Wait–have I mentioned that I’m excited for Finn’s first holiday season? I just want to be sure we’re all clear about that. 😉
This may be a good time for me to tell you a little secret: Finn is–what a good friend calls–HindJew. That is, Sona is Hindu, and I am Jewish. So, it’s a little ironic that we’re so Christmas-obsessed. I mean, we totally buy into every overly-commercialized, big box-manufactured second of it.
Don’t worry, Finn is also having his first noodle kugel and potato latkes this week, too.
But let’s be honest: none of that holds a candle (see what I did, there?) to Santa. And nothing really compares to Christmas in Chicago. Over the years, Sona and I have cultivated our own set of Chicago Christmas traditions–and there’s enough of them to fill the whole month! While they aren’t all baby friendly, many of them are.
So, here’s what’s in store for Finn over the next few weeks:
- Get Christmas Tree from Gethsemane. Check! Mark this one off of the list. As we do every year, we picked a tree from our neighborhood shop and decorated it while watching Home Alone and eating pizza.
- Meet Santa. All of the area Mamas swear by the Santa at Bloomingdale’s downtown. Apparently, he’s the “real deal.” And they let you take your own photos, which is always a plus! We’re planning on taking Finn at the end of this week. I’m secretly hoping for one of those hilariously awkward pictures–complete with a screaming, flailing baby. We’ll see.
- Visit Zoo Lights. Chicago, technically, has two zoos and, thus, two sets of zoo lights. But we always go to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s free, for one, but it is also right in the city. I think this may be Finn’s favorite thing we do, as it’ll be the activity that will likely engage him the most. Music! Twinkling lights! Animals! It just seems age appropriate–whether you are 1 or 40.
- Christmas Trees from Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry. This is our newest addition to our Christmas in Chicago line-up, as we just went last year for the first time. The museum puts up dozens of Christmas trees, each representing a different country. It makes for a great afternoon, and it’s a good escape from the cold.
- Christkindlmarket. This European-inspired open-air market is one of our very favorite holiday activities. A bunch of gingerbread-like houses, lined up on Daley Plaza, serving all kinds of yummy German eats and selling a variety of goodies. Plus, they serve glogg in ceramic boots. What’s not to love? And one time my mom ate a hot pretzel so fast that she puked in a garbage can. So, there’s always that memory.
- Christmas Windows at Macy’s. The Christmas windows at Macy’s are always fun to see, and they are only a block away from the Christkindlmarket. It’s easy to hit them both up at the same time.
- Christmas on Cleveland Street. You know those homes with the ridiculously over-the-top light displays that you always see on the news? Yup, this is one of them. These home owners go all out, putting on the best home light show I’ve ever seen–complete with their own radio station that plays music synchronized with the lights! It’s well worth the drive out to the ‘burbs. Go on a weekday evening, else there will be cars lined around the block. As a bonus, the family is always collection money for various charities.
- St. Lucia’s Festival of Lights. Our beloved neighborhood, which has Swedish roots, hosts a bevy of holiday events. One of the best is this little parade. Right at sundown, a host of tow-headed Swedish kids dress in white gowns, wear holly wreaths on their heads, and march through the neighborhood, carrying candles and singing holiday songs. It’s simple and sweet–and very Andersonville.
- Christmas Eve Dinner at Lawry’s. I know how kitschy Lawry’s is–trust me. That’s the appeal! If you can have a little kitsch on Christmas Eve, when can you? A traditional English holiday dinner, served on a silver cart, and carolers dressed in 19th century garb? I’m in! This is our longest-running and most-loved tradition. I make reservations October 1st. No, I’m not kidding.
Sadly, there are a few Christmas traditions that will be difficult to do over the next few years, as they aren’t very baby-friendly. Nonetheless, they are worth a mention:
- Glogg at Simon’s. Okay, I’ve actually already done this, but it’s not a family-friendly tradition (at least, not until everyone in the family is of drinking age). Still, having mulled wine at this neighborhood bar is one of our holidays musts! Make a wish on the ginger cookie they give you with your glogg and, if it breaks into three pieces, your wish will come true! (Mine did break into three pieces, this year. My wish: adventure!)
- Christmas Movies at the Music Box Theater. This fabulous neighborhood theater has a long-running tradition of hosting a double-feature of White Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life during the week leading up to Christmas. You’ll want to buy tickets in advance, but it is totally worth it! People come out in droves, dressed in their tackiest holiday sweaters and wearing all sorts of ridiculously festive things (antlers, bells, etc.). Before the movies, there’s a 20-minute sing-along with a very charismatic–and campy–Santa. I really can’t imagine anything more Christmas-y, and I can’t wait until Finn is old enough to tag along.
- The Christmas Carol at The Goodman. Sona and I have been seeing The Christmas Carol at the Goodman for at least 8 years. Because we want to spare all of the other audience members, we won’t try to take Finn to this show for a few years, yet. But as soon as he is able, we will work this little tradition back into the fold.
Do I know that the holidays aren’t all about buying tickets to shows and attending fancy dinners? Of course, I do. But these are the things that our family is lucky enough to do each year, and they give us a really good reason to spend time together.
Neither Sona nor I grew up with many traditions, to be honest. Since we’ve been celebrating the holidays together, we’ve really tried to create our own–and maybe we’ve gone a bit overboard to compensate. Yet, there’s something special about having our own traditions to pass down to Finn; we hope it makes him feel grounded–makes him trust in the consistency of our family.
This year, the initiation begins.