Family traditions, often passed from generation to generation, are part of what makes Christmas and the holiday season so special. We put out a call to our readers and regular contributors to find out what makes the season for them. Perhaps some of these traditions are familiar in your home each year, or maybe it’s time to add a new custom to your family’s festive season.
FROM OUR CONTRIBUTORS
I always have a “glazed ham” with pineapple and cherries on Christmas Eve, with some warm homemade apple sauce. The remaining ham is used the following day, some inside the dressing and some reheated on the side for those who prefer a bit of sweet pork. The ham is always served fireside with a snifter of orange brandy. Nothing like a warm fire and orange brandy to finish the last-minute gift wrapping with! ~ Steve Sheppard
Every Christmas we have a tree that is adorned with old and well-loved decorations. I make a “green” wreath for the door, and (in our English village) we would prepare for wassail singers: sherry, hot mincemeat pies and a roaring fire. We have a custom of providing a stocking for everyone, no matter how advanced in years. When we have young children in the house, I dress up as “that red coated man” in case they wake up as the stockings appear. On Christmas Day, we open our stockings. Then, it’s some form of relaxed breakfast, getting dressed, eventually gathering together and opening the family presents under the tree. The older ones sit, while the children identify the names and deliver them around the family. If the weather is reasonable, we drive to a beach or forest where we build up an appetite. Then, back for games, while those who can cook labour in the kitchen. It is a day of food, drink and games. ~ Barry Mathias
A friend of mine grew up in North Saanich but moved to Australia as a teenager, 25 years ago. She injects a little Canada into the holidays for her husband and two kids. She is sure to make her grandma’s butter tart recipe every year to add a taste of her Canadian childhood to her kids’ holiday and to remember her grandmother. Her grandmother’s measuring cups are even used in the process. She told me she’d bake more childhood Christmas recipes but the hot Australian Christmas doesn’t encourage heavy use of the oven. ~ Tina Kelly
Coming to Canada in my ’20s was magical as I had never seen so many outdoor Christmas lights on houses before! Later my own children knew the excitement of their grandparents (my parents) arriving on Christmas Eve and staying overnight to watch them opening presents next morning. I hope the wonder of the Christmas season grows and grows with my grandchildren. Christmas carols and Butchart Gardens are a must. ~ Valerie Green
FROM OUR READERS
For the past 20 years, as Brentwood residents, we have always hosted a cocktail party or dinner party and then done a group walk through The Butchart Gardens, then back to our place for fireside desserts and wine. Everyone puts on glowstick necklaces so we can find one another. It is a very important part of Christmas to me.
~ Alice Bacon
There are so many great activities that we like to do as a family with the kids! First we love seeing the parade in Sidney and walk down to the pier to see the boats sail by with their lights. Then we try to see Santa again in the parade in Victoria. Then, off to get pictures done with Santa at Mayfair Mall. We can never forget to ride the train at Heritage Acres and see the wondrous light display at Butchart Gardens. We usually top it off by seeing all the beautifully decorated trees at the Empress Hotel! ~ Helen Kinkela-Windsor
We visit the Mayfair Shopping Centre Santa every year. We don’t usually dress our identical twin girls in the same clothes but for this tradition we do (see the adorable photos above!). I have kept dresses that my girls have worn and the plan is to gift them their dress and the photographs when they are older. ~ Erica Solberg
AND FROM THE SEASIDE TEAM
It wouldn’t be Christmas without carol singing at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s Extended Care Unit with the 1st Tsartlip Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. It always leaves me with a warm feeling!
~ Deborah
Every year my children ask me to make the orange jello salad; it’s a tradition that was passed to me from my mother-in-law, and it’s always a hit. ~ Jo-Ann
For my family, many of our Christmas traditions centre around food: a delicious, steaming tourtière with a flaky crust and red pepper jelly for Christmas Eve dinner and then a Christmas morning breakfast of stollen, mimosas, a creamy egg casserole and fruit cocktail. ~ Allison
The holiday season is not the same without our annual family movie night featuring National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Being together and getting in a few good laughs is most important to my family. ~ Elizabeth
Times have changed over the years and so have our traditions, but it’s so vivid in my mind how as a child we would all get together as a family, back in the Maritimes; we would put on our snowshoes and head out into the forest in the falling snow to find our perfect tree. ~ Sue
Our German Christmas traditions started to become mixed with Canadian influence since we moved to Canada in 2001. On December 5th, we all sit on the floor and clean our shoes. Mostly boots because according to my kids, more goodies fit into them. Then, Sankt Nikolaus comes overnight and fills the boots with nuts, oranges, and chocolate. ~ Susi
