GREEN VALLEY’S HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Some of my family’s Christmas traditions have changed over the years, but the important ones remain the same.

We always begin the holiday festivities by gathering the family together for a tamale dinner on Christmas Eve. Afterward, we each open one present before we head to the midnight candlelight service at our church.

On Christmas morning, my parent’s Miniature Schnauzer, Liebe, wakes everyone up at the crack of dawn by jumping on our beds and going crazy. (Somehow, she knows its a special day, and acts accordingly.) The family groggily makes its way to the living room, where we have stollen (a delicious German fruitcake) and my mom’s hot chocolate, before we pass around the presents while watching the Macy’s Christmas Parade on TV.

We then proceed to stay in our PJ’s for as long as possible, and laugh along to one of our favorite holiday movies, “A Christmas Story,” before we get ready for the big Christmas dinner with extended family.

Now that I have to fly back home for the holidays, one tradition I miss out on is the family trip to the Christmas tree farm and decorating the tree with my parents. They always have a good-natured fight over which lights and ornaments to put up that year, and I always got the honor of topping the tree with the Christmas angel.

I also no longer have a say in what kind of tree we get. No more tall, elegant trees that can hardly fit through the front door, but a “short and fluffy” tree small enough to put on a table (so Liebe doesn’t try to attack it, and eat the presents, as she has attempted in the past).

But whatever the tree looks like, and whatever traditions are altered by time and by simply growing up, Christmas will always be a time for families to show their love for one another. They do this by baking cookies, singing songs, and enjoying the winter weather — together. These are the small things that create the moments we look forward to all year long.

I asked a few Green Valley and Sahuarita residents about their own traditions, and their answers follow.

Green Valley Fire Capt. Melissa Smith has lived in Green Valley eight years, and is originally from Minnesota.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: When my kids and I read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” right before we go to bed on Christmas Eve.

Favorite Holiday Song: “Silent Night”

Favorite Holiday Movie: “Miracle on 34th Street”

Rev. Randy J. Mayer is the minister of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Sahuarita. Originally from Helena, Mont., he and his family have lived in Sahuarita for 10-and-a-half years.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: On Christmas Eve we have two worship services at church, but there is about an hour and a half between the services when my family and I rush home and have a special meal, open one present, and enjoy the blessings of life and family.

Favorite Holiday Song: Without a doubt, Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.”

Favorite Holiday Movie: The great holiday classic of Arlo Guthrie’s, “Alice’s Restaurant.”

Ed Clarke retired to Green Valley in 1991 from Orange County, CA, where he was a Chief Deputy Probation Officer in charge of juvenile institutions. He is originally from Montreal.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: Opening presents Christmas Eve with our two sons and granddaughter.

Favorite Holiday Song: “White Christmas,” by Bing Crosby.

Favorite Holiday Movie: “It’s A Wonderful Life,” with Donna Reed and James Stewart.

Mari Bon is an Advertising Executive with the Green Valley News who has lived in Sahuarita nine years. She is originally from Nogales.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: My family and I have dinner on Christmas Eve, and our traditional dish is tamales. After dinner we all attend Christmas Eve church service. Another tradition is baking with my daughter Aissa — while the boys watch football!

Favorite Holiday Song: “Feliz Navidad,” — it has such a good, happy beat!

Favorite Holiday Movie: The claymation movie, “The Year Without a Santa Claus.” I remember watching this movie as a child, and now enjoy watching it with my own children.

Raul Gomez is an Administrative Specialist for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s Green Valley Station and is a Tucson native.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: Making and eating red chili tamales. My wife gets all of her brothers and our daughter together to make dozens of tamales each Christmas, and when we mention what we are doing, folks always want to know if we are selling them. We really enjoy getting the family together to do them!

Favorite holiday movie: Right now, “Four Christmases.”

Diane Alexander Meyer is a retired Healthcare Policy Consultant from Washington, DC, who has lived in Green Valley two years.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: My favorite holiday traditions are a mixture of Hanukkah and Christmas. For Hanukkah it is always the traditional candle lighting, food (especially potato latkes with sour cream or applesauce made by my Auntie Ruthie), and gifts (one for each of the eight days — what could be better?). But what I always liked best is that on Christmas we would volunteer to work so Christians could be off. Once my husband Dan and I were even Santa’s Grandma and Grandpa and we handed out gifts to the adults in a homeless shelter.

Favorite Holiday Song: “Dreidel,” which depicts the game of dreidel, played for “gelt,” which is my family is chocolate rather than real coins.

Favorite Movie: A tradition for my and many Jewish families is to go out for Chinese food and a movie on Christmas Eve. We usually see whatever is the best reviewed movie that year.

Laura Acosta is a Community Outreach Specialist with United Community Health Center, Inc, in Green Valley, and has lived in Sahuarita 11 years.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: Opening one gift on Christmas Eve, then waking up early on Christmas day to have hot chocolate or coffee and sit in front of the fireplace, listening to Christmas songs with my husband and daughter.

Favorite Holiday Song: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

Favorite Holiday Movie: “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Karen Morales is the General Manager of the Country Fair White Elephant and has lived in the Tucson-area most of her life.

Favorite Holiday Tradition: Going to the evening candlelight services at church on Christmas Eve with all of my family. After church, we all head back to my mom’s house for food, presents and fun. As kids, my mother always told us that Santa stopped at our house first since all of our presents magically appeared under the tree by the time we returned from church service.

Favorite Holiday Song: Faith Hill’s version of “Where are you Christmas” from the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Favorite Holiday Movie: “Miracle on 34th Street”

And for the record, my favorite Christmas song of all time is “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree!”

Merry Christmas!

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726