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!
jtwark
We have a Holiday tradition of having a cookie bakeoff
JOE GERSCH
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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
Holly G.
We have several including baking and decorating different kinds of cookies.
Kia89
We make and decorate Christmas cookies.
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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
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 [email protected]
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
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
Erica C.
We watch a lot of movies.
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.
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
Ceecjjj
e always bake cookies together on Christmas Eve
Daniel M
the big family dinner where everyone brings something - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
slb3334
Going to candlelight services
Stephanie Larison
I like baking sugar cookies with my daughter, decorating them too!
Lisa Voyce
We go out for a Denny's dinner after mass on Christmas Eve.