I’ve always loved a good dose of nostalgia and there’s
nothing quite like the holiday season to fill my void for the stuff. Between
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the whole shebang, I always find myself getting
caught up in the smells, sounds, the warm fuzzy feelings, and traditions that
all come wrapped up in this season.
In my last post I shared a little about the way I grew up
and all the change that has come with life as a military brat. I’ve learned to embrace change and adapt to
new settings. In fact, I enjoy
change. But when it comes to Christmas
and the holiday season, I’m all about traditions. Despite all the change and
newness of moving from state to state and school to school growing up, the
traditions of Christmas time are always a comforting nostalgia each November
and December. Sometimes I feel a little
crazy wanting everything to be set up roughly the same way, the same
decorations, the same songs playing in the background, the same cookies in the
oven…but that’s the beauty of tradition right? (please just say yes and tell me
I’m totally normal for this.)
I’ve always, always, always had a love and fascination with
Christmas time. Something about it is magical to me. Traditions are what help bring about those
sentimental feelings that we all get this time of year and that’s what keeps the magic there. For
my family and myself, the day after Thanksgiving always serves as the day to
pull out all the boxes labeled “Christmas” from the garage and press play on
Dad’s ultimate Christmas playlist to begin the season’s festivities. We use generally the same decorations each
year, yet opening the boxes is still, somehow, always exciting. Pulling out the stockings, nutcrackers, and
mini nativity scene…the magic of the season comes with the reminiscent joys you get as you unwrap years’ worth of traditions from their dust collecting cardboard
boxes. I love adding to our traditions
with new ones, but carrying out the old ones is when the nostalgic feelings kick in and I
love that. Of course I’ll listen to the
new Christmas album but I’ll always have a soft spot for Dad’s Bing Crosby
Christmas classics. And I’m always
(ALWAYS) up for new Christmas cookies, but what’s Christmas without Mom’s
English toffee cookies?! I know a fake
tree is reasonable for most and a lot easier to put up each year but I just
HAVE to get mine at the Christmas tree farm. And I know, I know; I’m a college
student. But please don’t make me stop leaving cookies and eggnog for
Santa. Remember those warm fuzzy
feelings I mentioned earlier? These things definitely make me feel all warm and
fuzzy inside.
It’s funny; so many people celebrate the holiday season but
in so many different ways. I have my traditions, you have yours, they have
theirs… But those traditions are important. The traditions are what keep that
magic of Christmas there every year.
Change is good and new traditions are good. And inevitably, new
traditions will come and old ones may fade.
Don’t forget about the things that give you that warm fuzzy feeling
though. You know the one: the one that makes you feel all the nostalgia, brings
back memories, and makes you feel good.
And if you don’t have anything that gives you those feelings, start a
tradition that will because no one should miss out on good ol’ Christmas
nostalgia.
For myself, the greatest tradition of all is the simplicity
of spending time with my family. With that being said I can’t wait for the new
traditions that will be created and the old ones that will be carried out
religiously all while spending time with loved ones this Christmas season! I’d
love to know what you’re favorite holiday tradition is! Let me know in the
comments!
As always, thanks for reading! Xoxo
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