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!

Deck the halls!

Every year, Graylyn is decorated for the holiday season before December arrives. Graylyn has 8 trees to decorate for the season. Each tree carries a different theme. Some themes include a family tree with Gray family photos set in the Living Room, under the sea tree in our Atlantis Room and the Scottish terrier tree commemorating the Gray's love of their Scottish terriers, Butter & Scotch, located in the Grille Room. Combined, the trees have 6,500 plus mini white lights strung on them! The trees are fluffed and strung with lights by hand totaling 8 plus hours of labor. The outside is adorned with 25 plus wreaths throughout property; most noticeably on the manor house. Even the light posts have bows.

The stair tower will hold 60 plus feet of fresh garland. This is also the location of the gingerbread houses, the Manor House and newly added Bernard Cottage, decorated by Graylyn's culinary team.

Poinsettias are expected to arrive on November 30th. There are 200 plus red and white poinsettias set throughout the manor house. Three fireplaces will be filled with poinsettias; Sunroom with 24 white, Lobby with 17 red and Main Dining Room with 15 white.

Graylyn is not open to the public for tours. I encourage you to visit us for a holiday celebration with family, friends or co-workers. You can enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season in the 2nd largest home in North Carolina. Santa will also be visiting Graylyn on December 5th and 12th. Check our web site for details.

'Tis the season! Remember to enjoy the holiday season. Don't let the stress of decorating, baking, shopping...leave you saying, "Bah. Humbug." Be merry!

Thanksgiving - The Middle Child of the Holidays

Have you ever thought about the holiday trio - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas - as siblings? Who is in the middle? That's right, Thanksgiving.


We often hear about the middle child syndrome. The first-born receiving all the attention and treated as the only child until the next baby is born. The second child is treated as the baby until the third child comes along...The second child is left in the middle - neither the oldest nor the youngest. The middle child seems to be left out...missed...but, hopefully, not forgotten.


After reading a book to my oldest child - The Ugly Pumpkin, a book about a pumpkin in search of his true belonging and discovers it is not what he expected. I read the note about the author, Dave Horowitz. He tied the story to Thanksgiving. I wanted to share his thoughts with you about the Thanksgiving holiday. He feels Thanksgiving is "under appreciated, the middle child of the holidays. Without all the glitz of the Halloween or Christmas seasons, Thanksgiving quietly reminds us to be grateful - not only for what we have, but for where we've been, who we are and what is to come."


Thanksgiving is left alone without the fanfare of Halloween and Christmas. It seems the holiday is almost forgotten. Do you ever see retailers decorating for Thanksgiving? No. Thanksgiving is skipped altogether. We see decorations from Halloween straight to Christmas.


Remember me, Thanksgiving. The holiday of gratitude, family and traditions. Take some time from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to reflect on the past and give thanks.