Edelman Atlanta

I still get excited if it snows on Christmas. In fact one of my favorite Christmas memories was from just a few years ago. My grandparents always host a presents/snacks get together Christmas morning, then everyone (about 12 of us) goes their separate ways before meeting back up for dinner. On this particular year it snowed so much (in Virginia) that no one was able to make it back to my grandparents house (where my folks and I were staying) for dinner. The five of us spent the entire afternoon and into the night playing Trivial Pursuit, drinking red wine and eating enough food for the whole family.
 

I have an incredibly small family (me, mom, dad and grandma), but that doesn't stop us from still having a fun-filled Christmas Eve with our extended family - our friends. Every year from the time I was a baby to about middle school, there were four families all with daughters the same age. We would all gather on Christmas Eve at someone's house in the neighborhood, the 4 girls dressed in their holiday finest and exchange presents - it was such a great tradition and showed me that family isn't necessairly only the people you share a bloodline with.
 

Being the opposite of Jenn Hudson's situation, I have an ENORMOUS family and ever since they started "mating" (my affectionate term for marriage), we can barely keep track of whose child belongs to who. My favorite Christmas memory comes from an awkward moment of prayer. Ever year we gather round the kitchen, hold hands and pray to thank God for this past year. We usually go around in a circle and individually say grace. According to the tradition, this particular year all 25+ of us all started saying our prayers one by one. Then it came to Great Aunt Gertie, the oldest most precious person in our family (86 years old!). When we were able to nudge her lightly and say "Aunt Gertie- it's your turn" she had a slightly confused look on her face. She immediately started to spout off the Pledge of Allegiance. I have never wanted to laugh SO HARD in my life, but had to contain it. Literally, ever person in the circle was turning purple from holding in the laughter! When she finished (it took a little longer than usual), we all proceeded to crack-up, but fortunately, she is half deaf and couldn't hear us. She had a great big smile on her face and we just loved on her! Every time I think of that memory, I can't help but chuckle to myself and remember that family is funny, loving, warm and accepting no matter how "old" you get. I fully look forward to the day when I will gather round with my loved ones and sing the anthem!
 

Times were rough when I was young; it was just my mother and me. The budget was tight and all we could afford was a "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree." But boy did my mom know how to get creative and decorate that special tree! She bought lots of ribbon, thread, popcorn and ornament hangers. The house was filled with smells of yummy popcorn as we threaded all of the popcorn to go around the tree. Then my mom made little bows out of the ribbon for me to hang on the tree. That tree was a sign of our faith and what the true meaning of Christmas was.

To this day, we still have all of those bows that we hang on our Christmas tree. They signify our past, present and future. We will always have those bows and pass them on to generations to come.

The beautiful red and yellow bows are a sign of a mother's love and devotion.
 

I love Christmas at my grandparent's home in South Carolina. I have a HUGE extended family and we all get together and have the best time eating, watching football, and cracking jokes on each other. One Christmas it snowed and everyone (and I mean everyone) was in town. We had done a really intricate gift exchange and so all 1 million of my relatives were running around like crazy trying to figure out who gave them what. It turned out that my grandfather had given my grandmother an expensive suit, hat and a matching handbag. Well, my extremely reserved Southen grandmother giggled like a schoolgirl and my grandfather had the cutest little smirk on his face like he had conquered the world. That moment was so sweet and touching and is by far my favorite Christmas memory.
 

My mom and dad love this skit that they watched on Saturday Night Live called "The Night Harry Hannukah saved Christmas." So every year when we celebrate Hannukah (we only celebrate on one of the eight days) my dad dresses up as Harry Hannukah.

Over the years he has gotten bored with just being plain old harry hannukah, so he decided to spice things up a bit.

In 2001, Harry "Gorilla" Channukah came into our living room. My dad was dressed in a Gorilla Suit a'la 2001 a space odyssey and played the music from the movie as he entered the room.

One year "Harry Potter" Hannukah came to town, dressed in his Hogwart's robes complete with scarf and broom.

Mickey Hannukah Mouse graces us with his presence one year and then a year I will never forget is when Harriet Hannukah joined us, clad in my mom's dress, shoes and a dorothy wig I had worn for the preceding halloween. My sister and I were mortified, yet hysterically laughing at the same time.

We never know who we will attend in Harry Hannukah's place. My dad threatens not to do it every year, but this has become our holiday tradition.

I told him that he has to continue this for his grandchildren someday. . but never to dress up like Harriet Hannukah again.