Thank you to all who answered our survey and shared your holiday traditions with us. May you and your families enjoy the happiest of holiday seasons.
Survey Results
Your Unique Holiday Traditions
| A week before Advent, our family makes an Advent wreath, with our church. Starting the first Sunday of Advent, we light a candle after saying a special prayer. This in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. Following the old Irish tradition, we also put candles in our windows to welcome the Christ child into the home or a weary traveler, to a warm home and meal. — Catherine, Poison Control Center |
| My daughter and I bake dozens of cookies then give them away as gifts. It takes us a week to do them, but it wouldn’t be Christmas without this tradition! |
| New Year’s eve camping trip! |
| Each year, I pack my family into my big SUV & we drive to Springfield, MA to see Bright Nights at Forest Park. We sing along to the designated radio station that plays Christmas songs looking at all the incredible light displays throughout the entire park. Hundreds of cars creeping along, no headlights and no rush. We then go to the Red Rose restaurant on Main St. for dinner. The chicken parmigiana is INCREDIBLE. Each year feels like our first time and once we go, it really feels like Christmas! — Caroline, Tumor Registry |
| Every year, my family gets together with the neighbors I grew up with and we make gingerbread houses. Last weekend we celebrated our 40th year of making them. |
| Having a variety of stuffed breads and homemade Italian cookies on Christmas Eve. |
| Singing Christmas carols by the fire on the Farmington town green on Christmas Eve. We have even shown up when rain has cancelled the event (a single carol was sung with one other very wet family!) |
| Enjoying the smell and taste of the French Canadian tradition of meat pies. |
| Our weird tradition is that we still call it “Christmas.” |
| Coming from a very large, very French family, for as long as I can remember we have always had chicken dumpling stew on Christmas Eve. When I was little, after midnight mass, we’d go to my grandparent’s house for stew. My Mom then took over the tradition and now it’s been my turn for the last 15 years. The only change is that we have it as dinner after going to Christmas Eve vigil mass. I’m hoping when I get older my daughter will take on our family tradition of Christmas Eve chicken stew. — Diane, University Physicians |
| Every year Santa comes on a fire truck to our house. His fire truck is boldly decorated, and there are Christmas Carols blaring from inside, and gorgeous lights flashing. It is simply marvelous when the children are all filled with anticipation, and then they hear the truck coming, and see the lights flashing. It is truly a fantastic experience for the whole family to enjoy. |
| We have a little girl and every year we make reindeer food and sprinkle it out on the front lawn so Santa can find out house. She gets the biggest kick out of it. — Cheryl Lynn, UMG Ophthalmology |
| My twelve year old granddaughter plays the piano and this she has been practicing my favorite Christmas carol, “O Holy Night” just for me. This is the best Christmas present I could ask for. She is such a blessing. — Diana, Surgery |
| Every year we do a Secret Santa gift, but instead of purchasing a gift you have to make a gift. This may seem a bit more challenging because people assume one needs to be creative, but it can be as easy as baking some cookies. It makes for some great DIY projects. — Police Department |
| Making Coquito, a traditional Puerto Rican drink during the holidays! — Ellie, Dental Academic Affairs |