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My Christmas Tradtion

15 December 2009 15 Comments

radkoIf you don’t know by now, I am Jewish and my husband is Catholic. Neither of us are very religious but the traditions of my religion are ones that I am very proud of. We agreed that when we married we would celebrate both sets of holidays and raise any children we had as Jewish.

I can throw a killer Hanukah party and fill the eight nights with some great family traditions and stories, but when it comes to Christmas, I really have nothing to bring to the table.

What you may or may not know is that my son is adopted. It’s a really great story and I will write about that one in January. I bring it up now though because it explains the one Christmas tradition that I started 9 Christmases ago and still follow.

Christopher Radko and The Dave Thomas Foundation issue an annual Adoption Ornament. Christopher Radko ornaments are just so beautiful to me. Old fashioned, detailed glass in the tradition of pre-war glass decorations. In fact many of his ornaments are from original pre-war molds. Somewhere along the way I’ve even picked up a Radko Dreidel ornament. With each purhcase of the Adoption ornament, 10% goes back to the Dave Thomas Foundation.

If you’re not familiar with Christophre Radko, take a few minutes and read about the company’s history.

So this, the Adoption Ornament is the one tradtion I’ve been able to contribute to my husband’s holiday. lame though it may be. Our tree will now wear 10 of these beautiful ornaments.  And it’s one that I can pass down to my son in whatever way he chooses to use it.

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15 Comments. Click to leave one of your own!

  • December 15 2009 at 2:13 PM sara@ domestically challenged said:

    I think it is something beautiful to pass down!
    .-= sara@ domestically challenged´s last blog ..Observation… =-.

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  • December 15 2009 at 2:51 PM Naomi said:

    I think that is a wonderful tradition. The holidays are so charged with all these feelings of needing to do more. Give yourself a break. You are a great mom and your family loves you.

    PS That ornament is really cute too!

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  • December 15 2009 at 3:06 PM Niki said:

    I don’t think that’s lame at all.
    .-= Niki´s last blog ..Selfishness =-.

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  • December 15 2009 at 3:36 PM blueviolet said:

    That’s not lame. It’s commemorating a most wonderful event in your family!
    .-= blueviolet´s last blog ..The Crap =-.

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  • December 15 2009 at 3:41 PM mrsblogalot said:

    I know you just didn’t call that lame…What an absolutely fabulous tradition!
    .-= mrsblogalot´s last blog ..The Convenient Jew =-.

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  • December 15 2009 at 3:46 PM Menopausal New Mom said:

    Okay, I’m just the opposite. I was raised with Christmas and married a man who was raised Jewish. So far, he just lets me do my thing and I incorporate as much of his as he wants to do. I have his candle holder mixed in with my decorations and he went out and bought a farmed Christmas tree for my daughter and I to decorate. I do up the outside of the house and he just puts up with it. Overall, we are just doing whatever, neither of us is religious anyway so I guess our daughter will get the best of both through us.

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  • December 15 2009 at 4:46 PM existentialwaitress said:

    I don’t think it’s lame – I love it! What a beautiful tradition!
    .-= existentialwaitress´s last blog ..My favorite Christmas story. Ever. =-.

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  • December 15 2009 at 4:47 PM Andrea
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    That is so pretty. My hubby was adopted, I should totally look into getting one of these one year (likely next, if I can’t figure out how to get my act together for this year!)
    .-= Andrea´s last blog ..I love a new meme (can’t you tell?) =-.

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  • December 15 2009 at 5:59 PM magda said:

    Traditions rock when they bring people together. some people have a knack of upsetting the masses in the name of tradition and family time. Then, it is time to re-evaluate. I think it is all about the intent. To be brought and bound more closely together. That is just me. Happy Hanukkah, Nancy. Beautiful ornament and sentiment, but not in that order.
    .-= magda´s last blog ..The Facelift =-.

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    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : December 21st, 2009 at 6:53 PM

    Thank you so much, Magda. Happy holidays to you as well!

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  • December 15 2009 at 8:04 PM corrie
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    I think it is wonderful. I get my kids a new ornament every year and they keep them in separate containers so that when they go away from home, they’ll have a start on their own tree.

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  • December 15 2009 at 9:36 PM Mom of Three
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    I think it’s a beautiful tradition. :-)

    We don’t have a large Jewish population here – not sure I have the whole Hannukah concept down. My kids were asking questions this week and I could NOT answer!
    .-= Mom of Three´s last blog ..With thanks =-.

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    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : December 21st, 2009 at 6:57 PM

    Send those sweet children my way. I’ll answer the questions for you. Just make sure the neighbor kids are polite if they want theirs answered too!

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  • December 21 2009 at 3:14 PM kys said:

    That is a beautiful tradition. I love Christopher Radko’s ornaments. When these monkeys grow up a little bit I plan on buying more of them. (I have a few now but I can’t put them on the tree!)
    .-= kys´s last blog ..I Need A Wife =-.

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    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : December 21st, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    I used to just put those ornaments higher on the tree when my son was young. They are still up higher now because the dog finds them very interesting.

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