One vital part of celebrating the holidays is traditions. Whether you experience these holiday traditions with your family, friends, or other loved ones, they engender a feeling of joy, unity, and excitement.
One special holiday tradition our family has adopted since we moved to our current home over four years ago is visiting nearby Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
Each year on the day after Thanksgiving millions of colored lights turn on each evening until the end of December. There are free concerts and life size nativities from many countries around the world.
Our favorite part is always the Christ child, Mary, and Joseph sitting quietly in the reflecting pool directly in front of the temple. I think we love it because we believe it’s through Jesus Christ and sacred covenants made by families in the temple that they can be together forever.
They always construct two giant Christmas trees made of lights and giant gold sequins. They are quite the sight to behold–the photo doesn’t do them justice.
And if you stray off the beaten path a bit over behind the office building that houses the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints you see dozens of hand pierced luminaries with gorgeous Christmas images and the word “joy” in several different languages.
Once we finished seeing all the gorgeous lights there are to see, we always come home and have a cup of hot cocoa garnished with whip cream and peppermint sticks. Yum!
This tradition always seems to set the right tone for the holiday season. It helps me to remember why I do all the busy things I do during the month of December, and we always enjoy the family time together.
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
Nothing fancy… Just enjoying my family with peace. Peace in family isn't given to everybody and I enjoy it so much now that I am grown-up and that I have my own family. Your photos are gorgeous!