Page 148 - Unforgettable Memories in Life_Neat

146 The Unforgettable Moments in Life

Christmas Magic

By Nevaeh Silva

My name is JaeLee. I have very long, red hair,

and I am 15 years old. It all started around the

holidays. I’m not sure how this tradition came

about, but during Christmas, me and my family

would always go to my Nani’s big, yellow house.

She always had decorations. I remember she always

had these big, seven-foot nutcracker statues outside the house. When we got there, she already

had things set up. She had snacks set up on the table and the game already for us to play.

We played this game similar to musical chairs, but instead, you're unwrapping gifts and

candies. My Nani got a bunch of candies and cool little gifts and wrapped them all up into a ball

with plastic wrap. The ball became pretty big because of all the candies and gifts inside it. Then

we all crowded around the pool table and took turns trying to unwrap as much as we could

before the music stopped. The adults have to wear oven mitts but the kids do not. I remember

trying to go for the bright nail polish that my Nani would always wrap while trying to keep my

pile away from the little kids. They would try to steal gifts from me or anyone else if they liked

something someone else got. We would always have to guard our piles.

I remember the smell of all of the food being cooked. Nani would always cook smoked ham,

and green bean casserole and make two big pitchers of sweet tea while the kids are playing. We

do this every year on Christmas Eve. We still continue to do this to this day. It's a holiday

favorite, and we always have the best time over there.