Las Noches De Las Luminarias - My Favorite Holiday Tradition
I remember my first year living in Arizona and thinking that December here felt nothing like Christmas. The air was cool, not cold. The Christmas trees were being sold on lots on the corner of streets--there were no tree farms around. And those beautiful front yards that were covered in lush greenery and sparkly lights? They had been replaced with rocks and cactuses.
The holiday season in the desert took years to get used to. It was far different than the holiday seasons I had as a child. But year after year, it slowly started to feel right.
As our annual evening at the Desert Botanical Gardens’ Noches de las Luminarias approached, we bundled up in our light jackets, we strapped on our favorite boots , and we arrived expecting a festive evening. What we didn’t expect was how different it would feel this year. We had been at least half a dozen times before. We'd always had a good time, but this year, we had Brody. And this year, we realized the magic children bring to this season.
The beautiful garden was lit up with white luminaries and twinkling lights. Christmas carols echoed from near and far. Hand in hand, we wandered through the paths with the biggest grin on our faces. Brody bopped his head to the music and stared in awe at the white glittering lights.
In that moment, I felt the excitement I had felt as a child at Christmas. In that moment, I realized that these memories will be Brody's memories of the holidays. These places and events will be what he associates with the Christmas season. In that moment, Las Noches de las Luminarias became my favorite holiday tradition of all time. More special than the Christmas tree farms or the neighborhood light displays. This was the start of first holiday as a family of three. Traditions are important, but it’s who you spend them with that make them so special.
How have your favorite holiday traditions changed from childhood to motherhood?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
