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Extending the Holidays Past Christmas Day

Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

Shari's Berries

Sent on 24 December 2023 02:03 PM

Christmas Eve marks a turning point in holiday celebrations. For weeks, weve been preparing for the big day by finding gifts, planning the family feasts, and decking the halls (and living rooms and bedrooms and roof). Today, the anticipation peaks and the celebrations begin.

At my house with my wife, my three children, and seven grandchildren, the rise in excitement can be tracked by the minute. Once everyone arrives, guests of a certain age start monitoring Santas journey from the North Pole while the rest of us enjoy the festive bounties from Marylous kitchen.

After church and final preparations for Santa, everyone retires for a long (or not so long) winters nap. By 6 a.m., everyone is awake whether they wanted to be or not unwrapping Santas presents, unpacking stuffed stockings, and tasting the treats baked the night before.

The week after Christmas

Our ancestors didnt limit Christmas to just a single day. As the old song goes, there are 12 days of celebration from Christmas Day all the way to the Epiphany, which marked the Magis visit to the baby Jesus. Back then, every day held special meaning and celebrations.

These days, the period between Christmas and New Years is a relatively quiet time. Many of us take the days off work if our companies dont shut down completely. Schools are on winter break, leaving the little ones with time to enjoy their gifts.

The giving continues

Many of you wrote about how important it is to give back to those less fortunate, and how the week after Christmas is a great way to extend the magic of the season. We feel honored to be part of such a caring and giving community.

Marianne, a single mother and grandmother to two children, shared how she and her son have gone through some difficult times, but she still gives back each year to people in need.

I have always worked two jobs, which doesnt bother me. Every year if I have just a little extra, I try to give it to someone who has less than I do. I do not expect anything in return. The feeling of knowing I am sharing and showing someone who is less fortunate than me that they are thought about and cared about, makes me very happy.

No one, not even my son, knows that I do this. Just knowing that I made someone else happy is enough of a gift to me.

Linda shared that she and about 10 members of her church decided to find a local restaurant to say thank you to someone who works hard to make their meals enjoyable.

We bought a card for all of us to sign and purchased a gift box. Each of the couples pitched in $100, and we gave it to Rosa, our server. We now plan to do this every year as a way of giving back to those who have less than we do.

The stories of Marianne, Linda, and many others show how giving is a gift, and its not just the recipient who receives joy.

The holidays are a great time to get together with your family and share meaningful experiences. Whether they are sporting events, concerts, or holiday shows, live events offer us the opportunity to connect, make new memories, and deepen our relationships.

Today, live events are changing as new immersive fan experiences are growing in popularity. My friend, Paul Caine, is president of IMG Events and On Location, two companies that are paving the way in this industry. In this episode of Celebrations Chatter, Paul and I discuss the philosophy behind engaging events and how this rising phenomenon has changed the way consumers interact with sports and entertainment. We even get a look at upcoming experiences around the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Tune in to hear how this innovative new field is creating once-in-a-lifetime occasions for fans. Please leave a review and share it with your live event-loving friends.

How do you like to experience live events? Let us know at .

A thank you Ill always remember

One of the great joys of my job is hearing from you about how gifts helped build memories and strengthen relationships. I was especially touched last week by a note from our community member, Meredith, who wrote that she had lost her mother unexpectedly on Dec. 1.

Meredith shared that Harry & David Royal Riviera pears have been a part of her family traditions since she was a child. That tradition continued as we grew up, and my mom always sent me a box of pears, and they always made me so happy.

This year on Dec. 1, the world stopped when she was suddenly gone. But on Dec. 7, my husband walked into our bedroom holding a Harry & David box. I saw it and instantly burst into tears asking if it was from Mom. And it was. The message on the front read, Merry Christmas! Love, Mom.

I just wanted to thank you for not just selling fruit baskets and gifts but also selling memories to cherish for a lifetime. I will miss getting pears from my mom, but at least I will have so many wonderful memories of her.

Thank you, Meredith, for sharing your touching story, and please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your mother.

Celebrating the service of our veterans

On Saturday, Dec. 16, millions of holiday wreaths were placed on the graves of veterans at national cemeteries across the United States. The annual event organized by thousands of volunteers at Wreaths Across America both honors service and is a teaching moment for us all.

The event had special meaning for my family as it gave us a chance to reminisce on the life of my father-in-law, William Irwin Moore, who was known to all of us as Grandpa Irk. Marylou, some of our grandchildren, and I all gathered at Calverton National Cemetery to place a wreath and remember his service as a B-29 Superfortress navigator in the Pacific during World War II.

I also want to thank everyone who sponsored wreaths this year to help honor the men and women who so bravely served our country.

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Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

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celebrations pulse

At my house with my wife, my three children, and seven grandchildren, the rise in excitement can be tracked by the minute. Once everyone arrives, guests of a certain age start monitoring Santas journey from the North Pole while the rest of us enjoy the festive bounties from Marylous kitchen.

After church and final preparations for Santa, everyone retires for a long (or not so long) winters nap. By 6 a.m., everyone is awake whether they wanted to be or not unwrapping Santas presents, unpacking stuffed stockings, and tasting the treats baked the night before.

From the unwrapping of gifts and unstuffing of stockings to the feast and the White Elephant gift exchange, the rituals and traditions fill the hours with joy and togetherness. If only we could stop time and enjoy the magic for more than 24 hours. Christmas is over in the blink of an eye. Or is it?

The week after Christmas

Our ancestors didnt limit Christmas to just a single day. As the old song goes, there are 12 days of celebration from Christmas Day all the way to the Epiphany, which marked the Magis visit to the baby Jesus. Back then, every day held special meaning and celebrations.

These days, the period between Christmas and New Years is a relatively quiet time. Many of us take the days off work if our companies dont shut down completely. Schools are on winter break, leaving the little ones with time to enjoy their gifts.

Last week, I wrote about how the holidays gave us an opportunity to unplug from our devices and connect with other people in person. The analog nature of Christmas doesnt have to end at midnight on Dec. 25. Why not extend it all the way through New Years? (It makes for a great resolution.!)

In fact, many people in our community are already doing so, at least based on some of the holiday rituals you shared over the past couple weeks. Heres a sampling.

The giving continues

Many of you wrote about how important it is to give back to those less fortunate, and how the week after Christmas is a great way to extend the magic of the season. We feel honored to be part of such a caring and giving community.

Marianne, a single mother and grandmother to two children, shared how she and her son have gone through some difficult times, but she still gives back each year to people in need.

I have always worked two jobs, which doesnt bother me. Every year if I have just a little extra, I try to give it to someone who has less than I do. I do not expect anything in return. The feeling of knowing I am sharing and showing someone who is less fortunate than me that they are thought about and cared about, makes me very happy.

No one, not even my son, knows that I do this. Just knowing that I made someone else happy is enough of a gift to me.

Linda shared that she and about 10 members of her church decided to find a local restaurant to say thank you to someone who works hard to make their meals enjoyable.

We bought a card for all of us to sign and purchased a gift box. Each of the couples pitched in $100, and we gave it to Rosa, our server. We now plan to do this every year as a way of giving back to those who have less than we do.

The stories of Marianne, Linda, and many others show how giving is a gift, and its not just the recipient who receives joy.

Building relationships

Giving back isnt the only tradition that can continue after Christmas. This traditionally restful period is also an opportunity to work on our relationships and on ourselves.

Here are a few ideas from the community for building your relationship with your family for the week after Christmas:

Its hard to believe that in just 48 hours, Christmas will be unofficially over. But I hope these ideas will inspire you to extend the season for another week, along with the opportunity to create new memories and shared moments to enjoy the warmth of family bonds.

Merry Christmas,

Jim

Chris

Spotify

Apple Podcast

Today, live events are changing as new immersive fan experiences are growing in popularity. My friend, Paul Caine, is president of IMG Events and On Location, two companies that are paving the way in this industry. In this episode of Celebrations Chatter, Paul and I discuss the philosophy behind engaging events and how this rising phenomenon has changed the way consumers interact with sports and entertainment. We even get a look at upcoming experiences around the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Tune in to hear how this innovative new field is creating once-in-a-lifetime occasions for fans. Please leave a review and share it with your live event-loving friends.

How do you like to experience live events? Let us know at .

A thank you Ill always remember

One of the great joys of my job is hearing from you about how gifts helped build memories and strengthen relationships. I was especially touched last week by a note from our community member, Meredith, who wrote that she had lost her mother unexpectedly on Dec. 1.

Meredith shared that Harry & David Royal Riviera pears have been a part of her family traditions since she was a child. That tradition continued as we grew up, and my mom always sent me a box of pears, and they always made me so happy.

This year on Dec. 1, the world stopped when she was suddenly gone. But on Dec. 7, my husband walked into our bedroom holding a Harry & David box. I saw it and instantly burst into tears asking if it was from Mom. And it was. The message on the front read, Merry Christmas! Love, Mom.

I just wanted to thank you for not just selling fruit baskets and gifts but also selling memories to cherish for a lifetime. I will miss getting pears from my mom, but at least I will have so many wonderful memories of her.

Thank you, Meredith, for sharing your touching story, and please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your mother.

Celebrating the service of our veterans

On Saturday, Dec. 16, millions of holiday wreaths were placed on the graves of veterans at national cemeteries across the United States. The annual event organized by thousands of volunteers at Wreaths Across America both honors service and is a teaching moment for us all.

The event had special meaning for my family as it gave us a chance to reminisce on the life of my father-in-law, William Irwin Moore, who was known to all of us as Grandpa Irk. Marylou, some of our grandchildren, and I all gathered at Calverton National Cemetery to place a wreath and remember his service as a B-29 Superfortress navigator in the Pacific during World War II.

I also want to thank everyone who sponsored wreaths this year to help honor the men and women who so bravely served our country.

Late night thoughts on giving

I had another chance to speak with my friend, Frank Morano, on his WABC radio show The Other Side of Midnight. In the conversation, we touched on the rituals of the holidays, how to find the perfect gift, and why giving is a gift in itself.

If you live outside New York (or live in New York but sleep at night!), you can listen to a replay here.