In my previous posts I’ve discussed traditions that existed in my family when I was younger and still lived with my parents. There weren’t a lot of them. Our only true tradition revolved around buying our Christmas tree. Most of our other traditions revolved around the types of decorations we put up: nutcrackers, Christmas village, and the actual tree, but those aren’t traditions that everyone can participate in. They’re simply items to look at, ones that boost the holiday spirit.
However, thinking on it more, there was one tradition that resided in my house during the Christmas season: a holiday puzzle. Silly, huh? It’s not anything crazy like baking funny cookies, going to a Christmas market, or anything else. Nor is it an activity that a family can do in an hour. Instead, it’s an activity that takes places over the course of December.
Someone in the family would pick out a puzzle from our large assortment, generally a Christmas puzzle, and we’d dump out all 1,000 pieces on our formal dining room table, (which was only used three times a year: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.) This was the best place for it because it was large enough for the puzzle pieces and it was out-of-the-way. At least until Christmas day.
So, from December 1st to the 25th each of us would take whatever spare time we had and would work on putting this puzzle together. It wasn’t always a group activity. (We didn’t all have free time at the same time,) but it was something we did every year. Some years we finished the puzzle. Other years it went back into the box half-finished. (Usually the harder ones didn’t get finished.) Even if we didn’t finish, it was still fun, something to do during the holiday season, to unwind, to just lose yourself in, and it’s one of those traditions I still enjoy today and hope to enjoy in years to come no matter where the tides take me.
This year, we’re still in the process of finishing this puzzle, but that’s fine. It has been an absolutely crazy, no-down-time kind of December and with that being said, I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made since we started it. Not to mention, we still have two more days to finish this puzzle. Will it get there? I dunno. Do I care? Not anymore. :p Because in doing this puzzle with my brother and sister-in-law I’ve realized that it’s not about finishing the puzzle. It’s about spending quality time with family during the holidays. The puzzle just happens to be a way to do that. ^.^
| Movies To Watch 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Home Alone 2 8) Nothing Like the Holidays 9) 10) 11) 12) |
Activities To Do 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Build a Snowman 8) Snowball Fight 9) Complete Holiday Puzzle 10) Read ‘A Christmas Carol’ 11) Christmas Party 12) |
Are puzzles part of your Christmas traditions? Are do you abhor them and their numerous pieces?
Melanie Noell Bernard 
I think that’s an awesome tradition!
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Thank you! I’m happy it’s one I remembered from when I was younger and one that I can continue to celebrate even as I grow up. ^.^ It’s like keeping a piece of childhood with me.
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My uncle used to have puzzles made from a photograph he took during the year. The 25-26 were often spend trying to figure out what the image in question was. If it was a family portrait then it was easy, but once it was a picture of a modern building not so easy… Those have been fun moments. 🙂
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Oh! That sounds so cool! The puzzle we’re actually doing right now is a painting and it’s so difficult because of the brush strokes and the multiple different shades of one color, but it’s fun. ^.^ (Not sure I’d want my face on a puzzle though. :p)
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