Amid preparing for the “most wonderful season,” do you stop and ponder why there are special things you must do—things you were brought up to do and wish to continue doing? We did. We are somewhat driven by what our parents did, who probably did what their parents did, and so on. Many of our traditions date way back, so we became interested in our heritage and how we have been shaped by our ancestors.
Christmas is celebrated all over the world in many unique ways. In Iceland, children leave their shoes out each night for 13 days before Christmas. If they’ve been good, they’ll find a small gift from the Yule Lads in the morning, but if they’ve been bad, they’ll find a potato.
While we don’t have Icelandic heritage at our SFS team that we are aware of, we would like to share a little more about us and how we celebrate.
John’s father was half Irish and half German. Stollens are a huge part of their Christmas, as they are in Germany. His mother was 100% Polish, so midnight mass is a must. His family decorated on Christmas Eve before midnight mass, leaving their tree up through the Epiphany.
Angela’s father was Irish, and they always enjoyed a special Christmas cake. Her mother was English; they grew up participating in nativity plays and caroling throughout the neighborhood. Christmas was not complete without plenty of fruit, nuts, and candy, which were placed in their stockings. Angela fondly recalls the warmth of singing together, which brought her family closer and created cherished memories.
Kenny’s ancestors were English and enjoyed the tradition of hanging mistletoe, a practice dating back to the 1700s. He shares that a funny thing about mistletoe is that it is a parasitic plant that grows in treetops. Growing up on the farm, he would go out in the woods, shoot it out of the treetops, and collect the perfect size piece to hang. Due to its poisonous nature and scarcity, he suggests using some fake mistletoe instead to follow this tradition. This connection to nature and traditional customs continues to bring meaning to his celebrations.
Noah is not entirely sure where the Delk family came from but believes the name is most recently from England. Like Kenny, he and his dad would gather mistletoe after Thanksgiving to prep for Christmas decorating. This tradition, attributed to the Victorian era, included a custom where, if a man requested a kiss under the mistletoe, it was deemed bad luck for the lady to refuse. After each kiss given under the mistletoe, one of the berries would be taken away until no berries remained, at which point no more kisses could be granted.
Just as Noah treasures his mistletoe tradition, he also deeply values reading the story of Jesus’ birth from the book of Luke on Christmas Eve. Forty to fifty members of the Delk family get together every Christmas Eve to celebrate the holiday and keep the tradition going that his great-grandparents started many years ago.
Trey’s ancestors are Irish, and he enjoys Christmas Eve mass and large family gatherings, followed by warm meals and Christmas movies by the fireplace. He looks forward to Christmas Eve prayers, final setups with his young girls, and the joy of Christmas morning— The moments spent connecting with loved ones and sharing heartfelt prayers for the season.
Daniel’s family has deep roots in the Appalachian region, with English ancestry shaping many of their traditions. They celebrate with a focus on community, gathering around to play games that bring everyone together in laughter and friendly competition. This emphasis on togetherness and merriment reflects English holiday customs, where communal activities and festive gatherings have long been a hallmark of the season. Alongside the games, they enjoy hearty dishes like roasted ham and apple pie, making the celebrations even more memorable.
Allye’s family celebrates Christmas Eve with a special tradition: exchanging holiday books with handwritten messages inside and one small gift. This connects to her Scottish and English heritage, where storytelling and literature have long been cherished. The books become keepsakes, symbolizing love and connection across the years.
All of these traditions keep us close to those who are no longer with us and remind us of the shared love and joy that make the season so special.
We hope your Holidays are full of love, peace, and good health!
