Silly Christmas Tradition

Juspassinthrough · Dec 25, 2020

While I know we’d rather be reading or writing about something more topical, this year has not allowed for many tales from the Camino or epic sock or trekking pole finds or failures.

So, I thought I’d share a different tale, my silly Christmas tradition.

For over 25 years now, it started when my daughters were young, every Christmas I’ve worn the same mis-matched pair of socks. It’s become so ingrained in my family that I’m asked by my far flung family if I’m wearing them to which the answer is, of course, YES.

It always makes me smile, especially this year.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Dec 25, 2020

A friend who owned a sailboat ALWAYS wore mismatched socks as running lights, red on the left, green on the right.

Camino Chrissy · Dec 25, 2020

Silly Camino tradition with my son...matching socks.

Juspassinthrough · Dec 25, 2020

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
A friend who owned a sailboat ALWAYS wore mismatched socks as running lights, red on the left, green on the right.
View attachment 89875

Smart man your friend and while my legs are crossed, I to have the proper orientation

BROWNCOUNTYBOB · Dec 25, 2020

Slightly off topic - a New Year's Eve tradition in my family. During my career, we relocated to Geneva, Switzerland in the mid-90s. Each Christmas, we celebrated at our home, then the next day, headed to Spain with our three kids for 7 to 10 days. We mostly stayed in paradors. The first winter vacation we stayed at the wonderful parador in Cuenca. There is an excellent restaurant in the parador, but the dinner meal was not served until late night and was quite expensive. We walked across a very scary bridge (over a gorge) into town and looked everywhere for an open restaurant. The entire town was locked down. Then we "discovered" an open Chinese restaurant. We had an excellent dinner there. The next two years when we travelled to Spain after Xmas, on Christmas eve, we asked the concierge where the local Chinese restaurant was located. Since returning to the US in 1998, we've gone to a Chinese restaurant each New Year's Eve. A great tradition for our family ! Bob

Juspassinthrough · Dec 26, 2020

BROWNCOUNTYBOB said:
Slightly off topic - a New Year's Eve tradition in my family. During my career, we relocated to Geneva, Switzerland in the mid-90s. Each Christmas, we celebrated at our home, then the next day, headed to Spain with our three kids for 7 to 10 days. We mostly stayed in paradors. The first winter vacation we stayed at the wonderful parador in Cuenca. There is an excellent restaurant in the parador, but the dinner meal was not served until late night and was quite expensive. We walked across a very scary bridge (over a gorge) into town and looked everywhere for an open restaurant. The entire town was locked down. Then we "discovered" an open Chinese restaurant. We had an excellent dinner there. The next two years when we travelled to Spain after Xmas, on Christmas eve, we asked the concierge where the local Chinese restaurant was located. Since returning to the US in 1998, we've gone to a Chinese restaurant each New Year's Eve. A great tradition for our family ! Bob

Exactly on topic BCB, great tradition.

shefollowsshells · Dec 26, 2020

Juspassinthrough said:
While I know we’d rather be reading or writing about something more topical, this year has not allowed for many tales from the Camino or epic sock or trekking pole finds or failures.

So, I thought I’d share a different tale, my silly Christmas tradition.

For over 25 years now, it started when my daughters were young, every Christmas I’ve worn the same mis-matched pair of socks. It’s become so ingrained in my family that I’m asked by my far flung family if I’m wearing them to which the answer is, of course, YES.

It always makes me smile, especially this year.

View attachment 89874 View attachment 89874

This post is so touching to me, and so glad you shared it!!!! So sweet and just perfect!!!
Merry Christmas!

Camino Chrissy · Dec 26, 2020

My dad used to wear a special bright red vest over the years worn only on Christmas day while growing up and into my adulthood until his passing. My two brothers now take turns wearing it and it evokes such warm and fuzzy memories on our Christmas gatherings until 2020.

Yctoo · Dec 26, 2020

When my sons were small 8,6,4 they taught their grandma to dance the Macarena which she loved. For Christmas that year we bought her a motion activated gorilla that played and danced the song. We still have it 25 years later and it goes through n a place of honour under the Christmas tree. It is set off by the front door opening and closing, a shoe dropping or even someone laughing loudly. My sons (now men) groan and roll their eyes every year when it goes off but we all appreciate this silly reminder of a beloved mum/grandma

eeddowes · Dec 26, 2020

Several years ago, we had the privilege of living in Spain followed by a time in Italy, and our daughter was the lovely age of 6-9 then. Our first day-after-Christmas in Spain, my daughter and I went to a large department store to make an exchange, and we were stopped in our tracks to see an elaborate stage with a “king's messenger” sitting on a large throne while a long line of children waited to sit on his lap to share their wishes. This is how we first learned about Three Kings Day which is when Spanish children receive gifts, on Epiphany when the Magi visited the Christ child.

Flash forward to our time in Italy. There, the tradition is for La Bufana (a witch) to fly through the night before Epiphany to deliver packages to all children. There’s a backstory that involves the Three Kings. It was another new, stopped-in-our-tracks experience to see toy witches everywhere in the Christmas markets in Italy.

So, our daughter’s birthday is January 6 – Epiphany. Beginning while living in Spain and then Italy, we’ve incorporated these traditions for her birthday. Each year she receives a gift from mom & dad, another wrapped in gold paper from the Three Kings, and another wrapped in brown paper from La Bufana. It is a warm and wonderful tradition for all of us.

Damico Walking · Dec 26, 2020

We have had a very odd tradition for decades. We get visited by the Underware Fairy who places gifts under the tree for opening on Christmas Eve. The gifts always contain..... well underware, usually goofy or otherwise humorous. We open gifts on Christmas Eve with everyone in attendance and the gifts from the UF (as she is known in our family) are always an expected fun moment. It was especially fun when my daughters got married and their new husbands got their first visit from the UF and now my grandkids look forward to these little packages of smiles.

alexwalker · Dec 26, 2020

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
A friend who owned a sailboat ALWAYS wore mismatched socks as running lights, red on the left, green on the right.
View attachment 89875

I have a knitted pair: Red/green heels, and knitted Port/Starboard on the palms... (I hold a skipper certificate...)

Juspassinthrough · Dec 26, 2020

Camino Chrissy said:
My dad used to wear a special bright red vest over the years worn only on Christmas day while growing up and into my adulthood until his passing. My two brothers now take turns wearing it and it evokes such warm and fuzzy memories on our Christmas gatherings until 2020.

@Camino Chrissy, my father died earlier this year so you’re recollection of your father in his red vest really struck home. If we ever wonder what our legacy may be, it’s these small memories that I hope last forever. I hope my daughters and grandchildren remember my socks and maybe, continue it as their silly Christmas tradition when my days are done. Thanks for your story.

Mycroft · Dec 26, 2020

BROWNCOUNTYBOB said:
Slightly off topic - a New Year's Eve tradition in my family. During my career, we relocated to Geneva, Switzerland in the mid-90s. Each Christmas, we celebrated at our home, then the next day, headed to Spain with our three kids for 7 to 10 days. We mostly stayed in paradors. The first winter vacation we stayed at the wonderful parador in Cuenca. There is an excellent restaurant in the parador, but the dinner meal was not served until late night and was quite expensive. We walked across a very scary bridge (over a gorge) into town and looked everywhere for an open restaurant. The entire town was locked down. Then we "discovered" an open Chinese restaurant. We had an excellent dinner there. The next two years when we travelled to Spain after Xmas, on Christmas eve, we asked the concierge where the local Chinese restaurant was located. Since returning to the US in 1998, we've gone to a Chinese restaurant each New Year's Eve. A great tradition for our family ! Bob

I hope this year you can find an open Chinese restaurant or at least take away.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Dec 27, 2020

Mycroft said:
I hope this year you can find an open Chinese restaurant or at least take away.

Each year Peg and I invite about a dozen friends over for Christmas dinner and to share our tree. A good number are Jewish and one is Chinese. He has for a long time arranged with a restaurant in Chinatown for the traditional Jewish Christmas Eve dinner for the rest. We have finally figured that we have things under control and have joined them the last couple of years. This year all found a takeout that delivered (except Peg cooked) and we ate together on Zoom. Not as good but the parking was easier.

Camino Chrissy · Dec 27, 2020

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
Not as good but the parking was easier.

Juspassinthrough · Dec 27, 2020

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
Each year Peg and I invite about a dozen friends over for Christmas dinner and to share our tree. A good number are Jewish and one is Chinese. He has for a long time arranged with a restaurant in Chinatown for the traditional Jewish Christmas Eve dinner for the rest. We have finally figured that we have things under control and have joined them the last couple of years. This year all found a takeout that delivered (except Peg cooked) and we ate together on Zoom. Not as good but the parking was easier.

Let’s hope the Zoom part of your tradition is one and done.

kirkie · Dec 28, 2020

Just catching up on this now. My adult silly tradition? Sherry while cooking, and visiting neighbours in between... the visiting part stopped when we moved away from one house but I stick to the sherry part. Speaking of vodka, which we were not - anyone in Dublin who would like a bottle, just pm me. It can be handed over near EPIC... it was in a hamper and it will gather cobwebs in our house. Nothing asked in return.