Merry Christmas! Happy seventh day of Hanukkah! And an early happy Kwanzaa (which will be celebrated tomorrow)!
In honor of the holiday season, we’ve asked The Dominion Post staff to share some of their favorite holiday traditions. Here’s what they said:
Dave Raese, publisher: I used to go to a movie on Christmas because the afternoon was boring because we didn’t have extended family for the holidays. Then, I would volunteer to work Christmas Day so others in the newsroom could travel home. Now we, the family or those who can join us, try to go to a movie on Christmas Day. It’s a nice break from all the hoopla.
Pam Queen, editor: Getting together — at least 23 of us — over the holidays was our tradition that I miss the most now that our patriarch and matriarch are gone. Perhaps the most fun part of those gatherings was my sister, Jo, and brother, Ed, trying to top each other on gifts each year. And, their idea of topping the other was to give the most hideous, ridiculous, gift imaginable. I believe my brother’s gift in 1999 could never be beaten. That’s the year he had his appendix removed between Thanksgiving and Christmas and my sister got it in a jar — all wrapped up in pretty paper.
Jessica Nelson, opinion editor: We split Christmas Eve/Christmas Day with my parents’ families: Christmas Eve is always spent with my dad’s side of the family; Christmas Day is spent with my mom’s, so we get to see (mostly) everyone for the holidays. My favorite Christmas tradition, though, is baking cookies with my mom. We usually spend several days in the kitchen, blasting an eclectic Christmas playlist from a Bluetooth speaker, and make hundreds of cookies to share with family and friends.
Jim Bissett, reporter: We do a Feast of the Three (sometimes Four) Fishes in our house. It’s not the marquee Feast of the Seven Fishes, but it’ll do. Our son always asks for eel, which his mom says would take a Christmas-kitchen miracle to happen. Our daughter, meanwhile, looks forward to the baccala that always makes the menu. We don’t get to Mass much these days, so we’re always in for Christmas Eve. We get a Yule-cool concert in the living room, though, thanks to Bluetooth and old vinyl. (“I Hear Jingle Bells” by Freddie King is right up there with Mr. Berry’s “Run, Run Rudolph,” if you ask me.) The Peanuts gang puts a bow on it, with our annual screening of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Linus’ monologue still makes us well up. And I can still do my Snoopy laugh — which apparently isn’t as good as I think it is.
Haley Mozingo, copy editor: My favorite Christmas traditions are staying up late on Dec. 23 with my mom to bake a ton of different Christmas cookies, my favorite being peanut butter blossoms. We will typically blast Christmas music from the radio or we’ll have my mom’s favorite movie, “Elf,” on the TV in the background. I also love to snuggle up on the couch and watch some of my favorite Christmas movies, which are “A Year without a Santa Claus” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” from the 70s.
Brittany Merrill, accounting specialist: Although I have several Christmas traditions, there are two that are my favorite. My grandma started the first one. One year for Christmas she wrapped up a lump of coal inside the box of a requested gift. Once we opened the gift, we were not thrilled at what we found. In the end, we did get the gift we requested. Once I had children of my own, I wanted to start a prank gift for them to open every year; now it’s something they look forward to even as teenagers. My second favorite has to be with my best friend, of over 30 years, Nicole McVey. Each year we gather our kids (six of them, sometimes more) and have a day of Christmas crafts and baking. Then we load them up and drive to Fairmont to see the Christmas lights at Morris Park. For many years we would stop at the Poky Dot for dinner afterwards, but after their fire we started going to DJ’s Diner.
Jessica Roberts Bellino, advertising director: It’s our first Christmas as husband and wife, so Nick and I are looking forward to celebrating with his family in Poca, and then with my family and friends in Wheeling.
Jesalyn Kamaka, advertising customer service representative: My favorite Christmas tradition is to wear matching Christmas pajamas with my husband, and we watch a Christmas movie and cuddle with our dogs (who have matching pjs with us) on the couch!
Greg Romine, graphic designer: My normal Christmas tradition is to head to my parents’ house for a homemade pancake breakfast in the morning, and then we gather in the living room and open any presents that are there. We sometimes go to my parents’ church for a luncheon that is provided for those who may not have anywhere else to go on Christmas, and we help with the setup and cleanup. My parents and I usually go to my place later in the day to watch some Christmas movies.
Barry Price, circulation customer service representative: This year new traditions will begin with it being the twins’ first Christmas. I am sure it will start out with them putting gifts in their mouths at 5 a.m. and lead to them being more interested in tearing up the paper than the actual gifts themselves. The rest of the time will be spent with family playing games and cooking.
From The Dominion Post family to yours: We wish everyone a safe, warm and happy holiday!
