Christmas rituals

I’ve blogged about traditions relating to Easter and birthdays, but never about those from the most festive time of year.

Growing up in my family, Christmas was about so much more than gifts. Now ours wasn’t a Grinch-like existence. There were presents. I’m not saying, “it came without ribbons…it came without tags…it came without packages, boxes or bags!” It's just that "Maybe Christmas...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more."

Years later, I was thrilled to meet Canada's
Prima Ballerina while volunteering at a
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
fundraiser at the National Arts Centre. 

I can tell you that a few gifts stood apart; however, my strongest positive Christmas associations are that the season was marked by family visits and our festive rituals. There were many, but four traditions stand out clearest in my mind and heart.

  1. Attending the Christmas pantomime. Year after year, we would get dressed up and head out with my grandparents and parents to see this ballet-meets-theatre-meets-comedy-meets-musical performance. The pantomime usually starred Karen Kain opposite a villain, played by her husband Ross Petty, a talented actor and producer. The shows were delightful! We laughed, gasped, cheered, booed, sang, clapped, and did we ever feel grown up mingling about at intermission.
  2. Visiting Simcoe to see the Christmas light displays bordering the river. For more than half a century, the town of Simcoe, Ontario, has gone all out for the holidays. At some points, Simcoe boasted more than 65 themed displays sporting more than 100,000 lights. It’s such a feast for the eyes that our parents deemed it worthwhile to pack all the kids in the car and make the trek to another part of southern Ontario for the evening.
  3. Belting out “The Huron Carol” at St. Timothy’s. Christmas had truly arrived when we would see that song’s number listed on our church’s hymn board. The tune―also called “The Gitchy Manitou” song and “Jesous Ahatonhia” ―originated with Aboriginals in the 1640s.
  4. Adorning the tree with my bugly, but beloved pear ornament.
Yes, those rituals made my Christmas all the more

       AWESOME! 

Any Christmas traditions that defined the holidays for you and your family? Do share them in the comment areas below.

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