Sandra's Christmas Traditions
christmas traditions
The holidays have always held a special place in my heart, from the traditions passed down through my family to the little rituals I’ve created over the years as a shopkeeper, mother, and designer. Many of you have asked how I decorate and celebrate Christmas at home so I thought I would share a few of my own Christmas traditions…
holiday decorating
When do you start decorating for the holidays, especially as a busy shopkeeper?
If you know me, you know the shop is always decorated early. We start changing over the store long before December, with all the Fleurettes helping out to get the shop ready for our annual Holiday Open House in early November.
My home is usually last on the list, but my goal is always the same: get it done before the boys come home from college and where they live. Nothing makes me happier than having the house ready for them, warm and inviting.
the scent of christmas
What fragrances say “Christmas” to you?
Fresh greens at the shop, simmering citrus on the stove, beeswax candles, and paperwhites blooming… honestly, all of it.
During the holidays, I try to bring as many natural elements as possible into my home, including fresh garland strung throughout the house, and fresh pine and eucalyptus wreaths I make each year to hang on my kitchen windows. Nothing says Christmas like the scent of fresh-cut evergreen, beginning at the entryway and continuing throughout the house.
Family Limoncello
Is there a French holiday tradition you follow at home?
Although France has my heart in many ways, Christmas is when my Italian roots shine brightest. Each year we make my nono’s (grandfather’s) limoncello recipe. We start on Thanksgiving night by peeling the lemons, then we have a bottling party the week before Christmas. This year I think we’re up to 75 bottles! We give them to loved ones and friends, sharing a bit of our heritage, truly made from the heart.
Maybe that’s my French side too…celebrating with good food, good drink, and good friends.
Traditional Italian Christmas Eve
What’s one Christmas tradition from your childhood that you still carry with you today?
As a child, the Italian side of my family always celebrated Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. It’s a sacred tradition I continue with my family, and it is—without question—my favorite night of the year. Everyone gathers at our home, and we laugh, sing, dance, and cook into the wee hours. It’s loud, joyful, and full of love…just the way it should be.
Continuing this ritual brings me right back to my childhood, watching my mom, aunts, grandmother, and grandfather in the kitchen, feeling that warmth only family can give.
christmas morning
What does Christmas morning look like in your home?
Christmas morning is always a slow, cozy, stay-in-your-pj’s kind of day. After our big night of celebrating, we usually wake up late, make a big brunch, and open gifts with the fire roaring. It’s exactly the kind of New England Christmas I always dreamed of having with my family.
traditions at les fleurs
What is your favorite holiday tradition with your customers or community?
That would have to be our annual Holiday Open House! The preparation is a team effort and a bonding experience with all the Fleurettes, and the outcome is always worth the work.
I love seeing familiar faces returning year after year for our Open House, whether looking to design a table centerpiece, put together a special gift basket, or decorate a tree with glass ornaments and ribbon. Hearing stories and watching people walk through the shop with that spark of joy remind me exactly why I do what I do. It’s more than retail; it’s about connection.
What is your favorite way to slow down and savor the season, even during the busiest weeks?
Even when the shop is bustling and life is full, I try to carve out little pockets of calm with a quiet cup of tea in the morning before the shop opens, a bit of yoga when I wake up and again before bed, or a good book on the couch, “unplugging” at the end of the day. It is these tiny rituals that keep me grounded so I can give my best to everyone around me.
Traditions make Christmas memorable, but the simple act of being together is what matters most. We’re all so busy going in different directions but at Christmastime, everyone comes home. For me, that will always be the greatest gift.
I hope the rituals you continue, or new ones you create, help to add warmth and many blessings this holiday season.
XOXO,
Sandra
P.S. Feel free to tell us about your own holiday traditions in the comments below. I’d love to hear about them!
