Holiday Happiness

R Love
Dec 29, 2021
3 min read

Holiday facts, fav's and traditions

For many years families have been following Christmas and New Year's traditions to celebrate the holidays right. It has been about more than decorating the home or yard, and putting up Christmas lights. It may not seem a lot to some, but what a person cook or what you eat for the holidays mean something to people. Yes putting the tree up is also a huge deal, spending it alone with that special loved one, or always inviting the family or kids over for the holidays could also be traditional, but there are also traditional foods people like to et for the holidays besides baking a cake pie or some holiday cookies.

The exchange of cards and gifts has been a tradition for some time as well. The idea of Santa and his reindeers has been popular Christmas characters too. In fact, according to "History of Christmas" you would see a lot on how Christmas began, as well as characters such as Santa, Rudolph, decorations like Christmas trees and poinsettia's movies, and much more. It say's, "When Christmas was cancelled: From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings." It adds, "Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870... Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828... Rudolph, “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store." I guess with the tradition of shopping, retailer's must think of tactics to use to bring in the consumers. Whatever your family tradition, putting up lights and trees bring in great joy. Spending time with family is also magical. I myself love putting up a Christmas tree, holiday lights and the big holiday cooking.

Foods like the old famous black-eyed peas has always been a tradition for New Year's. I try to follow the tradition of black-eyed peas as well It has been a thing for my for quite some time. Though it doesn't have to be made a particular way, there are several ways to eat them. Whichever way it they are served...as long as they are on the menu will do just fine.

In reading "9 Lucky New Year's Food Traditions," you would see just how New Year's also has many traditions that people follow, such as certain foods they like to cook, people they spend time with, things people do, and places they go. Having a New Year's resolution and eating certain foods are the most important to a New Year's tradition, The article list 9 foods that people eat for "good luck" for the new year:

King Cake

Tamales

Soba Noodles

Pickled Herring

Lentils

12 Lucky Grapes

New Year's Pretzel

Pork and Sauerkraut

Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Peas, Pork & Rice)

Whether you like to spend time with your loved one, family, eat certain foods, or travel to the big cities, it is good to have some type of tradition to remind you of those you love, times you've shared, or reasons to bring you meaning and happiness, it's recommended to understand the story of why you do what you do, or reasons you celebrate the things you celebrate and way of doing so. Know your story. It is a part of who you are. New Year's is also great to have resolutions, it is a form of goal setting for the upcoming year. A great tradition for a new year, so know the history of traditional ways people celebrate the holidays, find out how your family celebrate, and what works for you, and have a joyous celebration in doing so. Happy holidays!

Helpful Traditional Resources

The History of New Year’s Resolutions

https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions

Festive Facts

https://www.history.com/news/new-years-history-festive-facts

Ancient New Year’s Celebrations

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years

How Times Square Became the Home of New Year’s Eve

https://www.history.com/news/how-times-square-became-the-home-of-new-years-eve

History of Christmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

History of Christmas Trees