Local Christmas Traditions

[Nutriaitch]

just a thread to see what some local traditions y'all may have that are unique to your area.

probably the best that happens in Louisiana is in St. James Parish (along the river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans) on Christmas Eve, where locals line the levees of the Mississippi with bonfires to light the way for Pere Noel (french for Father Christmas).

both banks participate for a stretch of at least a few miles.

and of course some go above and beyond in building these things:

and of course you gotta have fireworks too

 

[TDunk]

That's very cool. But I doubt it will dissuade the hurricanes from nailing you all. Us northerners tend to stick with the snow/ice. Merry Christmas!

 

[Deety]

Merry Christmas!

My favorite tradition was a neighborhood one. When I was growing up, our whole large development worked together to make Christmas Eve special. Parents would bring small gifts to the organizer's house, and pick up luminaries.

The most exciting moments of the holidays were hearing the sleigh bells and "Ho, ho, ho!" from a distance and running outside to watch for the procession arriving on candle-lined streets. First came the firetruck with lights, siren chirps, and Santa's loudspeaker, and then the jolly man himself in a big sleigh, and then hayrides with the older kids singing Christmas carols. Santa stopped at every house to give each child a present and a candy cane - he knew our names - and everyone would linger outside and be neighborly until our noses were frozen. Later, I loved the hayrides where we had hot cider and sang loudly and watched all the little ones running out of their houses with bright shining eyes. It was the best.

 

[kinch]

My tradition has always been making snow angels naked. Well, there isn't snow, so I guess I'll just get muddy and arrested like last year.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

My tradition has always been making snow angels naked. Well, there isn't snow, so I guess I'll just get muddy and arrested like last year.

that's my tradition for winning National Championships. I might have to travel a few miles to find some for this year.

 

[kinch]

that's my tradition for winning National Championships. I might have to travel a few miles to find some for this year.

True story: when I was in High School somebody in the year book team was taking down Christmas traditions, and just made "making snow angels butt naked" as one of mine because they wanted to be mean to me, which I can't even picture why. So. . . hence the tradition began.