// A Few Strange Christmases//

Tradition is the best. Having that annual reminder, or that constant thing that you love to do that no one else does, it’s a warm, fuzzy feeling. At my parents house we have the normal traditions. Buy a tree, make a big, hearty Christmas meal, decorate the house, waiting until everyone is gathered to open the presents. But we also have some originally unique traditions as well. Things that just have to happen around this time of year that, if they don’t happen, makes us feel a little less Christmasy than usual.

~My cat, Boo, must eat the poinsettias that my mom likes to put near the front door. Yeah, I know, they’re poisonous, and we’ve taken every effort to get them out of her reach. But she loves to eat them! And she has not gotten sick once from it.

~Charlie Brown Christmas CD must be playing at least a few times on or around Christmas. My brother’s favorite CD.

~Strange socks must be worn. It gets cold up here in Northern California so we have a tendency to don a few socks with a few snowflakes or snowmen. I constantly refuse to wear socks, I like my bare toes being free! But sometimes I’ll give in.

~My mother’s wonderful meatballs must be cooked. My mom makes these meatballs with cranberry sauce in them that, without, I feel my stomach in disarray and longing.

~Reindeer must be lit in the front yard. Unfortunately this year that can’t be done. My dad is frightened that it will catch fire to something so I plan on wrapping our giant front yard tree with little twinkle lights. Something must be lit! Animal, plant, or mineral.

~ Cookie dough must be eaten. I plan on baking a shit ton, so it’s inevitable that the untouched, unadulterated dough of a few soon-to-be cookies will be devoured. 

~My brothers must receive whoopee cushions on Christmas day. My two brothers have demolished many a whoopee cushion because of this tradition, and because of their sudden overuse of said cushion. They usually don’t last more than an hour.

~The family must receive and send out Christmas goodies from and to all the neighbors. I’ve eaten many a strange, powdered, nut-topped cookie as a result of this, but it’s still awesome to have so many goodies sitting around.

~Must have chocolate orange balls. You know, the ones that you smack on a hard surface and they break into slices? YES

That’s just a few of our traditions. How about yours? I bet some people have some pretty whacky, rad Christmas times that rival mine.