Christmas Traditions...Some Stay, Some Go

Today I was curious about the Christmas traditions our staff members have. A lot of us have the same ones that involve food, kids, and gifts. But I did find a few different ones.
For Keva, it's everyone in her family meeting at her grandparents' house on Christmas Eve for snacks and visiting. Then on Christmas Day, they all go back to her grandparents' for a BIG Christmas dinner, where Keva said they feed at least thirty people!
Melody told me when her children were little they'd go to the Christmas Eve service at their church. On Christmas Day, they'd open presents before breakfast, later watch football, and then take naps. Now that the children have grown up, her traditions have changed. But who knows what new ones will come along.
Christmas Eve for Johnnie involves everyone meeting at her sister-in-law's house for finger foods and a Chinese auction. That's probably an event every family wishes they could hold.
For Carolyn, they open presents and celebrate her daughter's birthday, both on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas Day, everyone comes to her house where they eat a BIG dinner and enjoy family time.
Monique said her family comes to grandmama's on Christmas Day to show her their presents (meaning all the kids' toys). They bring food to share and have a feast.
Now, at Norma's house, there are lots of traditions. Decorating the tree is one, of course, and putting the stuffed animals in chairs by the tree. But her favorite tradition is setting up the manger scene she got in Columbia, South America in 1973. It has a llama instead of a
camel.
Since Holly is a newlywed, she and her husband will have the joy of discovering traditions together. She said this year they will give each other their gifts early on Christmas Day morning, before taking off for meals at her folks and his. Ah, newlywed Christmases are for sharing with parents when they live close by.
Elois said they always open their presents on Christmas Day morning and then have a nice brunch.
Aileen's tradition is using the same star on the top of their Christmas tree for the past 30 years.
Jinx said when her children were little, it was a tradition to always give the pets something special to eat or play with on Christmas Day. Now that her chidren are grown, she still keeps that tradition with her two cats.
One of the most traditional, old-fashioned Christmases I found belongs to Irene. She said she has always had a real pine tree, a tradition brought forth from her father. The tree goes up on December 17th, and she puts on all the decorations handmade by her children and other family members. On Christmas Day her children and grandchildren come to her house where they open presents. Later, they go to her mother's house where they have lunch. She said they always talk about the meaning of Christmas so the young ones understand the true meaning.
Christmas makes most of us think of families, children, decorated trees, and good food. But often, time changes things. Children grow up, some family members no longer grace us with their presence, houses become apartments, lots of decorations become just a favorite few, and round bellies can no longer take all that rich
food.
But the true meaning of Christmas never changes. This is a tradition that I'm thankful for.