Early Christmas

Tradition. Passed down from generation to generation, family to family. It exists for years, decades, and possibly forever. Everyone has a tradition, whether it’s big or small. My favorite tradition happens every Christmas Eve at 9 pm.

“Time for gifts!” My Gramma announces to my family. “Come to the living room.”

Bursting with joy, we run to the tree. My Gramma hands a rectangularly shaped gift to my brother and me. We rip open the wrapping paper. Our older cousin, Sophie, is still walking to the tree.

Under the gift wrap, it’s a game! Every year, my Gramma buys us a game so we stay occupied at the Christmas Eve party. The only people who play are myself, my little brother, and sometimes Sophie. This year, it’s Bop It!

“You guys have to wait,” my mother says as she takes the game. “We have to finish eating.”

My little brother and I groan as we walk to the table. Usually, the food is salad, pasta, meatballs, and chips. It changes year to year but there is one thing we always have – cookies and candy. It could never be Christmas without sweets!

After we eat and play games, we are at my Gramma’s Christmas party until midnight. We take some of her amazing cookies home with us for Santa Claus. My family never has time to bake, so my Gramma offers us some since she always has a ton of baked goods.

In the morning, my grandparents come to my house early in the morning to open presents. Christmas is my favorite time of the year to spend with my family.