A few days ago, I was at my grandparent’s house and my grandpa decided to get the home videos out. On one of the tapes, there was a clip of my brothers, parents and I in front of the Christmas tree in 1996. This was my first Christmas. I started thinking about how my parents must feel knowing this is my 20th Christmas. They’ve seen me grow from wanting an American Girl doll for Christmas to saying “just give me money or gift cards for Christmas.” That happens, it’s life!
Upon seeing this home video and thinking about how much Christmas changes once you get older, I began to reminisce on all my past Christmases. I thought about binge watching the best Christmas movies, my older brother reading me the Polar Express on Christmas Eve, waking up at the crack of dawn to open presents and being an angel in the Christmas pageant.
Every one of my Christmases has been magical, until the sad year came when I found out that Santa wasn’t real. It is always such an unfortunate year for children, but all of my Christmases since then have managed to be unforgettable. I love how my family has been able to keep the old traditions alive, but every year, somehow adding a new tradition or twist to Christmas. Even though my oldest sibling is almost 30 years old, we are still required to sit on the stairs and wait for the “okay” from our parents to go to the Christmas tree and get our presents. A tradition so simple and innocent, yet something I find special about my Christmases.
The new traditions we’ve been able to add on to our Christmases come in a variety of ways from cookie day with my aunts and grandma to playing the Name Game on Christmas Eve. I’ve been able to appreciate Christmas and the traditions I have in numerous ways. There’s nothing I love more than having all my siblings home and my mom freaking out the day of Christmas Eve, ensuring everything is prepped, made and cleaned before our family comes over.
Each year a Christmas passes, the more I begin to realize how easily our traditions can change. My siblings and I are getting older and elements of our lives are fluctuating. The photo featured above is a picture of myself and my siblings last year at Christmas, but there is someone missing: my oldest brother. He isn't in the picture because he spent Christmas Eve with his fiancée and her family. But, like I said before, that's life; it happens and I'm happy it did! I love seeing my brother buoyant, plus I've loved adding another member to our family.
It is unbelievable to look back at past Christmases and see how much someone’s life can change in a year. Before we know it, we’re going to be having families and starting our own Christmas traditions with them. Although I won’t be having a family for a long, long time, I need to instill and embrace the traditions my family has right now because who knows what could happen in the next few years.
So hold onto those special traditions you have because they are one of a kind. The traditions you and your family have are unique and extraordinary to you. Keep those traditions alive and recreate them with your future families. But, for now, enjoy all the wonders and customs you have this Christmas, because the magic of Christmas never dies, it just has a few revisions with each passing year.
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