Over the holidays, college kids and far-flung family members travel home, so we relish the time to gather with loved ones. The kids may grow up and the adults get older, but one thing stays the same: our family traditions.
[mischievous merriment]
By now, we’ve all heard of Elf on the Shelf, the story and doll parents use to persuade their kiddos to behave during the holidays. But no one has more fun with the concept than the family of Katie Erpelding of Crestwood. She received the Elf as a birthday gift five years ago. “At the time, my older three kids were 6, 3 and 2, and they named the Elf Joe, after their dad,” Erpelding says.
Each year, the family reads The Elf on the Shelf together on Dec. 1 and leaves Joe on the Christmas tree. The first year, Joe simply moved to different spots throughout the house, Erpelding says. But as her six kids have gotten older—they now range in age from 2 to 11—Joe has become more mischievous. “He colored the milk green, TP’d the Christmas tree and spilled flour,” Erpelding says. “After the flour incident, my boys’ LEGO figures tied him up and guarded him with weapons drawn.”
[a meximas eve celebration]
Heavy roasts and decadent stews might come to mind when most think of the classic Christmas Eve dinner, but for the Wildwood family of Tricia Remm, it’s all about tacos.
“My dad’s family immigrated from Mexico to California, and they opened a Mexican restaurant,” Remm says. “On Christmas Eve, we prepare a taco recipe from that restaurant—it’s a tradition my family calls Meximas Eve.” The meal is rounded out with various Mexican-inspired dips and side dishes
prepared by Remm’s sisters.
The tradition started when Remm was a child, and she’s since passed it on to her own children. “We always did Mexican on Christmas Eve, and as my husband and I started a family, we took the tradition over,” she says. “I love how my family gets really into it. We’re all in such different places in life, but this is the one tradition where everyone makes sure to get together.”
[a festive affair]
When Nancy Stahlman and her family moved from Chicago to Wildwood nearly a decade ago, they wanted to start a holiday tradition kids and adults could enjoy together. A big holiday soiree was the solution. “This is our seventh year, and it’s been a way to incorporate non-family members into our Christmas celebration,” Stahlman says.
Around 60 people attend each year. To ensure guests have a magical evening, the Stahlmans include plenty of extraspecial touches, like a carriage ride around the neighborhood. Younger guests are entertained with a fun, crafty activity, such as decorating gingerbread or ornaments. A highlight of the night is an appearance by a certain bearded man. “Santa visits and reads The Night Before Christmas to the kids,” Stahlman says. “To help spread the holiday joy, we also have guests bring gifts for Santa to deliver to a local charity.”
Pictured: The Stahlman Family
