The holidays are right around the corner, and as things start to rev up, many people have started enjoying some of their annual traditions. From White Elephants, cocktail parties, and family gatherings, there’s a lot to look forward to. But the one thing most people look forward to more than anything, is the food that makes this time of year so special.
Coming together to share a drink, meal, or holiday treat is a way to connect with family and members of the community. With every family having their own traditions, this is a great time of year to pass traditions down to the next generation or share a secret recipe with friends.
Brenda Larocque, a Huntingdon resident, has her fair share of holiday traditions. “I grew up in a family of bakers, so giving homemade gifts – cookies, candies, preserves, or special treats – feels like the most natural expression of love. When I’m baking, I think of the people who will enjoy it, and I truly put love into every batch,” she says.
Cooking for friends and family really is a labour of love. It is attached to so many memories of growing up and celebrating with loved ones. Larocque explains, “Some of my fondest childhood memories are standing beside my father as he made chocolate fudge and peanut brittle. The smell of sugar and butter, the careful stirring, and the excitement of tasting that first piece—all of it still lives with me.” Though some loved ones may not be here anymore, cooking family recipes is a way to make it feel like they are.
But food always tastes better when it can be shared. Larocque says that her doors are often open to bring people in over the holidays “Over the years we’ve often invited neighbors or friends who might otherwise spend the day alone. Sharing our table has become its own kind of tradition – one that brings a sense of warmth and community to the holiday,” she says.
Heading into the holiday season, Larocque says she feels that her traditions are what help root her. “They connect us to our past, strengthen our relationships, and remind us of what truly matters. They don’t have to be elaborate; even a simple family ritual can carry deep meaning,” she explains. She hopes that this year will be filled with the same traditions, while still making space for new memories and future traditions to be born.