Memories of the past: Family traditions

The holiday season always brings to mind traditions that have been passed down from family member to family. A big part of who I am is the parts that are stitched together from everything I’ve taken from the generations that came before me.

Certain foods were necessary for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even though my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are long gone I still find myself fixing those same dishes in the exact same way. Stuffing, deviled eggs and pistachio salad are a must on my holiday table. Not only are they delicious but they make it more like those long gone are there with us.

The sense of routine, of continuing what was before me and hopefully will continue after me gives me a sense of purpose that’s hard to explain. It’s as if I’m carrying on the legacy of my ancestors so it doesn’t become lost in the annals of time. If I concentrate hard enough, in my mind’s eye I can see them all smiling down on me in approval. To peel back time if only for a moment and once again see Great Aunt Letha come out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron, a huge smile on her face upon learning we had arrived for Thanksgiving dinner. To see my Granny Graham and my Aunt Ruth making coconut bonbons and peanut butter balls all day long; all the while laughing and joking. So happy because they were together. I swear to this day it was the love with which the candy was made that caused it to taste so good. 

My Granny loved birds on her Christmas tree. For my Mom there had to be a snowman and something religious. My Mom also loved Santa anything. Now if you come to my house you will find things on my tree to remind me of all the family long gone mixed with what my kids and I are always adding to the collection of our new traditions and adventures. Blending the old and new makes my heart happy and my soul satisfied. 

I live in a house that has been in my family since 1927. I love to look at the pictures of holidays from long ago and try to imagine how it must have been in my house at the precise moment the picture was taken. Even if I could glimpse back to those golden moments with everyone alive and enjoying the day together, I fear I would be like Scrooge when he told the ghost of Christmas past “Take me away, spirit, for I can no longer beat these memories.”

I, myself can remember being a small child and seeing the holidays in my house with Letha, Hazel and all the rest of the family. There would be bowls of apples, oranges, nuts, a huge box of chocolate candy, a bowl of hard candy, and different kinds of pop. If you ever left hungry, it was definitely your own doing because Letha took great pleasure in feeding her guests. I remember one holiday she had the people who were sitting around the table talking get up so Mom, Dad and I could eat. When Letha loved, she loved loud and hard. You never had to guess. She loved buying gifts at Christmas and was always generous with me. As I got older I realized it was the love I missed way more than any gift.

My Mom always wanted to start decorating for Christmas on Thanksgiving after all the festivities. I still put my decorations up early and think of my Mom and hope she knows how much she still inspires me. 

I hope you find peace and joy in your holiday traditions now and always.