RomanceEverAfter

The Modern Renaissance Woman

The Holidays & Traditions

Spritz cookies.  Turkey and Great-Grandma Jone's stuffing.  Children passing out packages Christmas morning.  Singing carols at the piano.

No matter your culture and the celebrations you embrace, the holidays are about tradition.  The joy and comfort that tradition brings to the holidays is what makes each year more precious.  The Modern Renaissance Woman appreciates incorporating tradition into the annual festivities. 

The history of many of the holiday traditions are fascinating.  When we are familiar with a tradition's beginnings, the enjoyment of the little touches adds to our holiday experience.  

The Little Touches

It is the little touches that can enhance our holiday spirit.  The traditions of the past have shaped our traditions of today.

Candy Canes
Candy Canes are not just pretty to look at, but tasty, too.  The contemporary appearance of the Candy Cane was created in the 1920s.  A confectionary owner, Bob McCormick, discovered a way to hand-twist red and white candy into candy canes. 

Lights & the White House in Washington DC
Christmas trees that sparkle with twinkling lights are a sight to behold.   In 1895, President Grover Cleveland wanted to be the first to decorate the Christmas tree in Washington with lights.  Nearly one hundred blue, red, and green bulbs were used to dazzle viewers.  

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the tradition of a national Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony to be held on the White House lawn.  It was in 1924 that General Electric and Westinghouse manufactured Christmas lights that would be used for the next fifty years.  This afforded the general public to have access to Christmas lights because lights could be inexpensively manufactured.

Movie Favorites

There are movie favorites that are pulled out of the VHS/DVD cabinet every year.  These are some favorites--

A Christmas Carol.  There are well over a dozen versions of the Charles Dickens's story.  The first version that Hollywood produced was created in 1938.  Actor Reginald Owen portrayed Scrooge.  The entertainment value and lessons of giving and family are always fresh.

Miracle on 34th Street.  The most well-known version out of Hollywood was produced in 1947. Edmund Gwen, Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, and Gene Lockhart made the story come to life.  The lesson of joy and wonder during the Christmas season can open the doors to miracles.

It's a Wonderful Life.  One of the popular films of the Christmas holiday is It's a Wonderful Life.  The film was released in 1946.  James Stewart is marvelous as he plays the role of a man who sacrifices his dreams for family and friends.  Television surely influenced the extent at which this film is now known.

Creating Your Own Traditions

Since tradition brings a continuity to the past and present, consider the traditions your family incorporates into the holiday.  The holiday season is the time to embrace the spirit and joy of sharing, conversation, good food, and reflection.  Nothing will mean more to your descendents than to celebrate the traditions that you create today.

Return to
The Modern Renaissance Woman