Having spent Christmases in Illinois, Missouri, Florida and Texas, through my parent’s divorce and my own, Christmas has become an eclectic hodgepodge of traditions that are ever developing.
My Christmas cookies I bake. My daughter always being the one to put the lights on the tree. My son and daughter each having their special stockings. Now, the treat it is when they get to be home at Christmastime. My mother’s Christmas decore galore. My father’s gruff exterior. Thinking back to that childhood growing up in Danville IL before everything started to change - and it hasn’t stopped yet. Christmas is when I feel closest to my grandparents, miss them the most but also feel them near, best.
This year, the first Christmas with my future husband, will be special because we’re making more traditions, together. Next year will be special for some other reason, I am sure. The trick is to always find that particular year’s magic.
by Teri Champion from St Louis MO
Special Christmases to me would include:
1967 in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, very homesick and wondering if volunteering to be here was really the smartest thing I ever did;
1969 in Nashville with Debbie, my new bride of two months, still my true love;
1973 a few months after the birth of son Derek, who got a football that year as I recall;
1976, two days after the birth of daughter Millicent, who got a scary trip back to the hospital a few days later with a staph infection.
by John Van Mol from Nashville, TN
I remember two Christmases with awe. One, when I was 10 and asked for a chemistry AND microscope set. Amazingly, I got both. (Turns out the gifts were aspirational—chemistry is still a mystery; looking at some things reeeeally close is a little icky.) But that Christmas, I was especially thankful. I was the luckiest kid in the world.
The other was just a few years ago when I spent Christmas Eve on the banks of the Cumberland River, right about where the stadium now stands, in a homeless encampment. I looked at the sparkling Christmas tree we were able to provide with a generator we were gifting them. Rising up behind it, across the river, was the brightly lit downtown skyline in such contrast to the dimly lit makeshift shelters. When I walked into my clean, sweet-smelling home a few hours later, I was especially thankful. Once again, I was the luckiest kid in the world.
Merry Christmas.
by Deby K. Samuels from Nashville, TN
One of my favorite holiday memories has to be loading up in our Isuzu pick-up truck, and heading to Alabama for the holidays. The little truck had a camper on it. My brother and I would make the trek in the bed of the truck that had been filled with blankets and head-to-head hand held video games. Mom and Dad would keep the sliding glass window open for most of the trip, and on occasion one of us would find it necessary to crawl through the tiny window. Somehow my grandmother and grandfather always knew the moment we were going to arrive, and were waiting in the drive way to welcome us. I can still smell my granddad’s pipe.
by Jonathan Carpenter from White House, TN
Christmas to me has always been about family. Growing up my fondest memories were of visiting my grandparents every Christmas Eve gathering around the fire in their living room (mostly because that was the primary source of heat in their farm house) and playing with all of my cousins. Mom and Dad always made the ride home a special time filled with pure happiness. Today we celebrate the same tradition with our children as we visit their grandparents on Christmas Eve. The ride home is filled with a search through the sky for Santa’s sled being led by Rudolph’s red nose. Pointing to each cell phone tower or passing plane in the distance with a flashing red light, we desperately look for the one light that could be Rudolph’s nose – and every year we are pretty sure we actually find him. When we get home we prepare Santa’s milk and cookies and then our family takes turns reading each page of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” before everyone hurries off to bed with a reminder to not wake mom and dad up too early. God bless you all and your families during this joyous season.
by Jimmy Chaffin from Franklin, TN
I was two years old, the age my grandfather thought was ideal to meet Santa up close and personal during the holidays. He disregarded my mother’s warnings of “Dad, I really don’t think she’s ready. I’d hate for you to wait in this long line at the mall and then have her get up there and pitch a fit over having to sit in Santa’s lap.” Undeterred, my grandfather took me by the hand and we waited. And waited. And waited. During that time, he’d ask me if I wanted to meet Santa and like a good little girl, I responded with an emphatic “Yes!” Did I know what he was asking? Of course not. And as my mom predicted, I proceeded to have a major meltdown in front of the entire mall as my grandfather tried in vain to get me to sit on Santa’s lap. I don’t technically “remember” this memory, but the pictures my mom took of me holding my grandfather’s hand while we waited in line and having that moment caught in a photograph is one of my favorite memories. He may not be on this physical Earth anymore, but everytime I think of that picture I smile. I now look at my almost 2-year-old and I tell her there’s no way I’m taking her to see Santa. Maybe next year.
by Courtney Eller from Nashville, TN
I know that other parents share this experience. Ever notice how the favorite gift—or, at least, the one the children play with the most on Christmas day—is the discarded boxes the gift you spent big money came in? And, in truth, it’s a more creative gift. It’s amazing all that our children can make of that empty Christmas box. Make the most of what you have. In that regards, my children are far more advance than I. Merry Christmas.
by Nelson Eddy from Murfreesboro, Tn
Christmas day in our family was always very special because it was filled with family! After going to a Christmas eve candle light service and caroling for the Fannie Battle Day Home with friends and family, Christmas day was the perfect completion to the celebration. My sister, brother and I would eagerly get Mother and Daddy out of bed. We couldn’t go in to the tree until everyone was awake. Then we went in by age…the youngest was always first. After opening our own presents and seeing what Santa brought we went to our Maternal grandparents’ house for breakfast and gifts with all of the aunts, uncles and cousins on that side of the family. Then home for a short rest and off to the Paternal grandparents’ house for supper and gifts with all of those aunts, uncles and cousins. There were usually a dozen or so for breakfast and 40 to 60 for the evening meal. It was always a full and exhausting day, but one filled with family and fun. One that brings very special memories now for so many of those people are no longer here. I am blessed to be in a family where family is so important. We continue the tradition today for our next generations. And the fun continues!
by Kay Knox Crawford from Nashville, TN
My family loves to sing - even if we aren’t that good. And every Christmas Eve since I can remember knowing the words to Christmas carols, my two sisters, mom and dad have piled into the family sedan and sang carols all the way to the candlelight service at church. We all have our favorites and they always get louder and more ridiculous as the car ride progresses. As we’ve gotten older, the backseat seems to have a little less elbow room (especially since my sister got married and it’s three girls and a brother-in-law in back) and there are far less things our parents can actually force us to do (coffee and hot tea comes first Christmas morning these days). But the Christmas Eve car ride is something I look forward to every year. “Have a holly jolly Christmas…”
by Elizabeth Lewis from Nashville, TN
As a child, my parents would have a budget for what they would spend on us each year based on how the farm did financially that year. The year of my 10th Christmas was particularly sparse, and the budget my mom and dad had for my sister and me was small. She asked us if we wanted to use part of what she would spend on us to adopt an angel. We both said yes, and spent the week before Christmas shopping for the perfect “angel” gifts. I will cherish that year for the rest of my life. Opening our small gifts on Christmas day was very BIG because we knew someone else was opening gifts they might not have received otherwise. Thanks, mom, for creating a true sense of giving in your children. I pray that I can do the same thing for your grandchildren. Merry Christmas.
by Carrie Barnette from Bowling Green ,KY
Every Christmas Eve Day, our family would get together for a big lunch, exchange presents, and have another meal with my dad’s family for dinner. After eating so much, on Christmas Day my dad and I would go hunting for quail. We would walk the fields together and watch nature sing of the majesty of a King. Actually, we were more interested in burning the calories of the day before and enjoying the sounds and sights of nature than in getting the quail. Of all those years, the walks in the snow were my favorite.
by Debra Mppre from Nashville, TN
My favorite memory as a child is the Christmas Nativity they used to have at the Parthenon at Centennial Park. I’ll never forget how magnificent it was! Then on Christmas morning, we had our traditional southern breakfast; COUNTRY HAM, eggs, homemade biscuits, milk gravy and jelly. Needless to say we didn’t eat much the rest of the day! Then when I had children of my own we continued that tradition, but when they got big enough, they made and brought me and their dad breakfast in bed. What a special memory and a selfless gift especially because we knew they were dying to open their gifts!!
by Ginger Poag from Nashville, TN
Every season I look forward to my mom’s special Christmas brunch!
Making the most of my first and only Christmas away from “home”:
During a semester working for the Mouse, I spent Christmas morning visiting most of Walt Disney World’s resorts and parks to experience their decorations and activities. The most magical place on earth was definitely one of the best places to spend a family-less holiday. -Certainly not my favorite, but most definitely memorable.
Thanks for helping resurface treasured memories!
by Cheryl B. from Merryland
One of my favorite Christmas stories dates back to 1968.
It was my senior year in high school and I joined a group of friends to go caroling on Christmas Eve to raise money for the Fannie Battle Day Home.
That was a long time Nashville tradition on the night before Christmas.
When we were done, we went to the home of one of my friends for a party.
It was during that party that something extraordinary happened.
We watched a television broadcast unprecedented in human history.
That evening, the Apollo 8 astronauts were the first persons to ever orbit the moon.
They beamed back a special TV broadcast from their spaceship.
It featured never-before-seen, up-close, live pictures of the lunar surface, combined with a reading from the Book of Genesis by the members of the crew.
Even today, almost 41 years later, I still get goose bumps thinking back and remembering that special Christmas Eve and that wonderful moment in history when the broadcast closed with these words:
“From the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck and a Merry Christmas. God bless all of you… All of you on the good Earth.”
by Pat Nolan from Nashville, TN
My husband and I got married December 22 and spent our first Christmas as a married couple in New York City for our honeymoon, during Christmas. It’s the most magical place you could spend your first Christmas, especially while also on your honeymoon!
by Jessie Gilmore from Nashville, TN
When my brother and I were younger we would camp out under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and wake up at 4 a.m. Christmas morning to open gifts. After all the gifts were open, we’d be too tired to play with our toys so we’d end up sleep in the middle of the floor on top of all the Christmas paper. Once we were up and wide awake we would subject our family to watching the 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story”. It’s still one of my favorite movies!
by Toni Marshall from Nashville, TN
When I was little we always had a real Christmas tree that we actually went to cut down ourselves from nearby woods. I have distinct memories of riding the John Deere with my dad and picking out the best tree. Now that all the kids are long gone, my parents have an artificial tree. And I must say, the pre-lit tree is pretty nice!
by Stacy Wilson from Nashville, TN
My best Christmas memory was December 1999. It was Ian, my son’s first Christmas and my family, brother, sister, Mom and Dad came and spent it with us. Ian brought a great deal of joy, love, happiness and hope to all of our lives, and he still does.
Every Christmas is special, though because I believe everyone remembers what the season is about and acts accordingly.
Having spent Christmases in Illinois, Missouri, Florida and Texas, through my parent’s divorce and my own, Christmas has become an eclectic hodgepodge of traditions that are ever developing.
My Christmas cookies I bake. My daughter always being the one to put the lights on the tree. My son and daughter each having their special stockings. Now, the treat it is when they get to be home at Christmastime. My mother’s Christmas decore galore. My father’s gruff exterior. Thinking back to that childhood growing up in Danville IL before everything started to change - and it hasn’t stopped yet. Christmas is when I feel closest to my grandparents, miss them the most but also feel them near, best.
This year, the first Christmas with my future husband, will be special because we’re making more traditions, together. Next year will be special for some other reason, I am sure. The trick is to always find that particular year’s magic.
by Teri Champion from St Louis MO
Special Christmases to me would include:
1967 in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, very homesick and wondering if volunteering to be here was really the smartest thing I ever did;
1969 in Nashville with Debbie, my new bride of two months, still my true love;
1973 a few months after the birth of son Derek, who got a football that year as I recall;
1976, two days after the birth of daughter Millicent, who got a scary trip back to the hospital a few days later with a staph infection.
by John Van Mol from Nashville, TN
I remember two Christmases with awe. One, when I was 10 and asked for a chemistry AND microscope set. Amazingly, I got both. (Turns out the gifts were aspirational—chemistry is still a mystery; looking at some things reeeeally close is a little icky.) But that Christmas, I was especially thankful. I was the luckiest kid in the world.
The other was just a few years ago when I spent Christmas Eve on the banks of the Cumberland River, right about where the stadium now stands, in a homeless encampment. I looked at the sparkling Christmas tree we were able to provide with a generator we were gifting them. Rising up behind it, across the river, was the brightly lit downtown skyline in such contrast to the dimly lit makeshift shelters. When I walked into my clean, sweet-smelling home a few hours later, I was especially thankful. Once again, I was the luckiest kid in the world.
Merry Christmas.
by Deby K. Samuels from Nashville, TN
One of my favorite holiday memories has to be loading up in our Isuzu pick-up truck, and heading to Alabama for the holidays. The little truck had a camper on it. My brother and I would make the trek in the bed of the truck that had been filled with blankets and head-to-head hand held video games. Mom and Dad would keep the sliding glass window open for most of the trip, and on occasion one of us would find it necessary to crawl through the tiny window. Somehow my grandmother and grandfather always knew the moment we were going to arrive, and were waiting in the drive way to welcome us. I can still smell my granddad’s pipe.
by Jonathan Carpenter from White House, TN
Christmas to me has always been about family. Growing up my fondest memories were of visiting my grandparents every Christmas Eve gathering around the fire in their living room (mostly because that was the primary source of heat in their farm house) and playing with all of my cousins. Mom and Dad always made the ride home a special time filled with pure happiness. Today we celebrate the same tradition with our children as we visit their grandparents on Christmas Eve. The ride home is filled with a search through the sky for Santa’s sled being led by Rudolph’s red nose. Pointing to each cell phone tower or passing plane in the distance with a flashing red light, we desperately look for the one light that could be Rudolph’s nose – and every year we are pretty sure we actually find him. When we get home we prepare Santa’s milk and cookies and then our family takes turns reading each page of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” before everyone hurries off to bed with a reminder to not wake mom and dad up too early. God bless you all and your families during this joyous season.
by Jimmy Chaffin from Franklin, TN
I was two years old, the age my grandfather thought was ideal to meet Santa up close and personal during the holidays. He disregarded my mother’s warnings of “Dad, I really don’t think she’s ready. I’d hate for you to wait in this long line at the mall and then have her get up there and pitch a fit over having to sit in Santa’s lap.” Undeterred, my grandfather took me by the hand and we waited. And waited. And waited. During that time, he’d ask me if I wanted to meet Santa and like a good little girl, I responded with an emphatic “Yes!” Did I know what he was asking? Of course not. And as my mom predicted, I proceeded to have a major meltdown in front of the entire mall as my grandfather tried in vain to get me to sit on Santa’s lap. I don’t technically “remember” this memory, but the pictures my mom took of me holding my grandfather’s hand while we waited in line and having that moment caught in a photograph is one of my favorite memories. He may not be on this physical Earth anymore, but everytime I think of that picture I smile. I now look at my almost 2-year-old and I tell her there’s no way I’m taking her to see Santa. Maybe next year.
by Courtney Eller from Nashville, TN
I know that other parents share this experience. Ever notice how the favorite gift—or, at least, the one the children play with the most on Christmas day—is the discarded boxes the gift you spent big money came in? And, in truth, it’s a more creative gift. It’s amazing all that our children can make of that empty Christmas box. Make the most of what you have. In that regards, my children are far more advance than I. Merry Christmas.
by Nelson Eddy from Murfreesboro, Tn
Christmas day in our family was always very special because it was filled with family! After going to a Christmas eve candle light service and caroling for the Fannie Battle Day Home with friends and family, Christmas day was the perfect completion to the celebration. My sister, brother and I would eagerly get Mother and Daddy out of bed. We couldn’t go in to the tree until everyone was awake. Then we went in by age…the youngest was always first. After opening our own presents and seeing what Santa brought we went to our Maternal grandparents’ house for breakfast and gifts with all of the aunts, uncles and cousins on that side of the family. Then home for a short rest and off to the Paternal grandparents’ house for supper and gifts with all of those aunts, uncles and cousins. There were usually a dozen or so for breakfast and 40 to 60 for the evening meal. It was always a full and exhausting day, but one filled with family and fun. One that brings very special memories now for so many of those people are no longer here. I am blessed to be in a family where family is so important. We continue the tradition today for our next generations. And the fun continues!
by Kay Knox Crawford from Nashville, TN
My family loves to sing - even if we aren’t that good. And every Christmas Eve since I can remember knowing the words to Christmas carols, my two sisters, mom and dad have piled into the family sedan and sang carols all the way to the candlelight service at church. We all have our favorites and they always get louder and more ridiculous as the car ride progresses. As we’ve gotten older, the backseat seems to have a little less elbow room (especially since my sister got married and it’s three girls and a brother-in-law in back) and there are far less things our parents can actually force us to do (coffee and hot tea comes first Christmas morning these days). But the Christmas Eve car ride is something I look forward to every year. “Have a holly jolly Christmas…”
by Elizabeth Lewis from Nashville, TN
As a child, my parents would have a budget for what they would spend on us each year based on how the farm did financially that year. The year of my 10th Christmas was particularly sparse, and the budget my mom and dad had for my sister and me was small. She asked us if we wanted to use part of what she would spend on us to adopt an angel. We both said yes, and spent the week before Christmas shopping for the perfect “angel” gifts. I will cherish that year for the rest of my life. Opening our small gifts on Christmas day was very BIG because we knew someone else was opening gifts they might not have received otherwise. Thanks, mom, for creating a true sense of giving in your children. I pray that I can do the same thing for your grandchildren. Merry Christmas.
by Carrie Barnette from Bowling Green ,KY
Every Christmas Eve Day, our family would get together for a big lunch, exchange presents, and have another meal with my dad’s family for dinner. After eating so much, on Christmas Day my dad and I would go hunting for quail. We would walk the fields together and watch nature sing of the majesty of a King. Actually, we were more interested in burning the calories of the day before and enjoying the sounds and sights of nature than in getting the quail. Of all those years, the walks in the snow were my favorite.
by Debra Mppre from Nashville, TN
My favorite memory as a child is the Christmas Nativity they used to have at the Parthenon at Centennial Park. I’ll never forget how magnificent it was! Then on Christmas morning, we had our traditional southern breakfast; COUNTRY HAM, eggs, homemade biscuits, milk gravy and jelly. Needless to say we didn’t eat much the rest of the day! Then when I had children of my own we continued that tradition, but when they got big enough, they made and brought me and their dad breakfast in bed. What a special memory and a selfless gift especially because we knew they were dying to open their gifts!!
by Ginger Poag from Nashville, TN
Every season I look forward to my mom’s special Christmas brunch!
Making the most of my first and only Christmas away from “home”:
During a semester working for the Mouse, I spent Christmas morning visiting most of Walt Disney World’s resorts and parks to experience their decorations and activities. The most magical place on earth was definitely one of the best places to spend a family-less holiday. -Certainly not my favorite, but most definitely memorable.
Thanks for helping resurface treasured memories!
by Cheryl B. from Merryland
One of my favorite Christmas stories dates back to 1968.
It was my senior year in high school and I joined a group of friends to go caroling on Christmas Eve to raise money for the Fannie Battle Day Home.
That was a long time Nashville tradition on the night before Christmas.
When we were done, we went to the home of one of my friends for a party.
It was during that party that something extraordinary happened.
We watched a television broadcast unprecedented in human history.
That evening, the Apollo 8 astronauts were the first persons to ever orbit the moon.
They beamed back a special TV broadcast from their spaceship.
It featured never-before-seen, up-close, live pictures of the lunar surface, combined with a reading from the Book of Genesis by the members of the crew.
Even today, almost 41 years later, I still get goose bumps thinking back and remembering that special Christmas Eve and that wonderful moment in history when the broadcast closed with these words:
“From the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck and a Merry Christmas. God bless all of you… All of you on the good Earth.”
by Pat Nolan from Nashville, TN
My husband and I got married December 22 and spent our first Christmas as a married couple in New York City for our honeymoon, during Christmas. It’s the most magical place you could spend your first Christmas, especially while also on your honeymoon!
by Jessie Gilmore from Nashville, TN
When my brother and I were younger we would camp out under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and wake up at 4 a.m. Christmas morning to open gifts. After all the gifts were open, we’d be too tired to play with our toys so we’d end up sleep in the middle of the floor on top of all the Christmas paper. Once we were up and wide awake we would subject our family to watching the 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story”. It’s still one of my favorite movies!
by Toni Marshall from Nashville, TN
When I was little we always had a real Christmas tree that we actually went to cut down ourselves from nearby woods. I have distinct memories of riding the John Deere with my dad and picking out the best tree. Now that all the kids are long gone, my parents have an artificial tree. And I must say, the pre-lit tree is pretty nice!
by Stacy Wilson from Nashville, TN
My best Christmas memory was December 1999. It was Ian, my son’s first Christmas and my family, brother, sister, Mom and Dad came and spent it with us. Ian brought a great deal of joy, love, happiness and hope to all of our lives, and he still does.
Every Christmas is special, though because I believe everyone remembers what the season is about and acts accordingly.
by Heather MacDonald from Nashville, TN