As the temperature falls and the days begin to grow dark ever earlier, millions of MA residents will begin to prepare for their respective winter holidays.
Whether you mark your celebration with a special log in the fireplace or any number of candles, light and warmth are staples of the season and represent efforts to maintain the light and warmth of other seasons throughout the year.
While many use trees or candelabrum in their traditions, some borrow from other cultures and other celebrations to make their own more inclusive and inviting.
While many people stick to the traditions of their ancestors, a growing number find room in their families to explore and engage customs from other cultures. While many deride the so-called “Chanukah bush” as an assimilationist approach to the majority practice, many find it comforting to have actual greenery in their homes during what is often a bleak and dark time and so have made the inclusion of some sort of tree a regular part of their season.
“In my house growing up we always lit a menorah and had a Chanukah Christmas tree,” explains Brookline-based chef, professional meal preparer, and etiquette expert Roberta Traynor, who sees herself as “a Jewish mother without the kids” but with a deep desire to feed and sustain her friends and her community. When asked how the cross-cultural observances began, Traynor explains that, as her father’s family owned a florist shop on Newbury Street in Boston
From Boston
Time for Traditions
By Matt Robinson
The Holidays bring out the best in all of us
Chef Roberta Traynor