Navigating motherhood in an intercultural and interfaith family.
Today is Groundhog Day, which begs the question--Will there be a full Winter or an early Spring?
Truthfully, I've always thought that this was a silly holiday. Groundhogs, shadows, Inner Circles and weather predictions just didn't make sense to me. However, Groundhog Day happens to be a great example of traditions intertwining across cultures and centuries.
Read MoreLove is the 1 tradition that makes Christmastime. Love is the tradition that started it all--for God so loved the world. Love is the tradition that we should carry on throughout the year, in all things, and for all people.
Read MoreIt's nearly midnight on Christmas Eve. Our gifts are wrapped and gathered under the tree, I've already eaten my fill of cookies, and we're back from our first celebration at my grandparents' house. And out there, somewhere, the jolly ol' St. Nick is flying about delivering gifts to children all over the world.
We've celebrated Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house for more than two decades. Here are two of the Santas I've seen at their house for every year that I can remember---
Read MoreI know that my great grandmother (we called her GGma) loved Christmas and Bing Crosby. She had two trees--one downstairs and one up--which her grandkids would sleep under one night during the holiday season, and I'm told that the tradition of looking for Santa on Christmas Eve began at her house.
Read MoreThe Christmas Card is one tradition I hope is never fully taken over by technology. As a kid, I loved watching for Christmas cards in the mail, taking turns opening them, and then displaying them each year on the living room shelf--later, on a cord in the kitchen doorway. I still love to send and receive paper mail.
Read MoreThere was once a young girl who was the daughter of a salesman and a seamstress. Her father traveled often, so the girl spent most of her days playing or reading in the corner of the dressmaker's shop while her mother worked. Each morning, just before dawn, the girl and her mother would ride the bus into town. Most of the time, the girl napped, her head leaning against the window. But during the Christmas season, she loved to look at all of the decorated store fronts as they drove past. Each day, the square had a few more decorations--first the lights, then the garland, the figurines, the bows--until every window and every light post was devoted to the season.
Read MoreWhat's Christmas without a little joy? A little laughter? A little Why did we do that? a few days after?
Read MoreThe best traditions happen by accident--one impulse creates an association, forms a memory that persists from one year to the next. Each time we repeat the impulse, new memories attach themselves to the existing ones and the associations deepen. Before long, we can no longer imagine life without it. Such is the story of the Christmas Tree we know today.
Read MoreSo far this month, I've focused on holiday traditions, writing about Christmas movies, decorations, and treats. What I haven't written about so far is the true meaning of Christmas. Here are 8 words that remind me of what this season is really about--
Read MoreOne of my favorite parts of the holiday? The sweet treats. Cookie cutouts, oatmeal carmelitas, fudge, peanut butter balls, Butterfinger bells (which I have yet to find in the northeast), the list goes on. And on.
In celebration of the most delicious Christmas tradition, here are 9 Naked Christmas Cookies--
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