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This year for the holidays I opted to curate more of a traditions mindset rather than an aesthetic. As a society we constantly complain about how stressful this season of the year can be and, to be honest, I think we do it to ourselves. The burnout happens with the constant hustle and bustle in attempts to keep up with what capitalistic marketing tells us the season should look rather than focusing on the traditions that cement the nostalgia we carry with us as life progresses. This year I wanted to shift the narrative and show my son how traditions are established as well as how impactful they can be.

A week(ish) before Thanksgiving we started crafting multiple festive paper chain garlands to hang up as well as making beaded candy canes to hang on our tree. A few days after Thanksgiving we got our first snowfall, resulting in a snow day from work that was spent setting up our tree and holiday decor. Typically during the holiday season we would stop by a store or two to add a few ornaments to our tree, but this year we opted to only use what we had previously purchased. With each ornament we hung up we took the time to talk about what we liked most about that ornament, reminisced on a memory it triggered, and took the time to appreciate why that specific piece was a part of our collection. The conversation carried over into us decorating around the house, which was especially fun for me because many pieces that we have used to decorate over the years were acquired long before I became a mother. My son asked where each piece came from, when I got it, what the holiday was like the year I bought it, and what I liked about each piece. It had been a long time since I thought back to those holiday seasons, who I was then, and what I did those years. To be asked such insightful questions by my son stirred up a multitude of feelings, but more than anything I enjoyed sharing who I was before I became Mommy– plus, he seemed quite entertained by some of my more debaucherous stories from those years.

We also started to solidify a new tradition for ourselves where we watch one holiday movie or special each night, starting on Thanksgiving. It may seem odd to many people that we don’t typically do this each year, but we are not the type of people that watch much television nor have we overly invested ourselves in holiday movies before. We have watched the usual suspects in terms of holiday classics (Home Alone, Elf, Rudolph, Charlie Brown, Polar Express, Christmas Vacation) previously and included them into our roster of films/specials to watch this year. Our one film per night routine has been made quite interesting because we have picked films and specials that are new to him while being a blast from the past for me (although a few of our selections have been a first for me as well). After each viewing we chat about what we liked about the story or cinematography, what we found funny or interesting, and dissect some of the underlying messages in each film/special. Again, it’s the conversation for me!

My child has also been quite spoiled in regard to holiday cookies this year. I am fortunate enough to work for a local café with an incredible owner, who is also a grandmother, that has been generous in treating us with sweet delights. The small town the café resides in always hosts a slew of festivities this time of year and the owner is constantly coming up with new cookies to sell at the shop. Almost every day I am sent home with a few cookies for my son and he has enjoyed every scrumptious morsel she’s gifted us. While we still plan on having a cookie baking day at home once holiday break from school begins, her treats have made his days extra special each time I arrive home from work.

One of my favorite childhood traditions that I decided to bring back for my son was driving around town looking at all of the Christmas lights and decorations. There are several neighborhoods that go all out during this time of year- we’re talking Candy Cane Lane, Snowflake Street, Teddy Bear Christmas Land, as well as historic neighborhoods that are usually quite festive in decor. This year we met up with my brother and sister-in-love to drive around and enjoy the lights together. Each block was elaborate and beautifully dressed up, leaving each of us in awe and wonder as to how they pulled off such extensive decor. My favorite house was in one of the historic neighborhoods; this place was dripping in bright red and silver, looking as if it had been plucked from the North Pole itself. While I could never muster up the patience to decorate to this degree, I am abundantly grateful to those who can because I simply love the festive artistry.

Overall, I think we have laid a fantastic foundation for our new way of celebrating the holiday season. Conversation has become our cornerstone, which in itself is a gift offering me a chance to get to know my son and the inner workings of his mind a bit better. We have spent more time creating together than we ever have before and I truly believe that creating together is what will solidify this year’s practices into annual traditions that we will cherish.