Holiday Traditions

The holidays remind us of fond memories and traditions we have from our childhood and beyond. Traditions are passed down from generation to generation. It is the responsibility of the younger generation to carry on the memories and traditions to their own families.

Bringing cheer and producing smiles for kids has been a long tradition with the estate. On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Nathalie Gray had an annual Christmas party for every child in Winston-Salem. Her invitation included every boy and girl, regardless of color. For many children, this was their principal Christmas celebration. There were large Christmas trees, rooms beautifully decorated, gifts and refreshments distributed by Santa Claus. The party attracted thousands of children who found an appreciation of the thoughtfulness of others. The children left a little happier knowing they were not entirely forgotten.

Today, Graylyn continues this holiday tradition. Every year, Graylyn staff gathers to sing and bring good tidings of Yuletide to the children from The Children's Center, located on the corner of the estate. Graylyn invites the children to gather in the main Living Room around the largest Christmas tree on the estate for a morning filled with caroling, laughs, Twas the Night Before Christmas, sweet treats and of course, a visit from Santa Claus. Tom Gilsenan, former General Manager of Graylyn and Children's Center board member, reads Twas the Night Before Christmas as the children intently listen to every word. The Graylyn staff comically and merrily sing traditional carols as the kids sing along to the songs.

Here are some traditions shared by the staff:

"We drive up to Michigan for the holidays. My whole family spends Christmas Eve partly in the kitchen making the feast, and partly playing Euchre (a Midwest card game) and Scrabble. We sit down for a big dinner around 6pm and open party crackers filled with toys and jokes. After dinner, we each open one present. Later, we watch a movie together and then wake up early in the morning for some breakfast casserole, presents, and – probably not too much later – naps." - I have never heard of Euchre. I need to learn a new game.

"So many of mine have changed over the years, but when I was a kid we would all gather on my parents bed, and my Dad would make fresh squeezed OJ and bring it to us. Then once we were done with juice we would all go to the living room to see what Santa had brought. The other piece of the morning, that I still expect to this day is sugar cake from Dewey’s. I get angry when that is forgotten Christmas morning." - Let's hope he gets his sugar cake from Dewey's this year.

On Christmas day, I go fishing after opening presents. - I hope it is not ice fishing. Burrrr...

"We started a tradition a few years ago that on Christmas Eve we give our children a nutcracker. We borrowed this tradition from my friend whose mother would give them a unique nutcracker every year. His brother & sisters each have at least 25 nutcrackers now. Every Thanksgiving they put them all out. Their mother recently passed away and I know that this simple gift every year as they were growing-up will help them this first Christmas without her." - What a nice tradition! Traditions keep the memory of a loved one alive for generations.

"My grandmother sewed the grandchildren stockings for Christmas. I still use my stocking today. My mother sewed stockings for my two girls too. As a child, we were allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve. It was always a new nightgown or pajamas. My sisters and I had to pose for the camera. We would wear them that night to bed waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. My mother buys my sisters, me and all the grandchildren nightgowns and pajamas. Today, we still open our one gift of brand new pajamas." - What a great way to get new pajamas every year!

"My family and I attend a Moravian Love Feast every year. I baked chocolate chip cookies with my mom. So, I bake cookies with my daughter. I shared candied orange slices with my dad. Now, my dad shares his slices with my daughter." - Moments shared with loved ones are the most important memories.

On Christmas Eve, my family gets together, pray and share what we are thankful for this year. We open our gifts at 12:00 midnight. - Traditions are a great way to celebrate together.

Traditions are customs or beliefs with a long established action or pattern of behavior in a community or group of people. Often, it has been handed down for generations and generations. They are something to look forward to when the season arrives. Without traditions, where would fireworks be on 4th of July? Pumpkins carved for Halloween? The President pardoning a turkey on Thanksgiving? Stockings hung by the chimney with care? And many more...

Take a family tradition and share it with others. You never know the impact it may have on another family. Your tradition may become someone's cherished family custom that is passed on to many generations to come. If you don't have a tradition, adopt one from the list above. Pass it on.

Happy Holidays!

The History of Santa Claus

Did you ever wonder what the history was behind the man with the candy red suit, coal black boots, snow white beard and cherry red cap? How about entering through chimneys while making his deliveries? Have you ever thought about all the references to Santa and their origins - Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Papa Noel?


Apparently, there is a long history for Santa dating back to the 4th Century. In Greece, St. Nicholas of Myra, bishop of Lycia (now Demre) was known for his generous gifts to the poor. There are tales of St. Nicholas of Myra tossing coins through open windows. When a window was closed, he would toss the coins in the chimney. This may have led to the idea of Santa entering homes through the chimney. In Germany, Odin was recorded to lead hunting parties in the sky during the native Germanic holiday of Yule. Odin paralleled the image of Santa Claus with his long white beard and his mighty horse leaping great distances similar to the present-day reindeer. Children would place their boots near the chimney. The boots were filled with carrots, straw or sugar for his horse to eat. Odin would reward the children by replacing the food with gifts and candy. The practice continued in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Eventually, the boots were replaced with stockings hung at the chimney of homes. The stocking tradition came to the United States from the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. The tradition evolved into hanging the stockings at the fireplace.


St. Nick was also referred to as an elf in the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" known today as "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore. Published in December 1823, the poem contributed to what we know Santa Claus to be today riding in a sleigh, landing on a roof and delivering a sack full of toys through a chimney. However, the modern image of Kris Kringle came from Thomas Nast's cartoonist illustration in a 1863 Harper's Weekly. The image of Santa Claus became more popular with the Coca-Cola advertisements in the 1930s.


St. Nick has a deep tradition within many countries around the world whether religious or folklore. The United States adopted many traditions from different countries as their cultures were introduced to America. The Americanization and commercialization of Santa didn't come until the late 1800s and early 1900s. Kris Kringle is absolutely synonymous with the holiday season. What would the season be without St. Nicholas?


Santa will be coming down one of Graylyn's chimneys on Sunday, December 13 and Saturday, December 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Call 336.758.2425 for details or visit www.graylyn.com.