In December, many families celebrate the holidays with Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or other traditional events that may not be related to spiritual expression.
In modern times, many cultures use various elements from ancient traditions surrounding the winter solstice. Yuletide, a familiar ancient Anglo-Saxon/Celtic midwinter tradition, incorporated rituals of burning a yule log (fire) and hanging a sprig of mistletoe (earth).
This is the time of year when we may experience a broad range of traditions. Some are long-standing, while others may be brand-new. Far too frequently, many inevitably change.
“The modernity of yesterday is the tradition of today, and the modernity of today will be tradition tomorrow.” – Jose Andres
Since 2009, one of our traditions has been to travel elsewhere for Christmas. For 11 years, we drove to San Diego from our former home in Sacramento to be with family members over the winter holidays.
As many of you know, most of my family and I, too, relocated from California during the 2020 pandemic, but we still have family who live in San Diego, and we try to visit at least once a year.
When we relocated to Eastern Washington, we stayed home for Christmas since 2020. I NEEDED to have a few white Christmases! Like this:
Snowy Traditions
Since December 2020, we have enjoyed several snow-related holiday traditions, including the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in our town square.
The Stevens County Fire District No. 1 traditionally escorts Santa and his sleigh through the neighborhood streets during the first two weeks of December, a much-anticipated and enduring tradition!
“There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus; he does not believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus.” – Bob Phillips
Then there is the snow, how to enjoy it, what to do with it … and warming by the fire.
Oddly, Christmas 2023 wasn’t very snowy. This was taken on Christmas Eve.
I love to decorate, and it’s my tradition to place lights in the front yard. My deer seemed to enjoy it.
I chose not to decorate much for Christmas in the house this year, a tradition I genuinely enjoy doing.
No doubt the homes we’ll stay in will be festive and warm!
A non-snowy tradition I enjoy happens from November through January. At Lake Couer d’Alene, Idaho, the bald eagles gather for their annual hunting/fishing feast when the Kokanee salmon begin their spawning cycle. Catching them on a good day is tricky, but catching them in large flocks or aeries has eluded me.
Eagle-peeping takes the place of leaf-peeping now.
“Tradition gives us a sense of solidarity and roots, a knowing there are some things one can count on.” – Gloria Gaither
Traditional Road Travel
“Wherever I roam, nature is the only stranger that feels like home.” ~ Angie Weiland-Crosby
We’ll begin our three-day road trip south from Eastern Washington to Scottsdale, Arizona, on December 20th. My father is 88 years old, and …well, what if this is my last Christmas to spend time with him?
In 2023, we moved Dad and my step-mom to Payson, Arizona, to be near my brother, who lives in Scottsdale. We decided to extend our new snowbird tradition another few weeks to include Christmas this year. As part of the three days of road travel, we enjoy staying overnight in Beaver, Utah. Last year, this small town decorated its festive main street.
Two years ago, my stepdaughter and her husband traveled from the Phoenix area to spend Thanksgiving with us and see our homestead for the first time. One of our traditions when picking up folks from the airport is to stop by the local brewhouse for a meal. Just in time, the snow started!
Another tradition we all enjoy is celebrating our birthdays! This week is the big Six-Five for me. Can you guess what day my birthday is? My sis-in-law decorated her dinner table with plates from the “Twelve Days of Christmas” last year and insisted I sit at this place setting:
“Sometimes the little things in life mean the most.” ― Ellen Hopkins
Sharing for Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday and Lens-Artists: 5 Elements.
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
Tell us more about your favorite holiday traditions! I would love to hear about the traditions of those who spend the holidays in the southern hemisphere. Once again, this Sunday Stills challenge will last two weeks.
Creativity is encouraged, so if you participate in the photo challenges, please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me again on December 15th as we explore metallic colors for the December color challenge.
Dec 1-8 TRADITIONS (Two-week challenge)
Dec 15-22 Monthly Color Two-Week Challenge: METALLIC
Dec 29 & Jan 5: Your 2024 Year-in-Review! (in photos)
Please visit my Sunday Stills page for the schedule
Enjoy the Earth’s elemental wonders and feel the spirit of tradition this holiday season. ❄️ 🎄
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie
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