Flashes of Christmas Past

Sharing holiday traditions: past, present, and future.

I’ve always loved Christmas. I remember desperately trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, glued to the 13-inch black-and-white TV in my bedroom until the national anthem played and the screen turned to static snow. The wait for 6 a.m. felt eternal. I’d stand at the edge of my bedroom doorway, pleading with my mom to let us open gifts early. Every year, she’d laugh, shake her head, and insist on putting on full makeup—because there would be no pictures without eyebrows. To prolong the suspense, mom would announce she had to make cinnamon rolls first. Not homemade ones, mind you, but the Pillsbury kind from the cardboard tube that practically explodes when you knock it against the counter.

Now, with both of my parents gone—well, they’re not gone, they’re actually dead, but I think gone sounds gentler—remembering our traditions feels even more important. My kids never got to meet my mom. They met my dad when they were very young, but I’d be surprised if they remember him beyond the photos and stories that I repeat (and repeat and repeat).

I carry traditions from my childhood holidays forward so that the kids’ grandparents are still with us.

Mom, eyebrows ready. Dad, handlebar ‘stache ready.

I have a red bird ornament I put on the tree in a diving position as a tribute to my mom. It’s a nod to the year she decided our tree needed a total makeover. We were never the mismatched, memory-filled ornament kind of family. Our tree was always monochromatic and dripping in tinsel—tinsel that the cat inevitably ate, leading to it either being vomited up or, uh, coming out their butts. Did we stop using tinsel? Of course not. This year, she ditched the “classy” gold and decked the tree in red and silver, complete with red, diving doves. We didn’t get it, but it was her thing.

The Elvis Christmas album will forever reminding me of my mom shaking her hips around the house, belting out Elvis’ sultry rendition of Here Comes Santa Claus.

My dad’s main contribution to Christmas was lighting a fire before presents and then promptly burning every bit of wrapping paper the second it was torn off a gift. One year, he bought a fancy new wood-burning stove, and on Christmas morning he stuffed it so full of toxic-coated paper that flames shot out, the living room reached a sauna-like temperature, and my mom repeatedly yelled, “Jesus Christ, Jerry, you’re going to burn the house down.” That would be the only reference to Jesus at our family Christmas.

Since meeting Mary, we’ve incorporated some of her traditions, like listening to the (painfully) bad Take 6 holiday album. I’m sorry to anyone who loves Take 6, but their bing-bing-bonging acapella makes my teeth itch.

With our kids, we’ve built our own traditions. Whitney Houston’s Christmas album is on heavy rotation, with all of us belting out HAPPPPPPY KWANZA right along with Whitney.

Fast forward to 2:36 in this song and sing along with us!

On Christmas Eve, we drive to Dyker Heights to admire the over-the-top holiday lights. My daughter and I want to stroll leisurely through the streets, soaking up the festive atmosphere, while Mary and my son endlessly push to wrap it up so we can head to their favorite part of the night, Hibachi dinner.

Last year, I upped our game by getting matching holiday sweaters featuring a cartoon version of our family plastered on the front. (Yes, we wore them in public. No regrets.)

Of course, I’ve passed down some of my childhood traditions too: the Elvis, the cinnamon rolls (even though no one in my family actually likes them), and the rule about not opening presents before 6 a.m. I now realize how much fun my mom had torturing us with those delays.

These traditions make me feel warm and cozy—like my dad’s fireplace when not jammed full of wrapping paper.

So, dear reader, I hope you’re enjoying traditions of your own, both old and new. I hope that your holiday season is filled with warmth, laughter, and love. And hey, if you’ve got a tradition you’d like to share, drop it in the comments. I’m always on the lookout for new ideas to co-opt!

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Speaking of holidays, this week on the Well…Adjusting podcast, we’re bringing you a festive treat to enjoy while you cozy up at home for the holidays! Producer Steph and I decided to shake things up with a special episode filled with joy, gratitude, and yes—a sprinkle of that good ol’ holiday chaos we all know too well.

We invited the incredible team behind Well...Adjusting to join us on the mic! Together, we share holiday memories, survival tips, and some hilariously random holiday questions pulled from my secret grab bag.

This episode is packed with practical advice and plenty of laughs. Whether you're navigating family drama, money pressures, or just trying to carve out a little "me time," we’ve got you covered.

So grab your cocoa, click the link, and let us bring a little extra merry into your holiday season. New episodes return in 2025, and we can’t wait to share more stories, advice, and love with you all.