Friday, December 24, 2010

Nutcracker Reverie





I took my two girls to the ballet. Just as my mother took me most years of my adolescence. It was entrancing. No words, but storytelling in abundance. Not much plot, but who cares? It's The Nutcracker! I was seven-years-old and lived with my family in Portland, Oregon the first time I saw this production. My mother said that I turned to her at intermission with huge, star-struck eyes, whispering, "This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my whole life!"

Every time I watch Nutcracker, I'm seven again and still filled with wonder at the kind of beauty that life doesn't usually provide. I am drawn in from the first musical note to the last curtain call.

As you can tell, I'm a sentimental creature of tradition. For as long as I can remember, we've had a dinner of waffles with sliced strawberries and fresh whipped cream on Christmas Eve. This year will be the same. After a family program, we'll give the children one gift. A new pair of pajamas. Come rain, sleet, shine or tornados, we always have new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

After presents tomorrow morning, we'll eat banana and pineapple soup, breakfast casserole, and croissants filled with chocolate. For dinner? Fresh-from-the-Oregon-coast crab salad, yorkshire pudding, and prime rib. I know, it sounds like a lot, and it is. But this celebration is only once a year, right? (Plus, I now have a gym membership!)

Traditions. They really aren't about repeating the same activities over and over. They're about creating happy ties with the people you love. And memories that last longer than time and change.

Happy twenty-forth! What are your favorite holiday traditions?



18 comments:

  1. Happy Holidays Roxy!

    We used to get pj's every Christmas too.

    Monster Baby and I have the tradition of leaving carrots and a bowl of water for the reindeer. She's not so much concerned with the fat man as she is for his ride.

    Merry Christmas!

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  2. Would you believe I've never seen Nutcracker?

    I love Christmas Eve. We light every candle we can find. Plug the tree in. Listen to Christmas music and get to open one present before bed.

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  3. Roxy: I admit that when my girls were young I also took them to The Nutcracker, even though I would have preferred to cut off my toes. Nevertheless, they had a great time and still talk about it. It is a bonding experience.

    As for traditions, I love to cook. We usually have a feast for the entire family. My wife loves to bake and create fancy desserts. I cook about ten different kinds of pasta. Christmas is a great season. I sincerely hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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  4. Banana and pineapple soup!??!?!?! Wow!!

    Aww the Nutcracker is a perfect christmas show!!!! I saw a performance years ago and I loved it!!!! Wonderful!!!

    Thanks for sharing your fabulous traditions - long may they continue to the next generation and beyond! Happy Christmas!! Take care
    x

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  5. I have never seen Nutcracker. Perhaps I'll put that on my bucket list.
    Making memories is my only tradition.

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  6. What lovely traditions, Roxy.

    On Christmas Eve [which is now!] we sit in front of a fire, play Christmas music, look through old photo albums and reminisce about holidays past. On Christmas Day we open gifts and make new memories,

    Happy Christmas!

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  7. What a beautiful post, thank you so much for sharing. You reminded me of the time my mother and her friend took us girls to the Nutcracker at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. I must've been seven or eight. My sister-in-law and I just decided the other day that we're getting tickets and going again next year.

    Thanks for the memory. Have a wonderful Christmas, Olivia

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  8. Since I've grown up and started my own tradations - a tooth brush in every stocking and a wind up toy, no matter how old you are. REally silly . .

    I love the Nutcracker Suite. I'm sure it will be on today, I'll watch it and think of you and your family Roxie.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

    .........dhole

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  9. I love seeing Nutcracker performances!

    Merry Christmas! :)

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  10. Chocolates to countdown to Christmas, 'It's a Wonderful life' and shopping for ornaments the day after Thanksgiving.

    Merry Christmas!

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  11. I love a good mix of tradition and flexibility. The Nutcracker is so amazing!

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  12. I hope your holidays went well. Have a good New Years!

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  13. I love the Nutcracker too. And when I was a kid, we made gingerbread men and iced them. Now I bake special breads for neighbors, my husband helps with the lights, and decorating the tree is still my favorite, as nearly every ornament has some sentimental attachment.

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  14. We love the Nutcracker too...This year we did something different though. We went to see A Christmas Carol, it was wonderful! The costumes and singing were outstanding!

    We do Christmas Eve pjs too. I love traditions....

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  15. We live Portland. If I had a daughter, I would take her to the Nutcracker. My boys are not into those things. Wonderful descriptions.

    I hope our family likes our traditions this much.

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  16. I have never seen The Nutcracker - something I aim to rectify one day. Our family traditions were new PJ's for Christmas day morning, and familiar decorations on the Christmas tree. Even now my heart does a little jump at seeing those same figures and baubles - hidden now as the new takes over, but still there, still having their moment to shine. I hope you are having a lovely Christmas-time.

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  17. I saw The Nutcracker when I was little. I need to go again because I don't remember anything.

    Happy New Year!

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  18. Happy New Year, Roxy!

    The last few years, we drive down to my sister's for the first day of the break. This year, we went into Manhattan and did all the tourist stuff - Rockerfeller Center, the Macy's window, and Central Park by The Plaza. It was crowded, cold, and fun.

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