Christmas is only three days away and I cannot focus on my writing. Every December I fall in love with Santa Claus. I’m unable to help myself. We romance writers recognize the ultimate happily ever after. My addiction to everything Santa began decades ago when I married my husband and moved into his home. You see, our street is special. I know everyone reading this will say the same about theirs.
However, we not only decorate our homes we go a couple steps further with a tradition established long before I joined my husband. In December our block long street transforms into Candlestick Lane. In the daytime you can appreciate the long-ago artist neighbor who created the signage that invites you in.
Each house comes with two candy cane candles which miraculously pop up the first Sunday of every December. When you buy a house on our street you join a long line of neighbors who honor the past. A different neighbor hosts our Christmas party where we celebrate the season with young and old alike. We are known throughout our community. Cars motor up and down at night while children press their noses to the window glass.
It’s easy to understand their reason. We all yearn for traditions, familiar links that united us as human beings. I’m proud our street, with its shifting population of seniors replaced by young families, holds this faith close.
I’ve acquired a Santa ornament collection over the years which will ultimately pass on to our sons and their families. So I begin another tradition. I believe that’s the true meaning of this holiday. Pass on the love, the cherished memories and the fellowship.
What special tradition makes this time of year special to you?
12 comments:
Oh, Sheila, what a lovely tradition. I collect santa items too. Not just ornaments but figurines, cookie jars, Santa driven sleighs. Thanks for sharing the season. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I love this, Sheila! My neighbors do nothing for Christmas, so I'm envious! LOL
I collect Santas too, Highland Santas, Santa-santas, teddy bear santas...Irish Santas, you name it! :) I also collect snowmen.
Dawn Maria, thanks for stopping by during this final countdown day before Christmas. Isn't it fun to rediscover your Santa collection every December. I loved unwrapping them.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Hi, Terry. Wow, your Santa collection sounds impressive. I have a Santa from Hong Kong, a gift. I hope to find more in our future travels.
I feel truly blessed living on our dead-end street. We have a ninety-six-year-old neighbor who serves delicious waffles to all comers every Saturday. I'm telling you, this is the place to live!!
Sheila, what a wonderful neighbourhood you live in! We have a CandyCane Lane nearby which is similarily noted for their candycane Christmas theme. It is a tradition that they, too, have carried on for many, many years.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
There is a duplicate of our street in Canada? That blows me away, Sheila. Thanks for stopping by.
Merry Christmas!
Wow, you live on an amazing street and I LOVE the candlestick theme for Candlestick Lane. I love how all the neighbors pitch in to make this spectacular.
As a child of the....(unmentionable year), I collect felted ornaments and table cloths, table runners, placemats, napkin rings. Must be felt and sequins. And every Christmas Eve since I was younger, I watch "White Chrismtas."
Thank you so much for sharing, Sheila. ox
Hi, Vicki! Oh, I love that you are selective with your Christmas collection. And, I bet you're estatic with a 'new' find in good condition. Bravo!
I haven't seen White Christmas in years though I play the song during the holidays. And it has to be the original - Bing Crosby's version.
Beautiful photos, Sheila. It looks like a lot of work, but I think it brings the child out in people when they see all the lights aglow.
Our tradition is to bake three batches of fruitcakes (6 per batch) and give them to people who've been good to us during the year. I know, you're saying NOT the dreaded fruitcake, but this one so special that I've mailed one to a friend who almost cried when we moved because he didn't think Christmas would ever be the same without one. This year was the 27th time he's received one in the mail... I love the tradition and love the three hours it takes each batch to bake. The house smells heavenly.
Merry Christmas to you.
Sheila,
These are such fabulous traditions. Our family is Italian, so we celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes--an Italian tradition.
Sheila, this is so special. Thank you for sharing it. I love the decorations. Just beautiful.
Now that our kids our grown, my hubby and I have started a new tradition for Christmas shopping. We set a dollar limit and select a day right before Christmas to shop. The only criteria is that we have to shop in the village area where we live and we are on foot. So we agree to meet up every so often but we find novelty items for each other that don't cost much and are humorous to open. It's a fun way to get creative and not overspend. We spend enough on each other throughout the year so this refreshing and exciting, we meet alot of the merchants with no pressure.
Thanks again for sharing your lovely traditions.
Oh, Shiela, half way through your post I thought what a delightful romance series this would make. You could entitle the series--Love on Candlestick Lane. Young romances, finding love in mid-life and the enduring love of an elderly couple facing alzhiemers. Throw in the traditions of your street. I think it would be a lovely series.
I enjoyed your post tremendously. Although now my writer's brain is charging ahead with ideas--which can be a dangerous thing.
I collect porcelain snowmen. I chose them by their expressions. If there faces hold character, they're mine. I also have a small collection of snowglobes with snowmen inside. I have a few given to me by friends who have since passed on, their gifts are especially precious. I smile and think of them every year when I unwrap their snowmen from the tissue and bubble wrap.
Merry Christmas!
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