:: Childhood Traditions ::

Growing up in ahuge catholic family with 13 brothers and sisters, our holiday tradition was putting the REAL christmas tree up on christmas eve day and then going to midnight mass [ in actuallity 10pm ] then going home to find a box of ol' fashion candy's [orange sticks, coconut bon-bons] and nuts from Esselman's Store sitting on the front porch and then into the house to see all the presents under the tree.
Before we could open any of the presents tho we had a procession by placing the baby jesus in the nativity and Mom would start making her meatballs made with grape jelly *wink and placing the platters of holiday fruitcake, cookies and goodies on the table.

We'd all take a spot in the livingroom and the youngest would then pass out the rpesents to each of us and we would take turns opening only 1 present at time then onto the next brother or sister. Usually Christmas Eve would end around 5 am on Christmas morning.

:: Today's Traditions ::