Happy holidays in spite of daily stress: Is this your warm December tradition, too?
December is a stressful month for me. Once I had two kids, December became a time of rushing around trying to get my normal work done PLUS all the holiday tasks. On top of it, the change of the seasons and the too-short daylight hours are a struggle for me. I miss having more daylight and warmer temperatures to be outside in the evenings!
I find comfort and coziness in our family’s holiday traditions, though. Ever since I was an adult with my own apartment, I’ve had a live Christmas tree. Growing up I always wanted a real Christmas tree, and my mom always said “No, they’re too messy!” So of course, my first Christmas on my own, I bought a real tree for Christmas.
My husband grew up with live Christmas trees, so we were on the same page from the start. We’ve always had a real Christmas tree, and for many years now we’ve made a tradition out of going to a tree farm and cutting our own tree.
Yellow Springs High School has a student club that grows Christmas trees in a small section of Glen Helen. Every year, on the first weekend of December, we go to the school forest and choose a tree. It’s a party atmosphere, with hot chocolate, cookies, and a campfire. We meet up with friends we haven’t seen for months, and we chat while waiting for a wagon ride. Once out in the field, we wander from tree to tree, looking for just the right one for our small living room.
It took a number of years, but we’ve finally figured out that we need a tall, narrower tree that takes up less floor space!
It never fails that I’m slower than everyone else walking back to our car, but I don’t mind. Seeing our family from behind - my husband carrying the tree and my girls practically skipping with excitement - always helps me see the magic in the moment. It gives me a moment to take a mental picture that stays with me until next year.
Our Christmas tree tradition makes me smile, and I look forward to it every year. Tell me about your holiday traditions. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, Solstice or more – what do you celebrate this month? What cozy traditions do you look forward to?