The holiday season is about tradition. For some it's religion and others, Santa Claus. For some it's about celebration and spending time with extended family. For others it's the presents. And some are in it for the snacks. And for many it's all of the above. Tradition means different things for different people. So Bill O'Reilly and his war on Christmas can suck it. If I want to celebrate Jesus Christ's birthday by giving my dad an OralB Pulsonic and wish him a happy holidays in the process; well, I think Jesus would be chill with that. But I digress, ridiculous.
Tradition. Note the following:
We are the Farklepants women. And when it comes to Christmas in our family, we run the show. We are dieting large and in charge. [We've also, collectively, produced FOURTEEN CHILDREN -soon to be fifteen - please take a moment to chew on that. The idea, not the children, nom-nomable as they are] Many years ago, let's say twelve-ish, one of my sisters in law and I held the first of many annual Farklepants Christmas parties. Actually, that's a fat lie [do you smell burning pants?]. The first was held by a beloved aunt who has since passed away, but when it became evident that because of - how do I say this? certain complications - my sister in law and I took the reigns. Eventually we threatened with bodily harm recruited the other sisters in law and cousins in host rotation.
It's a beautiful arrangement. As I mentioned in yesterday's post: Mr. Farklepants has a huge family. And hosting this annual event is akin to organizing a large family reunion. The planning involved should not rest on the shoulders of one super terrific lady. Every. Single. Year. See, the last time I had to host was in 2005. It won't be my turn again until I turn forty 2011.
We choose an arbitrary Saturday in December to have the party. This way, the whole family is able to get together and not have to feel guilty about whom they do or don't spend Christmas day with. That's the theory anyway. Guilt often knows no bounds.
What is one of your holiday traditions?
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Keeping With the Christmas Theme
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24 comments:
This may not be what you are looking for, but dh & I take a walk Christmas afternoon. There are years (the ones with my side of the family) where we do it to get away from the stress, years (usually with his family) where the entire extended family joins us, and years (spent with just the 6 of us) that dh & I take that peaceful walk alone as a couple.
Amazing people, those Farklepants women!
Add liquor to the mix and I bet those Farklepants Women could rule the world!
Our traditions are still evolving, but there are a few that are set in concrete:
1. Santa delivers to our kids at our house and nowhere else, so we cannot travel to anyone's house for the holidays.
2. Anyone who wants to visit us is welcome and will be fed lots of Buche de Noel (the Yule log), which is Pete's traditional Christmas Eve baking project.
Ever since my parents were divorced when I was young - Christmas Eve was always a mom-family event where Santa happened to arrive early and we got to open gifts! Now that tradition has come to me and I host Christmas Eve at our house for my brothers, sisters-in-law, and my mom's family - aunt, uncle, cousins, etc. Everyone brings an appetizer and dessert, we provide the alcohol - the kids get juice of course - and it's a great time - my favorite time of the year! No, seriously! :)
That's a great idea. Totally.
I love that idea. Brilliant!
Each year my daughter and I bake some kind of goodie for each of our neighbors and hand deliver it on Christmas Eve. We started this when she was a toddler. She's now sixteen. We always get invited in for egg nog and snacks, and we end up spending the afternoon visiting with our neighbors.
We're too small a family for deeply held traditions. Husband's family consists of 2 people in FL - mom and brother. My family is actually larger, but equally distant.
I think my 2 brothers, twins who both live in Chicago, have probably observed the most traditional celebration, because their families get together.
Now that our Mom lives near them, she can finally spend a Christmas in company, rather than alone as she has for so long.
As for us? It's the three of us.
Maybe we'll take that Christmas afternoon walk, like kcinnova.
And hulagirl's idea is fantastic.
In my ridiculously large family, She Who has the Giant House the Selling of the Partnership in the Law Firm Did Build gets to host all holiday functions. Seems fair to the rest of us.
Ugly, and by ugly I mean battery powered and lit up Christmas sweaters to my best friends house every Christmas eve just to annoy her. This year, I am adding in a sequined tree apron and shoes to the mix. :)
Merry Christmas!!!
I buy my kids an ornament every year that I give then when we decorate the tree. And when they move out, they will have a set of ornaments for their very first tree on their own.
Tradition? We always have a tree.
Otherwise things are free to change from year to year. This year, my mother in law is hosting a catered (yeah!) lunch on the Sunday between Christmas and New Years.
a movie and chinese take out...like all good jews do.
Indiam food on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas.
What a gorgeous bunch you are!
Rob and I haven't relaly established a tradition of our own yet. I think I'm going to start with a carrolling evening next year.
I wrote about one of our Christmas traditions, too. Reading your comments reminds me how blessed we are to have so much family, so close.
Merry Christmas, Farklepantses!
Brilliantly executed. I manhandled Mr. D's family into always celebrating the Saturday AFTER Christmas. At that moment, each of my sisters-in-law fell in love with me.
new pajamas on christmas eve.
Traditions? Well, my tradition consists of trying not to lose my mind every year...so far so good.
I hope y'all have a great get together!
You are the FABULOUS Farklepants Women! You are all sooooo beautiful! Merry Christmas friend
Great idea on the party!
Every year, we head to my parents house in the early evening of Christmas Eve. Dad has a fire in the fireplace & candles burning everywhere (& I mean everywhere - in fact this year he bought a giant fire extinguisher just in case!).
It's lovely: the candle light, the fire, the christmas tree lights & the laughter of our family together on Christmas eve.
Merry Christmas to you and the rest of teh Farklepants family!
On Christmas Eve - talapia (the fish Christ "caught" from the Sea of Galilea)
and Christmas morning - a brunch in tribute to the Jewish origins of the day, bagels and lox!! Oh, ...and we watch Jesus Christ Superstar!!
There is always a strong woman behind every Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
I adore your tradition! That is SO cool. Great picture of strong women.
We don't have that problem now, because we don't have much family close by, but we could have used that back in Georgia. One year we did 3 Thanksgivings, which sent us over the edge. Enough to say...enough, and alternate after that.
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