| Issue #39, December 22, 2006 |
Dan’s Night Before Christmas
by Kelly Merritt
Many people all over the world celebrate different Christmas traditions, some passed down from previous generations and others being self-created. The staff here at Dan’s Papers is a melting pot of Christmas traditions. Many consist of a nice family dinner followed by anything from sprinkling reindeer dust on the lawn to enjoying a cold frothy milkshake.
On Christmas Eve, many of our staff have a traditional Italian fish dinner. Following the fish dinner, traditions start to vary. Joan Gray, Assistant to the Publisher, goes to Mmidnight Mass with her family every year. Genevieve Salamone, Production Assistant, joins her family around the Christmas tree and watches home videos of past Christmas’. Kathy Rae, Advertising Sales Director, and Nicole Caruso, Production Manager, and their families let all the kids open one gift. Nicole and her cousins’ presents are always pajamas. Her grandmother gathers all the grandkids, dressed in their new pajamas, and takes some group photos. Her family also gives out calendars made with family pictures.
Catherine Ellams, in Sales, spends Christmas Eve having a ball with her in-laws, while Linda Braverman, Art Director, spends the day with her father, her twin sister, Lisa, and her brother. When Lisa Delisi, also in Sales, was young, her whole family would gather at her grandma’s for an enormous dinner, drinks, and gift opening at midnight. Janine Cheviot, Sales Assistant, enjoys going out to a fancy dinner with her family followed by good, ‘ole fashioned milkshakes. Tom Swinimer, Distribution Manager, spends Christmas Eve at his uncle’s house with his father’s side of the family. Sabrina Mashburn, Associate Editor, puts her and her broher’s Christmas lists in a paper-maché reindeer’s antlers, which her family bought at a church fair almost 20 years ago, for Santa to find. After opening one gift, usually pajamas or a robe, she curls up on the couch next to the Christmas tree awaiting Christmas morning.
One of Tom Ratcliffe’s clients has a traditional “eating of the cheese.”
David Rattiner, Montauk Pioneer Editor, is allowed to choose one present to open on Christmas Eve after indulging in White Russians. He always looks for the “sweet” present but he never seems to find it. He realizes now that Santa does not actually put the “sweet ones” under the tree until the morning. His mom buys him and his brother, Nerf weapons every year, which they immediately open and begin having wars with. Last year, they got soft, air-pellet guns. Jean Lynch, in Sales, takes her sons outside and places reindeer dust (glitter and oats) on their lawn to guide Santa’s reindeer to their house. When Santa arrives, his reindeer snack on the dust while he enjoys the cookies, oranges, and glass of milk they have left for him.
On Christmas Eve, my family gathers at my parents’ house for a quiet dinner with my grandma. After dinner, we exchange gifts and we also get to open one gift from our Mom and one from our Dad, which they picked out especially for us that was not on our list. This tradition started only a few years ago because, as we got older, our gifts were mostly money and our parents felt bad that we did not have anything to actually open.
Gustavo Gomez, Graphic Designer, is from Colombia. In his country, Christmas Eve is extremely festive. Starting three weeks before Christmas, people go from house to house saying prayers and handing out food. On the 24th, the sidewalks of Colombia are lined with candles and buffets. Streets are closed off for every one to celebrate the holiday with their family, friends and neighbors. Joel Rodney, Graphic Designer, is originally from Trinidad. His sister and nephew still live there. Joel and his mother usually spend Christmas in Trinidad with them. Boxing Day, on December 26th, is a big day in Trinidad. On Boxing Day, they box up their leftover food and walk around giving it out while playing Purang music.
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