One of our holiday traditions used to be the family trek to the tree farm to pick out the Couto Family Christmas Tree.
We would usually go the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving, pick out the perfect tree, take turns cutting it down with our saw, and spend that evening decorating our fragrant, freshly cut evergreen.
The tradition continued even as my siblings and I got older… and we’d bring along our boyfriends and girlfriends to take part in our little holiday ritual.
But then we started to go off and get married… and some of us began to have families of our own (the nerve!)… and some Thanksgiving long weekends began to take place in different states, where the in-laws lived…
And soon the Couto Family Christmas Tree became the kind that can be packed up and stored in the basement when the season is over, and re-assembled in twelve month’s time.
But Mom and Dad are big on tradition. And so they created a new one for us… one that would entertain their adult children and their young grandchildren alike.
And so in 2004, for the first time, we traveled – all 15 of us, at the time – to see the Rockettes perform at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
It was, indeed, so spectacular that we again made the trip in 2005 and 2006.
And now this weekend we will continue this new(ish) tradition for the fourth time in a row.
We’ve added two kids to the brood since 2003, so now all 17 of us will take Radio City by storm.
Even though I have no human kids of my own (my doggies can’t come to the show), I look forward to this tradition every year.
To see the excitement in my nieces’ and nephews’ eyes.
To see my parents happy to have the whole family together.
To have a tradition that really means something to us all.
As for the men? I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that they get to see lots of Rockette cleavage.
– Jane
Cross-posted at New England Mamas
wow, what an awesome adventure! 17 of you! WOW! I hope you all have fantabulistic time 🙂
You’re so lucky! I have always wanted to go to New York for the holidays. It must be amazing!
My Family and I usually go see the Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol as a family! I love traditions. I make me feel safe and secure!
Have a fabulous time!! What a fun new tradition!
That sounds like so much fun! My family never was very big on traditions so I became determined to have some for my children. I think that having something they can count on is so important and they really do love it.
Have fun!
Your sassy conclusion took the words right out of my mouth! 🙂
What a great way to have a tradition evolve as the family changes. I know my mom mourns for those old traditions that are no longer possible. Instead of creating new and different (yet still memorable) traditions, she laments the fact that it can’t be as it once was.
Kudos to your family for evolving!!! And still enjoying each other’s company!
What a thrill of a tradition. But you’re right, the best part is the entire brood together…no matter where. Have a safe and fun trip.
We have so many traditions…I just dare my boys to grow up and move on…I just dare them! 🙂
I miss Radio City Music Hall…what fabulous shows. This is a very nice tradition.