By Tammy Davis
Is it me, or do the holidays seem to creep up quicker every year? By mid July I walked into a craft store and was greeted not by beach gear or patio décor, but aisles already stocked with Halloween and Thanksgiving trimmings. The strangest part? A tinge of anxiety ran through my body, as if I needed to brace for the inevitable holiday stress that adulthood often brings.
In that moment, I was instantly transported back to “the good ole days” of the 1900s, when the holidays were pure anticipation. Back then, I had little responsibility beyond helping my family with a few small traditions. One of my jobs was to assemble the holiday fruit bowl centerpiece, a festive mix of bananas, oranges, apples, nuts in the shell, and wrapped candies, all nestled inside a pinecone and poinsettia wreath with tall candlesticks on either side. Variations of that centerpiece appeared throughout the house. I also helped mix the cornbread batter, a crucial ingredient for the cornbread dressing that anchored every holiday meal. Of course, also assisting with decorating the Christmas tree.
