The aroma of pine needles and freshly baked cookies fills the air as Mooresville prepares for the arrival of Christmas. Homes are adorned with twinkling lights, carols fill the streets, and the spirit of the season is palpable. Amidst the hustle and bustle, families across the town are busy cultivating cherished traditions that will be passed down from generation to generation.
The Ellis family’s Christmas celebrations are forever intertwined with the memory of their late husband and father, Bill. Each year, their home is adorned with a handcrafted wooden sled, a testament to Bill’s love and craftsmanship. “Our decorations every year revolve around a handmade Santa sled my late husband built for the Christmas of 2005,” shares Karen Ellis. “Never did we consider it was his last Christmas. He died in April 2006 suddenly & unexpectedly at 42. No matter how many times or how far we moved the sled is always in tow. My husband was Bill – he built it after we went to Dollywood & I saw a beautiful sled I adored. He worked in NASCAR as a fabricator.” The sled, a poignant reminder of Bill’s enduring love, serves as the centerpiece of their holiday celebrations.
For the Allen family, Christmas Eve is synonymous with “Grinch Day.” The house is transformed into a whimsical Dr. Seuss wonderland, complete with green decorations and the mischievous spirit of the Grinch.
“Grinch day! Aka Christmas Eve Eve!” shares Lisa Rogers Allen. “We decorate Grinch cookies, drink Grinch juice, Grinch crafts, dress in Grinchy clothes and watch all 3 Grinch movies!!”
The Eskew family embraces a unique tradition of literary magic. “We wrap 24 Christmas books and unwrap one every night in December (and that’s the bedtime story for that night),” shares Alena Eskew. This daily ritual adds a touch of enchantment to the season as their daughter, now two years old, eagerly anticipates the next magical story.
The tradition of gifting new pajamas on Christmas Eve is cherished by many families, including the Tyson family. This simple yet meaningful tradition ensures that every Christmas Eve begins with a touch of comfort and excitement.
“Christmas Eve gifts include new pajamas for the entire family (not necessarily Christmas-themed). My parents did it for my brother and I and now 30 plus years later I’m doing it for my littles,” shares Ashley Jo Tyson.
For the Henderson family, Christmas Eve is a magical night. “We love baking and decorating cookies, sprinkling reindeer food in our yard on Christmas Eve, and going to the Christmas parade,” shares Dani Henderson. These cherished moments create lasting memories for the entire family.
The Babs family creates a cozy Christmas Eve tradition with a festive feast of appetizers, a magical drive to see twinkling lights, and an early gift to savor the anticipation.
Melissa Babs shares, “Christmas Eve we make everyone’s favorite snacks/appetizers instead of dinner, drive around to see lights and then come home to open one gift before going to bed.”
For the Spice family, the holiday season is a whirlwind of festive activities. “We love baking cookies, going to ride The Polar Express, turning our couch into a fort & lounging in pjs & watching Christmas movies, decorating the tree, seeing Santa, and attending the tree lighting,” shares Angela Spice. “We also have a very strong matching PJ game!” These shared experiences create a tapestry of cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
The tradition of exchanging gifts adds a special layer of excitement to the holiday season.
Rachele DS shares, “Christmas Eve we bake cookies and have an Italian meal for dinner Christmas Day. We wear pj’s that Santa leaves us, have bagels for breakfast and we watch the Disney parade.”
Paige Crees Bourdeau cherishes a tradition that creates lasting keepsakes: “Each year my daughter picks out an ornament that represents her for that year and I get us a family ornament. On Christmas Eve both sides of my family get together for appetizers and drinks at our house and we all play left-right-center. I love that we can all be under 1 roof and enjoy it all together. We also hang up a Happy Birthday banner on Christmas Eve to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.”
Christmas Eve for the Johnson family is a time of cherished traditions, beginning with a day of festive feasting and culminating in a special gathering.
Alicia Johnson shares, “Christmas Eve we eat all day! Around dark, we read the story of Christ’s birthday from the Bible that belonged to my husband’s late stepdad. Then we all do stockings and my kids exchange their gifts to one another.”
For Brittany Sells Boggs, Christmas Eve is a time for family, faith, and a touch of sweet magic. Continuing a cherished tradition from her childhood, Brittany embraces the true meaning of the season by baking a special birthday cake for Jesus.
“My mom baked Jesus a birthday cake and let me decorate it from a young age and we did it every year until I was older. Now I’ve continued that tradition with my own kids – they love it and it helps them remember the true reason for the season.”
Corina Yoder’s family has a unique tradition: “We do a Christmas Eve box! It’s the kids favorite thing, they get an ornament usually a snack and a cup for our movie night and matching Christmas Jammie’s for the family. I actually thought I’d not do it last year and my 12 year old said it was his favorite part of Christmas.”
The Lopez family’s Christmas traditions are a celebration of family and culture, from choosing their own Christmas tree to enjoying ‘Noche Buena’ with loved ones. This family’s tradition of combining Christmas tree hunting, holiday light viewing, and festive gatherings creates a truly magical holiday experience.
“The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we go and cut down our Christmas tree in the mountains and then decorate it,” shared Eve Seiryuu Lopez. “Then, every week from there, we go and see as many Christmas lights as we can! We also make gingerbread houses at some point. We get matching pajamas and go see The Polar Express. On Christmas Eve, we watch Christmas movies and bake cookies all day! That evening, we go to grandma’s to open presents (Noche Buena for the Latin folks), and then on Christmas, we open our presents at home from Mom and Santa.”
The Rose family embraces a touch of Christmas magic with the help of the ‘prep and landing elves’ who leave special gifts in slippers left out on Christmas Eve. “The kids leave their slippers out before bed on the 23rd,” shares Kristi Rose. “The prep and landing elves come that night to make sure everything’s set and leave a present in their slippers.” This delightful tradition adds a sprinkle of wonder to their Christmas Eve.
The Hart family cherishes the annual tradition of purchasing a unique ornament for each child during their vacations, creating lasting memories. These ornaments become treasured keepsakes, each one a reminder of the joy and wonder of their family adventures.”
“I buy each kid an ornament from vacations. I write the year and the city on the bottom,” shares Rachael Hart.
These heartwarming traditions, shared by the families of Mooresville, reflect the spirit of the holiday season – a time for togetherness, joy, and creating lasting memories.
