By Dylan Yoder
It’s the season of the holidays, or perhaps slightly after depending on the time that you’re reading this. Regardless, the Christmas season is a time when all of us can get together and celebrate what matters to all of us individually. Something I’ve realized is that in every stage of life, we tend to find some kind of tradition to hold on to. For my family, it’s putting up the Christmas tree, sharing pepper nuts from Grandma, and drinking an incredible amount of hot cocoa. Everyone has some different traditions that their family tends to hold dear, and there is value in each of them, except for maybe my Canadian relative’s tradition of running around the farm property barefoot in 2-3 ft of snow and -10 degrees Fahrenheit. But even that has its bonding merits. In this article, we’ll take a look at some Holiday traditions that run through all different kinds of families in America.
Have you ever wished that there was a Second Christmas holiday? Well, apparently some Amish communities have them. First Christmas for one side of the family, and a second holiday for the other side of the family. How nice would that be? Another common tradition among the Pennsylvania Dutch was (or is) to hang a Christmas tree upside down in their home. The reason for this wasn’t exactly clear, but some speculate that the ornaments they hung on the tree were edible, therefore to keep mice and other rodents away from eating the decorations they would hang them from the rafters instead. As far-fetched as that seems, it’s what I have read. There are many other traditions that are or were held among these communities, those include the Belsnickel which is a bit of a toned-down version of the Krampus from German folklore. Additionally, if you’ve ever hung a Moravian star you are also participating in Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, as it is a Christmas ornament that was originally introduced by Moravians from Germany.
Now, of course, we can’t go without mentioning all of the town Christmas celebrations that occur throughout all of Kansas, with good food, hot cocoa, and freshly baked gingerbread to boot. I was just in Cheney, Kansas a couple of weeks ago for their Christmas celebration. A wonderful tradition where people in businesses share their treats and goodies with members of the community in the season of giving. Not to mention the town-wide game of bingo at the end of the night. And when I say town-wide I’m not kidding. Imagine over 500 people in one building all playing bingo together. And Cheney is not the only one, there are so many other small or large towns around Kansas that spread Holiday cheer in this way.
And if you missed all of the Christmas celebrations, not to worry, the town of Manhattan Kansas is gearing up to celebrate their annual family New Year’s Eve for anyone who wishes to attend. They even feature at 8:00 p.m. ball drop for kids to help them ring in the New Year without losing sleep.
Lastly of course, there is the tradition that we all share of giving. Giving gifts is nice, but the most valuable thing you can give is your support and love for everyone in your life.
No matter where you are in this great state of ours, there are always Holiday traditions to be experienced. Whether it be going to watch the Nutcracker Ballet every year at Century II, mixing up vast tubs of hot cocoa and cider, or even hanging a Christmas tree upside down, there’s something for everyone. I would encourage you to think about your traditions, and what they mean to you as a family. With that being said, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
