Christmas Traditions

My family was never terribly big on traditions growing up. Now, don't get me wrong, we did some Chirstmassy things and I loooooooved Christmas, but I never felt like we had anything that we always did and would call a tradition.

I remember a tatted old Christmas Carol booked that I cherished. My eldest sister who died of a brain tumour before I was born was the original owner and I think Mum enjoyed seeing it being used. So I would clutch the book to my chest and sing till my heart's content - 'Siiiiiiilent Night, Hooooooly night. Aaaaaall is caaaaalm, aaaaaaall is bright'. I also had a book of 'The Night Before Christmas' that I would read over and over again. I really liked it because the illustrations were claymation photographs. I still pride myself today on being able to rattle off the names of the reindeers because of it.

If there was one thing I would say was a tradition it would have been Christmas Lunch, although again I wonder whether it really was a tradition because although there were old favourites there was always some variety. Some years a seafood feast was put up, others a BBQ, now and then a xmas ham. The only thing that always seemed to feature was the Pavlova... and this wasn't always consumed on the day but for Dad's breakfast for the few days following Christmas!

But when I look back on it now, I think the tradition (as corny as it sounds) was family and love. When I sang those carols mum was always sitting nearby, usually knitting or making christmas treat goodness, correcting my mispronounced words ('boughs of holly' was always a tough mother), and opening our presents on mum and dad's big bed on Christmas morning was always done as a family. There may have not been things was always did, but whatever we did - it was always with love and with one another.

Leah's choice of 'fancy' decoration this year

Now with a family of my own I have been very conscious of making deliberate traditions. Leah chooses a new fancy Christmas tree decoration every year, we have some form of advent calendar on the go (last year she had her 24 books!), we always put the tree up together and Christmas baking is a family affair. Leah loves it and I love watching her love it. Her tree decorating style was quite humourous this year when she decided all the baubles were to go onto the one branch. Pretty darn cute if you ask me!

After all said and done when I sit down and think about what Christmas is, it's food that features heavily. Last year I wrote a review about Baker's Delights Christmas goodies and this year they've sent me some more. I decided not to do a review but instead to write this post about Chirstmas Traditions. My workmates this year got to sample the Christmas Mince Tarts - look at these faces of satisfaction!

Everything that I've ever had the opportunity to sample from Baker's delight has been a smash! Two years in a row now they're been a Christmas Tradition for us. Thinking back to when I was a kid and having my mum slave over a hot stove for hours perfecting her Christmas Cake creation it is a real tribute to the Baker's Delight Christmas Cake to hear mum say "Jeez, why would you want to make your own nowadays when these ones taste so good?" Too right mum, make buying the cake the tradition and spend time with the family eating it!

Make some great traditions this holiday break. I'll see you all round next year (I'm taking a break from Blogging just for a bit) when I let you know how I've got on with my 52 goals in 52 weeks challenge and give this thing a make over!

Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. xox