Whether you celebrate Christmas or another holiday, we want to wish you and your loved ones a joy-filled season making new memories and revisiting cherished traditions!
Here are some of the traditions celebrated by some of the members of the Sonnet family.
Ms. Gaby
Assistant Director, Prior Lake
One of Ms. Gaby’s favorite family traditions is making homemade Christmas cookies, gifts and lefse. Lefse was a tradition brought over to the Midwest from Europe and is a flatbread with a base made of mashed potatoes and flour. Ms. Gaby’s grandmother has been making lefsa for many years.
Ms. Gaby says, “We love coming together and just being able to spend to with one another is truly amazing. Especially since all my family members live far away!”
Ms. Liz
Director In Training, Lakeville
Ms. Liz has a Christmas tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. “My mom did it with my siblings and me, so I do it with my children too. I made the rule with my children that it must be a medium sized present, so they don’t choose the biggest one first.”
Ms. Megan
Assistant Director, Lakeville
Ms. Megan and her family have created a new holiday tradition. She says, “Since 2017, my now-husband and I have been going to a movie theater every year to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, one of my favorite movies (not just for holidays either). Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it is a truly wonderful movie that is a good reminder of how important your place in the universe is and how much you matter to others, even when you are at your lowest moments.” The 1946 film, considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, is a classic and is loosely based off of Charles Dickens’ short story, A Christmas Carol.
Ms. Michele
Managing Director, Lakeville & Prior Lake
“I remember as a child my parents would drive myself, my brother, and sister around town as a family and we would go look at Christmas light displays in people’s yards. My hometown had a light display competition so there were some very extensive displays that were fun to look at. I have continued this tradition now with my children too!”
Ms. Pauline
Director, Prior Lake
A favorite holiday tradition for Ms. Pauline is making homemade tamales with her family, a process that her whole family works together to complete. Ms. Pauline says, “Making tamales is not only a family tradition, but is an important part of their Mexican culture and they enjoy continuing the tradition even to this day!” Tamales are made of masa (corn flour) dough, filled with a variety of fillings, and steamed in a cornhusk.
Ms. Andrea
Director of Advancement and Development, Lakeville & Prior Lake
“We have many traditions around the holidays; it’s hard to choose a favorite! One is gathering up our family and spending a whole day visiting the homes of family and friends singing Christmas carols; we also bring a box of treats for each family and goodie bags for all the children of the homes we visit!
“A favorite tradition from my childhood was having a candlelit dinner on Christmas Eve with just our immediate family; it’s a tradition that I carry on with my children, except that we have our family dinner on the 23rd of December so that we can savor a candlelit Christmas Eve service at our church.”
