Monday, December 5, 2011

First Monday - Traditions


For Sayre, who wants to hear about our holiday traditions.

It is funny but the holiday traditions that I hold closest are not the ones that my mom carried on for us but the ones that I have made for my children. My two very favorite Christmas traditions have continued every year, without fail, since my girls were little. Some years I did them without my girls and some years I inflicted them on strangers, but they have survived.

The first is the one that Moose and I already did this year - the Salvation Army angel tree. Giving, especially those years when you think you don't have enough, is good for the soul...and for the children in your life.

The second is my traditional Christmas dessert which is birthday cake for Baby Jesus. Even during the years when I was lost, when I wasn't really sure that I loved Jesus' Dad or that He really cared about me, I, and whoever was around me, had birthday cake for Christmas dessert. Some years it was homemade and some years it was mail-ordered and some years it was purchased from a bakery but it always was birthday cake. When my girls were little, there was some confusion about this. My sister's birthday is Christmas day and one year, Juls was convinced that my sister must be God because she had God's birthday!

I love the sights and sounds and smells of Christmas. I love the good will and cheer that is almost a palpable thing. I love that, 2000 and some odd years later, we are still celebrating the Baby's birthday.

4 comments:

Karmyn R said...

Since my husband's birthday is Christmas Eve - we just don't do a cake for Baby Jesus.

I always try and do the giving tree too. I always feel guilty when there are tags left on those trees.

Sayre said...

We're doing the angel tree through the church. We picked three ornaments and one more for the Mission downtown. In the past, we've done toys for tots and various other charities - but we do something every year and make sure my boy is actively involved!

I like the birthday cake idea but we already have so many December birthdays in my family that we're kind of caked out by Christmas. Birthday Pumpkin Pie is right up my alley though!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I love the birthday cake idea! I might have to steal that one ;)

Pamela said...

sorry it took so long to get over here.

Our Goddaughter said she was going to make a birthday cake for baby Jesus .. her 6 year old son requested.

Nice idea!

 
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