Sunday, December 20th, 2020
This week we asked the Pattern Staff, “What are your favorite holiday traditions?”
Favorite Holiday Traditions
“There are many favorite holiday traditions I have enjoyed over the last 54 years. As I have grown older and lived through many events and chapters of life – my traditions and their meaning has changed over the years. The traditions enjoyed as a child are far different from traditions formed as a parent of a child and certainly as an empty nester with an adult child (James), and my three “Bonus” children (Tom, Geoffrey, and Casey).
Life throws a few curve balls every so often, but Christmas time is when you count those blessings and be grateful for family and good health. All that to say – I have been extremely blessed for over a half century and have enjoyed every Christmas.
Chapter 1 – Growing up: I always wrote a letter to Santa on Thanksgiving Day. I think that tradition lasted until I was about 25 or so. On Christmas Eve we would put up, decorate a live tree, and promptly take it down on New Year’s Day and repacking the ornaments. Christmas Day – big meal – since I am half Polish and half Sicilian – food was never missing from the table. Ham, lasagna, and even a turkey from time to time…and dozens of Mom Made cookies. Every year I always found an orange and a walnut in my stocking – and of course, a box of chocolate covered cherries and a bag of pistachios was never left out. Best gift ever – Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots in 1974.
Chapter 2 – The Married Life –Part 1: Once I got married (the first time around) Christmas was split between my parents and the in-laws. Pajamas, as a gift on Christmas Eve, became a new tradition. On Christmas Day – we ceremoniously watch my father-in-law pick up every piece of wrapping paper, while the gifts were opened, and frantically stuff it into a bag. There was lot of fun and love shared between two families.
Chapter 3 – A Child Arrives: Once my son was born, I added a new tradition. I hung lights along the fence every Christmas Eve after he fell asleep. On Christmas morning, I told him that Santa must have done it…that lasted until he was 14. I think my attempt to keep the childhood dream of Santa alive was thwarted well before he was 14…foiled by the boy genius. I carried forward the walnut, orange, pistachios, and cherries tradition forward with my little boy’s stocking.
Chapter 4: The Married Life –Part 2: Married the second time around – oh how things changed. Not one tree, not two trees, but now three trees. Exchanging gifts with Michele on New Year’s Eve – just the two of us…very sweet. Stuffing packages with gifts to mail for Tom, Geoffrey, and Casey. The tradition is Michele does all the hard work and I just sort of watch in admiration, but my heart is certainly in the boxes that are shipped across the country to my “Bonus” sons and daughter. Oh – did I mention Hallmark Christmas Movies – every night from November through the first of the next year. Yes, I gave up the man card.
No matter what Chapter I land – there have been great old traditions and a whole slew of new ones. Many, many loving and fabulous traditions and looking forward to making even more.
And, yes there is a Santa Claus… and the best gift ever is still Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots”
– Joe Czajka, Senior Vice President for Research, Development, & Community Planning
Caroling & Hiking
“Caroling with my parents and friends on Christmas Eve and going for a family hike (or a ski depending on the weather) on Christmas morning.”
-Kate Stryker, Research Planner
Wacky Christmas Ornament White Elephant
“One of my favorite holiday traditions is the “Wacky Christmas Ornament White Elephant” gift exchange that takes place with my extended family. It’s the same as a regular white elephant, but the idea is to find the “wackiest” gift possible. After all the gifts are opened, we vote on the “best” gift, and it is enshrined in the wacky gift trophy case. The trophy case is an old suitcase retrofitted with shelves and Christmas lights.”
-Eric Pierson, Senior Research Planner
Gingerbread Houses
“Every year in early December, my family decorates gingerbread houses. It’s a tradition I started when my children were teeny and we’ve done it every year since!
We buy the pre-made kits (I hot glue them together the night before!) and extra decorations like pretzels and marshmallows. We put on our favorite ugly holiday sweaters, set up a little buffet breakfast (don’t do this hungry or you’ll eat all of the goodies!) , and then play all morning with all of the icing and decorations – it’s so cute to see the children so intently working on their creations! We display the finished houses all through the holidays.”
-Michelle Pfeffer, Vice President for Marketing & Communication
Feast of the Fishes
“One of our favorite holiday traditions is to continue to do the “Feast of the Fishes” on Christmas Eve. As soon as I was old enough I was allowed into the kitchen with my Mom and Grandma to help prepare Christmas Eve dinner, ok I was probably in the kitchen before that, but instead of helping was probably creating havoc.
This tradition has been in the family for…I don’t know…ever lol
We start Christmas Eve at 4:00 with a celebratory cocktail in honor of all of those who were not with us that year and then the cooking starts. Well the prep started hours before but 4:00 signaled “happy hour”. Around noon, my Mom, Gram and I would cram into the kitchen, no matter whose house we were in, and start prepping. The evening of festivities, and I do say evening because the eating didn’t end until around 11:00 pm (had to be done in time to get to midnight mass). We would have at least seven types of fish – the menu has not changed much over the years, a few additions or minor changes and tweaks to some recipes, but the premise has held fast for as long as I can remember. Let’s count: 1-lobster stuffed mushrooms, 2-stuffed clams (not store bought either), 3-crab balls, short break for dish cleaning, 4-shrimp cocktail, then a little break for a game of something, then back in the kitchen, 5-pasta with fennel and sardines, then another break for a game of “spoons” – I will admit this break lasted the longest and the game was fun, frenzied and serious. I recall one year the kitchen table got broken when Uncs made a lunge for a spoon and Eddie will remember the year Gram got him with her diamond ring when she turned it over and reached for a spoon (she had to do something! She was vertically challenged and her arms were shorter than the rest of ours!). Then, return to the kitchen for the last course: 6-fried flounder, 7-stuffed whiting and some other stuff, because we weren’t full enough. Then, for those that were still awake, a tray full of cookies! Cheers!”
-Robin DeGroat, Vice President for Operations & Executive Assistant to the President
Christmas Lights & It’s a Wonderful Life
“Our family tradition is on Christmas Eve we all pile into the car including our dogs, complete with hot chocolate and cookies, turn on holiday music and drive around rating who has the best lights on their homes. Then when I come get back, I watch “It’s A Wonderful Life”……again.”
-Jonathan Drapkin, President & CEO
