The holidays are a time of year wrapped in traditions, time spent with family and friends, a focus on gratitude, and eating entirely too much food. We asked some of our Global News team to share their holiday traditions.
Global News’ Anthony Farnell’s Passion For A Winter Wonderland
Every year in late November or early December when the leaves have long fallen off the trees and daylight dwindles, I actually start to get excited. There are several reasons for this child like enthusiasm. I guess I should start by reminding you that I’m a meteorologist and my interest in weather was spawned at a young age by the very winter storms that most Canadians shiver to think about. So, as the first snowflakes fly through the sky, to me it’s a beautiful sign of the season ahead. As the snow blankets the once green front yards of my neighbourhood, my dog Storm and I spend an evening outdoors watching as Christmas lights start to appear up and down the street. Parents and their kids decorate the front of their homes to bring holiday cheer to everyone passing by. My wife and I work on our own house and Christmas tree as we wrestle ornaments away from “Storm the Weather Dog”. It’s a wonderful time of year, but for me it’s just the beginning of the holiday season ahead.
We do a European style Christmas in Montreal meaning everyone — including the extended family — gather around the tree on Christmas Eve and sing carols before sitting down to a nice dinner. This is always good fun, but the following day is still what I look forward to the most. After dinner we all jump in the car and head to the cottage in Vermont. I help prepare a big roast with all the fixings for dinner that can be smelled hours in advance, as it slowly cooks in the oven. When we finally sit down for drinks and that delicious meal at the end of the day, there is no place in the world I’d rather be.
Anthony Farnell is the Chief Meteorologist for Global News.
Global Edmonton’s Carole Anne Devaney’s French-Canadian Famille
When I think of Christmas, my mind is flooded with wonderful memories. It’s by far my favourite holiday of the year, because that’s when my entire family is together under one roof. My mom has five brothers and sisters, who are all married, who all have kids, and who all live in Ottawa (for the exception of one). We are a large and loud French-Canadian family, who love a good party.
After a delicious turkey and tourtiere dinner, we all get together in a circle to open ‘Secret Santa’ gifts. There’s only one problem, you have to wear oven mitts and you only have 30 seconds to try and open the gift before you have to pass it to the next person. The game always ends up with lots of laughs and a big dance party, with my 91-year-old grandma right in the middle of it!
Carole Anne Devaney anchors News Hour in Edmonton.
Global News’ Crystal Goomansingh’s Love For Decorations
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I love all Christmas decorations; old, new, fancy or tacky and I own a little something from each of these categories. My favourite part of Christmas is decorating the house. I remember being very little and helping my mom and brother haul boxes of decorations out of the basement and then spending hours transforming the house. I can still see the loops of garland stretched along the walls and across the ceiling. We’d save a few strands for the tree as well. It was always fake and would get all squished in the box. My mom would pull each branch out and try to reshape it before plugging it into the main post. It was not a pretty tree. At least not at the start, but at the end of the night when it was covered with ornaments and lights…it was spectacular. I can still remember how we would turn off all the lights and admire our handy work.
Today I do the same sort of thing with my husband, Adam. He however demands a real tree, preferably one so big we can barely stand it up in the house. Regardless of the amount of time we’ll spend at home, we seek out and set up a great big, sparkling tree. It is our tradition. I am always impressed by trees with a theme. Decorating our place is never easy nor does it get done quickly, but I believe it is worth the effort. Even as an adult I cherish the moment the house lights go dark and the room glows.
Global Edmonton’s Tim Spelliscy a.k.a. Station Santa Claus
One of our favourite holiday traditions here at Global Edmonton is the annual visit from Santa Claus, which began almost ten years ago. He usually drops into the building and makes the rounds a few days before Christmas spreading cheer, a few gifts and bringing smiles to everyone here. I can tell you the story from “inside the Santa suit”, where it can be very warm and a little tiring. But it’s a great chance to become Santa and take on a new personality and I’m working every year on a better “Ho-Ho-Ho”.
Some of our newer employees aren’t quite sure who’s actually playing Santa and that’s the best part of taking on the role. Many members of the Edmonton team now wear their festive sweaters on “Santa Day”, to add to the spirit of the season. We even have a competition for most interesting sweater and best decorated department with Santa as the judge. It’s exhausting and exciting, all at the same time.
Tim Spelliscy is Station Manager & Director of Community Integration with Global Edmonton.
The Morning Show’s Liza Fromer Almost Sleeps Through Christmas
Even though I’ve hosted three morning shows in my career, I used to be a world champion at sleeping in. So deep was my love of the late sleep that, as a kid, I even slept-in on Christmas morning. While every other kid in the country was raring to jump out of bed, I was passed out cold. Of course, my parents couldn’t believe it. In order to prove to everyone that their kid slept in on Santa, they took a picture. Then the next year another. I’m in my teens. Picture. Twenties. Picture. Married. Picture. Always with the same caption: “Liza excited for Christmas morning.”
Now I have two kids of my own. I assure you they did not inherit that trait and I know this year, my Dad, the earliest of early risers, will still wake me up with the flash on his camera.
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