They’ve Got Nothing on St. Nicholas

We have a lot of traditions in our house. I’m a big believer in the holiday traditions. I like making a big deal of almost all of the holidays—New Year’s Eve (the Nana’s birthday), Valentine’s (J and my first date anniversary, and also the day I went into labor with Ant), Easter (HAM…), Fourth of July, you name it. Halloween/Samhain is favorite holiday by far, but I have no problem making a big deal out of Christmas as well.

All I’ve got to say is this: I always wanted my children to look forward to the holidays. I didn’t always look forward to them as a child, and I wanted to make damn sure my kids have tons of wonderful memories.

So, during Christmas, we decorate the Friday after Thanksgiving, we observe St. Nicholas (patron saint of children and gift-giving, he fills the children’s shoes with candy and small toys, to tide them over until Christmas), we have a night of cookie making (the weekend before Christmas), we always have the boys make their gifts for our family members, we observe the Longest Night (Winter Solstice/Yule) you name it! We’ve got the traditions down pat.

To J and me, it’s much better to have and promote the traditions than it is to buy and promote consumerism. In fact, we have limits for the boys’ gifts; they have to fill their Christmas list with four things—something they want, something they need, something for fun and something educational. That’s what they get to ask for.

You can thank the Nana—who did the same thing with me—for that one.

Last night was St. Nicholas. Today is supposed to be the ‘feast’ (and I’ll be making my famous chicken parmesan and J’s garlic cheese bread), but last night was the big fun—as it was the time the boys were supposed to put out their shoes in anticipation of candy and treats. This does require some elaborate planning (especially on how we will keep Sophie from going to the animal hospital with a chocolate overdose).

Plus, now that they’re older… well, it’s less about the magic (let’s face it, we all know Santa is a ghost now, right?) and more actively participating in the traditions. Usually by making a series of raucous jokes.

This semester has been very busy, and so this time around, I put J in charge of procuring the treats which would end up in the shoes. “No problem. I know my boys,” my husband proffered when I asked if he could help out with this. My mother-in-law (and partner in crime when it comes to blowout birthday parties and things like St. Nicholas, or the most elaborate egg dying sessions you can imagine) was sending me text reminders (more on how my teen has taught both grandmothers to use their smart phones at another time) and ideas and potential scenarios, which I was then forwarding to my husband. “No worries, babe. I got this,” was his reply.

And he did have it. He did a great job. And he was even able to handle the curve ball the boys threw at him. They decided that no ordinary shoes would do this year. They needed something…. Bigger. J decided that they needed some…Guidance… on that subject.

We don't fill hiking boots, for instance.

Or roller blades, brooding teen!

We will hide your goodies in normal shoes downstairs... and away from the dog.

Do you have awesome family traditions that you hope to carry on through your child(ren)'s childhood? Or do you want some ideas? Because I'm like the Pinterest of holiday traditions, I swear!