Traditions

I think Christmas traditions are an important part of the Christmas celebration. They give one a sense of being grounded in something greater than one's self. This roller coaster has been a part of the Naples Island tradition for over 50 years. People who have seen it expect to see it each year. It takes commitment. It takes patience. And I think it takes love for others to share something of yours year after year.



Thank you Miny and Fern for sharing this tradition with us.

Christmas traditions II

Yesterday, I shared some of our Christmas day traditions. I thought, today, I would share some of our "day after Christmas" traditions. The first is having the last piece of apple pie. Sometimes you have to pass up other leftovers just so you'll have room for it.

The second tradition is trying to fit all the wrapping paper and gift boxes into the trash containers by trash day.

What are some of your "after Christmas" traditions?

Christmas traditions

It's Christmas.

One thing I've learned over the years as people from other families have been added to join in our family traditions is that their families have some different traditions. Our family begins Christmas day by going to church at 6:00 am for a service that helps us focus our attention on God's gift to the world, Jesus. One way we do this is to light the Advent candles.

Then we go home and open our other gifts. I love seeing my loved ones' faces as they open the gifts I gave them.

Thanksgiving traditions

Today my wife and I rode to Ralph's Market to get some last minute ingredients for the apple salad she was making to take over to a friend's house where we were celebrating Thanksgiving. While there, I noticed a long line of people at Boston Market waiting to pick up their Thanksgiving meal.

Later in the day, on our way over to our friend's home, we passed Norm's restaurant. The parking lot was packed and it reminded me that people will celebrate Thanksgiving in their own way as circumstances allow. My family continued our tradition of going to our friend's house along with other friends (28 of us in all). Others may go to a restaurant or go to a mountain cabin to celebrate alone. Others had to work today or wait in line for hot deals and so they celebrated some days before.

The important thing though is that we need a time set aside to think about the blessings each of us enjoy. Another tradition we have is to share with each other things for which we are thankful. I love this part because it reminds me how blessed I am.

What is a Thanksgiving tradition that you enjoy?

The tradition of the tree

It is impressive to see the beautiful, decorated Christmas tree standing at the edge of Olvera Street. It has such a variety of decorations, it "feels" festive as well as traditional.

I love looking at the variety of ornaments. They all have such a warm, old-fashioned appeal. I love the process of decorating for Christmas, including the tree. But it made me wonder how we started with the tradition. As I did a little research, there were many possibilities...

Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth. The candles were to simulate the reflections of the starlit heaven - the same heaven that looked down on to Bethlehem on the first Christmas eve.

Nativity in Los Angeles

Speaking of traditions, one of my favorite Christmas season traditions is making the trip to downtown Los Angeles to see the Nativity at Olvera Street. Each year, we take a weekday morning off and head out as soon as the early morning rush hour is over. It's still early, and the sun lights the statues from the side and behind. We enjoy the peace of the scene, then wander past the Olvera Street shops, finishing up with a breakfast of freshly made taquitos smothered in guacamole sauce.

It seems fitting to have such a beautiful creche in the plaza that is considered to be the birthplace of Los Angeles.

Traditions

I know what I'm supposed to do during Christmas. The reason I know what to do is "tradition." One of my fondest traditions is going to Olson's Scandinavian deli in West Hollywood just 20 miles west of Downey. We go there for Bond-ost cheese and Swedish peas for Christmas Eve dinner.

My wife's family has been going to Olson's deli for three generations. Our children have said they will carry on the tradition with their families. What is it about traditions that keep us doing them? I know what it is about Bond-ost cheese and Swedish peas on Christmas eve, it's because they taste so good and its being part of a three generation tradition. What traditions do you carry on because you enjoy them?

Traditions

Everyone has their own holiday traditions during this time of year. One of my favorites happens to be the game of S.C.U.M. where one needs to keep the 8 ball rolling at all times using only the cue ball to throw at it. Sometimes violent, sometimes hilarious, sometimes stressful, this game will make you lose a few pounds hurtling yourself around the pool table to get to the ball. The game has no favorites. Young or old can win. But if you're playing the game right, you'll come away panting, laughing, and nursing a few bruises. Let the holidays begin!

Fall back

I love fall! The leaves are turning and there is a chill in the air. It's time for sweaters, cozy fires and hot cocoa. We've "fallen back", so the days are shorter, but somehow that seems right as the days grow colder. On a walk today, I noticed I was "crunching" on some of the leaves that had collected on the sidewalk. Somehow the leaves (along with the weather) seemed to change overnight.

I also enjoy decorating for this time of year—it has become quite a tradition at our house and clearly I am not alone. Many of the houses I passed today had pumpkins, fall garlands, and wreaths adorning  homes and gardens. They were charming. Somehow the bold colors of fall bring a warmth that offset the chilly weather.



Falling leaves hide the path so quietly.

~John Bailey

Locks of love

St. Petersburg is an amazing city. We have been exploring, walking all over, and loving it. You are always close to water here—it's been called the Venice of the North. Peter the Great built the city out of what was then marshland and created a series of canals. It is very beautiful and adds to the charm of the city.

One of the things we discovered as we explored the waterways was the "marriage locks." We actually learned about these from our friends at Moscow Greeter, but didn't actually see any when we were in Moscow. The locks are mostly heart-shaped locks that newlyweds hang on the bridges in both Moscow and St. Petersburg.

It is a tradition to show that their love is sealed forever. Once the couple is married, they go with the wedding party to their favorite bridge and put the lock in place (they add their names and the date on the lock). Then the bride takes the key and throws it into the river below.

Such a romantic and beautiful custom.