Kanakuk Institute

Now that (most of) your Christmas celebrations are through, do you have new ideas for next year? A few more alumni suggestions…

My favorite Christmas tradition is gathering with my entire family at my parent’s house, snow, fireplace, real Christmas tree, every homemade baked good one could imagine, and listening to Chipmunk Christmas “Christmas, Christmas time is near, time for joy and time for cheer.” Curt McLaughlin, c/o 2006

Gumbo at my Mammaw’s house and the Cousins ornament swap. B Edwards, c/o 2009

Cutting up last year’s christmas cards to use as unique gift tags for this year’s presents. Bekah Brinkley, c/o 2009

Being the first one awake (even as the oldest child!) on Christmas morning and running to each room waking my 4 siblings and my parents to start the day! Melissa Moen, c/o 2008

Christmas Eve Service with Candles and Hymns. Rachel Hamilton, c/o 2004

Our parents would make us (brothers, cousins, etc.) line up at the top of the stairs according to our age and do a countdown so we could see what “Santa” brought. It never failed, that we would have to start the countdown over like 5 times because someone would jump the gun (false start) and move too quickly. Dupree Scovell, c/o 2004

Watching the movie Elf everyday in the month of December. Joe Daly, c/o 2010

Actually being home for the first time in 5 years since I have been in the Navy. Bob Broomfield, c/o 2004

German apple sausage cake. BJ Rector, c/o 2006

Opening an early Christmas present the day after Thanksgiving! Or the Christmas Moose… Or reading about Christ’s birth from the Bible, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and watching TONS of Christmas movies on Christmas Eve! Or writing a note to Santa and leaving cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer on Christmas Eve (yes, still at age 25 with my sister who is 28!)… Or checking to see if Santa ate his cookies and drank the milk the next morning while reading the note he left for us!… Or… well… I could go on forever! Shalako Law, c/o 2009

Opening presents, duh! Ok, it’s not all about presents. Christmas Eve church service at midnight – we sing “Joy to the World” and everyone in the service raises their candle and illuminates the sanctuary. It’s pretty sweet! Katy Graves, c/o 2008

Decorations…no wait…the Christmas Eve candelight service…no, wait! The Christmas music…um, i mean…going on “Christmas light tours” in the car…or…Becca Ford, c/o 2010

On Christmas Eve we each get to open one present and it’s always matching pajamas. My family wears them to sleep that night and spend all of Christmas day lounging around in our Christmas pajamas! Emily Aiken, c/o 2011

My favorite Christmas tradition includes Christmas Movie Marathons with my family- The Santa Clause, Home Alone, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Charlie Brown Christmas, pretty much all the classics. Jon Maldonado, c/o 2010

Dad gets big crazy arms & makes an obnoxious amount of noise to wad up wrapping paper. Britany Owen, c/o 2009

Doing the Jesse Tree as a family each day! Courtney Berg, c/o 2003

We go as a family to our church’s Christmas Eve service, where I do my best to not laugh out loud when we’re asked to get our keys out to shake during a congregational singing of “Jingle Bells.” Then we come home, all sit in the exact same seats (dad – chair, mom – couch, Alison – front of fireplace, me – other chair), and listen as my dad reads Luke 2 – it’s a tradition that’s over a decade old and will probably stick around for a few more! : ) Meredith Grooms, c/o 2008

We polled alumni asking, “What is your favorite Christmas tradition?” After reading below, you may want to share your own traditions or incorporate some of theirs…

My family and I always make sugar cookies on Christmas Eve and decorate them (it’s gone from careless as kids, perfectionists as high schoolers, and back to careless as adults). Then we write Santa a letter telling him the high points of the year. We STILL write a letter and it’s a great way to record the things that God has done in that year. We will usually read old ones in order to remember where we’ve been. And then my sisters and I will all sleep on the floor in our living room…we have since we were kids.
Mary Powell, class of 2009

Singing Christmas hymns with my family.
Travis Hague, class of 2007

Going to a movie Christmas Day Afternoon
Brian Wang, class of 2007

Watching the movie Christmas Vacation
Sean Kahlich, class of 2007

The adults of my family don’t give traditional gifts to each other- we do “white envelopes”. Each family unit picks a charity, cause, family, individual, whatever they feel like and can give–money, time, or specific items to that. The amount of money is up to the family but cannot be less than what you would normally spend on Christmas gifts for the family. We read about the woman who started this a few years ago in the newspaper (you can find it here: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/199912/19991225_envelope.html) and it is the highlight of our Christmas celebration.
Ashley Gross, class of 2010

The annual hayride that my aunt and uncle put on. We ride around the neighborhood and down the beach singing Christmas carols. That’s pretty rare in South Florida!
Jenny Dansby, class of 2010

After everyone opened gifts on Christmas, my dad and I would go rabbit hunting.
Goose Gossett, class of 2005

On Christmas Day, after we read the Christmas story and open presents, my Mom cooks home-made McMuffins with sausage, egg, cheese, & bacon. So good!
Dan Dipzinski, class of 2011

White Elephant/Dirty Santa gift exchange with extended family
Teshia Tucker, class of 2008

Baking cookies and putting up our tree. I always insist on getting a real one because it makes the house smell really nice.
Joel Loera, class of 2010