11 Dec Christmas Traditions and Decorations this Year

As I mentioned on Tuesday’s post, we continued to decorate for the Holidays like we always do, to bring some joy and Holiday Spirit to our house this year It is a year like this we need this more than ever! Hard to believe it is 2 weeks away!

I do feel fortunate that my mom is here to celebrate the Holiday with us. I think of all of the people that will be seperated by their families this year.  It will be a “different” Christmas, but decorating and sharing traditions are something I always do, even during this difficult time.

Traditions

We have always had certain traditions we would follow during the Holidays growing up at home.

One of these was Christmas Eve, and our meal of perogies and fish. A meatless meal was part of our Ukrainian tradition, and boy, do I miss this!

My mom would take crackers and crush them, put them in a pan with butter, to create a crumble with sour cream over our perogies. These were no Mrs T’s! The older ladies at the Ukrainian Church in Pittsburgh would hand make these potota and cheese perogies that we loved as kids.

Mom and I were on a hunt this week for perogies, but sadly, one of our “leads” did not pan out. A place called, ” Babuska’s Perogies” closed it’s doors in 2018 here in Charlotte.

One thing that is missing from Charlotte’s food scene is more cultural foods, and I  miss the European flavors of my youth.

We always would go to Christmas Mass, in the morning, Christmas day, and dress in our Sunday’s best!

Tree

One of our favorite things to do was decorate the tree and the room. We would often put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. This year, because of our floor situation we got started a bit later But it was enjoyable this year, as my mom has never seen our tree with its abundance of ornaments until this year. We need a taller, fatter tree! We kept bringing out boxes, and more we added. It is a tradition that my husband and I give each other an ornament each year.

I always get the warm and fuzzy feelings when we play oldies but goodies, Bing Crosby’s music while decorating.

I’ve been collecting these woodland animals for years now and our tree is full! I purchased my first one in a store in Asheville, NC.

My husband has many of his childhood ornaments.  This partridge in a pear tree he received at 8 years old. Just screams the ’70s, right?

Cocktails

My sister in law and I have created a new tradition of making a different Holiday cocktail each year.

The first year it was-Christmas Mimosas!

Last year we made Easy White Christmas Margarita Recipe | Holiday Cocktails (joyfulhealthyeats.com)

This year, I am keeping with tradition and making this Cranberry Martini I mentioned

Decor

I love this fir tree garland with pinecones from Target’s line, Plow and Hearth, to decorate our mantel. Our decor has become more of a rustic theme with our woodland animals, burlap gold ribbon and other decor. They no longer carry this garland, but I love this one as well!

I started the Santa Table. Needs garland and a Christmas runner.

I collect Willow Tree figurines, and my hubby and in-laws purchased this Nativity one year for me. .

I always enjoy putting garland down the banister and stairs.

My mom made this wreath a few years ago to hang on our front door.

Our new floors. I love how it turned out.! This is the gym/project room.

Of course I dress Gibson and Truffles up in their Santa Suits for Christmas! Christmas Eve it is tradition they wear their “Ugly Sweaters”, Christmas Day the Santa Suits come out!

We have more to do outside, or should I say, my hubby does! We have garland that goes around the door, and miniture lit trees that line the sidewalk. I do more of the inside decor, and this is my husband’s domain!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Stay safe,

Jess xx

JOIN ME NEXT WEEK WHEN I POST HOLIDAY OUTFITS ON THE BLOG!