That magical time of year that brings family and friends together like none other is once again upon us. I find that it is a time to reflect and a time to look ahead, perhaps explaining the romance of the season. And what’s romance without a bit of tradition…
A Christmas ornament tradition, started on the Christmas after the birth of of our first child, has blossomed throughout the decades bringing joy and happiness year after year.
The beginning of tradition
Traditions, very much like a warm cup of tea on a cold wintery day, soothe and ground me.
While recently reminiscing over holiday traditions, I realized that the Christmas ornament tradition I started for my children stems from years earlier when, as a teenager, I created a similar tradition with my grandma without realizing I was doing it.
My grandma was an exceptional woman. She worked very hard and it seemed to me that she could make anything from almost nothing at all. She raised six children, most all on her own and through some tough years, and somehow made life work for everyone. She played an important role in raising many of her grandchildren too, of which I was one of the privileged.
Baking and cooking were among her many talents, and having the privilege to learn to make chocolates and cookies for the Christmas season in her kitchen are some of my favorite childhood memories. Thank you Grandma ~ I am so blessed to have had those moments. As we grew up, Grandma would bake our favorite things for our Christmas gifts. Her shortbread cookies and gingerbread cookies were my favorites! How I miss those days. She did, of course, pass on the knack and the recipes so am able to bake them annually, true to tradition… but that is another story for another time.
What to get Grandma for Christmas?
Finding the perfect gift for my grandma for Christmas was top of mind, year after year as the holiday season grew near. This woman who meant so much to me, and who would make or willingly give anything she had to someone she loved, wasn’t a woman with many ‘wants’. She used to tell me that at her age, she really didn’t need many things.
I remember being 16 years old, and walking through the Hallmark store several weeks before Christmas. I was overjoyed to find a perfect gift idea for my grandma! It was a beautiful ornament with “Merry Christmas Grandma” written on it, along with the year. It was perfect. It was something she wouldn’t already have, it was personal, and it could be displayed year after year. It even came with it’s own stand, if she chose not to put it on a Christmas tree.
I could see the sparkle in her eye as she unwrapped the gift, and knew she liked it very much. She hung the ornament on the stand, and set it on the mantle in the place where it would appear every Christmas year after year, joined by a new ornament for the current year. Thus began the tradition of a Christmas ornament for my grandma every year. It is such a treasured memory for me, and I’m so thankful for the moments it gave to her and I.
My grandma passed away several years ago, and I was gifted with those ornaments in her memory. My intent is to ensure that those ornaments are kept safe and are honored. And this leads us into the next part of my story to you. The beginning of a tradition I started for my own children.
The tradition continues
O
ur first child was born in May, and as that first Christmas grew near, the gift ideas were plenty! Amongst the teddy bears, toys and clothes there was one special keepsake I searched for. This was his Baby’s First Christmas ornament which would hang on the Christmas tree that year, and every year after.
This Christmas ornament tradition continued with the births of his two brothers, with the searching out of each of their first Christmas ornaments being a very special moment for me.
Every year since, the tradition has continued, with me buying or creating a special ornament that includes their name and the current year. For me it represents the memories of the past year, either by matching their personal hobbies or personalities, or sometimes my own personal style. My intention was that they would have a collection of 18 or 20 ornaments representing their childhood to have and use on the Christmas trees in their own homes in future years.
At some point along the journey, I purchased beautiful holiday ornament boxes to store their individual ornaments in. This is a step I wish I’d done from the beginning of their collections, but never seemed to get it done in the busy rush of the holiday season. I encourage you to source a holiday ornament box early in your tradition, as it is a beautiful keepsake in itself, along with the ornaments.
For this current Christmas, I have found and purchased the annual ornaments for my boys and the significant people in their lives. It warms my heart and brings a smile to my face as I look at this years ornaments, knowing that soon they will hang on the Christmas tree signifying another year of memories.
History repeats itself
I do hope that history repeats itself with a Christmas ornament tradition continuing in the homes of my sons as they begin and raise their families. I’ve found it to be a beautiful expression of togetherness and love through the decades, and perhaps they will too.
Perhaps by sharing my story with you, it will inspire a new tradition in your own journey. Peace and happiness to you and yours at this beautiful time of year, as always.
I’m a proud mom, a friend to many, and have a profound belief in human kindness.
My goal to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life includes my love to write about things that resonate with me. My gift to you is sharing my perspective on living a happy life.
xx
Colleen. I still do this for my grown kids and now for my 3 grandchildren.