When Christmas was nearing, after my first husband died, my daughter told me she didn’t care if she had any gifts, she just wanted me to keep the traditions and I did.

Several years later, my daughter, her husband and their children were able to leave their farm in Maryland for a quick Christmas visit. She requested I do the traditions she grew up with so her kids could experience them and I did.

One of my most important traditions has been going to church on Christmas Eve where we hear the Christmas Story from the book of Luke. My family has done this every year since the late seventies. That is except for the year we went on a cruise through the Panama Canal and flew to Ecuador after debarking in Chile. The Christmas Eve service we attended seemed very strange to me, since the pastor spoke about Joseph Mohr, who wrote the lyrics to “Silent Night.” Even stranger was stepping outside of the church to palm trees and 70-degree weather.

Although some families prefer to keep Christmas simple, many decorate to the hilt, bake dozens of sweet treats and host parties, while others have more unique traditions.

Mary Giordano painted this ceramic nativity scene in 1979.

Rhonda Skelton of Panama likes to make gift-giving fun for her grandchildren.

“Every year I make a game for the grandchildren, either a scavenger hunt for the gifts or I do an extra gift that they have to find,” says Mrs. Skelton.

She has planned this year’s surprise, but couldn’t reveal until after Christmas.

My niece, Susan Paulson in Arizona, along with members of her family, visit her parents’ graves at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix every Christmas Eve Day. After flowers and a small tree are placed, the family members pray the Lord’s Prayer while encircling the graves. Russell Giordano, their father, grandfather and great-grandfather, served in WWII.

“I may not put up my own tree every year, but I have never missed putting out Mom’s nativity set that she painted in 1979. It is my most treasured possession next to my Bible,” says Susan.

ScreensStefanie Ryan places a battery-lighted tree at her father’s grave early in December.hot

Another niece, Stefanie Ryan of Union City, PA, practices a similar tradition to her Arizona family by placing a battery lit tree on her father’s grave in early December. Stefanie’s father, Paul Kehe, served in the US Army.

Another of her traditions is baking her grandma’s cookie recipe every December.

“I will only use my Grandma Johnson’s sugar cookie recipe. I remember my mom and I made them as I was growing up. Now my kids and I make them every year,” says Stefanie.

Three traditions come to Alethea Marsh’s mind when she thinks of Christmas.

“The Christmas Eve gathering started before I was born. It started with the children, grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren of Harold and Emma Walters,” says the Randolph woman. “When I was very young, many Christmas Eves were spent on Sample Hill at the home of Harry and Ruth Walters, my great uncle and great aunt. I remember my mom hosting once or twice when I was older.”

The family grew to be large, therefore most of the original extended family have their own celebrations. Today, Mrs. Marsh and her family spend Christmas Eve at her Aunt Trudy Frame’s home with most of the guests being the descendants of her grandparents, Bill and Alethea Visker.

“No Christmas Eve was complete without a visit from Santa Claus,” she continues reminiscing. “Every year, Sam Abbott dressed as Santa and visited not just us, but many in the area. Our visit was extra special, though. He was my godfather. Of course, when I was little, I suspected nothing. It WAS Santa to me.”

As she grew little older, she figured out the identity of the man in the red suit, but never mentioned it to her godfather, after her mother confirmed her suspicions,

“My mother informed me that she had been absolutely forbidden to ever tell me it was really him. Even when I was a teenager. I never said a word to him, but I always kept it close to my heart, that I had my own personal Santa. I secretly called him, Samta Claus,” she says.

Her third tradition was celebrating Christmas twice every year until she was well into her twenties. The first happened at Thanksgiving, because her grandparents, Bill and Alethea, went to their winter home in Puerto Rico and later Texas, right after the fall holiday.

I wrote about my own Christmas traditions in 2015. If you care to learn about the traditions I started many years ago, go to post-journal.com, search “Cooking Up Treats in the Spirit of Christmas” and then scroll down to the sixth story, “Keeping Traditions.”

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

CHRISTMAS JELL-O

Rhonda Skelton’s mother made this every year for Christmas as far back as Rhonda can remember. The daughter makes it for her family’s holiday meal, but says it doesn’t come out the same as her mother’s.

6 oz lime Jell-O

8 oz whipped topping, thawed

8 oz cottage cheese

20 oz crushed pineapple, drained

Maraschino cherries, drained, rinsed and dried

Combine dry Jell-O, whipped topping and cottage cheese in a bowl. Stir in pineapple. Pour into mold and chill until firm. Unmold dessert onto plate. Decorate with the cherries.

BROCCOLI, RICE AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Mary Giordano was a terrific cook and her daughters consider themselves blessed to not only have had her for their mom, but to have her recipes written in her own handwriting. Susan Giordano Paulson shares this favorite. She admits she doesn’t cook very often, but is happy to have “nailed” her mother’s casserole.

3-4 C instant rice

32oz fresh broccoli florets

2-15 oz jars Cheese Whiz

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

16 oz fresh mushrooms, brown or white

2 onions, diced fine

Prepare rice and set aside. Steam and drain broccoli. In a separate pan, melt together Cheese Whiz and soups. Combine all ingredients and turn into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

GRANDMA JOHNSON’S SUGAR COOKIES

According to her granddaughter, these cookies always turn out and are about an inch thick.

3 C flour

1 C sugar

3 level T baking powder

½ tsp salt

3 eggs, beaten light

½ C milk

1 tsp vanilla or desired flavoring

Over a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar and baking powder. Mix in shortening with hands until well-blended. Add salt, eggs, milk and vanilla. Roll out on floured board. Cut into desired shapes and sprinkle with sugar. (I frost and then use sprinkles.) Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

THERESA’S HOLIDAY BREAKFAST

Alethea Marsh’s mom found this recipe many years ago. The mother and daughter have adjusted it over the years. Her mother is gone now, but Alethea still makes the recipe for her family.

2 C ham, diced

12 hard-boiled eggs, diced

8 oz canned or fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/2 C butter

1/2 C flour

2 1/2 – 3 C milk

8-12 oz cheddar cheese

4 slices American cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

12 English muffins

Dice ham and eggs. Slice mushrooms. Set aside. Melt butter over low heat. Add flour, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles. Let bubble for about 1 minute and then add milk, stirring until combined. Add Cheese. Continue stirring until sauce is smooth. Do not let it boil. Add ham, eggs and mushrooms to cheese sauce. Stir until added ingredients are incorporated into the sauce and warm, about 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Serve over toasted English muffins.

Notes: Consistency of cheese sauce can be adjusted to your taste. Amount of egg, mushrooms and ham can be adjusted as well.