A Christmas Candle – Holiday Traditions

     Welcome to Etsy Greetings Team  “Handmade Holiday Traditions” Blog Hop! I hope you will enjoy your stay and learn a bit about my Christmas traditions, as well as other members of Etsy Greetings Team. You will find the link to the following blog at the end of my post… Merry Christmas to you!

     Growing up, my extended family of uncles, aunts, cousins and – reigning over all – my grandmother, had plenty of traditions… We just did not really call them that or knew them as such… We decorated the Christmas tree together, with specific jobs for every one of us according to our age, of course… My aunt Marie locked herself in one room and started baking the most fragrant and delicious Christmas loaf I have ever eaten…My older cousin, Theodore used to build for the younger kids a snowman as tall as he could (and, as it seemed that Theodore never stopped growing, neither did the snowman…)

     My brother Chris and I, the youngest of the children did not really have any particular “duties” at Christmas, so we were always designated to keep an eye on Santa. I would much rather get involved in the mess going on around the Christmas tree, but looking back our duty was supposed to keep us busy while the grown-ups were working on keeping Christmas alive for one more year for us…

     On Christmas Eve, after we lit up the candles in the Christmas tree, we sang the Christmas carols that we have learned the words to in the year prior. Yes – just in case you wonder –  I know now about the fire hazard, but nothing brings out the beauty in a Christmas night as real candles… My grandmother always brought out this elaborate candlestick, took out a brand new beeswax candle, and lit it after saying a prayer to herself that seemed to bring tears to her eyes. The candle, I’ve learned many years after my childhood was gone, was for the family and friends from far away. The candle was in memory of those we have loved and lost, so that their souls find a way home for Christmas. A few cloved-studded oranges kept company to the burning candlestick for the duration of the holidays, until January 1st, my uncle Peter’s birthday…  

     To create my own tradition, as I went on my own – and after my dad passed away – I have lit a jar candle each year, keeping it right next to the tree. I decorate a few small oranges with cloves, in a nice swirly pattern, set it all up on an old platter decorated with poinsettia flowers and a golden mesh bow – and say a quiet little prayer for far away family and friends, and hope that the souls of my father and grandmather will find a home with me at Christmas… My blessings each year…? My son, Chris born on Christmas Day 1983 and my daughter, Oana… To them, my love always…

      If you came here from “Pinky Creations”, then you are in the right place! To enjoy more of the Etsy Greetings Team Handmade Holiday Traditions, please click on the right arrow to arrive to “Adore By Nat”‘s blog hop.

     Thank you for stopping by!