Christmas Memories

Sometimes in the rush of the Christmas season, I have to remind myself to slow down and take in all the little things that make the season special. I tend to go from day to day checking off my lists, and I forget to stop and just enjoy the moment. But I’ve found it’s in those moments that the best memories lie.

Christmas is one of those times of the year that has so many good memories attached to it. Or, it’s the perfect time of year to create new memories and traditions for you and your loved ones to make the season special.

So today, we wanted to share with you the favorite memories from some of the folks here at Whiffletree. Grab a cup of hot chocolate or eggnog and some cookies, sit back and relax, and enjoy!

Christmas Memories from the Farm…

Jesse Straight

“Some of my favorite memories from growing up are the Christmas Eve service with all the candles in a big dark church, all the beloved Christmas books that came out each year, my mom's "monkey bread", playing with my family’s nativity set much like I would with playmobils/legos/etc.(camels and wise men were more likely to be in a Western-style battle with the shepherds–ha!), writing funny notes on the gifts for my siblings, the handful of classic Christmas movies we would watch each year, and just getting off from school!

Some of my favorite traditions now with my family: we love getting our tree from Oakshade Farm and just hanging out there a bit. We have lots of great Christmas books that we only bring out this time of year–and as a family we read “A Christmas Lie” and “Christmas Day in the Morning.”  I am a total sucker for both.  The kids and I like to go around to our neighbors on the morning of Christmas Eve and give out gifts and notes, and then decorate the tree in the evening.  I love the kids piling on our bed with their stockings early in the morning on Christmas Day, and then off to the 7:30 Mass!  And then I like how we try to do something a little special or fun on all 12 days of Christmas.. And watching the Muppets Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life (my absolute favorite movie)!”

Liz Straight

“My favorite part of Christmas growing up was that we woke up Christmas morning to find the house all decorated and the Christmas tree lit up. My parents did all of it in the night and told us that Santa did it for us. We had to wait at the top of the stairs and go down all together after my dad turned on all the lights and made sure everything was ready. I can’t imagine staying up late and doing all of that now that I am a parent, but it was truly magical and so much fun!

Now, my favorite part of Christmas is that we take it really easy that day. We eat tasty foods that we have made ahead of time, go to Mass either at midnight on Christmas Eve or early in the morning on Christmas Day, and then relax together enjoying our new gifts, favorite games, favorite Christmas movies, and taking walks around the farm.”

Carmen Ashwell

“I have lots of wonderful Christmas memories of my family, but something I look forward to every year is the Christmas cookies. Coming from a large family of home chefs and bakers, my family goes all out with Christmas cookies. We have easily up to 20 different types to try some years! I don’t remember what year it was exactly, but I baked 13 different types of Christmas cookies, and I love to watch my family try each one and hear their thoughts. It seems like almost every year we find a new favorite to be added into the regular rotation, but that list is getting bigger and bigger! And I love to eat Christmas cookies for weeks after Christmas!”

Elliot Anderson

One Christmas Eve, my family made ginger cookies, and we walked up and down our road in Wisconsin (3.5 miles) in the slushy snow, caroling to our neighbors.”

Bethany Fisher

“I have a few favorites from the Christmas season. My absolute favorite memory from Christmas happened a couple weeks before Christmas, when we would go pick out our Christmas tree. That day was as big as Christmas Day for us. We would go to the Christmas tree farm in the morning, trudge through the snow (I grew up in Minnesota, so we usually had a few snowfalls in early December!), find the perfect tree and cut it down to bring home. Then we would make an assortment of Christmas snacks, hot chocolate, cider, and homemade eggnog. In the evening, we would put on the same Christmas CD each year and decorate the tree and house while we ate all the goodies.

A couple other favorites…on Christmas Eve, we always watch a ‘Christmas Carol,’ and then my little sister and I grab our sleeping bags and sleep under the tree. (The reason is definitely not so we can spy on our Mom as she brings out wrapped gifts for under the tree…). And then homemade caramel rolls for Christmas brunch are the best!”

Anthony Schiano

“My favorite tradition would have to be the food! More specifically, the cake that we bake every Christmas. Fittingly named the “Jesus Cake,” it’s a coffee cake I look forward to every Christmas morning.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory or tradition? Let us know in the comments below!

Merry Christmas!

~Bethany