If asked, most folks will say they have traditions surrounding the holidays unique only to their family.
Some have ugly sweater parties, others collect nutcrackers from all corners of the world, and at least one neighbor decorates their house with so many lights that the display can be seen from outer space.
While growing up at 110 Flamingo Street, my family was no exception when it came to having family traditions.
Although, looking back, some of those traditions might seem downright strange.
Deck The Sister with tinsel while she sleeps. This was an annual event we all enjoyed — except The Sister, of course. On Christmas Eve, after our parents went to sleep, my three brothers and I would take turns sneaking into The Sister’s room. Soon, she’d be covered head to toe with tinsel.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking, and you’d be right. It was just wrong; we should’ve been asleep in bed waiting for Santa. That’s why we always finished our tinsel-draping by midnight and then went to sleep – plenty of time for the big guy to come down the chimney.
Another of our traditions was the holiday cherry belly contest — always exciting and about as festive as one can get. Our thoughts on this tradition were simple. What possibly could go better with rosy noses and pink cheeks from snowball fights than a cherry belly? The winner was whoever could last the longest while getting a cherry belly.
A silly contest, you may say, but the winner got a really cool prize. A jumbo banana split made with three different flavors of ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and lots of cherries.
Let’s slide right into our next holiday tradition. Dad built our house at 110 Flamingo Street with us kids in mind. Walls were paneled so he would not have to repaint every year. Floors were all wood and easily cleaned. With heavy-duty hinges and door locks, the bedroom doors were almost indestructible – almost. It was a destroyed bedroom door that ended our next tradition.
The inside holiday sleigh ride didn’t last long. We celebrated this tradition for only three short years. It really wasn’t a ride and we didn’t use a sleigh, but it still provided hours of fun on any rainy winter day.
Wearing socks, my three brothers and I took turns seeing who could slide down the main hallway of our house the fastest and farthest. The third year at Flamingo Street ended this tradition. That was the year Dad waxed all the floors the week before Christmas and didn’t tell us kids.
Older Brother Richard’s first slide sent him crashing through the indestructible bedroom door at the end of the hallway.
Lastly, there was the tradition of the basement mouse. After the first Christmas spent on Flamingo Street, I helped Dad take the tree outside. He cut off a piece of the trunk and started to carve. It took him over a week, but when finished he had carved a mouse about three inches tall. That mouse hung on our tree every Christmas.
Well, he was hidden amongst the many branches and other ornaments, and whoever found him first would receive an extra present. The mouse is still hidden on our tree to this very day, and when all the decorations are taken down after Christmas, the wooden mouse is placed on his shelf in the basement.
The rest of the year, the mouse gets lots of attention. He receives kisses each time our granddaughter, Little One, passes by. I guess that’s the start of a new tradition.
Here’s wishing you enjoy your family traditions this year. No matter how strange they may seem they are unique to your family, and will help make the memories you will look back on for years to come.
[Rick Ryckeley, who lives in Senoia, served as a firefighter for more than two decades and has been a weekly columnist since 2001. His email is storiesbyrick@gmail.com. His books are available at www.RickRyckeley.com.]
