By Mason Tyler
Staff Writer
As the holiday season approaches, communities come alive with vibrant displays of holiday customs and traditions that make this time of year special. Beyond the familiar sights and tasty delights, each family and culture has a unique story about its distinctive holiday practices, from centuries-old stories passed down through generations to modern twists on festive celebrations.
In this exploration of holiday tradition, we embark on a journey to uncover how people in the North Eugene community come together to celebrate this joyous time. Join us as we explore the fascinating traditions that make the holiday season worth celebrating.
Christmas Tree Rounds
My family’s traditions started just a few years before I was born in 2002. As the days grow colder and holidays come closer, my family, without fail, purchases a Christmas tree. These trees adorn our living room, weighed down by ornaments collected over time. But it isn’t just the tree’s decorations that hold our family narrative; it is the trunk itself.
Each year, before the tree was taken off the car and hauled by me and my brother into the house, we would stop outside and set it down. That is when my dad comes out from the garage with a saw in hand. And every year, my brother and I would stand while “helping” by holding the tree in place as he saws off a small round from the trunk. Once inside, we would etch the year onto the base of each round. The smooth concentric circles became a representation of our family history.
As the years went by, the rounds got bigger, reflecting three different living spaces over two decades. The first place my parents lived was a small duplex, shown by the tree rounds being small and thin in diameter. But when they moved into my childhood home and had my brother, the rounds got bigger. Then again in 2010, when we moved into our current home (now with taller ceilings!), the trees reached their peak. The numbered tree rounds mark our journey in the quiet glow of our family’s home.
This journey shows that, just like the annual tradition we hold dear, the true magic of the season lies in the ever-growing love of shared moments and enduring bonds.
Charlie Brown Trees
Following the theme of Christmas trees, senior Finn Gordon was interviewed about the unique way he and his family get their tree every year. For his first few holiday seasons, there was nothing special about how he and his family got their tree. Yet, one year, when he was eight years old, all that changed. In an attempt to reinstate a holiday tradition from when he was youger, Finn’s father decided they would not go to a Christmas tree farm that year. Instead, they packed themselves into a car and drove north up the Willamette River.
Once the asphalt had turned from a stony gray into a frosty white, they pulled over. Trudging through the snow into the deep forest, he and his family would keep their eyes peeled for a tree that struck their fancy. But Finn’s family sought something other than the traditional Christmas tree. Instead, they searched for what they affectionately call “a ‘Charlie Brown’ tree,” meaning one with a unique character. Most years, their trees are somewhat thin or a little less full than what’s expected from a Christmas tree. But it’s that unique quality that Finn likes so much, “it’s unique, and the joy comes from the tree looking different from everyone else’s, cause it’s like a real tree from the forest. It feels very authentic.”
It doesn’t matter to Finn what the tree looks like, but what the memories mean to him and his family. He thinks this tradition will be a key part of his hometown holiday visits once he graduates college, so he can look forward to many more years of these family memories.
Early to Rise
For Else Langan, a senior, the holidays were always a particularly happy time of year.
But as she’s gotten older, she has started to miss how it felt when she was younger. “It doesn’t have that same magic as when I was a kid,” she says. But for her family, one new tradition brings them closer together and helps her experience that familiar holiday feeling. Each Christmas Eve, she and her sister split off from the rest of the family. Together, they retreat into her room and host their very own sleepover.
To Else, this part of the holiday season is cherished; ever since her older sister moved out of the house, the holidays are a special time when her family comes back together, and she gets to spend time with her sister, just the two of them. But it’s not all fun and games.
Else and her sister make sure to go to bed nice and early, because in the morning they have a mission. At around 6:00 she and her sister wake up, and slowly move around the house waking each member of the family one by one.
Once everyone is mostly awake, together they open presents. Else had this to say about her holiday tradition “it’s special to recapture the energy I had as a kid, I remember being so excited about Santa and presents.” Through this holiday tradition she gets to feel closer to her family and younger self.
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