Fall-Winter Holiday Traditions

Here we are in the fall-winter season.  In Louisiana, where I am currently living, the calendar may indicate ‘fall’, but it’s not ‘sweater weather’; it’s a little cooler in the morning and evenings, still, it’s certainly not stereotypical fall weather we wished we had.  Pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and winter holiday decorations are out.  How do you celebrate the fall-winter holidays? What are your traditions?

When my daughter was growing up, we decorated every inch of the house with festive pumpkins, gourds, squashes, dried harvest corn, spooky - yet friendly - ghosts.  Now that she’s an adult living far way and I’m a minimalist, I don’t decorate for any holiday, except for a small reminder of the season that will be centrally placed in my home.  For me, it’s freeing to let go of over-decorating; now, I keep it distinctly simple.  In addition, it saves person-hours not taking out, unpacking, putting out the holiday tchotchkes, then packing them away again later. I only wish daylight savings time would stay packed up and never come out again too. I no longer hold on to Halloween traditions.

Because my Thanksgiving Day features just my elderly parents and me, I don’t make the big turkey dinner and nothing has to be ‘perfect’ for us to simply enjoy the day together.  In the past, I used to host a huge group of friends and family.  It wasn’t a pleasant week for me because I had to do deep cleaning, figure out seating logistics, do the buying for and preparing the feast, and cleaning up afterward.  While everyone else had a fun time, I was working, working, working.  It was the same experience at the winter holiday time. I rarely put up a Christmas tree - and if I do, it’s a small fake tree.  I don’t go crazy decorating.  I no longer hold on to Thanksgiving and winter holiday traditions. I peacefully enjoy the holiday season.

Now, holidays aren’t stressful; I let go of most of the holiday traditions.  I exchange winter holiday gifts with less than a handful of people.  We are all at the point where if we want something, we get it for ourselves.  This saves money and time not going crazy (and broke) buying gifts for way too many people.  In the past, I made my own holiday cards to send out; I wrapped gifts in my chosen color paper of the year with elegant ribbons, handmade bows, and handmade gift tags. OY!  Last Christmas, I didn’t decorate at all. Again, it was freeing and it was peaceful.

During the fall-winter holidays, I enjoy cuddling with my dachshunds, reading, listening to holiday music, looking at photos of friends and family, watching holiday movies on Netflix, making warming/soothing soup, enjoying quiet time with a cup of hot cocoa. If that sounds boring to you, that’s okay. It’s perfect for me.  Everyone can celebrate big or small - personal preference. I choose small.

Absolute simplicity is now my holiday tradition. What are your fall-winter holiday traditions? Do the holidays make you feel stressed, tired, giddy, or peaceful? I invite you to share your stories, thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.

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