I have never been great with traditions. In my adult life, I’ve worn very few Halloween costumes, I’d be happy to buy pre-cooked Thanksgiving food from the grocery store, and I’m almost always in bed by 10pm on New Year’s Eve. The one winter holiday I make an effort for is Christmas, but since our kids grew up, I find I do less and less. (I still need to put up a tree!)

There are a few things I do love to do every fall/winter, however. My extended family spends Thanksgiving together and this year our group was 22 and included all three of my (in the US) children’s significant others, my mom, all my siblings, and most of their kids. I’ve eaten every Thanksgiving of my life with my mom and it’s, for me, a powerful thing. I love holiday tunes–I keep adding to my Spotify playlist–and I love the turkey soup my mom makes (and leaves with me) after we’ve all dined. 

When the kids were little, we did lots of Christmas things–reading our favorite holiday books, making and decorating Christmas cookies, caroling with the neighbors, and opening presents (one early on Christmas Eve). But since our kids partnered with others, we asked that they spend Thanksgiving with our family and told them it was fine if they spent Christmas with their spouses/fiancee’s family. So, for the past several years, it’s been just me and Dr. Feelgood and we have let a lot of the traditions slide. 

We do still watch Elf, get dressed up for the occasional party, and toast each other (early in the evening) on New Year’s Eve. And, every year for the past five, I have run a gift program for the low income day care near my building and that makes me exceedingly happy. (This year we have 31 kids and 9 employees and they will all get everything on their holiday lists.)

How about you? What are your favorite holiday traditions? Have they changed over time? If you could pick the one thing that gave you the greatest holiday joy, what would it be?