TRADITIONS YESTERDAY AND TODAY

What traditions do you hold dear?

Gloria Graham

A misconception of the word “tradition” is that it is always something very, very old and handed down from generation to generation. It can be, but a tradition has to begin somewhere.

We can begin our own line of traditions today that will stay with us for years to come.

 One of my favorite, crazy traditions that has been passed down in our family is called “Christmas Eve Gift.” The first person to call on Christmas Eve and say “Christmas Eve Gift” gets a special gift on that day. My brother-in-law and I have a real competition going. One Christmas Eve at the stroke of midnight I was awakened to a recorder hidden under my bed that went off with his voice yelling “Christmas Eve Gift.” I guess you know who won that year! I have been trying to get even ever since.

 Redlands resident Mary Beth Ramsey shared her family’s tradition. “We hang stockings on the fireplace mantel, drink hot chocolate and munch on popcorn. We light a candle each night for 10 days before Christmas. It’s a special time for our children – they look forward to the lighting and are prepared to share something they are especially thankful for.”

 Jack Lowery of Redlands told me, “Christmas Eve is a time we deliver our gifts to friends and family. I think that is one of the most special times of sharing with each other.”

 It was fun to research and see how they used to decorate the old Victorian homes in Redlands many years ago. In the early days of Victorian homes decorating began weeks before Christmas – but it was considered bad luck if all the decorations were not taken down before the twelfth night following Christmas. It was the custom to decorate the front door with a wreath and to trim the posts and railings in garland. Then they placed candles in each window, signaling where a weary traveler could find food and shelter from the cold winter.

 In the Victorian age, many people could not afford to buy decorations for their homes. Instead, they used greenery adorned with berries, pods, ornaments, ribbons and dried flowers. Now you see where the tradition for our wreaths came from – perhaps a timely reminder.

 No matter what your tradition is, old or new, I pray you have the true meaning of Christmas in your heart and that blessings will flow this coming year.

 Remembering with you, Gloria.