I suppose every family has their own unique Christmas traditions—and growing up, ours was no different. Anchored in love, food, and the magic of Santa, those holidays shaped some of my warmest childhood memories.
Christmas Eve in our house always meant two things: ham and mostaccioli. It wasn’t fancy, but it was ours. Then on Christmas Day, the star of the show was turkey with stuffing. If my mom had a culinary specialty, it was this—especially the stuffing, made entirely from scratch. There was no such thing as Stovetop in our house. Her stuffing was hearty and comforting, and somehow, it always tasted like home.
Santa, in our world, came on Christmas Eve—but he was sneaky about it. Every year, my dad, my sister, and I would pile into the car and head into the city to pick up both of my grandmothers. Neither of them ever drove, so it was a family tradition to bring them to our house for the holidays. And wouldn’t you know it? Every year, like clockwork, Santa would visit while we were gone.
We’d walk into the house, and there was my mom, smiling warmly and full of stories about how we had just missed him. The living room was filled with presents under the tree, and now, looking back, I realize that the real magic wasn’t in the gifts—it was in her face. There was joy there. Pure joy in creating something special for her children. Watching us open our presents was her gift.
The rest of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent enjoying our new toys and indulging in delicious meals. The house was full of family, laughter, and the kind of closeness that you don’t fully appreciate until years later. Some years were extra special when my mom’s sister, Aunt Elaine, and her husband, Uncle Dale, joined us. They didn’t have children of their own, so spending the holiday with us meant the world to them—and it meant the world to us, too.
When I think back on those Christmases now, I don’t just remember the food or the presents. I remember the unspoken love that filled the room. And I am deeply grateful to have had those times.
Welcome! 