As winter approaches and lights start glistening on streets and houses, we start thinking about our favorite traditions during this time of year. The scent of pine fills the air and the joyous melodies we can’t get out of our heads seem to guide us back to our past and future in one moment. We think about all the memories of Christmas in the past and what kind of memories we will make this year. Sipping hot chocolate or eggnog with our family, we dream of the laughter and fun that we will be experiencing in a couple of weeks.
Christmas is about the traditions we celebrate with those dear to us. It’s a time of year when the threads of family, culture, and individuality weave together a symphony of traditions. Each house within a country participates in unique practices and journeys during this memorable time. It’s not just one unique tradition that makes this holiday special but a kaleidoscope of traditions that bloom within the intimate confines of each family. The echoes of practices, such as searching for a Christmas tree or taking down the Christmas tree from the attic, are handed down through generations. Not only do generational traditions make this time of year unique, but the new traditions we can add to this unforgettable time of year also make it special.
Every culture has a unique set of customs they participate in yearly. For instance, the Swedes make a gigantic straw goat called the Gävle Goat. It stands over forty-two feet high and twenty-three feet wide and weighs about 3.6 tons. Or Saint Nicholas might come down the chimney in the Netherlands and bring treats like gingerbread men. You might not even see snow on Christmas day in most places, so instead, you might find cookouts in countries like South Africa and New Zealand. Christmas might be celebrated in January like in Spain and Ukraine. And, in Switzerland, Swiss families make their advent calendars for the holiday seasons and make it a fun activity for children. Each gift the kids receive or find reveals a surprise or treat with the most significant gift on Christmas Eve.
Within each tradition mentioned above are practices within traditions and twists and variances to the tradition. Building upon long-held customs makes this time monumental. This festive season brings unspeakable magic to the world that can only happen during this time of year. It might be the long generational traditions passed down each year, or the scent of sugar cookies baking in the oven, but one thing is for sure: the stories told and the memories made make this holiday so memorable. It’s skiing or snowboarding with our family or having gingerbread house competitions that create laughter and never-ending smiles. It’s seeing kids open up their presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas and the surprisement and happiness shown on their faces. It’s hugging your family that you haven’t seen all year and catching up on events that happened throughout the year. This time of year binds us together in a magical embrace, transcending time and distance. It’s from decorating the Christmas tree to the familiar Christmas carols that the true enchantment of Christmas unfolds, creating a shared narrative that makes this joyous season uniquely special for each one of us.
Some of the Christmas traditions that my family and I participate in include White Elephant, Saran Wrap, Oven Mitten, and going to Busch Gardens, which is a Christmas Town in Williamsburg, Virginia. Before we play the Saran Wrap Game, my mom or I set it up by wrapping a bunch of random items such as candy, gag gifts, and gift cards, in saran wrap. Then we get the whole family together. The game works by unraveling the saran wrap as the person to our left is trying to roll doubles with dice. Once the person rolls doubles, they pass the dice to their left, grab the saran wrap and start unraveling. The game ends when all the goodies are unwrapped and the saran wrap. The oven mitten game has the same concept but instead of using saran wrap, we use about a dozen rolls of wrapping paper, maybe a lock box, and tons of duct tape. I usually end up wrapping this game because nobody else wants to spend hours wrapping box after box. I start with the gift card and wrap it with half a dozen layers of paper. Then I put the gift in boxes and keep wrapping it and layering it until it’s huge! Once finished, my family and I gather together and play the game. We each get fifteen seconds each to try and unwrap the box with oven mittens. These games bring back so many memories and I will definitely pass them down to my future family.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.