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Over the years, Christmas traditions have been a part of homes around the world. Some are new and some are old, but they each hold a special place in the hearts of those who enjoy them.

A hometown friend was the only girl in a family of six boys. Her dad loved trains. Her mom would make sure there was plenty of room for the trains, even cutting branches off the tree for space. After the tree was up, the family started putting the Christmas train together. It would go around the tree, continue behind the couch and somehow would end up back at the tree.

Each year her dad would buy another car for the train, making the train longer and longer, which meant more tracks. When her dad and mom were gone, the family went through the carefully wrapped train cars dividing them equally among her and the brothers. She keeps her train car, a steam engine, on her fireplace mantle. She said her brothers keep the train going, buying more cars and watching their families enjoy them going around and around the Christmas tree.

When she visits them at Christmas time, memories of her dad and mom and the Christmas train bring smiles and tears.

A new tradition is Elf on the Shelf. A friend explained she and her husband and young family love looking to see where the elf goes overnight. He is always in a different place, sitting quietly and watching. Their kids love to look for the Elf and when he is found, they yell, "There he is, Mom!" She then told me the Elf is Santa’s special helper who comes down from the North Pole to check and see who has been naughty or nice and always has the list in his hand. Her children are exceptionally good when Elf on the Shelf is in the house.

The tradition I enjoy is sending and receiving Christmas cards. Each card is special. Some have short messages; others have long letters and some just a name. I know of two Christmas cards that have travelled around the world. A young girl and her cousin keep sending the same large Christmas cards, bought in the 1950s. The young girl bought the card ,writing a short message and mailed it to her cousin. The cousin thought it was such a beautiful card, with the Christmas nativity on the front, she was not going to put away, but send it back the next Christmas. Then the cousin bought her own card, explaining that she hoped the card would sent back the next year.

As the girls grew up, moved away, came back, and moved again, the cards were traded back and forth After the girls were married and had families, the tradition became more important as there were times when they could not be together during the year. The arrival of the cards with its message meant it was time to get ready for Christmas and get the baking done.

In my childhood, a family who lived down the block were talented singers and musicians. They would dress up in the old English outfits, including long winter jackets and fur muffs and fancy hats, for the ladies. The men were in top hats and fancy suits. They would walk from home to home, singing beautiful Christmas carols.

My friend in Alberta is in love with the Grinch. She has a massive collection of Grinch Christmas ornaments and decorations. Her family members always make sure to give her another piece for her collection every Christmas. She said is started when she first saw the movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." She said watching it was like 小蓝视频 a kid again.

One tradition for Christmas I remember well. We had gone to my mom's for a big family Christmas, something we did not do often because of the distance and winter weather. The year we did go, my mom made sure we were going to be remarkably busy during our visit. We arrived with suitcases and three kids. In the large front porch stood a sad looking Christmas tree. It had one string of coloured lights. No one said anything. We could see the disappointment on the faces of the kids, until they got into the living room where stood a magnificent and beautiful Christmas tree with loads of lights, garland, tinsel, ornaments and presents. My mom could see the expressions on our faces. She said don’t worry, the other tree is for Christmas fun.

As the day and next day passed, the kids kept going to the sad little tree and looking. Our oldest daughter said, "It really could use some ornaments, Grandma." This is when my mom said, "Now it's time to decorate Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.” She supplied coloured paper, glue, sparkles and absolutely everything to make beautiful decorations. The kids had loads of fun and the lonely little tree looked beautiful on Christmas Day, as family and friends came for Christmas dinner. The tree was extra special for our oldest daughter, as someone nicknamed her Charlie Brown when she was born.

The best part of Christmas traditions is that, even in the middle of a pandemic, they are still part of the celebration.

To all our readers, have a Merry Christmas and the best in 2022. Always be safe.