This time of year brings to mind so many of the time-honored traditions in our families. It gives us pause to reflect on our life, think on our loved ones far from home and brings to us the opportunity (if not the challenge) of facing another new year.In my new holiday release, A CHRISTMAS PROMISE, all of these elements are blended in a story depicting a recently widowed Brady McCormick who survives with his young son across the Atlantic to start a better life in America. (Circa 1857 New York) It was a promise he’d made to his wife to follow through with the plans they’d made before she died.
What must it have been like for the new Immigrant and his son, to arrive at Ellis Island, and go through the rigorous checkpoints before being allowed to step onto the streets of Ne
w York in 1857? With only a distant relative to meet them, no food, no home, no job--only the clothes on their back and the hope that the rumors of “golden streets” proved true. What might have greeted them on the docks on that bitter November afternoon? Shipments from abroad--the smell of exotic teas and spice mixed with the pungent salty sea air and the stench of fresh fish. Mounds of evergreen trees, loaded on smaller ships bringing Christmas trees to the docks for New York families to choose for the upcoming holidays. There would be a hustle and bustle between native New Yorkers and those embarking on their dreams, anxious to get a glimpse at this brave new world called America.
Traditions--old and in-the-making--take place in this story about misconceptions, hope and love in a time and place that brings together two very different people from opposite ends of the earth.
I hope you’ll take a moment to check out A CHRISTMAS PROMISE--and that it rekindles in you, the spirit of Christmas, which knows no stranger. You can read an excerpt here.
One of the traditions that has passed down through the ages, but with ties to Ireland, is the candle lit in the window on Christmas Eve, signifying a welcome to the homeless Virgin Mary and Joseph.
This too is a tradition I started several years ago when my family would begin to arrive for the holiday. I place seven electric candles in the windows of my front porch and light them at dusk each night from Thanksgiving eve to after the New Year. To me and to my family, in the cold darkness of evening, those lights, seen as you come up the drive, are a quiet symbol of warmth and welcome to those traveling home.
What favorite traditions do you cherish at this time of year? Share them with me here and be entered for a chance to win one of three copies of A CHRISTMAS PROMISE!
May you enjoy the blessings of family and friends and the joy of a good book!
Be well~
Amanda
Awaken Your Passion!
I'm not a great holiday tradition follower. But...I do believe in remembering the sun will rise on Solstice morning and the days will lengthen until spring dawns. I like to contemplate this as Solstice approaches...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! Love the pictures too.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Fae Pamanda,
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and that the twins made it home in time to partake!
Hugs,
Lisa
Happy holidays Amanda! Love your cover and your story sounds wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice post, Amanda. I love the feeling of expectation in the excerpt as both father and son stand of the edge of the past and the future. Christmas Promise sounds great. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and I wish you and yours a beautiful holiday season.
ReplyDeleteMaureen, the celebration of Solstice at Newgrange has always been a fascination for me. Even more the rituals of our Druid ancestors and how many of those traditions have been passed down through the ages. There is much to be learned from our ancient ancestors, to be sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and reminding me to check out the livecast of the dawn of winter solstice which I belieev you can watch on line!
Happy holidays and thanks for stopping by!
Amanda
I love the element of hope in The Christmas Promise. It sounds like a beautiful story. Best wishes for the holidays and for the New Year. I also keep candles in the windows to light the way for family and friends.
ReplyDeleteAnother tradition we share in my family is gathering for the holidays to enjoy a home cooked meal while listening to our favorite Christmas music.
Sounds like a great story-the best parts of Christmas there.
ReplyDeleteOur traditions center around family and finding new traditions to add as our family grow. Last year we added singing in our church choir together and this year I hope to add candle light service on Christmas Eve.
Ahh, my favorite time of year! I love just thinking about it :)
I always purchase Christmas tree ornaments that symbolize any special place we've been or any special event we've attended. Placing the ornament on the tree always brings up such wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteAs corny as it might sound, I love making cookies, fudge, candy cane braids and many more goodies with my kids. Three of them are older now, but they enjoy this time as much as I do. My youngest, who is 6 now, has a kit for a Rice Krispie Treat "gingerbread" house, and he can't wait to make it. So, that means when I break out the ingredients for the fudge and cookies that he gets to make his Krispie house too, lol.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing at Christmas is Christmas Eve with my mother. Over the past fifteen years it has become a tradition to meet at her house. Both my sister and I would gather our kids and meet there. Even now with our kids older everyone meets there and we celebrate Christmas together a big family dinner, presents, and jokes on our step-father who is a geek when it comes to new gadgets. Every year we seek to buy him something new to play with.
ReplyDeleteTrinity
Trinity,(What a lovely name!) it sounds like you have a warm and fun tradtion going on there!
ReplyDeleteLaughter is one of the best presents we can share, right?!;) Blessings to you and yours this season!
Amanda
Faith (another great name!) what wonderful memories you are making for your kids! I love the utter mess my kitchen used to be in when we did a day of baking and decorating sugar cookies.! I should share that recipe with you guys! Easy as anything, decadent as can be and the best ever sugar cookies! I'll hunt it down!
ReplyDeleteBlessings Faith to you and your family!
Amanda
Kathy, what a great idea!Talk about making memories! What fabulous fun to have an ornament that reminds you of special times!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays and blessings to you and yours~
Amanda
Steph, I love this time of year! Even as I write this, I have my Charlie Brown Christmas CD playing--it's a sense of serenity and peace to spend this time with my family and friends. And while it might seem corny(thanks for the borrowed word, Faith;) I am happiest when all my family is seated around the same table and the kitchen grows smaller with everyone trying to help--a fabulous, wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteand the music of the season is like icing on the cake!
Blessings and music to bring you joy this season!
Amanda
Kathleen, I love the visual of music playing while everyone chatters and helps to pull a meal together--be it fancy or simple. One of my all time fav pieces of furniture in my house is my dining room table (not only for the food! LOL) but for all the years of bonding,celebrating special moments and the family and friends who have joined us for a meal or a cup of tea. Priceless!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and peace this season!
Amanda
Becca, what a lovely way to look at Brady and his son Daniel standing on the edge between the past and future!! Beautiful visual!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and yours this holiday season and thanks for stopping by!
Amanda
Happy Holidays to you as well, KT! Glad you found 30 Days of Decadence!!!;)) Thank you for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteBe well~
Amanda
Blessings to you and yours this holiday, Kimber An!!;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by!
Amanda
Hi Sister fae!
ReplyDeleteI hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and full of magic!
I had a glorious house full on Thursday!!;))
Hey question? What time of year is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
Be well~
Amanda
Growing up, I was surrounded by an large, supportive family. The holidays were rich with cheerished traditions. Sixteen years ago I moved three provinces away to BC. In 1999,
ReplyDeleteI moved to a tiny island off Canada's west coast. Moving has forced me to discover new traditions--my favourite the communal Christmas tree. Each Christmas eve we gather there with friends and neighbours. We sing Christmas carols, drink eggnog, and huddle around the bonfire warmed by good cheer.
Happy holidays
Leanne
Wow! What an amazing experience to move to an island! It sounds like something right out of a holiday story, Leanne! Have you had snow yet?
ReplyDeleteBlessings for a warm and delightful holiday and thanks for stopping by!
Be well~
Amanda
Primo old-fashioned Sugar Cookie recipe--great for cookie cutters and royal icing!!
ReplyDeleteNot for dieters;)
1 lb butter(no substitutes)
1cup sugar
5 cups flour
Mix with hands. Roll out & cut 1/4 in thick. Bake @ 300 degrees, 10-25 minutes.
Do not let get brown.
Thank you, Amanda, that's a great idea (which never occured to me). We did get a huge dump of snow and we hit a low of -5 Celius(coldest it's been here since 1985). Currently, it's raining and melting. We may have a green Christmas again this year. Yes, I do live in Canada. : )
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm late to the party. Just found out about this event.
ReplyDeleteFave family traditions: (1) Find the pickle on the Christmas tree (its a real thing!) and (2) We open gifts on Christmas Eve (its cheating, I know, hangs head in fake shame)!
Looking forward to starting new traditions with my little ones in the years to come.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is when my nieces and nephews come over and help me bake all the Christmas goodies.They tend to eat more than help, but its always fun.
ReplyDeleteelaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
How fun, Amanda! A favorite holiday tradition is the kids taking turns opening the Advent calendar--we've had the same one for years, and each window opens to show a line of the Christmas story. They still enjoy being the one to open and read the line for the day :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a Christmas Promise--it sounds like a wonderful story for the season!
f dot chen at comcast dot net
holiday tradition i beside smaken christmas cookies is every year we make one new ordiment to add to the tree is always so fun
ReplyDeletemortalsin@yahoo.com
I love decorating for Christmas and I put candles in the windows, too :-)
ReplyDeletesmaccall @ comcast.net
I enjoy putting up my tree with my grandkids, it's alot of fun and watching them smile so much is adorable.
ReplyDeleteone tradition is that the women of the family give each other little gifties; it is a time for us to sit back after the hectic prep of the day and the clean up and exchange gifties.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice if it is a craft but can be purchased.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
baking cookies with my family :)
ReplyDeleteraluk.93 at gmail (Dot)com
HI y'all!
ReplyDeleteSo better late than never, I am announcing the winners of this blog offering and those who win are each receiving a e-copy of my holiday release--A Christmas Promise! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and continued warm blessings to all of you this holiday!
WINNERS ARE:
Kathy kbranfield@gmail.com
Sarah smaccall @ comcast.net
Robyn yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
Be well~
Amanda