Texan Traditions: Connecting Seniors to Community Celebrations
If you’re looking to celebrate the holidays with the seniors in your life, Visiting Angels Webster invites you to join in on these local Texan traditions. Even if you’re not a Texan native or live outside the largest state in the nation, you can add a few elements of Texas to your holiday traditions. There’s plenty of Texas hospitality to go around!
12 Texan Holiday Traditions You Can Share With Your Senior
Elder care during holiday times can be challenging, especially if you’re a full-time caregiver and a close family member. Starting and continuing traditions can help you connect with seniors in your life, especially around the holidays.
1. Pecans
The pecan tree is the official Texas state tree, so it’s no wonder Texans go nuts about pecan pies, glazed pecans, pecan bread, pecan muffins, pecan clusters, and pecan soup.
2. Barbed Wire Wreaths and Poinsettias
What’s more Texan than a barbed wire wreath to ring in the holiday cheer? A couple of poinsettia plants scattered around the porch!
3. Tamales
Tamales for dinner on Christmas Eve night is a valued Mexican-American tradition. In addition, empanadas, sopapillas, and menudo often grace the table a time or two during the last few months of the year. If you want to make some Mexican hot chocolate or delicious posados and hojarascas, here are 10 Kitchen Gadgets to Keep Seniors Safe.
4. Hunting
Humanely and responsibly taking an animal and sharing it with your loved ones for the holidays is part of Texan history. Many Texans hunt for their Thanksgiving turkey, a victory made all the sweeter by the skilled cooks who prepare it for a feast.
5. Christmas Markets
For a real-life demonstration of how companion care stimulates socialization for seniors, check out Christmas markets and Christmas tree farms in your local area. Many Texans rely on Christmas markets for their last-minute shopping, and it’s a coveted tradition to pick out the Christmas tree destined for your living room.
6. Cowboy Caviar
Mix this classic bean salad with the vegetables and spices Texans love, and you’ve got cowboy caviar. Most Texan hosts serve cowboy caviar as salsa or make it a meal with some lettuce.
7. Fancy Pair of Boots
Cowboy boots may be one of the most popular items associated with the Lone Star State, but having a second pair just for holiday get-togethers is a tradition many Texans continue.
8. Luminaries
Whether you attach a religious element to these paper lanterns or enjoy the flickering lights, luminaries can often be seen in the Texas sky during the holidays.
9. Christmas Pyramid
Otherwise known as the Weihnachtspyramide, the Christmas pyramid puts Fredericksburg on the map. This handcrafted, 26-foot-tall structure symbolizes the giving spirit.
10. Smoked or Barbecue Meals
If the words “smoked turkey” or “turducken” don’t set off your taste buds, the smoked and barbecued meats many Texans share around the dinner table should.
11. Christmas Lights on Trucks
You’ve probably driven around to see the Christmas lights on neighborhood houses, but in Texas, it’s the trucks that power the daily grind that receive this treatment. If you’re looking for tips to reduce holiday stress for seniors, look no further than decorating your own truck like Santa’s sleigh.
12. Generosity and Community Support
Texans are known for giving back to their community and sharing their blessings with those around them. At Visiting Angels, we continue to give back to our community and show support by getting involved with our local seniors. If it’s southern hospitality you’re looking for, look no further!
Prioritize Care For Your Senior Loved Ones This Holiday Season
Visiting Angels Webster invites you to reach out to your local community as you help the seniors in your life count down the days toward another year’s end. Our caregivers love working with local seniors and sharing their own holiday traditions. If you’d like to learn more about how Visiting Angels Webster can help you and your aging loved one, contact us today. We’re happy to welcome you to the Visiting Angels Webster family!