Family Traditions that Make the Holiday Season Special
By Tara Goldstein
December 3, 2021
The end of November going into December is one of the most exciting times of the year, with holiday music beginning to play, the weather getting colder and homes smelling like peppermint. The holiday season is the best time of the year and one of the best parts is the traditions that never fail to bring family and friends together.
One of my own favorite traditions begins after Thanksgiving with my Grandma’s Christmas tree. The day after Thanksgiving my entire family and I go to her house and spend the day putting the tree up and decorating it. She’s had the same fake tree for years now and it’s huge, but it fills her living room beautifully. We play Christmas music and reminisce as we hang up all the same sentimental ornaments we’ve had for years. It’s a day I look forward to every year.
One of my own favorite traditions begins after Thanksgiving with my Grandma’s Christmas tree. The day after Thanksgiving my entire family and I go to her house and spend the day putting the tree up and decorating it. She’s had the same fake tree for years now and it’s huge, but it fills her living room beautifully. We play Christmas music and reminisce as we hang up all the same sentimental ornaments we’ve had for years. It’s a day I look forward to every year.
Image Credit: Tara Goldstein for The Campus Trainer
Freshman journalism major, Alexa Wooten, enjoys a fun Thanksgiving tradition of having her great grandma’s baked apple recipe. Each year, her mom makes the recipe and the family enjoys it during Thanksgiving dinner.Wooten comments, “It's funny cause we actually eat it with dinner, even though it’s technically a desert. We actually have apple pie for dessert.”
Holiday music is one of my favorite things and I take it very seriously. I refuse to play any holiday music until after Thanksgiving, and when that time comes I have my playlist all ready to go. Listening to music throughout December always makes me smile and I’ll never forget the times I spent blasting “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey, in the car with friends as we drove by all the neighborhood houses decked out in Christmas lights. Some of my favorite holiday songs can be found at the Best Holiday Playlist. I would say my personal favorite is Jingle Bell Rock, although it’s hard to choose just one.
As much as I love Christmas music, I may love Christmas movies even more. No matter how many times I watch them, the classics will simply never get old. One of my favorite parts of December is curling up on the couch with a warm mug of hot chocolate and putting on a Christmas movie. I make it a priority to watch all of my favorites, ending with Elf on Christmas Eve.
Freshman marketing major Caroline Edelen also has a staple movie she watches every Christmas Eve with her family, except her annual showing is of the Polar Express, another classic. It's a tough call, but I think I would say the first Santa Clause movie is my favorite, with the Grinch coming in close second. Here are a few more of my favorites:
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas and Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas , Home Alone and The Santa Clause 1,2, and 3 Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town.
Holiday music is one of my favorite things and I take it very seriously. I refuse to play any holiday music until after Thanksgiving, and when that time comes I have my playlist all ready to go. Listening to music throughout December always makes me smile and I’ll never forget the times I spent blasting “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey, in the car with friends as we drove by all the neighborhood houses decked out in Christmas lights. Some of my favorite holiday songs can be found at the Best Holiday Playlist. I would say my personal favorite is Jingle Bell Rock, although it’s hard to choose just one.
As much as I love Christmas music, I may love Christmas movies even more. No matter how many times I watch them, the classics will simply never get old. One of my favorite parts of December is curling up on the couch with a warm mug of hot chocolate and putting on a Christmas movie. I make it a priority to watch all of my favorites, ending with Elf on Christmas Eve.
Freshman marketing major Caroline Edelen also has a staple movie she watches every Christmas Eve with her family, except her annual showing is of the Polar Express, another classic. It's a tough call, but I think I would say the first Santa Clause movie is my favorite, with the Grinch coming in close second. Here are a few more of my favorites:
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas and Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas , Home Alone and The Santa Clause 1,2, and 3 Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town.
Image Credit: Tara Goldstein for The Campus Trainer
Finally, one of my most cherished traditions involves baking. Baking cookies and other holiday goods is a tradition that exists among many families, each with their own delicious recipes. My family is Italian and we have three specific cookies we make every year: rocks, honey balls (struffoli) and crinkles. They are pictured down below along with the home written recipes for each.
My family and I spend hours on Dec. 23 baking batch after batch of cookies, with Christmas music playing in the background, of course. All three recipes are incredible and they never go to waste, and we leave any extras out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Edelen also leaves out her family's favorite recipe for Santa. Her dad makes a special Christmas loaf, a delicious cinnamon sugar dough they call a Kringle, every year. While they always leave some out for Santa, they also save some for themselves to indulge in on Christmas morning. It’s her dad’s great grandmother's homemade recipe, and one that is kept secret within the family.
Wooten also has a Christmas baking tradition as she explains, “we do … a cookie bake with my grandma every year. We make Rolo pretzels, Christmas cookies, and gingerbread houses.”
My family and I spend hours on Dec. 23 baking batch after batch of cookies, with Christmas music playing in the background, of course. All three recipes are incredible and they never go to waste, and we leave any extras out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Edelen also leaves out her family's favorite recipe for Santa. Her dad makes a special Christmas loaf, a delicious cinnamon sugar dough they call a Kringle, every year. While they always leave some out for Santa, they also save some for themselves to indulge in on Christmas morning. It’s her dad’s great grandmother's homemade recipe, and one that is kept secret within the family.
Wooten also has a Christmas baking tradition as she explains, “we do … a cookie bake with my grandma every year. We make Rolo pretzels, Christmas cookies, and gingerbread houses.”
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Image Credit: Tara Goldstein for The Campus Trainer
Another tradition involving food that freshman journalism Jenna Bloom does every year is making latkes to celebrate Hanukkah. Her mom always makes a big batch and they eat them as they light the candles and recite the prayers. Bloom loves latkes and it’s one of her favorite parts about the holiday. Here’s a link to a latke recipe in case you want to try making them yourself: Latke Recipe.
Holiday traditions are truly one of the best parts of this joyful season. Even if you don’t have any, it’s never too late to start ones with your friends or family. After all, the holiday season is about spending time with those you love.
Holiday traditions are truly one of the best parts of this joyful season. Even if you don’t have any, it’s never too late to start ones with your friends or family. After all, the holiday season is about spending time with those you love.
Below, find recipes from my family!
Image Credit: Tara Goldstein for The Campus Trainer