My Favorite Holiday Traditions 

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If you think about it, COVID has been like the Grinch who stole Christmas, except COVID stole the whole year. No summer beach parties, no back-to-school celebrations, no football tailgating, no weddings or graduations. But, now that the holidays are in full swing, I take comfort in knowing COVID will not steal my Christmas joy. My favorite holiday traditions are still on track. I hope yours are, too.   

Here are a few of my favorites: 

  1. Traveling to see my brother’s family in Virginia. It just feels more like Christmas there where the weather is cold. (Once it even snowed and we went sledding on Christmas Eve!) Now that I’m on the west coast, I don’t see them as often. That makes this trip extra special.

  2. Using my Christmas mugs. I swap out my everyday coffee mugs for my festive Christmas mugs and fill with hot cocoa, golden milk or coffee. I love how each one has a different saying and captures all the feelings of Christmas. Have a Jolly Fun Christmas! Have a Merry Little Christmas! Have a Cozy Warm Christmas! Have a Joy Filled Christmas! They make me happy.

  3. Driving around looking at Christmas lights. This has been a family tradition since childhood. I remember doing it with my folks and now do it with my brother’s family when I’m in VA. And, we always sit awhile at the gas station at the corner of Old Keene Mill Road to see the light display that is choreographed to Christmas music on the local radio station. Good times!

  4. Eating Chinese on Christmas Day. My sister-in-law is Jewish and celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas. She prepares a beautiful holiday meal on Christmas Eve and then we go out for Chinese food on Christmas Day. Reading our fortunes from dessert cookies and imagining how they will play out is a favorite part of this tradition. Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra

  5. Holiday baking. There are some goodies I only bake at the holidays. Oreo truffles is one of them. I always deliver a batch to the amazing people at my favorite retail outlet (The Container Store, of course!) for all the ways they support me in my business.

Photo Credit Juliana Malta