Christmas Traditions: Caroling, Candles, Cookies, and more!
Christmas is rich with traditions: from whether you buy, cut down, or resurrect a plastic tree, to the time that you put it in its place and open a box of holiday cheer to deck your halls. According to our GROW blog writer, Rebecca, the tree has to wait until at least December 9th. Her parents told her it was to ensure her birthday cake was not confused with holiday cookies, and to separate the two celebrations, but she has a sneaking suspicion it was the fact that her birthdays ended up in attempted human- pyramids made up of tumbling pre-teen girls. A tree wouldn’t stand a chance.
We asked you to share beloved Christmas traditions via the book of Face. As almost all our families were immigrants to the U.S. at some point, many traditions have the flavor of another culture. One friend’s mother bakes stolen, a German bread with dried/candied fruit and homemade vanilla sugar. Another told us of tamales and Champurrado, a Mexican hot chocolate thickened with corn dough. Check out Judy’s latest COOK blog post for holiday cookie party how-tos and recipes!
What traditions are meaningful for you? Are they old and time-honored like the stocking you’ve hung on the fireplace for over 30 years? Or newly crafted, from sharing the holidays with new friends or loved ones? Take a look at TLC to learn about Christmas traditions around the globe. Are there any you want to bring home to your holiday celebrations? In Spain, “tambourines, gourd rattles, castanets, and miniature guitars are offered for sale to enliven the singing and dancing in the streets. Children go from house to house reciting verses or singing carols for sweets, toys, or small instruments.”
Which reminds me. I want to go caroling with Amy Poehler. Click here for hilarious Christmas cheer.
When you do hang your stockings? Is there a special ornament for the top of the tree? Does your dog or cat get a gift? Do your Christmas lights blind the neighbors? Is there a certain movie you must watch or it’s simply not Christmas? Do you attend a church or celebrate winter solstice? We’d love to know! Share your stories here or tag @TheCityFarm on Facebook or Twitter!
(Photos: Santa’s Cookies Message Plate Set, Santa’s Choice Stocking Kit, City Farm Exclusives Bundle, Paw Prints Holiday Stocking)
