Inside this post: A simple Christmas family custom we embraced.
custom
kʌstəm/ noun ~ a long-established and often repeated way of doing something.
Holidays bring up so many interesting customs, don't they? Every family seems to possess its unique traditions, and I genuinely enjoy hearing about theirs. Sometimes the reason behind a custom is clear, while other times it remains a mystery!
We are anticipating Christmas dinner with friends tomorrow, and I am delighted to enjoy turkey dinner without cooking it myself!! (However, I will be providing our classic Christmas Steam Pudding dessert…)
A Christmas Eve Custom
Tonight, on this Christmas Eve, we will observe another one of our family's customs. I'm pleased to say I clearly recall the reason it originated:
The origin of the custom…
I was a young girl excitedly awaiting Christmas at our farm in Montana. The Christmas tree, situated in our avocado green & brown living room, sparkled with lights and ornaments, and beneath it was a massive mound of gifts. When my mother wasn't observing, I would quietly search for gifts bearing my name on my hands and knees…
The weather was intensely cold and harsh…
Christmas Eve arrived, bringing a severe snowstorm. This coincided with a sharp temperature decline, strong winds, and blowing snow. Naturally, our family custom involved attending our church’s Christmas Eve service, and we were preparing to drive the 6 miles to town through the storm.
My brother, who was a young adult then, stood by the entrance, layering his coats and donning winter boots. It was time to clear the car and warm it up. He looked at my mom and remarked with a smile,
“If any of those gifts under the tree is a warm hat, I could really use it right now…”
She smiled widely, walked to the Christmas tree, picked up a wrapped present, and said with a gentle sigh,
“You might as well open it now…” (It was a family inside joke that he always guessed his gifts!!)
Consequently, because he opened one gift on Christmas Eve, all the other children pleaded and asked (after returning from the service) to open one too! And that established our custom of “opening one present on Christmas Eve”!
We have adopted that small custom for our own family. We are delighted that all our boys are home for Christmas this year. The days of purchasing toys and pjs for under the tree are over; now they are busy exchanging presents for each other! (It is truly enjoyable!!:))
And, this evening ~ after we attend our small island Christmas Eve service ~ we will return home, and each open one present from under the Christmas tree…
