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!
Norma
Christmas Eve we visit friends, then come home to Greek Stew and we watch A Christmas Story 🙂
bingomamanorma at gmail dot com
LAMusing
Christmas morning we always bake cinnamon rolls while opening our socks 🙂
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
D Schmidt mummytotwoboys
Our favorite holiday tradition is to make Christmas cookies together while listening to Christmas music.
[email protected]
chedeb5353
Reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. [email protected]
Tina
we purchase same pj every Christmas and take a silly photo.
[email protected]
Anna Pry
we decorate gingerbread men cookies and string popcorn for the tree
[email protected]
latanya t
I like picking out our Christmas tree
dlatany at gmail dot com
Rebecca W.
We go to church and have cinnamon rolls for breakfast!
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!
Kristen
One of our traditions for Christmas Eve is opening new pajamas and reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, together. Love Christmas!
JC
My family's holiday traditions are picking up the tree and baking sugar cookies together.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
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
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.
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.
rachel
We make Christmas cookies together and always go to church on Christmas Eve!
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