Holiday ReCap #2: Christmases Contrasted

Part of what I was looking forward to most about Christmas this year was partaking in new-to-me traditions of Jeff's family.  Likewise, I was excited for Jeff to join some of my family's traditions, and for the two of us to begin our own.

We celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Bangs bunch, here on the farm.  Jeff's tradition for several years now is to cook prime rib for Christmas Eve dinner.  Each time he makes it, it is better than the previous time, as it was again this year. Carol came up with much of the rest of the meal, and I contributed dessert-- Bananas Foster over ice cream.  We were minus Jeff's sister and her husband for the meal, but joined by our neighbors and good family friends, Merlin and Pat. After dinner, we did presents.

This was a difference in schedule we talked about between Jeff's family and mine.  They normally do presents on Christmas Eve, after dinner, then just stockings in the morning.  I remember my family opening gifts and stockings Christmas Morning.

Christmas Day, there is a traditional brunch in the morning, with mimosas.  Then, mid-day the Bangs family trekked down the road to the Wolery (Merlin and Pat, their kids, and grandkids) household for Christmas dinner, followed by conversation, cards, and games well into the evening.  An additional gift-opening occurred with presents exchanged between the two families.

In recent years, my family's Christmas has changed.  Growing up, we spent time at both of my grandparents' houses, extended family present.  Due to one reason or another-- busy schedules, transitioning life-times for grandparents, etc., this no longer happens. So, my family has now grown accustomed to celebrating Christmas in our home.  The pace is decidedly slower than it was when we were always scurrying from one grandparents' to the other, across the state, and over the river and through the woods.  We really get to spend a lot of quality time with each other.

This year, with Jeff joining us for Christmas in Iowa, we were able to introduce him to what has been in the past a long-loved tradition on the Adam side of the family: The White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Before we left for our trip, I coached Jeff on what type of gift would be appropriate.  For example, a Photographic Guide to Bodybuilding, circa 1985, complete with images of orange-tanned, heavily oiled Arnold Schwartzenegger and Lou Ferigno, was a big hit at a past exchange, while a box of old telephone cords was more of a dud. Jeff performed in good fashion by presenting an old trucker-style baseball cap featuring a Big K logo (little did he know the company would announce store closures around the country shortly before our exchange, making the timing of his gift even more ironic).

As for traditions of our own that began this year, I instituted what I like to call Stockings for your Stocking.  Since we had purchased our Christmas tree this year, we decided the tree itself would be our main gift to each other, but we still wanted to do stockings. So, we each bought each other a pair of fun socks for our stockings, and Stockings for your Stocking was born.

Jeff and I spent some time discussing Christmases with each family.  I think each of us felt more comfortable with our own family's traditions, at least for this first year.  Everyone celebrates Christmas and family togetherness differently. With this being our first year married, we were each going through the other family's traditions for the first time.  Both were a great time-- just different from what we each were used to. Next year, we will both know what to expect, and will be able to relax and enjoy each celebration that much more.  We will both sail through the Bangs' Many Meals of Christmas and the Adam's White Elephant Exchange with ease and the excitement of expectation.  Stockings for your Stocking will be our new, small tradition that anchors us at home.