There is nothing more wonderful this time of year than the traditions and the memories you have of this holy special season.
Joelle shares-
Koland Family Tradition
On Christmas Eve every year all my
aunts, uncles and 13 cousins would
pile into Grandpa Trygve and Grandma
Verna's small living room for Christmas. There was
barely
room to move, but we all loved to be together. Stereotypically, most
people
would think that a Norwegian family's Christmas
would be fairly quiet
and stoic. Not this family. We'd often have prank gifts
and messy silly
string.We always had a huge wrapping paper war and a ton
of laughs. We were
pretty loud too.
We had one tradition that
seemed completely out of place. I don't know how it
started or why, but we
loved it. Towards the end of the evening all the
cousins would go to the
basement and take turns being blindfolded and swinging at a
piñata.
Eventually one of the older boys would break it, and we'd all go
crazy
fighting over the candy. It was a blast!
Years went by, and we still piled in their small living room, but now
several of my cousins had spouses and kids. When it came time to do the
piñata, it was a
new generation taking part in the tradition. Then one Christmas I brought my
boyfriend Rick (now my
wonderful husband). I had spent Thanksgiving with
his
extended family, and they were very quiet. I couldn't wait for him
to
experience one of our Christmases. He did well with all of the good
natured
teasing, wrapping paper fights and so on. We were downstairs watching
the kids
take a shot at the piñata, when my cousin Wendy made a decision. We
all had a
chance at the piñata while we were kids. It was time for Rick to be
inducted,
so to speak. The next thing I knew, she'd gotten everyone to loudly
chant his
name while they blindfolded him and started spinning him around in
circles. If
you know my husband Rick, you know he handled it well and had a
ton of fun!
My grandparents have since passed away, and my beloved cousin Wendy lost
her
battle with breast cancer. The rest of us no longer all get together
for
Christmas, mostly because
there's nowhere we all fit. I will always
cherish the fun memories and
crazy traditions we all had. I feel that traditions are very
important. At
the same time I have learned that life is ever changing,
and what matters
the most is enjoying the time together with those you love. Make the
most of
the time this holiday season.
Joni shares-
We put a very low amount $5.00 let's say and everyone needs to be creative with
there gifts for the adults. Whoever cries when they open theirs then that giver
wins best gift!!! My family likes to go for the jugular!! Some things we have
done in the past have been a photo frame with handles screwed into the side and
under the glass were all the child's accomplishments and was given to a parent as
a tray to set out and put things on. I made my mom a patch to a start to a
quilt. In the middle I stitched a bible verse. My dad made all of us a candle
out of a branch from a birch tree in our back yard growing up. It has been some
of my most memorable gifts I have given and received!
Such different but wonderful traditions! Thank you Joelle and Joni for sharing! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Make memories and enjoy the time you have together!
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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