Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Holiday Memories

I'm really looking forward to the holidays! Thanksgiving and Christmas--and New Years' as well--always have a lot of memories and traditions wrapped up in food. The aroma of certain dishes cooking just brings back memories of childhood. Some remind me of specific places we lived, or of times at a particular grandmother's or great-grandmother's gathering. Of course, those dishes also meant we were about to get together with cousins and aunts and uncles we hadn't seen in a long time, and we had lots of interesting things to discuss.

What do I remember? Lively conversations, laughter drifting from the kitchen, men cheering in front of the TV or doing some home-improvement task while so many hands were available . . . always accompanied by those tantalizing aromas from the stove, oven, crock-pots, and mixing bowls! Playing outside until our noses are so red and cold that we can no longer feel our hands touching them. The smell of fires from chimneys and the crunches and crackles of the leaves.

And now I'm one of the adults! Now I know why we so often caught the adults smiling wistfully out at us. Maybe I'll take a break from the adults in the kitchen and join all the kids in a romp through the leaves this Thanksgiving. Anyone with me?

Now it's your turn. What stirs those holiday memories for you? (The smell of burning firewood, or pumpkin pie--burning or not!) Or what are some of your fondest memories? Maybe games in the backyard, or a family blessing over the meal, or apples and oranges in your stocking?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had to smile as I read your blog, because I have so many of the same memories :)Playing outside until your completely frozen and then come in to a warm and cozy house with the smell of good food cooking. Yes, good memories. Right now, I wouldn't mind playing outside in the snow again :) We didn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but we celebrate advent - lighting a candle every Sunday i December, advent calendars filled with chocolate or small gifts, decorating with purple, etc. Then, the day before Christmas Eve we change all the decorations to Christmas decorations, decorated the Christmas tree, and was so excited for the next day :) Christmas Eve as a good breakfast, TV, rice pudding, church, dinner, presents, cakes. Lots of good food and happy people. Now, we have a mixed tradition of Norwegian and American traditions :) But I really miss the snow. No Christmas without snow...

Anonymous said...

I love your attentiveness to detail.I didnt grow up with the best "Holiday Memories"for me the holiday was spent flying across country to visit my dad and his family then flying back to be with my mother and her family. Either way it meant TEARS. Torn between parents. Coping with completely different lifestyles. My sister and I were left with memories of a battle field. Wiping our parents tears and patting our parents insecurities completely unaware of our own heartache. Sad Huh? Thank God We found Jesus! However Remembering conversations around our table in those yester years? Sadly I believe I blocked it out.
I will say however I have worked overtime on making things different for my children. I want my children to have the memories you write about. "Holiday Memories" that are warm and full of laughs. I want to give my children nostalgia full of sentiment. I have the "Greatest Christmas Tree" I have collected disney christmas ornaments since 1987. Every disney movie since that year I have on my tree. My children have loved helping me collect over the years. I believe the Family gathering around the table together is the GREATEST!Thanksgiving at my home is spent EATING ALL DAY! Playing cards, football, chasing children. When evening comes "Its time to decorate the Christmas tree, drink Hot chocolate and watch "Miracle on 34th Street" I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS! GIVING IS IN THE AIR! If you have any really fun games or things you remember enjoying as a child please SHARE. My home is full of children from age 8 to age 20 years. (7 total)
Loads of excitement and several life's creating future memories to claim as their own.