother and we would make (fruit) mince pies from scratch (with her homemade dough). And since I like eating raw dough (I know, I know, don't ask :) I would be snipping bits of it :) At which point my grandfather would always walk past and point out that fingers weren't part of the mince pies. And he ALWAYS used to tell me he could taste fingers.
I know, it's a weird story, but it's the one that springs to mind :)
We have watched the Muppet Christmas Carol every year since it came out. I have not had a Christmas without it and it remains one of my favorite movies, I have it memorized, and I cry EVERY time. I love Charles Dickens. I love Muppets. I love Christmas. It's the trifecta of bliss.
WINNER FOR DEC 21 (2nd Day of C.L.'s holiday bookfest giveaway) selected by Aidan Wilson:
minnesotamommy!!!
Congratulations!!!
We dont' do anything huge, but our tradition is about a week after Thanksgiving we put up the tree together, decide how we'll decorate it (will it be home-made ornametns this year? Red and Gold? Pick a theme) and we put on Christmas music while we decorate. Then we bring out my mom's miniature village and set it up with the fake snow, tiny people, houses, train, etc. It's a lot of fun.
One of my favorite traditions is buying new ornaments for my children each year. It make my tree extra special and it's always changing.
I almost always bake a ton of stuff (it's a family tradition because mostly I'm doing it but everyones there & everyone helps eat them!). I think this time I'm going to make something for my dog too :)
We enjoy hanging the ornaments on the tree. Each of our three kids hang up their own ornaments, either purchased or made and we all reminisce about the story behind each one.
Deidre
One of the traditions we have is looking at the Christmas lights and decorations. We load the kids up in the car, take some snacks and drive around the neighborhoods. One year we kept count of how many blow up Grinches we saw. The final total that night was 7. lol
You know, when I answered this I thought of what does our family do and really, nothing special. Then, I was reminded that I have a tradition that's just something I do. It started about 10 years ago when I started working for the post office. Kids wanted to write to Santa and I worked with a bunch of Bah Bumbugers. I asked to answer the letters and had a blast. Because I worked on a Navy base and there were a lot of foreign exchange officers not all the letters were in English. I could always figure out what language even if I couldn't answer BUT there are lots of elves out there who don't mind helping when a child needs a letter in Italian or some other language. Another big fear is we're moving and will Santa find us in a strange place in a hotel. I even did this when I came home for my two weeks R&R during OIF1! It's not Christmas if I'm not writing letters to kids about Santa's adventures in the North Pole.
Terri
Holiday Traditions. The first thing that pops into mind is going to my grandmother's house every Christmas Eve for...well, my entire life. Another is looking forward to my mother's baking. She cooks LOTS of goodies every Christmas. And then there's a newer tradition: Christmas morning and watching my kids.
I come from a huge Mexican family and every Christmas we celebrate with Posadas. Every year we create our own small version of the nativity (el nacimiento) in our home and beginning on the 16th of December we start our prayers. We are praying for the safe journey of the Three Kings and in between each prayer (we use the rosary) we sing a traditional posada song. Afterward, we recreate Mary and Joseph's journey in our house where each room represents a house they asked for solace, until they are ultimately accepted at the last house. When we finish the prayers, we gather in the kitchen and share some type of small treat, usually ponche (a spiced fruit drink) or atole (sweetened corn starch drink) and just spend time together.
This tradition has been going on in my family for as long as I can remember and for those two weeks the entire family gathers together for a few hours and shares everything we may have missed over the year.
Our Christmas tradition started out as a necessity---trimming the tree. There is so much to get ready for the holidays and it always seemed that the family disappeared when it was time decorate. The decision that first year of change was easy. At Thanksgiving I announced that we were holding a tree trimming buffet on the first Saturday of December for all members of the family and their friends. I do believe it was the buffet that was the clincher. I decked the walls with greenery and lights, the holiday items were placed around the house on tables and bookshelves. On Friday night, my husband set up the tree and I planned the finger food. When Saturday night arrived, everything was ready, boxes opened, food on the table, and Christmas music played softly in the background. Our children came with a few friends. We laughed, ate food, decorated the tree and reminisced over every ornament. As each of our children left the nest, the tradition held on. My husband and I have retired and itʼs only the two of us now, but we remember that first Saturday in December when the family gathered together to celebrate our Christmas family tradition.
We don't do a traditional Christmas dinner at our house on Christmas day. We watch the parade, open presents. (Even our dog, Jack gets to open presents!!) Then we set out munchies. Cheese, crackers, carrots, celery, etc. to munch on for the rest of the day as we enjoy the peace of the day.
A new tradition we'll start this Christmas Eve is getting everything coordinated together all in one place so that we can spend time via a webcam. All of my children and grandchildren are in Arizona and I'm in Florida. This will be our first year trying it, so cross your fingers that it works!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
Hmm, well we're military and as is the case with most military families, we don't live close to family. And while we all miss our families, one of the perks of this is that our squadron (no matter where we've been stationed) always become our surrogate family. Since we've been here in TX we always invite friends from the squadron over to celebrate Christmas. We've forgone the tradtional menu fare for a more Tex-Mex flavor - chicken & beef fajita's, tamales, tortilla soup and, of course, margaritas! About 3:00, all our friends start showing up, we eat, catch up on the latest gossip, check out each other's loot and then the adults begin wagering in a friendly game of Texas Hold 'Em poker while the kids run amok with all their new toys, gizmos, and gadgets. Definitely not a Norman Rockwell Christmas, but hey, it works for us!
the WINNER for Dec 22 (selected by Ileah Wilson) is....
Melissa Martin!!!!
congratulations Melissa!!!
REMINDER!!! If you followed Step 2 and emailed your holiday tradition post along with your name and mailling address to cheryl@clwilson.com, you will already have received a confirmation email back from me thanking you for your post.
If you have not received a confirmation email back from me, and you wanted to be included in the drawing, make sure you complete STEP 2! :)
I just want to say, again, thank you so much for sharing your personal holiday traditions.
Blessings of the season!
Cheryl
First, Congratulations on your new series! I've just finished reading the first one and have the second and third sitting near by ready to read. I will also be looking for number four come June 2009! :o)
My favorite things about this time of year are simple. First and foremost, remembering that this season has a very special reason... to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and second, just being with family and celebrating life.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I wish you continued success in the future. I will certainly be watching for new books from you. :o)
Lisa C
We have a lot of traditions at my house. The first is the baking of cookies and giving them away to friends and family. I bake enough cookies to feed an army and then just give them away to whomever I want.
The second tradition would be the feeding of the animals. The day before Christmas Eve we drive out to a forest preserve and put out food for the animals as well as feed the animals in our back yard. It's a way of saying we don't forget them on Christmas.
Then on Christmas Eve I cook and bake and give food out to people who could use it. Sometimes at shelters, sometimes to neighbors I know who will be spending Christmas alone, those in need, etc.
After Christmas my family I go out shopping at the sales of course but another thing we do also is buy an ornament for the year. So that when we put up the tree next year, we put up the new ornament in rememberance of the following year.
Happy Holidays everyone, may you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Our tradition is after dinner and opening presents we play a big game of poker! tWarner419@aol.com
One thing that my dad seems to do every year so I guess I can consider it a tradition is the fact that he can't seem to stay on the latter when putting up decorations. We are like the Griswalds at my house. I remember as a kid having a hard time sleeping when it was like daytime with the lights blinding me through the blinds...
but yes my dad has trouble with the latter.. I remember twice when he fell off yelling for my mom to help him and her proceeding to tell him to 'Get up you big baby'. Gotta love the holidays
-Bridget
Hi Cheryl, I already posted a tradition but just today started a new on and wanted to share.
My first grandchild (grandson) was born a month ago. Today they were visiting and a spur of the moment idea of making craft/clay handprints for his first Christmas turned into a wonderful fun filled afternoon and I have decided to do this with any and all future grandchildren I am blessed with as well as continue with this each year as he grows. I just wanted to share.. some traditions don't have to be old.
The winner for Dec 23rd (picked by Rhiannon Wilson is....
....MICHELL NORRIS!!!!!
Congratulations Michell!
Darlene - love the new tradition! :) Have a very Merry Christmas!
Everyone - this has been a true delight for me, and I hope you've enjoyed reading about everyone else's traditions as well.
For those who celebrate Christmas, may tomorrow be filled with joy and many blessings.
cheers
Cheryl
Congratulations to all the winners to far..and a HUGE THANK YOU to Cheryl!
I thought of another Christmas tradition - trimming the tree. I don't have a tree this year, but it was tradition (and I suppose a little bit of superstition) to trim the tree in the right order. The decoration at the top, a angel, was always last on and first off!
It is Christmas Day here, so Merry Christmas to all (and Joyous Solstice, since that has just passed :)
I don't really celebrate holidays, but my favorite thing I consider a celebration is when one of my favorite authors has a new book published. I love to go out the day that it is released and purchase it. Of course this ends up with me finding 5 more books that I have to get. :0)
One of my favorite traditions is helping out those that really need it. For example, my father was in the doctor's office the other day when he overheard a lady crying about her power being turned off before christmas. He talked to her a bit and found out that she had been in and out of the hospital all year long and so was in a bad financial state. So, as a christmas surprise, he called her power company and paid her bill. This is by far my favorite tradition because just knowing that we'll be making someone happy, makes me happier than any gift that can fit under a tree. ^_^
First off, I just wanted to say WOW about King of Sword and Sky. Even though I was expecting it to follow the excellence displayed by the two books before it, it still blew me out of the water with how amazing it was! :D
Now then, about traditions...mine falls on Christmas Eve, since not only is that Christmas Eve, but it's my grandma's birthday as well. We all get together at my maternal aunt's house, where we have a traditional-style meal (it alternates between ham and turkey); and sing karaoke. Karaoke is followed by coffee for the coffee-drinkers, and an ice cream cake for my grandma! Then, we go to my grandparent's house for present-opening and all that happy stuff.
It's usually a little crazy, since sometimes (aka this year) we celebrate my grandpa's birthday (which is Dec 21) on that day too!
Sorry all - I was away from the computer for a few days enjoying the holidays with my family.
The winner for December 24th drawn by me! is
LAURA!!!! (Post dec 20th)
Congratulations Laura!!!!
the kids are all still sleeping so the rest of my "catch-up" drawings will happen in a few hours.
In the mean time, remember, if you have not received a confirmation email from me acknowledging receipt of the email containing your post and your name and mailing address, you are not entered in the drawing. Some people have posted and not sent me emails - which is fine - feel free to post away, but without the email your name does not go in the gift-hat.
cheers
Cheryl
Cheryl, now I know why I was awake so early this morning, you sent me a Spirit Weave letting me know I won!! However, I must work on receiving weaves because I got up and started reading Lady of Light and didn't check my computer until now. lol Of course I am re-reading the series again! I think re-reading my fav books has also become a tradition!!!!
Thank you so much for picking me! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas! Spirit Weaves to everyone of love, joy and happiness!
Laura
One of my favorite holiday traditions when I lived alone was to attend Christmas Eve Services and then drive around viewing Christmas lights in the neighborhoods. I've moved closer to my family so now my Christmas Eve tradition consists of spending Christmas Eve with my brother, sister-in-law and two nieces. Our Christmas Day tradition, the remainder of my family - parents, bother and two sisters with their respective spouses including four nieces and three nephews gather together to celebrate.
Prior to my siblings marrying, one fond Christmas tradition consisted of my Dad passing out the Christmas gifts on Christmas Day. We all woke up early and gathered in the living room around the Christmas tree waiting for my Dad to come downstairs and begin handing out the Christmas gifts. My grandmother would sit in one chair as the rest of us opened gifts. She has gone home to be with the Lord some 10 years ago.
Thank you for allowing me to share my traditions, it reminded me of the richness of family.
I'm not sure if my original comment posted...
When I lived alone, my favorite family tradition was attending Christmas Eve service then driving around viewing Christmas lights.
Whoops, meant to post them yesterday and spent the day with my sisters, brother and cousin instead. :o
Soooooo, here we go.
Winners for December 25th $15 gift certificate (selected by my niece Kayla Robbins) is ....
DDurance!!!!!
Winners for December 25th $25 gift card to Borders (selected by my niece Samantha Robbins) is ....
Heather!!!!!
Winner for December 26th <$15 gift certificate (selected by my daughter Ileah) is ....
Misty Bowman!!!!!
Winner for December 27th <$15 gift certificate (selected by ME) is ....
RaiderLadd!!!!!
YAY!!! Congrats to all the winners. Thanks for your patience while I enjoyed a few days with the family.
Yea! I can't believe I won. I have to agree with Laura on the Spirit Weaves sending me a sign about winning. I will absolutely be putting that to good use. I already know one of the books, I'm going to get it Christine Feehan's upcoming release, Murder Game. Thanks, Cheryl for holding a great contest!
Oh Heather I forgot all about Christine Feehan's Murder Game. YEAH!!!! It will be one of the books I'll be getting too! Congrats to everyone!
Just to sharte: A tradition I really didn't think about is my New Years tradition, which I started years ago for myself. I make sure all my decorations are put away, furniture moved, carpets cleaned (I do my own), etc. in the main rooms before New Years Day so I start my New Year out clean and uncluttered. So I guess you know what I've been doing this weekend! lol
Cheryl, just wanted you to know I've hooked two more relatives to your series. Too bad one of them seems to have kept my copy of Queen - sure do hate for a book to come between family... :)
I've been wracking my brain for a family tradition, but we just don't really have any. My dad was a fireman and he was often working Christmas and New Year's, so the only thing I could come up with was that my mom would give my best friend and me a silver dollar every New Year's so we would never be broke. My friend and I would fix rotel and eat it while we watched It's A Wonderful Life and lit sparklers because my dad wouldn't let us have fireworks (not just a fireman thing - they were illegal in the city limits). We only did that through our teens, however, so I don't really know if that counts.
Hope your Christmas was beautiful and your New Year is peaceful, healthy, happy, and safe.
It's hard to choose just one tradition, because our family has so many. Here are a few:
We have clam linguini for dinner on Christmas Eve, part of an Italian tradition going back to when Christmas Eve was a meatless day for Catholics. I learned this tradition (and the recipe) from my Italian mother-in-law.
All the kids get new Christmas pajamas and they get to stay in them all day long (yes, even for Christmas dinner.)
Christmas Day breakfast is always an assortment of breads, crackers, cheeses and fruits -- no cooking for Mom and plenty of protein to prevent crankiness.
We go to the used bookstore a day or two before Christmas so everyone has a book (or books) to read on Christmas afternoon after the frenzy of Christmas morning. (To reassure all the authors out there, our family also buys LOTS of new books.)
The winner for December 28th $15 gift certificate (selected by my son Aidan) is ....
Treen!!!!!
The winner for December 29th's $15 gift certificate (selected by me) is ....
Orannia!!!!!
I was stopping in to catch up on all the posts and congratulate all the winners and I saw my name! YAH! Thank you so much Cheryl! I'm shocked (happily shocked :) What a wonderful way to start 2009 :)
Happy New Year to everyone! I wish you all a joyous 2009!
Winner for Dec 30th $15 gift certificate (picked by Ileah!) is ...
Lili!!!!
Winner for Dec 31st $15 gift certificate (picked by Rhiannon!) is ...
Valerie O!!!!
And the Winner for Dec 31st $25 gift card to Borders (picked by Aidan!) is ...
Pam P!!!!
this concludes the C.L. Wilson Holiday Tradition Blogfest Giveaway! Thank you so much for participating. I hope you had a very merry holiday season and will have an exceptional 2009.
Miora felah, kem'mareskia.
Cheryl
AKA C.L. Wilson
Thank you Chery! It was nice seeing everyone's traditions. A healthy and Happy New Year to all!
Joy to Cheryl! Thank you for sharing the journey!
Laura
Thank you and I really enjoyed reading everyone's traditions!
It was a fun contest. Enjoyed reading everyone's traditions and even got a few ideas for next year.
Congrats to all the winners!
Thank you so much for a wonderful contest Cheryl! It was lovely to read all the wonderful traditions ;)
And I finally started KOSAS this morning! And it's goooood :)
Whaaat?!? I stopped in to see who else won and my name was there. Way cool. Thanks for hosting this contest cheryl it was fun to see how many traditions my family has in common with others and see some that are very different.
Cheryl, thanks so much for hosting this. Congratulations to all the winners. I hope you find some great books out there. My list of I want to buy is getting way too long! I found out on New Years Day that there is a Borders book store about 40 miles from here. Maybe next weekend I can get my husband to come up there with me. Someone has to stop my buying or I'll spend the entire paycheck at a bookstore as I don't get to them very often!
I hope everyone has a wonderful new year.
Terri
Cheryl thanks for doing this, it's cool to be entered, but reading everyone's traditions was great.
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