I’m often asked why I use so many old ornaments and decorations in my holiday decor. I prefer the term vintage as opposed to old, but hey, I’m not the one doing the asking.
Shiny Brite ornaments, kitschy plastic deer, raggedy little putz houses. They all have a special place in my home. And in my heart.
I think I like them so much for the tradition aspect of them. The tying together of generations with a strand of tinsel. A strand of tinsel that’s knotted and tangled and maybe a bit discolored, but still amazingly strong and in one piece.
You see, most of my vintage ornaments hung on my grandmother’s tree when my mother was just a child. She would chew on the celluloid Santa’s boots. And, just like any toddler, stand in front of the tree mesmerized by the lights bouncing off the shiny ornaments.
When my mom grew up and got married, the ornaments were passed on to her and hung on the trees of my childhood. No chewing on ornaments for me though. I preferred candy canes.
Fast forward many many years and the ornaments have come home to my house where they now hang on my own tree for my son to see.
And hands down, my very most favorite part of the holiday season is the trimming of the tree with those old ornaments. It brings back memories of my mom trimming the tree when I was little.
The pulling out of the boxes. The unwrapping of the delicate ornaments. The oohing and aahing over each ornament. The ever important placement of each ornament in exactly the right spot.
My mom did it back then and I do it now. I treasure those memories and I try to decorate my tree with the same excitement, reflection, and tradition.
I hope I’m doing as good of a job of instilling a sense of holiday tradition in my son as my mom did with me.
BTW, I do find a lot of vintage ornaments at thrift stores and yard sales, but those are always packed away in separate boxes from my cherished family ornaments. Don’t want to be mixing up my childhood memories with Maggie Sullivan’s childhood memories!
Jan
Our traditions include family members competing to see who can be first to say “Christmas Gift” upon entering the house at any family gathering during the holidays. This is an old Southern tradition my late grandfather began, stemming from his meager childhood. During bleak depression years when there was no money for an actual Christmas gift, the sentiment of gift giving was conveyed by giving a verbal “Christmas Gift” instead.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
You are blessed to have vintage family ornaments! We only have a few, but I have gathered many other old ornaments over the years, that will be passed down to my children and grandchildren. So they are family ornaments now! We love gathering together to make cookies and lefse (a Norwegian flatbread) and some years we enjoy going to the theater and seeing a production of The Christmas Carol. Car rides to look at lights is always on the list!
Sandy A
For all my life until my husband and I moved away three years ago–Christmas Eve was at “Our” house, which was my mom and dad’s. All my sisters and there families were there and my Gramma and Tante before they passed. After my mom passed we still met at “Our” house all together. It was never the same but still family together. One thing we always did was after all the gifts were open we threw the wrapping paper all over the room and at everyone. Sounds crazy I know, but it was really fun. My husband and I moved to be closer to one of our daughters and Grandchildren and we spent three Christmas’s with them. They just moved away to NY last friday so this year it will be just my husband and I and our son who lives close. It will be sad but we will make the most of it and we will Skype with our daughters and their families so that will help…..
GinaE
It’s always great to see the special ornaments and decorations we only get to bring out once a year.
Even more special that yours are family ornaments. Each has a story to share with your son as you place them on the tree. Many thanks for the chance to win your give away!!
Mary Ann
For my sisters and I, the children’s opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” is Christmas. Our father got us hooked on it and 50 years later, we still try to find a local production of the opera. Some years we luck out, some not. And no matter how many times I hear the music, it brings tears to my eyes.
Shelley
love the “OLD” ornaments….they have style…they have memories…I am all about the vintage!!!
Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart)
I love the Old ornaments and the feelings and memories they bring close and dear to the heart. Our Christmas tradition is to have our first big meal on Christmas Eve the opening of one gift, Christmas morning after Santa has arrived the grands open all their gifts, brunch follows with our second big meal. Mr. P would nap the afternoon away and the grands would love on their Christmas gifts. Daughter and I would share our time together visiting. This is the first year without Mr. P or the kids here, it will be just me and the dogs, trying to cope with changes. I always enjoy your posts. fondly ~lynne~
kellyr78
My kids and I enjoy decorating the Christmas tree together. They especially like to find their hand made ornaments from years past.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
kellyr78
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/539563851511906304
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
Mami2jcn
We decorate our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and then we drive out to a local farm to look at their Christmas light display.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
Mami2jcn
tweet:
https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/539581136242884608
Brandy Monday
https://twitter.com/Galpal46241/status/539590344363765762
Every thanksgiving we get out the christmas decor and start putting them up. We do a lot of holiday festivities around town and attend my childrens school concerts. Christmas eve we make a 3 hour drive to spend the evening with my family having dinner and then gift exchange. We head home and then christmas morning we have a pancake breakfast, open gifts at home and watch a Christmas Story. In the afternoon we head to my mother in laws home and we have dinner with her and my husbands sister. We exchange gifts there and then head home where we spend the evening playing board games, watching christmas movies, enjoying popcorn, home made cookies and hot cocoa with marshmallows and candy canes!
Tammigirl
Our holiday traditions are a lot like yours – The things handed down and enjoyed by my mother and grandmother, my children, and in a couple of years, God willing, my own grandchildren(!) are especially important. To me, the most important part of Christmas is the time we get to spend with the important people. My family, from my cousin’s 3 year old daughter to my 88 year old grandparents, is the real treasure.
TARYTERRE
My family tradition for many years was decorating the tree with homemade egg ornaments I had made. Unfortunately we lost them when we donated our old tree to Goodwill. But I’m happy knowing someone, somewhere is still enjoying them.
Elena
We bake Christmas cookies and share them with family and friends
elena150980@yahoo.com
Elena
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/539616081384456193
elena150980@yahoo.com
lil_lady_dz
My family’s holiday traditions involve baking goodies, decorating, crafting, and donating toys to toys for tots.
Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com
lil_lady_dz
My tweet – https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/539617998789570560
Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com
Deanies Stash
What a nice post. I love the ornaments that were my grandma’s but I also cherish the ones I find. I know exactly which are which.
rush
We don’t celebrate Christmas. Not everyone does. Ever since my mother-in-law died 8 years ago, we have been trying to find an acceptable Thanksgiving tradition. We used to go to her house and start the turkey in the morning and get most of the other things ready. She worked for AAA as a dispatcher and would always work this day. She had previously made nut bread, roasted almonds, savory cheesecake and a sweet cheesecake or some other dessert. She had also polished the silver so it was ready for our yearly traditional meal. So, when she got home, dinner was practically ready. She would make the gravy and we would sit down to eat. Sometimes, the “orphans” (those who had no friends or family to celebrate with) would join us, but usually it was just the three of us. We miss that tradition very much and can’t find a suitable replacement although we have tried. It is wonderful that your sponsor will make contributions to Feeding America. This is one of our favorite charities, and we send money to them frequently.
Patti Estep
Pam, I’m writing an article about our tradition in two weeks. A few years ago we started a fun tradition at our house on Christmas Eve. The adults each bring a nice wrapped bottle of wine. They label of the wine should somehow reflect the person who brought it or as we have been doing this for a while you can include a note with a clue, poem, joke etc… Then we play a game trying to guess who brought which bottle and all the adults get to go home with a nice gift.
Kristen @ Pursuing Vintage
It’s so special that you have ornaments with memories – I think that’s the way it should be!
Our family traditions include the “elves” leaving a set of new Christmas PJ’s under the tree to opened on Christmas Eve – that way everyone has new PJs for Christmas morning photos!
gadawn57
Growing up, my family’s traditions is a blend of two cultures, Italian (Dad) and French-Canadian (Mom). First week of Dec, Mom would decorate the house while we kids were at school and we would all help with the tree. Second week of Dec the baking frenzy would begin, with we kids doing all the rolling, sprinkling, etc. She baked both Italian cookies, French inspired and lots of cakes and pies. Once school was out, my Mom would take us downtown to have breakfast with Santa and we kids would shop the mini-store set up in the downtown department store for our parents’ presents. We would go to the Christmas parade, see Santa, and enjoy ice skating and sledding leading up to Chrismas Eve. Most years, my parents had a big Christmas Eve party with Italian meal of fish/seafood on Xmas Eve. Our family tradition was for the adults (after we kids snuggly in bed) to open their gifts that evening, usually after midnight mass. Chrismas morning was for the kids! and of course, finishing the day with turkey dinner, dessert and enjoying all the family.
Dawn Pinnataro
Julie Wood
We love Listening to Christmas Music! We all love getting together making hot chocolate and driving to the Tree Farm to pick up our Christmas tree. We love driving around our town looking at all the light displays-and we have so much fun making our Holiday Cutout Cookies!
Julie Wood
Tweet Entry
https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/539782230881480704
Nikki @ Tikkido
We make gingerbread houses. Real ones. More than 100 each year. For each kid in the classroom, the girl scout troops, friends and family… it adds up, and it’s a huge job, but I love it! My parents used to do it for me when I was a kid, and they’re some of my fondest memories. I’m so grateful that I now get to do it for my girls.
Brynne Delerson
My favorite holiday tradition is heading over to my parents house and helping them decorate for Christmas – all the while wearing my favorite childhood knit Santa hat! It’s not the same unless I’m wearing it 😉
DeniseL
We have a tradition of the youngest child in the family placing the baby Jesus in the Nativity scene on Christmas Eve. It’s one of my favorites!
dmarie824 at aol dot com
DeniseL
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/539846834680655872
Melinda
Mr. Ken and I start off the holiday by celebrating our
wedding anniversary.
We usually have a theme, put up the tree, we have a village
that we alternate with the other decorations, we go out looking
at the holiday lights any many other fun things.
M : )
Amanda Bumgarner
We’re trying to figure out new traditions now that my siblings are starting to get married, but we always exchange names for presents on Christmas Eve! (theladyokie@gmail.com)
freebiequeen15
We hide a pickle ornament on our tree every year & then that person wins a $10 gift card
Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads
Our whole family gathers at our home on Christmas Eve. It’s surprising how many people we can fit in our little house! We make homemade eggnog following my husband’s father’s recipe. This tradition has been occurring in this house for over 60 years!
Lorraine Connelly
This family of ours has had fun traditions. As the mother, I shopped and purchased a product, perhaps a kitchen gadget that is strange looking and hard to identify what it was. Each of our four children and spouses, opened their gifts and then I opened the mystery gift and the first one who could identify what it was and what it was used for, received a dinner for two at a local restaurant plus babysitting from grandma and grandpa for the evening. Lots of laughs and we were able to watch them all struggle figuring out what the item was and merrily say “You kids think you know everything, but you don’t.” Ha Ha All the grandkids are grown now so we are waiting for a reverse dinner invitation. No sitting necessary. Did I mention waiting? .
Nadya
We decorate a real tree, celebrate Advent each day as we prepare for the coming of a Savior in a new fresh way each year. We go to my mom’s for Christmas and decorate cookies with my nieces.
Shara
One of our traditions is to wrap up one oddball thing we had lying around the house for each person. We mix it in with the “good stuff” and then each person has to figure out what the oddball thing is – sometimes they get it really wrong since I am such a thrifter I usually have a LOT of oddball stuff.
erika
Our traditions include getting out the Christmas tree a little early, singing lots of Christmas songs, and baking cookies! Love it all.
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
One Frugal Girl
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/540677668027793408
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
One Frugal Girl
Picking out Christmas trees at a local farm and cutting them down together.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
Kristen
We get a Douglas Fir and decorate with white lights and our own vintage ornaments. 🙂
Kristen
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/540992481702076417
Madeline B
Our daughter’s b-day is in December, so right after her party, after family and friends leave, we always decorate the house together for Christmas. Then we have all of our family over again for Christmas Day lunch.
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
Madeline B
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/541323206519316480
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
rachel
We make Christmas cookies together and always go to church on Christmas Eve!
Sally @DrinkingFromMySaucer
One of our family traditions is to open our gifts first thing on Christmas morning — in our pajamas. This year, our son (a mall security guard) will have to work on Christmas Day, so we are learning that traditions change, and we will altar our plans so that our son is not excluded from the memory-making of this special day. Our family celebration will likely be days ahead — or after Christmas, and that’s okay with me. The greatest tradition, afterall, is being TOGETHER.
Sally @DrinkingFromMySaucer
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/sallykellyDFMS/status/541463304431235073
JACLYN
Our traditions are decorating our tree in a new theme each year. This year I have mostly folk art inspired ornaments and jingle bells.
susan1215
One of our family traditions is to go driving around on Christmas Eve looking at Christmas lights and then coming home drinking egg nog and opening up one present.
s2s2 at cox dot net
susan1215
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/541757471405375488
s2s2 at cox dot net
JC
My family’s holiday traditions are picking up the tree and baking sugar cookies together.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
JC
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/541794860924014592
Kristen
One of our traditions for Christmas Eve is opening new pajamas and reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, together. Love Christmas!
Ali Arnone
Our family’s tradition is to have “Santa” come every year on Christmas Eve. My cousins and I are in our late 20s/early 30s and obviously WAY too old for this, and yet for the past few years a family member would discretely leave the room, change into the Santa outfit and surprise us all. This year, we actually have a few babies around so it’ll be even more special (and appropriate). I love it, though — it keeps the youthful and innocent spirit of Christmas at our house!
Rebecca W.
We go to church and have cinnamon rolls for breakfast!
latanya t
I like picking out our Christmas tree
dlatany at gmail dot com
latanya t
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/542701876538384384
dlatany at gmail dot com
Anna Pry
we decorate gingerbread men cookies and string popcorn for the tree
pryfamily5@gmail.com
Anna Pry
i tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily2/status/542805474303688705 pryfamily5@gmail.com
Tina
we purchase same pj every Christmas and take a silly photo.
tina19820115@gmail.com
Tina
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/543105507129442305
tina19820115@gmail.com
chedeb5353
Reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. chedeb5353@hotmail.com
D Schmidt mummytotwoboys
Our favorite holiday tradition is to make Christmas cookies together while listening to Christmas music.
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
D Schmidt mummytotwoboys
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/544247072338108416
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
LAMusing
Christmas morning we always bake cinnamon rolls while opening our socks 🙂
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
Norma
Christmas Eve we visit friends, then come home to Greek Stew and we watch A Christmas Story 🙂
bingomamanorma at gmail dot com
Angel Jacklyn
WE ENJOY MAKING HOLIDAY DINNERS TOGETHER, NOT JUST EATING IT TOGETHER =) afjackly@oakland.edu
Angel Jacklyn
TWEETED AS WELL! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/545322341056516096 afjackly@oakland.edu
Gina Wildorchid
We love baking together!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Gina Wildorchid
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/545708498286571520
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
eliza elliott
We bake and bake and bake!!! I love spending time cooking with the christmas music on and everyone around! truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com
eliza elliott
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/547839544960110592 truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com
steve weber
We go look at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve at Candy Cane Lane.
Erica Best
we love making cookies
Erica Best
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/548590226827116544
DistractedMommy
We love visiting train gardens and making cookies!
Shiebs24 at gmail dot com
Rebecca Graham
We bake Christmas cookies and drive around looking at Christmas lights.
rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com
Betty C
One of our traditions is to bake tons of holiday cookies. We always had enough so that anyone who came to our door left with cookies.
willitara [at] gmail [dot] com
Betty C
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/548920142088781824
willitara [at] gmail [dot] com
Lisa Brown
I don’t have traditions right now, no kids, just my husband and i. we do have a nice christmas dinner for two 🙂
Lisa Brown
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/549236625243242497
steve weber
We always watch Christmas movies and eat a bunch of appetizers.
Tamara
We always choose a Christmas book to read together and made special holiday treats. 🙂
westiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Tamara
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/549796011343097857
ellie
My favorite tradition is having a treasure hunt on Christmas morning for the kids. We leave clues around the house they follow to find their big gift.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
ellie
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/550027538328596480
eswright18 at gmail dot com
DeniseL
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeniseL
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/550050309246971904
DeniseL
Our family lets the youngest child place the baby Jesus in the Nativity Scene on Christmas Eve.
dmarie824 at aol dot com
Francine
Christmas eve pizza
fmd518 at gmail dot com
Sandy Klocinski
Check out holiday lights in our area. Get in the car, turn on our holiday playlist, and find brightly lit houses.
Lisa Voyce
We go out for a Denny’s dinner after mass on Christmas Eve.
Stephanie Larison
I like baking sugar cookies with my daughter, decorating them too!
slb3334
Going to candlelight services
Daniel M
the big family dinner where everyone brings something – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Ceecjjj
e always bake cookies together on Christmas Eve
Cori Westphal
I take a pic of the kids every year and let them make an ornament with it! I love to walk by the tree and see all their smiling faces!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal
Tweet: https://twitter.com/coriwestphal/status/550103902343815169
coriwestphal at msn dot com
that's a thought
Our holiday family traditions are that we pick a name from the sharing tree and donate to one child. We also make Christmas cookies and give as gifts. We open one present on Christmas Eve. And we have ham for dinner.
Erica C.
We watch a lot of movies.
ms-texas
we always have a big dinner together and on Christmas Eve we pick out just one gift to open
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
ms-texas
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/550144456934952960
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
Janice
We love going to my grandmothers house for Christmas dinner and we all open presents with the family after dinner
tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com
Janice
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/550148039445196801
tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com
Anonymous
We celebrate the weekend before Christmas because all four sons are adults and live out of town and state. We had 22 here for Christmas, Eve dinner, gift opening, brunch and dinner. Rosanne rosans4@comcast.net
Barbara Montag
Our favorite tradition is making and sharing plates of Christmas goodies for special friends.
thank you
barbara (dot) montyj (at) gmail (dot) com
Barbara Montag
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/550153193154691072
Kia89
We make and decorate Christmas cookies.
austma7@aol.com
Holly G.
We have several including baking and decorating different kinds of cookies.
megan tilley
We go to different family members all day long on Christmas eve. We have Christmas morning rolls before opening presents on Christmas day and then we go to a Cajun broil. We donate toys to those who need it and bake cookies for the neighbors.
countrycamogirl89(@)yahoo.com
jtwark
We have a Holiday tradition of having a cookie bakeoff
JOE GERSCH
JOEBISSY@mail.com
smilekisses
On Christmas morning, we put a lit candle in a cupcake and we place it in front of the manger and sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus.
smilekisses
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/550233550675382272
A Martin
Family has no holiday traditions =/
Buddy Garrett
We cut down and decorate the tree, We watch Christmas movies and have Christmas dinner together.
Amanda Sakovitz
We have a yankee swap on Christmas Eve!
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
Amanda Sakovitz
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/550317231671099395
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
Anastasia Falling
One of my favorite holiday traditions is when we pack up in the car close to Christmas and drive around town, looking at all the lights and decorations that people have put up 🙂
anastasia2013@gmail.com
Anastasia Falling
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/550321521055387648
anastasia2013@gmail.com
Lisa Pecora
We bake cookies on Christmas Eve and watch Christmas movies and then have family get togethers Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day.
motioncitycutie(at)aol(dot)com
Deborah Wellenstein
We usually have our Christmas two to three days early, as our sons travel to other relatives on Christmas Day. My husband and I go out to dinner on Christmas eve.
Melissa Shirley
Ever year we go to my grandmothers on Thanksgiving and everyone brings something for the dinner. We choose names for the Christmas gift exchange. On Christmas we all contribute to the dinner and exchange our gifts.
Melissa Shirley
Tweet
https://twitter.com/MelissaShirley2/status/550344076436840449
angie lilly
One of my family holiday traditions is to bake and decorate sugar cookies. I did this with my mom when I was growing up and it is one of my fav childhood memories. They are my fav cookie for this very reason. I now make them with my partner. I love it.
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
angie lilly
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/550364404449964032
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
Tabathia B
One thing we do every year is build a gingerbread house and spend Thanksgiving and Christmas evening with family andplay board games
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/550369678439116801
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Denise S.
We enjoy decorating the tree and baking lots of cookies.
Linda
We attend Chistmas Eve church service together, than family comes Christmas day to eat and open presents
Thomas Murphy
We love to bake Christmas cookies every year.
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
Thomas Murphy
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/550384736963936256
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
clc408
We like to watch holiday movies and get together for festive dinners.
clc408
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/550386600438272000
HilLesha O'Nan
Our tradition is decorating the tree. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
SeasideMermaid@twc.com
Whitney
Eating chinese food and decorating the tree
wlbellows at gmail dot com
Whitney
Tweet: https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/550397524771475456
wlbellows at gmail dot com
Cathy Truman
We like to get names from the Angel Tree and purchased clothes and toys for the names of the
angels we take
kathy pease
We love to do a lot of baking for the hilday..Mostly sweets and stuff 🙂
kathy pease
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/550400821611859968
Candie L
We started a new tradition this year and went to the zoo ice skating in the evening. thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
sarah
our favorite holiday tradition is having a big family dinner
stigay at comcast.net
slehan
Going to Christmas Eve service, coming home to hot chocolate and opening one present.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
slehan
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/550453994800181248
slehan at juno dot com
tiffany.hoyt
We get a bunch of lottery tickets in our stockings. So far we haven’t won much though. 🙂
bfox74
Or family tradition is to celebrate the holidays in January. Everyone has so many places to go that this just makes sense…we get our out of towners here just about every year because they have time!