When I was a kid, I always looked forward to celebrating Chanukah. Every year we would gather at my Nana’s and she would have round laundry baskets filled with toys for me, my sister and my cousins. In the crazy days of Cabbage Patch dolls, my Nana even braved the crowds at Woolworths during a power outage to make sure the four of us had one! There was never a shortage of the potato latkes that she would fry and we would always smell like frying oil when we left her house. We would play dreidel, eat chocolate gelt (chocolate coins) and light the menorah. When I was younger I would spend so much time each night arranging the candles for the menorah so they looked pretty.
Me celebrating my first Chanukah is 1981
Now that I have kids, I love that I am able to pass my favourite holiday traditions onto them. I love that we get to spend quality time with family and friends during the holiday. My kids are very lucky to have 8 cousins to enjoy the holidays with and watching them all together is very special. This year, Princess Peach and Little Dude both loved helping to light the menorah and are into learning how to spin a dreidel.
Unlike Christmas, Chanukah is 8 days long making it a holiday that can be overwhelming with excess. My children are very blessed with everything they want and need that for one night we decided to give back. Instead of my kids receiving gifts from my husband and I, Princess Peach and I donated a huge lot of toys to Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. It is so important to give back especially during the holidays. Princess Peach kept saying that lots of kids will have smiles on their faces because of the toys we donated. I’m sure that will be the case and this will now be a yearly tradition of ours during Chanukah.
For this holiday seasons, Pampers has re-released their heartwarming Peace on Earth video!
I’m so excited to share with you that I am a part of the Pampers Baby Panel and will be sharing some awesome news, information and giveaways with you over the coming months!
Win It!
One lucky Canadian (excluding Quebec) reader will win a Pampers baby bundle. The bundle includes Pampers diapers, Pampers wipes and Ivory Snow detergent. Giveaway ends January 4, 2016 at 11:59 EST.
My favourite holiday memory was the first year my son opened his stocking. He took out everything out of the stocking and put his legs in the stocking. That went on all morning!
My favorite holiday memory is reading the book “the night before Christmas” with my parents
Sitting around my Dad’s table with all the family for Christmas dinner .
My favourite holiday memory is opening gifts around the tree with my siblings. It was always so much fun as a kid.
Getting the board game Trouble when i was 3!! was all i wanted was so happy when i got it!
My last christmas with my grandpa (Suzi)
My fave holiday memory comes from the late 60’s when my grandmother taught me how to make homemade marzipan!
My favourite holiday memory is going to the farm for Christmas and waking up early to open presents.
MY SON COMMING HOME FROM THE NICU 2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
the huge, LOUD family dinners at my grandparents house are one of my fondest childhood memories
Last Christmas because it was our first Christmas in our new home
it was the first christmas I had with my son.
My favorite memory is opening new pjs on Christmas Eve.
My uncle surprising us kids with a special visit from Santa. He has the full white beard and the belly full of jelly. Didn’t know it was him until years later
huge christmas gatherings when I was young usually about 50 family members were there
I can’t just pick one favourite memory! Their all great!
Seeing my kids run down to see what Santa brought them
Going in the woods with my father when I was small to cut that perfect Christmas tree.
my favorite holiday memory was when my brothers and I were small. I would sleep in their room on on the floor between their beds on Christmas Eve and we were just to excited to sleep so we would keep making up stories. eventually when we feel asleep whoever woke up first would wake the other two and we would go running into our parents room waking them up…usually it was around 5am
Christmas dinner
Christmas Eve
For me it was going to my grandmothers house for turkey dinner 🙂
Riding the holiday train through Stanley Park with my parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins one year was just the most fun growing up.
My favourite memories are the huge dinners and Christmas crackers at the end where we all put on the silly hats and read the jokes.
My favorite memory is driving around with my mom looking at the lights all around town when I was little.
Jonnie
Spending time with family and friends !
Singing carols with my siblings.
My favourite holiday memory would be going to grandmas for Christmas dinner on Christmas eve.
Decorating the tree with my grandparents was very special. Oh, and our tree was special too, it was always a pine 🙂
My favorite memory was Santa slipping and but his foot through the ceiling. The attic was a great hiding place apparently, Santa had a few too many,
My favourite Christmas memory is the year I found a kitten under the tree.
My favourite memory of Christmas is getting a Marie Osmond doll and aBiotic Woman one!
my favourite memory is waking up to both my girls and my boyfriend passed out on the couch all cuddling together with a christmas movie on in the background. made me feel warm and fuzzy in side!
Taking the baby to santa for the first time
I love all christmas memories! last year, we started a family tradition of going to a histoical, open air museum village all done up in christmas stuff… it’s AWESOME. this year, my hubby was able to join us.
Dinners around the table with our paper hats on from the Christmas crackers!
I love baking gingerbread with my kids every year.
going out and cutting down our own christmas tree , the wonderful scent in the house!
The year my grandparents from Ottawa visited us. It was their first ever Christmas with us & was very special.
My Fave Holiday memory is when Grampa and Gramma were still alive and had a huge Family Supper , it as so fun 🙂
My favourite holiday memory is spending boxing day with my extended family on my moms side.
Opening one present on Christmas Eve, while drinking hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols.
One year we had 2 Christmas’. Santa came both in Florida and had brought gifts at our house when we got back.
A few years ago , last Christmas where my Uncle was alive and could be with us and entire family was together one last time before we split for good and divided . My Nana got typsy on a cap full of beer and she was dancing and having a wonderful time .
My fav.holdiay.memory was from this xmas. It was my sons 2nd xmas and I will never forget the. Face he had whem he came down stairs and saw that santa had visited
My favourite recent holiday memory is when my son and daughter wore their matching pj onesie’s from Santa on Christmas morning.
lighting menorah with my grandfather as a kid
Our annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange with the whole family!
My favourite holiday memory was from this year, watching all my nieces and nephews play together and opening presents!
Getting that coveted cabbage patch doll!
Decorating the Christmas tree for the first time
My favorite holiday memory was going over to my grandma’s for Christmas eve dinner and gift opening and then sleeping over…my brother and I would run around playing tag in the dark in the basement when we were supposed to be sleep!
My favourite holiday memory was getting a new pet
My favourite holiday memory is of having the house full of family (immediate and extended) Christmas morning for a big breakfast. There were always lots of people who showed up.
– amber y
baking with my grandmother, mother and sisters so many great memories
my fave holiday memory is seeing my kids faces on christmas morning when they open their gifts , priceless !