One of the great things about the holidays is hearing about the traditions that friends and other families enjoy. We thought it might be fun to check in with some of the movers and shakers in our community and let them share with you their holiday traditions:
***
Since he was about 4 years old, my son and I have had a tradition of adding at least one ornament to the Christmas tree each year. We always spend a day in the weeks before Christmas hunting around in antique shops for the most unique and funky ornaments we can find. Today, our tree is a fantastic hodgepodge of the vintage, kitschy, weird, and wonderful things we have found over the past 20 years. Shout out to our friends at Turlock’s Main Street Antiques for always having something we can add to our collection!
— Lisa McDermott, Director, Carnegie Arts Center
***
Ours generally revolve around food: homemade lasagna on Christmas Eve and Kaiserschmarrn (German dish) for dessert; homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast; chocolate cake for dessert on Christmas Night after a roast. So, my real holiday tradition is losing all the weight after that.
— Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse
***
When I was a little girl, we lived in Spain, and some of our friends would get me the Swiss Toblerone chocolate. And I continued that tradition with my kids. Our Elf of the Shelf — Miss Swiss — shows up with the Toblerone chocolate the day after Thanksgiving, and she also brings the kids money to help out with purchasing Christmas gifts. We all go and shop and the kids love it, even though they’re not allowed to buy anything from themselves. Also, I prepare Christmas Eve dinner each year, and I serve up prime rib. Finally, I always take my daughter, Brooke, to see “The Nutcracker” at the Gallo Center — just the two of us.
— Jenny Roots Sousa, owner, Rustic Roots
***
Every year my family and my wife’s family get together on Christmas Eve and we play a trivia game. I personally believe my father-in-law, Kurt Warner, is a genius, and he wins every year. So, this year, I bought a Disney trivia game — I believe I have the win in the bag because I’m a Disney fanatic (not sure I want to admit to that).
— Shaun King, Hughson High School football coach
***
The holidays are a special time. My mother’s birthday is on Christmas Eve, so Christmas/birthday festivities are at my house. Christmas Day is semi-controlled chaos at Frank and Marie Assali’s home, with four generations of Chiesa/Assali families and friends. Polenta is our traditional meal, and everyone has taken part in preparing it over the years. We always have a special visit from ol’ St. Nick, who brings gifts. And we sing carols around the Christmas tree. It’s a wonderful time of year with family and friends. We feel blessed and thankful.
— Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa (District 2)
***
Every year my family and I look forward to viewing the lights on “Christmas Tree Lane” and eagerly waiting for Santa to drive by on his fire truck. I loved those events as a child, so it’s special that I can still share those unique, local traditions with my children. Christmas is also my birthday, so being around loved ones for a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ after Christmas dinner makes the day extra special for me.
— Turlock City Councilmember Cassandra Abram (District 3)
***
Every Christmas Eve, my family gathers to share a special tradition of waiting for Santa’s arrival. Aunt Mary gathers the kids in the living room to sing Christmas carols, their excitement building as they anticipate Santa’s visit. When Santa arrives, he brings stockings for the kids and takes a special photograph with each family. After Santa leaves, the adults play a white elephant gift-exchange game, and at midnight on Christmas we all open gifts together.
— Turlock Police Chief Jason Hedden
***
With the Duarte family, our most unique Christmas traditions are poinsettias at the nursery. Many of our friends visit during this time and we love to reconnect. My wife, Alexandra, makes beef Wellington for Christmas dinner. It is a three-day process and we all look forward to it. Christmas dinner includes Australian/English “crackers” with silly tissue crowns, dad jokes, and goofy prizes. Plenty of non-politics distractions. Highly recommended. After dinner, lighting up the fireplace for dessert and settling in.
— Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto)
***
Since I came to Turlock, one of my favorite holiday traditions has been attending Christmas sermons in our many wonderful churches. There’s something truly special about coming together as a community to reflect on the meaning of the season, surrounded by beautiful music and the warmth of fellowship. Each sermon carries its own unique message and spirit, reminding us of the hope and joy that Christmas brings. Turlock’s rich diversity of churches makes this tradition even more meaningful, as it offers the opportunity to experience the season through different perspectives and traditions. It’s a time to pause, give thanks, and connect with others, and it always fills me with gratitude for this city I’m fortunate to call home.
— Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak
***
My family didn’t always get to enjoy Christmas together because of my career in law enforcement. So, you make Christmas time together whenever you can. We would make it a point to walk through neighborhoods with Christmas lights, drinking hot cocoa. The “Christmas Tree Lane” experience in cities such as Turlock, Ceres, Oakdale, and Modesto are wonderful. We try to make it a point to spend as much time together as possible. It gets harder and harder, especially now that my children are grown, moved out, and have their own families. But we understand the importance of family during Christmas. So, we continue the tradition to this day. As a matter of fact, we’ll get to enjoy Christmas lights (today).
— Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto)
***
As long as Jill, my wife, and I have been together, we always opened one gift and only one gift on Christmas Eve night, and it was always the same one: pajamas. Even when we added our wonderful daughters, Emily and Abby, to our family, the tradition maintained. With time, the tradition reflected a unique theme. For example, one year, all received pajamas inspired by the TV show, "The Office," proudly showcasing designs from Dunder-Mifflin. The girls would try to anticipate the theme each year, which added some fun to the process. The next morning, all of us would congregate around the Christmas tree in the family room wearing our first gift of the holiday season. These special pajamas symbolize not only comfort but also togetherness, as we gathered in our festive attire, ready to share Christmas morning together.
— Dave Kline, Turlock High School principal
***
The Freeman family traditions are going to Grandma and Grandpa Freeman’s house on Christmas Eve to spend time with family, exchange presents, and play games. Christmas morning has always been my family of four starting the morning by waiting to see if Santa came; opening presents with the kids (who are now 22 and 19) and the dogs. We then go to Grandma and Papa Tribble’s house for breakfast, presents, and family. For the past 23 years, since I have been married to my husband, we have had the tradition that all family members who can come are invited to our house for Christmas dinner, where we focus on food, family, and just hanging out. We feel that family is the most important part of Christmas and after all the presents are opened, the true tradition is being together, creating memories, and spending time with our loved ones.
— Angela Freeman, Pitman High School principal
***
Our only real holiday tradition is attempting to get together with as many of our family as possible. Much of the family is in healthcare, law enforcement and fire service or EMS. All of which go on 24/7/365. We start a conversation way before the holidays to see who has what days off around the holidays, then plan our celebration on the day that most people are able to attend.
— Turlock City Councilmember Kevin Bixel (District 2)
***
Christmas movies! “Home Alone” (1-3), “White Christmas,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” We also make a Christmas bark (graham crackers, butter and chocolate); I’ll also make chocolate-chip, oatmeal and walnut cookies; and we’ll experiment with new recipes. Finally, I’ll share with interested individuals my newest book of poetry, and then start on the one for next year.
— Jeffrey Lewis, president and CEO of Legacy Health Endowment, and EMC Health Foundation
***
My family always plans to get together on Christmas Eve. Whether it’s at my mom’s house or one of my aunts’ houses, we make sure to get as many family members together to create holiday memories. My family is from Mexico, so you can count on someone making tamales, pozole, enchiladas — you name it. This is the time of year I get to enjoy some good food. We also organize games that are trending. My dad loves to sing, so we do karaoke. Another tradition that one of my aunts or my mom organizes is the singing of carols to El Niño Dios, a Mexican tradition where the child of God is celebrated on Christmas Eve. El Niño Dios (a doll-like figure) is dressed in new clothes, while someone holds him and passes by guests, who bring him gifts, such as candy. Everybody has an amazing time and it’s a blessing to be able to celebrate together. We’re only getting older, and I want to make as many amazing memories with them as I can.
— Turlock City Councilmember Erika Phillips (District 4)
