| Right up front: I celebrate Hanukah. I do not put up a | | | | get-together with relatives that even after 7 years, we |
| tree, put lights around my home, mistletoe over ever | | | | truly don't know all that well. |
| doorway and I do not host a special dinner. | | | | Next year will be a highly anticipated function-it will be |
| However, I somehow celebrate Christmas! My | | | | the first time we will celebrate as grandparents. I'm |
| extended family, save my parents, have married into | | | | sure we will break in some new ways of being |
| families that do celebrate Noel. In turn, the in-laws | | | | together then! |
| began to join in on the Hanukah festivities. My sister | | | | However, one of the most creative Christmas |
| calls this season "Hanamus". She puts up a fake tree | | | | traditions I came up with had nothing to do with family! |
| (it's actually quite pretty and doesn't make her kids | | | | At least not in the traditional sense. My husband and I |
| allergies take flight)and she decorates it in blue and | | | | ran a private pre-school and day care for many years |
| white. My younger sibling is quite artistic and through | | | | and came up with a way for all the kids to share the |
| the years has made numerous ornaments that are | | | | holidays. We always closed our school on Christmas |
| Jewish in nature. She has miniature menorahs, stars of | | | | Eve Day and remained closed until after New Year's |
| David, pretend latkes and dreidels, the chocolate coins | | | | Day, so the entire week before we claimed it "Share a |
| hung all over the tree! She puts her silver menorah on | | | | Holiday" Event. All the parents and kids would pick a |
| the mantle in the same livingroom that the tree takes | | | | snack or meal and would share their favorite food with |
| up residence in starting at Thanksgiving. | | | | the others. But we didn't stop there! Before we served |
| My sister-in-law hasn't been quite as elaborate, but she | | | | the dish, we had them relate to their friends why this |
| too makes sure our nephew has had a taste of both | | | | edible was special to their family. The story behind |
| sides of his family heritages. Her husband calls himself | | | | how it came to be and who started it. My husband |
| an atheist, but his parents raised him in a home with | | | | and I also shared our favorite holiday food with |
| two religions as well. | | | | them-potato latkes and homemade applesauce. We |
| Our daughter married a wonderful young man who | | | | always had them help make the fruit part of the |
| loves the season of giving. Since he joined our family, | | | | snack. We encouraged the parents to join in on the |
| we go to their home and take part in a very lovely | | | | fun with their children. |
| Christmas Eve supper. Our eldest makes a turkey. I | | | | It's been several years since my husband and I |
| bring my ever famous mashed potatoes. Her | | | | changed professions, however we have many of our |
| mother-in-law doesn't cook at all, but brings vegetables | | | | former students still calling us, sending e-mails and using |
| for us to steam. Our son-in-law has found a love of | | | | snail mail to share their latest "new" family tradition. |
| baking (since I'm a foody and he lived with us for | | | | Their staying in touch around with us all these years is |
| almost a year, something of me rubbed off!) and | | | | another way of celebrating the joy of the season. |
| usually decides to make a beautiful dessert. We sit | | | | Sharing different heritages, stories, food and games |
| down and talk about the coming year and all of our | | | | deepens the bond among age groups. After all, this |
| hopes and dreams. That has become a very warming | | | | time of the year, we should consider all of us family. |
| holdiay event. It also allows us to have a small quiet | | | | |