The annual Festival of Trees is underway in Winslow. The festival has become a yearly destination for many families around the area as it begins the Christmas season.
Tasha Couchman of Winslow said, “I get my kids all bundled in their pajamas on Christmas Eve. We take hot chocolate and drive around town looking at Christmas lights and singing along to the Christmas music on the radio.”
Couchman is not alone in her family’s routine of looking at the lights of the season. Jessica Moncayo said, “For the past few years my husband and I have taken our kids and nephews and nieces out for a Christmas light scavenger hunt. We make a list of items to find and take pictures of them. It is a fun competition.”
Kristal Hayes of Joseph City has another tradition that was passed down to her and is now being shared with her grandchild. “Each person in the family chooses a new ornament that we put our names on. When the kids grow up, they take all of their ornaments from over the years to carry on the traditions in their own families.”
Traditions vary between heritage and upbringing but one that seems to be prevalent is Christmas Eve gifts. Tanisha Gamez of Holbrook said, “We always got to open one gift on Christmas Eve, it was always new pajamas, but we were still excited.”
Another popular holiday routine is Elf on the Shelf and other Santa Claus related games for children. Winslow mother of three, Laura Carrell explained that for her family, memories and charity take precedence over gift giving. “Our elf gives us something to do every day starting Dec. 1. He tells us to donate toys, go ice skating or sledding or even to pick an angel from the local angel tree.”
Jami McPherson of Holbrook agreed, “We don’t do the Elf, but we do have Santa cams. I put Christmas books and activities all over the house starting at the beginning of December. The house, of course, gets decorated with lights and then I put the ‘cameras’ up. I tell my kids that Santa’s elves use the cameras to help Santa watch all of the little children. It is a fun game and it works!”
No holiday season would be complete without traditional meals and food. There is always turkey and pies, but the Burns family of Winslow choose some family favorites instead. “We barbecue steaks and chicken at Christmas instead of turkey,” stated Jasmine Burns.
Retired Winslow teacher David Rublin also has fond memories of holiday meals. “Christmas breakfast has always been scrambled eggs with bacon in them and crens cuchin, a sweet bread with a filling of butter, sugar, cinnamon and dried fruits and nuts.”
Holiday traditions can be old or new and can be carried on for generations. Breeda O’Mahoney, an Irish immigrant said, “We would leave Santa a slice of my mother’s homemade Christmas cake. It was baked weeks ahead and received a daily Irish whisky spritz. When we moved to the states, Americans thought our tradition was weird.” However, the season is celebrated, traditions are what ties family and friends to the holiday.
To see the Festival of Trees, visit the Winslow Arts Trust Museum, located at 333 E. Second St. this week. Admission is free and it is open to all ages. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today through Saturday and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sunday.
