2John5918
Not actually a holiday, but the big November festival when I was a child was Bonfire Night aka Fireworks Night aka Guy Fawkes Night. Making an effigy of Guy Fawkes out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper and parading it through the streets in an old push chair or pram collecting money to buy fireworks - "Penny for the Guy!" A big bonfire in the back garden, lots of fireworks, and roast potatoes and chestnuts to keep out the autumn cold.
"Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."
The other big festival in October-November is Diwali, the festival of lights. In my twenties I lived in Southall, a part of west London with a large population of Indian subcontinent descent, and I used to really enjoy Diwali. Fireworks, visiting neighbours and eating Indian sweets.
On our side of the Pond we don't have Thanksgiving, but let me wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who do celebrate it this week.
"Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."
The other big festival in October-November is Diwali, the festival of lights. In my twenties I lived in Southall, a part of west London with a large population of Indian subcontinent descent, and I used to really enjoy Diwali. Fireworks, visiting neighbours and eating Indian sweets.
On our side of the Pond we don't have Thanksgiving, but let me wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who do celebrate it this week.
3Tess_W
>2 John5918: I always like to hear about other interesting customs. Thanks
4Hope_H
As a kid, my favorite holiday tradition was our Christmas Eve celebration. My dad would take us in to town to Grandma's house. Mom and Dad would join us later for supper (oyster stew for the adults and chicken noodle soup for the kids) and then we would go to church. After church, we headed back to Grandma's to open presents. Grandma had a small silver tinsel tree, which we always found fascinating. Then we would go to our house. Santa would have stopped by while we were at church. We were allowed to stay up late to play. In the morning, we only had to be up and presentable by 11:00, when we would join family friends for our Christmas dinner.
Looking back, it seems like a very simple time. And we were pretty clueless - amazed us for years that Santa remembered we would be at church on Christmas Eve, so he could come to our house early in his evening.
One thing that has continued to this day is the box of chocolates from Mrs. See's. My dad's cousin worked for Mrs. See's candy company after he returned home from World War II and went to California. Each year, he would send a two-pound box of assorted chocolates to my grandma. After Grandma passed away, he sent my parents a box of chocolates. After he passed away, my mom would manage to get a box of Mrs. See's (they don't have any stores near here - I think there were a few years when she had her brother in California get us box and send it.) Now that Mom is gone, I've become the Mrs. See's procurer. Funny - there's now a box for the family, and a box of milk chocolate bordeaux just for me!
Looking back, it seems like a very simple time. And we were pretty clueless - amazed us for years that Santa remembered we would be at church on Christmas Eve, so he could come to our house early in his evening.
One thing that has continued to this day is the box of chocolates from Mrs. See's. My dad's cousin worked for Mrs. See's candy company after he returned home from World War II and went to California. Each year, he would send a two-pound box of assorted chocolates to my grandma. After Grandma passed away, he sent my parents a box of chocolates. After he passed away, my mom would manage to get a box of Mrs. See's (they don't have any stores near here - I think there were a few years when she had her brother in California get us box and send it.) Now that Mom is gone, I've become the Mrs. See's procurer. Funny - there's now a box for the family, and a box of milk chocolate bordeaux just for me!
5krazy4katz
So, I am Jewish and when I was growing up all my friends (who were actually cousins) in the neighborhood were Catholic. They showed me how Santa Claus would come down the chimney into the fireplaces in their houses to deliver their presents.
Well, I knew that our chimney led to the hot water heater in our basement because we had no fireplace! I was so terrified that we had boiled Santa to death that I went crying to my mother. She told me that Santa didn't really exist but not to tell any of my friends. I kept the secret but in spite of my mother's comforting words, I worried every year for a while. Such a trauma!
Well, I knew that our chimney led to the hot water heater in our basement because we had no fireplace! I was so terrified that we had boiled Santa to death that I went crying to my mother. She told me that Santa didn't really exist but not to tell any of my friends. I kept the secret but in spite of my mother's comforting words, I worried every year for a while. Such a trauma!
6Tess_W
A tradition that I started when my boys were little (now ages 42 & 43) was the reading of the Christmas story from the book of Luke. Each year, a different person reads it while we are assembled before we open our presents.
7perennialreader
The night after Christmas we always have a good old hamburger and fries. Somehow something plain helps to reset our taste buds from all the rich foods we eat all during December. We have done this for so many years that it is now a tradition. Sometimes we fix it at home and sometimes we go out for it.
8WholeHouseLibrary
I'm going to try to keep this as short as possible (because I tend to be verbose.) I have a pair of Moon Boots that I brought with me from New Jersey to Texas thirty-two years ago. I used to spend entire nights at star parties using my C8 for astrophotography - especially in winter, so the boots were a must-have sort of item. I've only used them once (for their intended purpose) here in Texas, so they've mostly been collecting dust in my closet.
That was the background information you needed to know.
The house I bought (and still live in) is the first place I've lived that has a fireplace, and that set up some expectations for my three sons (6, 4, and infant initially) come the holiday times. For years, we'd have a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve, even when it was 65° F outside. They were unaware of my moon boots, so I used them to track ashes in the carpet, going from the fireplace, to the tree (lots of footprints there,) to the tray of milk and cookies, and back to the fireplace. The fireplace grill was even pushed off to the side to give Santa space to maneuver himself in the firebox. The kids were suitably impressed.
Thus, the beginnings of my post-Festivus tradition of vacuuming the living room carpet.
That was the background information you needed to know.
The house I bought (and still live in) is the first place I've lived that has a fireplace, and that set up some expectations for my three sons (6, 4, and infant initially) come the holiday times. For years, we'd have a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve, even when it was 65° F outside. They were unaware of my moon boots, so I used them to track ashes in the carpet, going from the fireplace, to the tree (lots of footprints there,) to the tray of milk and cookies, and back to the fireplace. The fireplace grill was even pushed off to the side to give Santa space to maneuver himself in the firebox. The kids were suitably impressed.
Thus, the beginnings of my post-Festivus tradition of vacuuming the living room carpet.
9Tess_W
>8 WholeHouseLibrary: I had to look up what a Moon Boot was! I've seen them but never knew that's what they were called1
>7 perennialreader: That is a great tradition. one I might like to begin!
>7 perennialreader: That is a great tradition. one I might like to begin!
10mclewe
>8 WholeHouseLibrary: I also had to look up Moon Boots! We called them Après Ski Boots (I think that’s what you meant).
Loved your story!
Loved your story!
11MBMG
We don’t have Thanksgiving here in Australia either but I still, even after almost 40 years living in South Australia, miss a cold wintery Christmas Day. It’s very strange as we’ve had very hot days in past Christmases here but this year’s prediction is 29C so far for the big day. I still cook traditional but have occasionally due to the heat had a seafood feast. Merry Christmas everyone, Margaret x
12MBMG
I’m in a moon boot at the moment here in Adelaide South Australia but mine is to heal a broken ankle. Cheers, Margaret x
13John5918
>12 MBMG:
Yes, that's what I think of when I hear the term "moon boot" these days, although I do vaguely remember the term from the sixties. I broke my ankle about three or four years ago and had to wear a moon boot for a while. Hope yours heals quickly.
Yes, that's what I think of when I hear the term "moon boot" these days, although I do vaguely remember the term from the sixties. I broke my ankle about three or four years ago and had to wear a moon boot for a while. Hope yours heals quickly.
14moxiemt
>Thank you for these great stories and traditions!
Since my boys were little, we have always made Christmas a big play day. We would always give a new game or two for under the tree, and all day, before and after dinner, each family member picked a game and we would all play. Now that my boys are grown and married, we still do this! Each pair brings a game and we play and compete with each other while the meal is being cooked. I have recently added games before gifts are opened (like a scavenger hunt, bingo, my own version of a Clue game) to stretch out the Christmas present-opening time also. Last year while they were all on the scavenger hunt I got uninterrupted time with my grandbaby!!
Since my boys were little, we have always made Christmas a big play day. We would always give a new game or two for under the tree, and all day, before and after dinner, each family member picked a game and we would all play. Now that my boys are grown and married, we still do this! Each pair brings a game and we play and compete with each other while the meal is being cooked. I have recently added games before gifts are opened (like a scavenger hunt, bingo, my own version of a Clue game) to stretch out the Christmas present-opening time also. Last year while they were all on the scavenger hunt I got uninterrupted time with my grandbaby!!
