Trees, gingerbread, presents, movies and cookies are all part of our holiday traditions. We each carry merry moments with us from year to year that make our family traditions. Each moment is unique, and each one is dear to us. Take a peek into three families who offer their own merry moments to you.
Jamie Emery:
“One of our family Christmas traditions is building a gingerbread house and baking cookies for Santa,” said Jamie Emery. “We usually make sugar cookies and have our own version of The Great British Bake Off. Our kitchen turns into a wonderland of green and red frosting and sprinkles for days!
“Another tradition we have is watching a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve. We open our matching Christmas pajamas, wear them to bed and wake up matching on Christmas morning.
“One of my most memorable Christmases was when I used an app to capture Santa next to our Christmas tree and how excited the girls were when seeing the picture of Santa in their very own home. That moment created a very magical Christmas Day!”
For 12-year-old Audrey, Christmas is special “because I enjoy all of the family traditions and events we get to go to during the holiday season.
“My favorite Christmas present was a scavenger hunt that led my sister and me to puzzle pieces. The pieces of the puzzle revealed a letter from Hogwarts, inviting us on a trip to Universal Studios.”
Mandy Edmonson:
“I grew up receiving Christmas Eve pajamas every year from my parents (and still do). I have carried on that tradition with my own little one. It’s the perfect way to snuggle up with a hot cup of cocoa and watch our favorite Christmas movies! On Christmas morning, we take the obligatory Christmas jammie pictures as she eagerly awaits the unwrapping of her first present. It has also been a tradition for as long as I can remember to go to the Christmas Festival at Silver Dollar City. The park is illuminated in lights and is so breathtaking! We can’t leave without seeing A Dickens Christmas Carol; it’s like seeing a Broadway musical and is phenomenal!
“My first Christmas as a mom is my most cherished Christmas memory. My first time experiencing all of the magic through Emma’s eyes, taking her to see Santa, watching her open presents and be more excited about the pretty shiny bow than the actual present. These are precious memories and traditions I hope Emma will carry on into adulthood.”
Eight-year-old Emma said her favorite parts of Christmas are “the presents, baking with Mommy, playing with my cousins, and the Christmas lights.” Emma’s favorite present? “All of it!”
Sarah Abernathy:
As Sarah Abernathy reflected on Christmas, she shared, “My favorite Christmas tradition with my family is getting out all the Christmas decorations, including the tree and decorating after Thanksgiving. One of our favorite traditions is getting a special ornament each year with all of the family’s names on it. Beckham loves to help place the ornaments all around and even climbs the ladder to put them up high.
“It’s also tradition to watch all the Hallmark Christmas movies while doing some holiday baking. We love making puppy chow and gooey butter cookies and sugar cookies to decorate. And, of course, we have to buy a gingerbread house to put together and decorate.
“Christmas is our favorite holiday by far because we love to celebrate the reason for the season, Jesus! There is truly a special joy and spirit of giving that is present during the Christmas season. It’s our goal to carry that giving spirit and joy through the whole year.”
Six-year-old Beckham said, “My favorite part about Christmas is playing games with my family the night before and waking up on Christmas morning and spending time with my family. My favorite Christmas gift was a remote-control RC car.”
