Family Cultural Traditions
by Caleb M.
Traditions I'll use as an adult
1. Like most families, when we celebrate a birthday, we are going to go out and celebrate with a birthday dinner which is chosen by whoever is having the birthday.
2. Christmas at multiples houses is something I personally take a part of, usually just 3 houses but depending on the year even up to 5.
Thanksgiving Traditions
Since I sort of have 2 whole different families, I get to celebrate the big holidays multiple times. Thanksgiving is no exception, my grandma has people over for breakfast, I drive over to my other grandmas for lunch and my mom is at home preparing the final dinner. If you aren't full after 3 thanksgivings then you are doing something wrong.
Christmas traditions
One early gift
Every year at Christmas time, the kids get the anxious looks on their faces when they see the presents, so our parents allow us to unwrap one before Christmas day.
Pickle in the tree
My grandpa comes early in the morning as sort of a second Santa and places presents for the kids and puts a small pickle ornament in the tree for everyone to find and whoever finds it first gets a bonus present(usually money).
Cookies and Milk
We always make the exact same cookies for "Santa", chocolate peanut butter cookies, only reason I care about what kind they are is because I'm the one that ends up eating them :3
Christmas time is the best
The 4th of July
Every year about a week before the 4th of July, me and my mom make a trip down to Saint Louis for the day and spend the day together and before we head home, we usually spend about $1000 on fireworks. Then on the 4th of July, we have about 40-50 people come over and bring food and swim in our pool. When it gets dark we start shooting off fireworks right in the middle of a subdivision.
Christmas :D
Presents
We have 4 kids in the family so you can imagine having a lot of presents under the tree.
Santa
The reason why Christmas even exists.
Christmas music
If you don't like Christmas music, I don't even know what to say to you.
New Years Day
The Countdown
We usually just watch the television and all countdown together as the ball is about to drop.
Leftover fireworks
Whatever was left from the previous 4th of July we shoot off as we hit the new year.
DD
I'm usually the one that picks up people from their house and takes them back home, so I'm up pretty late being the designated driver.
Easter
Baskets
The littler kids get baskets filled with candy and toys, I usually get a state fair mega pass and some cash.
Easter Eggs
Whether they are painting some or cracking them open for what is inside, my siblings love the Easter eggs.
Lasagna
We have lasagna every Easter for lunch.
Weekly Traditions
Sunday - Walking Dead night
As a family we sit down and watch the newest Walking Dead and the talk show Talking Dead together.
Tuesday - Spaghetti Night
Every Tuesday my mom makes homemade spaghetti for the family.
Saturday - Game night
Sober or not, my parents pull out a board game or card game that we play together with their friends and myself included.
Halloween
Trick or Treat
Like most families who celebrate Halloween they take their kids trick or treating.
Handing out candy
I'm the one that stays home and hands out the candy.
Costumes
The kids dress up as whoever they want to be and run around the neighborhood just consuming candy left and right.