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Sunken jack-o’-lanterns will be discarded and replaced with lively, vibrant colored pumpkins and gourds.
Spiderwebs draping the front porch pillars will be taken down, and fluorescent string lights will be put up.
The orange, yellow and red stained leaves that coat the ground will soon be blown or raked away in preparation for the first frost of the year.
All of this — and more — comes with the changing of the seasons. More specifically, the holiday season.
In recent years, it seems like once Halloween passes, people begin decorating for Christmas the next day. However, I personally believe that Christmas should not be celebrated until after Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving has always been such an enjoyable holiday for my family. Ever since I was young, we have hosted our loved ones for a large feast of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, and green bean casserole, to name a few of our Thanksgiving staples.
From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at the start of the day to the spread of pies at the end of evening, the day is filled with laughs and love, leaving our cups — and our stomachs — full for a while.
Once all our guests leave, we will then watch the first Christmas movie of the season — typically "Elf" — to get into the spirit of the next holiday.
The morning after Thanksgiving, one of the most memorable and beloved traditions my family continues to this day, is going to get our Christmas tree.
We wake up early and drive about an hour to a farm in southern Connecticut to begin the hunt for the perfect tree. We usually go for the 10-12 footers that are full, yet not too wide. Once my dad chops it down, we load it up and lug it home to begin the fun part: decorating.
Singing along to the NSYNC Christmas album, drinking hot chocolate and praying that we don’t break the glass ornaments, my sisters and I always find so much joy in bringing the tree to life.
Each ornament means something special to our family and all the traditions and memories we have made and will continue to make. And for that reason — among countless others — is why I love the holidays so much.
While the holidays can be such a special, magical time for many, it can also be a difficult, challenging time for others. This holiday season, be sure to lead with kindness, because you never know what someone else might be going through. Even a simple smile can go a long way!
In this month’s edition of Go Local, we feature Ferrindino Maple, a Hampden-based family-owned business that produces maple products; Calabrese Market & Deli, an Italian grocery in West Springfield; and the Arbors & Ivy, specializing in senior living.
If you are looking for something to talk about around the Thanksgiving table this year, bring a copy of our Go Local magazine. After all, it is the gift that keeps on giving!
Thanks for reading,
Lauren LeBel, editor
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