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Tag: Family Celebrations

  • New Year’s Eve with Families!

    New Year’s Eve is a memorable occasion for celebrations. Celebrations of lasting memories with family and friends. It’s the opportunity to reflect and look forward into the New Year of becoming better versions of us, planning your future, or maybe it’s about anything, you name it. As long as it’s positive and you’re happy, that’s all that counts!

    How Do We Celebrate New Year’s Eve?

    My family usually spends New Year’s Eve at my uncle and aunt’s house. It will be quite a gathering of family members. Most of whom are my uncle and aunt’s side of the family. We’ll get to meet our uncles, aunts, and cousins. And few who are distant family members. All in all, we had a wonderful time. Every family member brings in delicious foods and drinks. There will be a variety of dishes, most of which are traditional Mexican cuisine. For instance, tacos dorados, pozole, tamales, carne asada, and the list continues. It’s indeed a lot. Everyone’s having a good time chatting, younger cousins running around, some heading out to the backyard and playing soccer, others dancing, drinking, music playing in the background, etc. Once the midnight countdown begins, we all are gathered at the living room eating our 12 grapes of luck. We then wish each other a Happy New Year! Give each other warm hugs. 

    What Are the Things I Want to Do Next Year?

    There are many things I would love to do in the upcoming year. First as I’ve previously posted on one of my posts, planning a summer family vacation to San Diego, California. We haven’t taken a family trip in quite some time. It would be wonderful to visit my grandma in Mexico. I haven’t seen her in quite some time, even though we talk on a daily basis through phone calls. I miss her warm hugs and kisses!

    May you and your loved ones be healthy and happy!

    Happy New Year!!

  • Creating a Magical Christmas Experience

    The festive mood sets in with the approach of the Christmas season. This period is magical as it carries twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the feeling brought by shared moments that are altogether charming. It is not just the aesthetic aspect of Christmas that makes it beautiful, but also the feelings and customs of it.

    However, the ideal Christmas involves a mixture of old traditions and creativity, making each element exciting and beautiful (Storti, 2019). The main focus of this celebration is around the Christmas tree, which symbolizes the spirit of joy during the event. I will make the tree attractive by dressing it with silver and gold ornaments, bringing out the festive mood. These shimmering decorations would be balanced by hand-crafted pieces, giving personal charm and uniqueness. The tree would have elegant stars that shine at the top, with fairy lights wrapping around its branches, making it comfortable and inviting.

                                 However, the essence of Christmas is much broader than just the decorations. It is embedded in the joy of associating with people you love. (Kasser & Sheldon, 2002) It is a cozy gathering where all family members and close friends get together to tell jokes, laugh, and enjoy each other’s body heat. The winter air would have been fragrant with the aroma of gingerbread houses that were being built, the caroling sound, and the rustle of paper as perfectly picked gifts were being swapped around the warm crackling fireplace.

    A trip to a Local Christmas Market or Event is a fitting addition to this ideal celebration. These venues surely feel like Christmas, full of bustle stalls, glimmering lights, and the smell of mulled wine in the air. The sound of carols, laughter, and hand-crafted goods gives an impression of holiday cheer and community spirit, which is the essence of Christmas.

    Thus, Christmas is when one can appreciate it as a feast in all possible senses – the beauty of adornment and decorations or lighting, tradition and creativity or artistry, and above all, the beauty of being together with family members. It is a time of wonder; in every instant and tradition, each recalls the delight and glory of this holiday.