Interesting Topic - Ritual History - what one do you uphold?

[cassiesmom]

On Easter we all greet one another with "Happy Easter, bunny!" because that's how my grandmother used to greet us.

St. Patrick's Day is a special day in my family because that is the day my dad got home from Korea. So we always fuss, which my dad likes less and less as he gets older.

When my nephew and nieces were little, as well as bridal and baby showers, we always had to take a picture of the cake!

My youngest nieces, my sister's daughter and my brother's youngest daughter, are the same age. They are 3 months apart. I bought a pickle Christmas tree ornament when they were little, and without realizing I had bought one, my mom also bought one. (They're quite different!) So when they were growing up I always had "found the pickle" gifts for them -- colored pencils, funky socks, stickers, that sort of thing. My grandmother gave them pajamas for Christmas from their first Christmas until she passed away. They would go put the pajamas on and we would take a picture of them dressed in the same Christmas jammies.

Gosh, these are really tied to my grandmother and her great-grandchildren

[caseysmom]

Cassiesmom reminded me of one from my childhood, every gift I wrapped for my mother she would guess blue slippers, I guess I gave that gift a few times...

[Karen]

The original article was about Maine Forest Guides, so even things like that would count.

[RICHARD]

The one event/tradition that I miss and am kind of envious that my brother does try to keep going, is the "tamale making" parties around Christmas time.

You do need either a large family or talented, patient friends....

You need someone to cook the filling, soak abnd clean the corn husks, make the masa/dough, then stuff and cook them.

It was always a fun, communal experience, the women got to share recipes, gossip and laughs and us guys got to help move the huge pots, pitch in where we were needed and spend time having a few drinks.

The women would spike their drinks too, but in a way that was more socially acceptable. You could tell who was getting likkered up by the laughter level!

[Karen]

Richard you should start that in Kentucky, sounds like it could be fun!