As the air turns crisp and the streets glow with festive lights, there's a magical anticipation that sweeps through our homes and home offices – the unmistakable arrival of the holiday season. 'Tis the season for twinkling lights, cozy gatherings, and the sharing of traditions that turn the ordinary into something extraordinary. Each December, the focus at Big Spoon shifts from marketing strategies to quality time with friends and family as we close our office from Christmas through the new year. We invite you to gather around the digital hearth and join us as our team members share the unique family traditions and favorite heartwarming memories that we cherish each holiday season. 

Taylor

I have two holiday traditions that I hold close to my heart:

1. Watching the Christmas parades while eating Christmas breakfast with my mom and then we always watch a Christmas movie right after.

2. We typically eat dinner at my aunt’s on Thanksgiving but my mom will always cook a meal just for the two of us to eat on Saturday and it’s always so special and intimate just being me and my mom and I always look forward to those moments with her.

Barb

My favorite thing about the holidays is the fancy decorations! This holiday season, I will make my homage to Colonial Williamsburg to see the festive lights and greenery. My sister and I would visit our mother, who worked on the property, and eat at her favorite restaurant The Blue Talon. French, delicious and cozy. Yes, they have fondue on the menu, a must have. Julia Child is always cooking on the bar television with no sound - the old black & white versions. From my college days until now, this is my favorite holiday tradition.

Enrique

Christmas in Guatemala and El Salvador is celebrated on the 24th not the 25th. Meaning a nice dinner (steak, turkey or ham), presents and fireworks all take place on the 24th sometimes as late as past midnite. It's common for both family and friends to visit each other in the evening of the 24th. The 25th is a day reserved to be spent with immediate family, eat tamales and be lazy.

Karlyn

My favorite Christmas tradition has to be my annual family outing to Washington DC to attend the Navy Band Christmas concert. The festive atmosphere, the beautiful music, and the holiday spirit always make it a magical experience. After the concert we stroll around the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House, enjoying all the festive decorations and lights. We then cap off the evening with a big dinner at my parents house with the whole fam. It is truly a cherished time!

Kevin

Richmond Animal League coordinates an annual campaign called Operation Silent Night. Their goals is to get all animals fostered or adopted the week before Christmas so they have a home for the holidays. In 2014, I adopted Buddy The Cat (named after Buddy The Elf) from the shelter and we've been family ever since. 

Erin

Growing up, my sister and I used to wake before our parents, take a quick peek at what Santa left under the tree (no touching!), then grab our stockings from the mantle. We would “wake” our listening parents by jumping on their bed and dumping our stockings at their feet. Mrs. Claus wrapped every gift in our stockings, from toothbrushes to treats. My sister and I would shake and squeeze each trinket as we guessed what each package contained before carefully and eagerly unwrapping each one.

Carla

When in different countries, I've come to embrace diverse local traditions. In Guatemala and here in Texas/USA, fireworks mark the occasion. Down under in Australia, Christmas means BBQs, while in Indonesia, the celebration isn't as prevalent but there is always room for Goren-Goren. In the Dominican Republic, the focus is on celebrating The 3 Wise Men rather than Christmas itself. Yet, in our family, our tradition has been attending mass on the 24th, followed by our Christmas celebration and gift-giving after dinner. The 25th, then, becomes a time for gathering with friends we couldn't be with on the 24th.

From our Big Spoon family to yours, we extend our warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season and a new year filled with memorable moments. May the spirit of togetherness and celebration live on well beyond the holiday season.