Blogville Holiday Traditions - by the Lady

Our Hanukkah Tree

Our big celebration usually takes place in November, when we host our Hanukkah dinner. (For new readers, we aren't Jewish - we aren't Christian either - but over a decade ago we started having a Hanukkah themed party for something different - mainly because latkes are AMAZING!) We have Hanukkah dishes and decorations. We have friends over and we eat and talk and it is fun, but a lot of work for the Man. This year, it took 2 people 4 straight hours in the kitchen to produce lunch for 11 people.

Through this tradition, I now give Hanukkah gifts to my niece and nephew and they give me gifts. For 8 days, starting with the day of our Hanukkah party, which may or may not be at real Hanukkah,   we each have a gift to open. It is fun. 

Now on to Christmas. At some point I dress the dogs up for their annual Christmas photoshoot. They hate it!  Every year since I was born, my mom gives me an ornament for my tree. We have a small group of people we buy gifts for. This group gets smaller every year as in lieu of gifts we are doing more and more experiences (spending time together). The Man and I do stocking for each other. This has always been my favourite part of the day (and very much like my Hanukkah gifts, so I kind of get two stockings!). Generally his brother comes over for a couple days. At some point the Man cooks us a turkey dinner because he loves to cook. We then eat turkey for a week. Some years we go to a movie. Some years we stay in our pjs and play games, watch movies and eat.  It is very quiet and relaxing. I enjoy it a lot. 

At some point around the holidays I do see my sister and her family. Occasionally we have years where my parents may be around. (They live very far and you have to drive there, so it can be very unsafe to do so in the winter. I have done it before and it has been scary and not fun!)

That is how we celebrate the holidays here in rural Quebec!