Family Traditions

First as a total side note, I just noticed that this entry in my blog is in fact my 100th blog. I don't know whether that is awesome or disturbing or both, but either way, I just thought it should be noted.

OK Family, I was asked to write a page about Solace's family traditions for her class. Following is what I wrote. Obviously skewed to more family traditions from my side of the family as that is what I could think of in the early morning hours as I tried to type it before taking her to school. Please family, leave comments and add the traditions I forgot so when I have to do this again, it will be a better list. And friends, I would LOVE if you would add your comments about your own fun family traditions-it is so fun to hear about others' traditions! I love it! Here is the letter I wrote:

"We have many family traditions throughout the year. Some of them are things that have been passed on for generations, and others are newer traditions we have started.
For Thanksgiving, we sometimes go to Utah to visit our family there, and sometimes we stay at our own home. When we go to Utah, we always eat traditional meals with mom’s family and with dad’s family. We play lots of games together as a family and usually in Utah we go to a movie on Thanksgiving evening. When we stay home, mom cooks a traditional turkey dinner (but it has a few Greek side dishes). Mom always watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade in the morning (she loves to see all the Broadway shows perform). I LOVED watching the parade with mom this year. My favorite part was the big balloons and the Jonas Brothers singing.
For my whole life, we have traditionally driven to Utah to spend Christmas with the family. We have many traditions on both sides. My dad’s family has Christmas brunch together every year. It is a huge breakfast that Grandma cooks, and it is SO good. Mom’s family always reenacts the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve. All the kids get to play a part, and my XiaXia (That means Grandma in Greek) wrote a script out that has the story from the Bible with songs interspersed. It is fun to do! Both sides of the family usually go to a movie on Christmas Day.
My dad’s family has a tradition where he and his siblings (there are 6 kids total) all exchange names to buy gifts for. Then on Christmas Eve, they open the sibling gifts. All the other gifts get opened on Christmas day. My mom’s family also opens one gift on Christmas Eve. It is always new pajamas! At my moms’ house it was always a rule that no kids could go out by the tree until all the kids were up and could walk in together. So, at mom’s family, we all have to wait together to open presents (that usually means mom starts waking everyone up at about 6 am).
On New Year’s eve, mom’s family always cooks Sauerkraut and hot dogs or sausages. It is a German tradition that is supposed to ward off the evil spirits as you ring in the new year. Mom’s family also makes traditional Greek New Year’s bread that we give to our friends and cut as a family. There is a coin hidden in the bread, and you have to cut it in a certain order (first piece for the Church, Second for Job, Third the house, then the dad, mom, and all the kids in order of age). Whichever piece has the coin in it is supposed to have great luck throughout the year.
Also on New Years Day, you have to call my Great XiaXia and say a phrase in Greek (mom is not sure how to spell it), and if you are the first one to call in the morning, you get a silver dollar! If you are later you just get a quarter or a dime.
Dad’s family every year has an all night party on New Years eve. They play games, traditionally Risk is the main one, eat a lot of food, and ring in the new year with all the family together. It is a big event with Dad’s cousins, aunts and uncles, siblings and parents every year. It is a lot of fun!
We have many, many more traditions every year, but those are the main ones we do during this holiday season each year. "