As my daughter grows into an understanding age of the things around her, I've realized that I do not have enough holiday traditions. Sure we have several for each holiday, but I want to do some that not many people do to make her always remember the holidays.
For example: When I was about five I overhear my parents talking about money problems. I run into my room, grab the only penny I can find, and run back outside to where my dad is cleaning. I hand him the penny telling him that I want to help and it being Christmas Eve he gets an idea in his head. He told me that if I throw the penny behind my back on Christmas eve and don't look to see where it lands, that a money tree will grow in it's place on Christmas morning so that I won't have to worry about money problems.
I eagerly throw the penny behind my back, and of course completely forget about come morning when I see the millions of presents in the stockings and under the tree. When all of the presents have been opened my dad told my little brother and I to go outside. I immediately remember the story of the money tree and run out the back door to find a pine tree branch with money somehow stuck to it! Amazingly enough not only was the money held in place by magic Christmas glue (which several years later I learn to be hot glue), but it was also able to be evenly divided between us two kids.
Every year we did this, and every year the branch would grow slightly bigger. Until one year instead of a branch there was a tiny little potted tree outside that we were able to plant after plucking all of the money off of it.
My dad quit doing that tradition the year my little brother quit believing in Santa. I think it kind of ruined the tradition for him with neither of us as into Santa's magic. Even so, it's a tradition that I will never be able to forget, especially whenever people would tell me that money doesn't grow on trees, seeing as I've got pictures to "prove" it.
So I guess my question is, do you have any really memorable traditions (for any holiday) that are either incredibly special to you or you don't think anyone else does?
For example: When I was about five I overhear my parents talking about money problems. I run into my room, grab the only penny I can find, and run back outside to where my dad is cleaning. I hand him the penny telling him that I want to help and it being Christmas Eve he gets an idea in his head. He told me that if I throw the penny behind my back on Christmas eve and don't look to see where it lands, that a money tree will grow in it's place on Christmas morning so that I won't have to worry about money problems.
I eagerly throw the penny behind my back, and of course completely forget about come morning when I see the millions of presents in the stockings and under the tree. When all of the presents have been opened my dad told my little brother and I to go outside. I immediately remember the story of the money tree and run out the back door to find a pine tree branch with money somehow stuck to it! Amazingly enough not only was the money held in place by magic Christmas glue (which several years later I learn to be hot glue), but it was also able to be evenly divided between us two kids.
Every year we did this, and every year the branch would grow slightly bigger. Until one year instead of a branch there was a tiny little potted tree outside that we were able to plant after plucking all of the money off of it.
My dad quit doing that tradition the year my little brother quit believing in Santa. I think it kind of ruined the tradition for him with neither of us as into Santa's magic. Even so, it's a tradition that I will never be able to forget, especially whenever people would tell me that money doesn't grow on trees, seeing as I've got pictures to "prove" it.
So I guess my question is, do you have any really memorable traditions (for any holiday) that are either incredibly special to you or you don't think anyone else does?
