It's America and it's true! We choose from our family histories how we celebrate our holidays. No matter our heritage, we have a history of absorbing new ways into our unique family celebrations. The proof is in the history of Thanksgiving. here and here. If historical accuracy intrigues you search for original documents like these.

Food is one of the most popular ways we adopt new traditions: turkey on Thanksgiving Day, of course; tamales at Christmas time, introduced to us by immigrants from Mexico, first in the west, now all over our country; oranges in our stockings.

There's the beautiful lighting the candles on the menorah, commemorating a historical miracle of Jewish survival against an enemy. Who doesn't enjoy the magic of a decorated Christmas tree twinkling with lights (originally lighted candles!) ? I have friends who blend the relatively new Kwanzaa celebrations with Christmas.

Universal to all of our celebrations is setting aside time for counting our blessings, for sharing bounty with others or receiving with gratitude. As Thanksgiving draws near, we each find our own ways to thank, to share, to celebrate, to toss over our shoulders the tribulations of the life by walking among the redwoods and along the beaches

Enjoy the preparations for Thanksgiving, Parmalee

Going to a tree farm to cut our own fresh tree with its fresh aroma is a tradition many of us treasure. For some it may be convenient to go to a corner tree lot or an organization selling trees as a fundraiser. Regardless, here's an opportunity to share the history of Christmas trees with the children!

Madagascar Jr. Onstage

Performances are December 10 and 11 at 2:00pm at the Hawks’ Nest Theater at MMS. Tickets are available at Adult tickets are $15; $10 for 18 and under; all seats are reserved.

Check out these fall and winter camps (downloadable) for children whose parents’ jobs require them to work or who want to try a new experience. We know there are more available. Email us if you know of one not on our list. Updates will be on our facebook page.

The Child Development Resource Center, a program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, is a one-stop source for Santa Cruz County families seeking child care. Recently expanded resources now include two interactive mapping tools that show the location of licensed child care centers and family child care homes. Learn more > > >