Ever since I can remember, my family has had the exact same routine every Christmas. Black Friday we put up the tree, the following Monday we decorate the house, and that weekend we do the ornaments and lights. In my family, they act as if Christmas Eve is ten times bigger than Christmas. We have have a huge dinner that night and even open some presents. The entire family gathers together around the dinner table, says a prayer and does something called, “The Feast of the Seven Fishes”. My great grandmother and grandfather on my mother’s father’s side grew up in a small town in Italy just outside of Venice. In the early 1920’s they moved to America, well before my grandfather was born. With them they brought this holiday tradition that was taken very seriously. When my mother and my uncles were children growing up in Dorchester, most everyone spoke in Italian, with a few words of English. But between a cluster of Italian swears and laughter a sole Christmas tree remained. This was taken very seriously and my great-grandmother took extra care making sure there were no “bald spots” anywhere on the tree. My grandmother, whom was Irish, continued this tradition after my great grandmother had died. She may have taken this tradition more seriously than anyone, even building a table underneath the tree, and decorating that. It forever became known as her tree, and this continued into my childhood. Now our family may not speak any Italian at Christmas Eve dinner, but the family and tradition still remain intact.

– BB

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more