At this time of year I try my best to tune out the static and noise of overt commercialism that is nearly inescapable and focus on what I really like best about Christmas: the traditions.

As a  kid growing up in New Jersey, my family had time honored traditions that we’d observe every Christmas. When Carol and I started a family we began to create holiday traditions of our own. It’s these traditions, not the gift giving and receiving, that add richness to the holidays. There’s power in the rituals that are shared with the ones you love. Here are my two favorite Ferrera/Brennan Family Christmas traditions.

Burning Last Year’s Tree

When it’s finally time to take our Christmas tree down, I drag it into the backyard and unceremoniously toss it behind the wood pile. And there it sits. The needles gradually turn brown and fall to the ground, leaving a skeletal reminder of Christmas past. On the following Christmas Eve day, I cut off the branches then saw the trunk into five equal parts, one for each member of our family (my sister in law Kathy being the fifth). Later that evening after dinner we all gather around the fireplace in our living room. The Christmas tree lights sparkle, colorfully wrapped gifts ring its base. One by one we grab our section of last year’s tree and feed it into the crackling blaze. The sap-filled wood sends tongues of flames shooting up the chimney, illuminating our smiling faces.

Movies

Everyone’s got their favorite holiday movie, my family and I are no exception. Our go-to films are Home Alone and The Polar Express. Usually around the 22nd or 23rd we gather around the tv for a marathon viewing of Home Alone and Home Alone 2. We never tire of watching 8 year old Kevin McAllister foil the bumbling Wet Bandits lame attempts to burglarize his home. We know the dialogue by heart and anticipate with glee every prank that Kevin pulls on his inept intruders: a nail in bare feet, a blowtorch to the head, electrocution, it’s all in the spirit of Christmas!  A few years ago I surprised everyone with their very own Home Alone t-shirt, which we are now required to wear before I press play. Last year I added a little twist: we roasted hot dogs over the fireplace fire during the marathon, and will do so again this year.

The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg’s classic of children’s literature, has become required holiday viewing for millions of people, us included. It’s been our Christmas Eve movie since the kids were little. This tale of a young boy who begins to question the existence of Santa Claus, only to have his faith restored on an enchanted train ride to the North Pole, is sweet and sentimental without too much of the maudlin sappiness that permeates so many other Christmas movies. Tom Hanks is over the top as the train conductor, philosophical hobo and Santa. The scene on the train when the kids are served hot chocolate by a dancing troupe of mustachioed waiters is flat out psychedelic!

The film ends, the credits roll, last year’s tree has been reduced to ashes. My family and I settle down for a long winter’s nap but we leave the tree lights on, after all Santa’s got to have enough light to fill our stockings by.

Happy holidays everyone!