EDITOR’S NOTE
A Band-Aid for Baby Jesus,
Velveeta Dip for Us
I don’t know what happens in your family, but in ours, there’s no appetite to upend holiday traditions.
Our theme for this issue is “Traditions with a Twist.” It’s a good reminder that, as circumstances and interests evolve, our approach to the holidays can, too. Gift-giving, decorating, cooking, entertaining: it’s all on the table. That’s the great thing about getting older; you can keep the rituals you enjoy and set aside the ones you don’t. Your holiday, your way.
Messing with holiday menus is not on the table with our crowd. A few of us give lip service to change, but when the “Who’s bringing what?” text circulates, we fall back to the reliable standbys: green bean casserole, stuffing—both in and outside of the turkey—my sister’s stinky cheese fondue and the cranberry salad that only three of us will eat. I make it anyway because everyone talks about how much they don’t like it, and their comments, too, are now a holiday tradition. My Velveeta cheese dip, like Santa, also returns each Christmas Eve. I don’t mean to brag (and that may not be possible when the topic is Velveeta dip) but the Crock-Pot always goes home empty.
A Break with Tradition
My Christmas ornaments and decorations are mostly old things that I remember from my childhood or picked up at garage and estate sales. Included among my secondhand finds, and one of my favorite items, is a nativity set exactly like the one I grew up with.
Our nativity has not only the usual standard stable animals but also a toy dinosaur and a baby Jesus with a broken arm inexpertly repaired with a Band-Aid. I don’t remember how the arm broke off, but it happened years ago. The half-arm baby Jesus belongs in our nativity as much as any other of our cherished Christmas decorations, tattered but treasured.
The nativity has always been a busy place, as nativities go. When young, our kids—now in their 30s—added a snowman, plastic army guys and dinosaurs to the creche, creating an evolving, eclectic scene that I think speaks to the magic of the season. I’m keeping the dinosaur because it reminds me to be open to the unexpected. After all, when was the last time you saw a dinosaur in a manger?
Our cover story on Root Candles fits with our Traditions theme. The 154-year-old company has an interesting genesis that I think you’ll enjoy. We also have a roundup of live performances going on this winter that showcase a range of entertainers and artistic performances, perfect for this season of celebration.
I hope your holidays have enough surprises to make memories and that your traditions bring you joy… maybe not Velveeta dip-caliber joy, but something just as tasty and hopefully, healthier.
As for me, I’m thinking about mixing things up over at the nativity; it’s been quiet since the kids moved out. I may add another dinosaur to keep the sheep in line. The shepherds seem distracted.
Marie
