Tidings of Comfort & Joy - Ashton-Drake Holiday 2021

By Guest Blogger

Last post I told you about my family and how, after hearing about Christmas in July non-stop, we decided to hop on that merry bandwagon (which is being pulled by eight tiny reindeer of course!) and make some holiday cheer in the hottest month of the year. It’s been so much fun, I can’t help but wonder if this is going to become our next yearly tradition.

Traditions have always been important to my family. They fill us with nostalgia, make us feel more connected and make the holidays feel like, well, the holidays. And whether we’re taking our annual drive into the city to look at all the festive windows, or having a contest to see who can stay up the longest in our 24-hour Christmas movie marathon, our traditions seem to get more fun with each passing year.

That’s why I’m so excited about the holidays at Ashton-Drake. There are so many dolls you can use to start new family traditions.

Like Charlie the Christmas Elf. Every year – or so the story goes – before Santa gets to your house, Charlie arrives with his trusty candle to make sure everything is set up just right for the big man. Then when Santa finally does climb out from that fireplace, Charlie is waiting there to guide him by flickering candlelight to the tree, stockings, and of course cookies.

I bought Charlie for my sister and her kids last year, and they had so much fun. On Christmas Eve night, she set him up on her mantle and read them the poem that comes with him and tells his story. After that, they completed the tasks on the included to-do list – like leaving out the cookies for Santa – to make Charlie’s job a little easier. Christmas morning, one of the first things they noticed was that Charlie had moved from the mantle to beneath the tree by the presents! They can’t wait to make it their new tradition.

And you know what? Don’t tell anyone I told you, but Ashton-Drake may just be introducing a girl elf friend to keep Charlie company this season. On top of that, if the rumors around here are true, there is another new tradition on the way soon too…some bearded Christmas tree caretakers. Gnome what I mean?

Stay tuned…