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Traditions to Make This Holiday Season Extra Special

Holiday Traditions

If you are looking for new ways to make memories with the ones you love, the MCOR team is sharing some of their favorite holiday traditions that are near and dear to them.

The holiday season is always a special time of the year, and part of what makes it so magical is the people that we get to spend it with and the traditions that live on. Every family has their own unique way of celebrating. From activities such as movie marathons to baking festive cookies, there are so many traditions to partake in.

 

Baking

Patricia Arzt

Every year on Christmas Eve we gather and make tamales. Everyone is involved, even if they are not so eager. Everyone has a specific job and we talk, tell stories, laugh, and reminisce during the whole process. It is a time that brings great joy to me, having all my kids and their significant others and now grandkids participate and hopefully, they will adopt and continue the tradition. 


Firepit

Brent Boardman

Every year, the kids and I build gingerbread houses for Christmas, then burn them in a fire pit for New Year's Eve. The candy really gets going.

 

 

 


Movie Night

Mawiyah Burns

Watching a Turner Classic Movie (TCM) and remakes of "A Christmas Carol."

 

 

 

 


Elf on the shelf

Emilio Cabrera

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the "Elf on the Shelf", I love driving my kiddos crazy with this one! And of course watching the good old holiday movie classics, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and Elf.

 

 


Christmas party

Katy Everson

My favorite holiday tradition is having a Christmas Eve party with friends and family. We eat delicious food, exchange Secret Santa gifts, and play games, including White Elephant.

 

 


Nativity Scene

Emma Gomez

Drive through the Christmas on Comstock neighborhood, and visit the Mesa, AZ LDS Temple to see the millions of Christmas lights and the nativity scenes from around the world. We also take a new photo every year with our new holiday socks.

 

 


Cooking

Emma Martinez

I enjoy celebrating "Posadas" as part of Mexico's tradition. The word posada means inn or lodging, and traditionally posadas are a celebration of the Christmas story. They take place on nine nights, from December 16 to 24, and commemorate the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph’s search for a place to stay where Jesus could be born. Posadas in Mexico feature hot food and drinks, sweets, music, and piñatas.

Throughout Mexico, churches and communities still celebrate these festivities with their traditional, religious elements. 


Movie Night

Karis Mora

My favorite holiday tradition is movie marathons with my family. Every year we have to watch Christmas Vacation, Elf, Scrooged, Home Alone 1 & 2, It's A Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. Snacks that we enjoy with the movies are freshly popped popcorn, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and candy canes.


Baking

Vanessa Plummer

Baking candy and cookies with my grandma. We use her recipes from when she was growing up and recreate them every year.

 

 

 


Mexican Food

Sarah Sharits

My favorite holiday tradition is eating Mexican food on Christmas Eve. Every year my family puts together a feast of enchiladas, tamales, and tacos. It is a fun way to ring in the holiday and is a nice change of pace from the traditional turkey, ham, and potatoes meal.

 

 


Christmas lights

Rachel

During the holiday season, I enjoy driving through neighborhoods and seeing the Christmas lights. I also have to watch Elf at least once, with lots of popcorn!

 

 

 


Cooking

Shenxin (Akiko) Li

Food is always an inseparable part of the holiday celebration, and dumpling-making is an old tradition in China that celebrates the holiday. I really enjoy the atmosphere. The whole family gathers together, chatting and laughing. Making the food becomes more meaningful and fun when there are people to help make it and to share the food with.



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