Comments on: Contest: Book Giveaway for Your Weirdest Holiday Tradition

By: Debby

Debby — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:15:37 +0000

well that image didn’t work out at all! Behold the Christmas Snake here, on my sisters zoto page:

http://www.zoto.com/site/#USR.natalie::PAG.detail::dfd3eda7ff51e3212b9d6015d60f83f5

By: Debby

Debby — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:13:11 +0000

OK my family has a tradition called “The Hanging of the Christmas Snake.” Although it sounds like we’re offering a sacrifice to St. Nick, it’s actually just part of our Christmas tree decorating process. Did I say part of? I meant the climax of it all.

In most families the tree topper is the “dessert” of the tree. The most anticipate part of decorating. The part where everyone gathers around while it’s placed lovingly on top for all to enjoy. In our family we half-hazardly toss the tree topper on there like it’s a fruit cake after Christmas. But once it’s up there, a certain giddiness takes over the room. We know what’s coming up next. Christmas Snake, oh Christmas Snake. How we love thee.

With the family gathered around the tree my dad carefully walks past us, breaking the semi-circle of Christmas spirit that is our family. Holding the Christmas Snake just so, he places it on the tree so that it’s proudly and defiantly winding its way to the very top. You can see the Christmas spirit alive and well in our proud faces. So with the Christmas Snake mirrored in the close-hanging, colorful ornaments we sit and wonder….why the hell do we have a Christmas Snake? We honestly don’t know. But the holidays wouldn’t be the same without it.

I present to you…the Christmas Snake:

[img]http://www.zoto.com/site/#USR.natalie::PAG.detail::dfd3eda7ff51e3212b9d6015d60f83f5[/img]

Please note that this picture was taken last Christmas….we sincerely do this every year. The only difference is that now we’re old enough to carry the responsibility of placing the Christmas Snake ourselves. Yep, you read that correctly. WE get to place the Christmas Snake. I know. It’s a lot to carry on your shoulders. Oh, and our parents are now at the age that they do “miniature” trees since all the kids are gone. These “miniature” trees only make the Christmas Snake shine brighter.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:34:35 +0000

HA! One of my best friends does that!!! You’re not alone!

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:58:06 +0000

I know your a fellow Catholic, but most people have never heard of this one.

On December 6th (tonight), my family puts out one of their shoes so St. Nicholas can come for a visit and fill it with candy and small toys. As a child, I didn’t know one other family that did this, and when I spoke of it all my friends thought my family was weird (they were right). Whenever I asked my parents why we did this, their answer was always either “just because” or “because our parents did it.” Thank god for the invention of the internet! Apparently this all started with Christian in Europe. And it was around long before what we know as Christmas.

Sadly, since I have moved away from my parents and for the past 8 years I have set out my shoe and gotten nothing. Tonight I have set out my shoe again in hopes that he shows. The only thing I can think of is that St. Nicholas did not get my change of address I filed with the USPS. But that doesn’t make sense because Santa still brings me toys on the 25th.

http://molifetoday.blogspot.com/2005/12/happy-st-nicks-day.html