Holiday Traditions
Hello All,
Do any of you have special traditions you like to participate in during the holidays? Some of you might have limited time, failing health, medical conditions or a disability which limits the way you participate in some of your favorite traditions. After I went completely blind instantly one day after work I was able to find new ways of continuing with some of my traditions I enjoyed so much throughout the years. Even if you can not participate in your favorite tradition the way you used to; I hope you can find a way to carry on with your traditions in some way. We do not want these cherished traditions to be lost forever like some have over the years if they are not passed down from generation to generation.
Some other traditions I had to give up completely because I could no longer participate safely without any eyesight. One example of a tradition I had to give up was picking out a fresh Christmas tree from our local mountains. I used to drive to our local mountain range in my four-wheel drive vehicle. My wife and I would drive down the steep rocky and bumpy dirt trails that twisted and turned through the trees at our favorite Christmas tree farm to find the perfect spot to cut down a wonderful fresh Christmas tree. These trees had that fresh pine smell I love so much. The needles were so bright green and soft to the touch as I inspected the tree for imperfections with my fingers. Besides the joy of cutting down the tree with my family; half the fun of this tradition was the complete outing. We would get to the tree farm early in the morning. The air was pleasantly fresh, clean and cold. Sometimes you could see the fog as it wisped through the trees as the wind blew the fog and clouds up from the coast. This mountain range where the tree farm is located is near the Pacific Ocean. You could look off to the distance for miles and miles over the tree and brush covered mountains and hills. It was a very beautiful sight to behold with all of the varieties of colors outstretching as far as you could see. Some times it would be raining on our outings. On rare occasions snow would be covering the ground and the trees. We would bring hot coffee or hot chocolate in thermoses to help keep us warm. We would bring snacks and doughnuts to keep us nourished. We would also bring pieces of tissue to mark the trees as we walked through the trees so we would not get lost as we wandered in search of our perfect tree laughing and talking as we trudged up and down the hillsides with great big smiles on our faces.
Since I lost all of my vision instantly one day after work in 1999 and my loving wife does not drive on such treacherous dirt trails we had to give up this cherished tradition of cutting down a fresh Christmas tree in the mountains. Even if you have challenges I hope you find ways to carry on the traditions that are true to your heart. As you will read in my story I call Decorating a Christmas tree with a Disability you can read how I carry on with one part of this treasured tradition. Below are just a few examples of traditions others celebrate around the world that might bring back memories.
Hogmanay
Maybe you participate in Hogmanay like they talk about on BBC - Food - News and events – Hogmanay.
Hogmanay was a time for friends and fun. Friends and neighbours would get together and have drinks and the obligatory shortbread (often eaten with cheese), sultana cake, black bun and such delights as ginger or blackcurrant cordial - as well as, of course, the obligatory drams of whisky.
St. Lucia Festival, Hanukkah, Jewish Festival of Lights
Maybe you participate in St. Lucia Festival, Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah or other traditions like they talk about in the California Report: Audio Archive.
Kingsburg's St. Lucia Festival
Drive a stretch of Highway 99 near Fresno, and you'll see it: an enormous coffee pot rising above the vineyards and orchards. It's really a water tower in disguise. To the 12,000 townspeople of Kingsburg, it's a proud symbol of their hamlet's Swedish heritage. The folks there rave about their Swedish coffee.
We visited Kingsburg as it celebrates a festival from the old country.
Celebrate a festival of lights -- and stays warm in the kitchen to learn the family secrets to Poppy's potato latkes, just in time for Hanukkah.
Some Great Italian Traditions
Search for Authentic Ravioli Forges Family Bonds From NPR.
New Jersey food writer Laura Schenone spent five years finding and perfecting her great-grandmother's authentic ravioli recipe.
The New Jersey writer set off on a quest to find her great-grandmother's hand-rolled ravioli recipe. Along the way, she reunited with relatives and helped mend frayed relations with others around the dinner table.
My wife and her family are full blooded Italian; so I know what a great tradition food fits into our celebrations. We have a great time on every holiday with food being the central point around family conversation and companionship. My wife told me how her grandma and mom would completely cover her bed with freshly rolled out homemade ravioli’s so they could properly dry. In the other room the sauce would be simmering on the stove giving the complete house the mouth watering aroma of tomatoes, oregano, onions, basil, beef, garlic, sausage and other ingredients as the fresh pasta sauce flavors married together to perfection. Her family would spend hours making a variety of Italian holiday cookies for us all to enjoy. I love them all; but my favorite Italian cookie is a fig cookie called Cuchidahti. The center is filled with a soft fig mixture with a delicate covering of tasty slightly crunchy dough with a delicious glaze. I am part Swedish, Scottish and Cherokee - Native American Indian; so I fit right in to my extended Italian family and do not hesitate to participate in the family food traditions we share during the holidays.
Going completely blind does not stop Bill from continuing a family tradition
I personally still like to decorate my Christmas tree. I no longer drive in the mountains where I live to cut down my own tree since going completely blind. This does not stop me from carrying on with my tradition of decorating our Christmas tree. I now decorate an artificial tree I can put together myself. Actually my loving wife Kathy helps me and we put together tree as a team. All the lights are already strung on the branches which makes it a bit easier for us. Read my story I call; decorating a Christmas tree with a Disability to help you get into the spirit of the holidays and share with me one of my favorite holiday traditions.
Do any of you have special traditions you like to participate in during the holidays? Any traditions you like to participate in other times of the year? Any traditions you have had to modify or quit because you are not able to participate any more? We wood all like to hear your tips to help us continue our traditions; if you have figured out ways to overcome any challenges you might have to allow you to continue your tradition. Any special traditions you celebrate in other parts of the world you want to share with us?
I wish you the very best in following through with your traditions; if only in your heart.
Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/
