Holiday traditions are important because they give us a sense of meaning and a remarkable reminder of where we came from.
(from holidayroadusa.com).
Just look at the Griswold's … what would be good, old-fashioned family Christmas be without cutting down an enormous pine tree in the middle of nowhere (a little full, lots of sap)?!
The Community News Brief asked its staff and other area journalists to share their favorite holiday traditions and memories.
Those who responded to our request are included below.
Season's greetings and here's to a wonderful 2026!
Keeping Traditions Alive and Making Memories: Lynne Campbell, President & Publisher, Community News Brief & Community Market My favorite holiday memories are all about family. From the time I was a child, Christmas Day was always magical, thanks to my parents. They created excitement on Christmas Eve with tales of Ol' St. Nick — my Dad, who loved to tell stories, would speculate about where Santa could be right now, when he might possibly arrive at our house. Then came our endless questions: 'How does Santa reach every child? How can reindeer fly? We don't have a fireplace — how does he get in?’' Then we'd set out milk, cookies and a carrot for Rudolph.'
The next morning was never disappointing. When we walked down the hall and peeked around the corner, the tree would be brightly lit and filled with a number of surprises nestled underneath. Our favorite wish-list items were always unwrapped, front and center, because after all, those were the ones delivered by Santa. After Tony and I married and had our own family, I tried to keep the tradition alive. My in-laws always hosted Christmas Eve, along with my sister-inlaw's family. We'd enjoy a delicious homemade meal and plenty of sweets while watching the kids unwrap gifts — including their Christmas pajamas, a tradition from Grandma and Grandpa every year.
We'd head home to repeat the tales of St. Nick and field the same questions I once asked my parents.
Then came the real work: getting the kids to bed and beginning the long night of assembling numerous items and filling stockings.
On Christmas Day after the kids would wake and find their special gifts unwrapped under the brightly lit tree, we would hustle around and head to my parents to meet up with my siblings and their families.
Santa and Mrs. Claus appeared every year at my mom's for over 25 years, and Mom would make a pinata’ for the young kids to enjoy.
Today, at the age of 96, my mom still hosts nearly 50 people downstairs. We play games, and my sisters and I now do the 'heavy lifting.”
Mom still cooks the meal, her famous noodles, cream pie and sometimes Billy Sunday pudding, a family tradition passed down through my mother's family, always thought to be an old German recipe.
Now that our kids are grown and have families of their own, getting together on Christmas Day is almost impossible. We still take my mom and mother-in-law out to dinner and I continue to host a day that works with everyone's schedules, filled with games, good food and gift giving, After all, it doesn't matter what day we celebrate — as long as we're together, making memories.”
A Transistor Radio (and It's a Major Award!): Rich Egger, News Director, Tri States Public Radio I unwrapped a box containing an AM transistor radio on Dec. 24, 1971. I inserted the battery, turned it on and flipped around the dial, searching for something interesting. I found it. Live reports about a hijacking drama unfolding at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. It ended with the hijacker in custody and no one injured. I don't know if the hijacker ever said where he wanted to go, but he ended up going to jail on that Christmas Eve. I ended up listening to countless Cubs and Blackhawks games on that transistor radio throughout the 1970s.
I also spent many hours listening to legendary DJs like John 'Records' Landecker play the Top 40 hits of the day on broadcasting giant WLS.
As for traditions, my family gathers at my youngest brother's house every Christmas Eve. The marathon broadcast of 'A Christmas Story' plays on the TV in the family room.
Once upon a time we all watched the movie. Now the film plays in the background while gifts are unwrapped, conversations are held and dogs beg for a share of the food on our plates. Every once in a while, someone glances at the TV and blurts out a line in sync with the movie. One of my favorites: 'It is a lamp, you nincompoop! But it's a major award I won!' Cooking with Dad: Samantha Haney, Student Editor, Western Courier (Western Illinois University) Throughout the years, there have been so many moments where I've decided that they can't be beat. But the one that truly has a special place in my heart is this past Christmas Eve. My dad's family cycles through who hosts and this past year was our year. My parents planned a large meal, with a giant brisket at the center and side dishes including cheesy potato casserole and salad. Cooking started early, with my dad balancing oven time carefully since half of our oven is finicky. I sat down with him and helped schedule everything, scribbling down times in different colors as things changed. We were behind on the rolls so the casserole needed to be pushed back. The brisket needed more time so that needed to be prioritized. It went on and on. As family started arriving, I kept track of times and dishes, with my dad changing things every other moment. By the time everyone sat down to eat across two tables, I was exhausted but thrilled. Being part of the background, organizing and sorting things out for everyone, meant so much. Then, when we began presents, I was able to watch my cousin open her gift that I picked out for her. We aren't incredibly close with this side of my family, life always seems to be hectic and we haven't had much time for each other. But what she wanted was make-up and I was able to share one of my favorite brands with her. She loved it and it created such a special moment where we bonded over a shared interest. In all, it was just a really grounding day and one of my favorite memories Family Fun & Fresh Traditions: Tabitha Palm, Pagination & Graphic Design Manager, Community News Brief My earliest Christmas memories begin in Colorado with just our core family – mom, dad, my siblings Tiffany and Tyler and me.
The three of us kids would tear into presents before sunrise, then spend the entire day immersed in new games and toys. The year we got our first Nintendo was unforgettable! Moving back to Illinois brought richer family traditions. Christmas Eve meant gathering at Grandma and Grandpa Campbell's house, where the Ketchum kids reunited over a delicious meal and received new Christmas pajamas. The Raymond Christmas featured an enormous potluck dinner, followed by beautiful chaos: 40-plus family members (and growing) filling my grandmother's basement with excited children playing, adults catching up and everyone enjoying time together. We each carry fond memories of the pinata and gift exchanges while eagerly awaiting the visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus (aka Mark & Bev). My sons experienced these same traditions, plus new gatherings with the Palm/Polin and Miller/Berry families – with more great food and family connections. As a parent, I've layered in fresh traditions: personal Christmas trees in each boy's bedroom that they decorate themselves, annual gingerbread house construction or Christmas cookie decorating and the ambitious Elf on the Shelf (a commitment that proved more elaborate than anticipated). Christmas Eve always concluded with reading, 'The Night Before Christmas,' and leaving milk and cookies for Santa.
The festivities evolve as we age, but I treasure every moment spent with family during this season.
Craft Beer, Comfy Pants, Competitive Games, and Curious Cats: Morgan Payne, Graphic Designer, Community News Brief One of my favorite holiday traditions is enjoying the beer advent calendar from The Wine Sellers every December with my stepdad, Ted. We love trying the new beers and making up funny descriptions for them on the rankings sheet. It's something we bond over and look forward to each year. Another favorite tradition of mine is opening a gift with my mom every Christmas Eve and pretending not to know what it is, only to open it and find a pair of matching pajama pants to wear with her for the rest of the night and in the morning to open presents.
Staying at my parents' house every Christmas Eve to eat food, have drinks, and play games is my favorite tradition of all. My mom likes to find the oversized version of our favorite games to play, including Giant UNO and Giant SORRY. The SORRY game board is so big that it covers the entire living room floor and the game pieces are the size of our heads. We always laugh when the cats feel the need to investigate and lay right in the middle of the board as we are trying to play.
The Year of the Projector: Darcie Shinberger, Writer/ Editor, Community News Brief My dad is the oldest of eight boys, so the holidays were BIG on the Dyer side.
My grandparents rented the Moline Park District's Garden Center as it was the only place to hold the extended family, which included great aunts and uncles, their kids, my aunts and uncles, cousins. We dressed up, food was served potluck-style, and Santa would appear. I miss those extended family gatherings!
My immediate little family of four always took photos for a Christmas card as well – check out this one from the early 70s! We always went to the late candlelight church service (after the Dyer event), opened family presents, Santa arrived overnight and then we went to my maternal grandparents on Christmas morning. A later favorite memory is the year our daughter, now 28, wanted an overhead projector. Thank you, eBay! She and her best friend, Kayla, played school for hours on end. Best $40 ever spent.
Today, our traditions include our daughter coming home for the week (she lives out of state), our families gathering at my house for brunch on Christmas morning and then a pizza, movie (no holiday movies – we watched Jaws one year) and some Wii Bowling. Another tradition we had when our daughter was younger was shopping taking part in the Angel Tree program and ringing the bell, both of which I still try to do. My memories and traditions revolve around family, which is what the holidays mean to me. I'm so fortunate to have my parents here in Macomb now, along with my mother-in-law and my SIL and her family, which now also includes our great niece and nephew, and that our daughter and her significant other come home to join the celebration. We're making new memories and traditions every year.
A Party Fit for Firefighters & Families: Dylan Smith, Journalist & Anchor, WGEM My favorite holiday memory growing up was always attending my stepdad's annual fire department Christmas party. Santa was always in attendance, and he always gave everyone who sat on his lap a present. The party also catered some of the best local fried chicken in eastern Illinois. As you can see in the photograph, my younger brother Jack was not a fan of Saint Nick.
My step-dad has since retired from the Mattoon Fire Department after nearly 30 years of service there, so no more parties! I will always look back at those days with a smile.
Suiting Up as Santa: Patrick Stout, Writer, Community News Brief A few years ago, my wife, Waneen, made us Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus costumes. We wore them each time that we rang bells for the Salvation Army. I would also occasionally suit up when asked to play Santa Claus at public events. Once I subbed for the Macomb Santa (Larry Adams) and greeted people at the log cabin next to the courthouse. One family tradition we had was to throw an annual New Year's Eve party. It was based on 'old people's time' and ended at 10 p.m. instead of midnight.
We invited members of our church each year and some former members drove in from out of town.
