Creating New Christmas/ New Year Traditions in Our Family

A few years ago around the Christmas holidays,  I asked one of my friends what  he was doing during the holiday, to which he replied:

" Nothing.  Just staying in Toronto and hang out with my friends."

  I knew he had family out east, so I asked why he wasn’t going home to spend time with his parents. 

St James Cathedral, downtownToronto

“ There is no point of going home for Christmas. My family doesn’t do anything special at Christmas. We are not church people. so we don’t have any traditions or special activities during this time of the year. I haven’t been home for the past ten years.”

  His reply surprised and saddened me.

This young man was in his late twenty's,  same age as our children. I felt sorry for him and his parents. Not going home for Christmas for a decade; this was unthinkable! 

We have attended the Christmas Eve's service at St. James for a number of years

Though our son went away for university since the late 90’s, he has always come home each Christmas to visit us.

When our children were young, our most favourite time of the year was spending Christmas on a skiing holiday either in Quebec, or somewhere in the U.S. where good skiing condition could be found.

The Christmas Eve service is packed with worshipers

Our sons are all grown up and each Christmas, we try to make the best of this time when they are here. We have started some new traditions during this special time.

    1.  Attending Christmas Eve Service at St James Cathedral in downtown Toronto – a beautiful historical church that celebrates Christmas with beautiful traditional hymns and readings.

Candles are lit for loved ones

In our modern electronic wired society, it’s nice to see young people like our sons to take time off from all the electronic gadgets, sit quietly to reflect on things and blessings of the past year.

22.  Christmas lunch/ dinner at home with invited guests who are not surrounded by their own family members or loved ones.


        We live in one of the wealthiest nations on earth, but we are also living in a society with much social isolation. We try to invite others with whom we can spread a little Christmas cheer and share a Christmas dinner with them,

       

 3.     3.   A mini driving holiday to Niagara Falls after Christmas !

3.   
–    

The Double Tree Hotel where we stayed at Niagara Falls, Canadian side

       
W        
      We have accumulated a lot of things in our lives and really do not need another thing to fill up the house. 

What we treasure the most now is time spent with our family.

Lobby of the Double Tree hotel where we had our mini holiday

    
 



                 

A nice and comfy lobby at the Double Tree Hotel

    


























      We embraced the idea of spending a night in Niagara falls together as a Christmas gift from our first born when we suggested it!
    
      We especially love the few hours we have with our son as the captive audience while en route to our destination.  





     

 Night  view of Niagara Falls - Boxing Day, Canada

Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls, Canada

    
      After talking for a couple of hours in the car, have something to eat, he 
      drops us off in the Fashion Outlet
      Mall of Niagara Falls, on the U.S. side. 








     

We enjoy ourselves shopping in the mall while he goes to visit his friends.  










     

The Skylon Restaurant was all lit up

We all have a great time doing our 
       own thing. 

 Killing two birds with one stone! 

     

The restaurant at Niagara Falls, Ontario

     


      





   

Christmas trees were all lit up in and around the Niagara Park, Canada

      
      After shopping and dinner,  we took a night walk this year as the weather was mild and enjoyed the light show put on around the Niagara Park for the  Festival of Light.

A buffet breakfast was served until 11:30a.m. in the Double Tree Restaurant

We spent the night at the hotel, and enjoyed a relaxing breakfast in the hotel restaurant the next morning.

Lingering over good food & hot coffee with loved ones - the best Christmas gift

 A great way to spend time with loved ones over good food and a hot cup of coffee!

We treasure the time spending with our grown children

We love these special activities so much that we want to make them part of our annual Christmas/ New Year holiday traditions year after year!





Things change in our lives;  we are grateful that our children are independent professional adults with their own busy lives.

Creating new traditions in our family, hopefully, will help us to spend more time together and make our reunions more pleasant and fun each year!

R.T.
Double Tree Hotel
Niagara Falls, Canada