Do you ever move the day?

Growing up as the daughter of a fire fighter, I thought everyone moved holidays to whichever day worked best. At our house, regular family discussion included the question, "What day will we celebrate Christmas [or Thanksgiving or Easter] this year?" It was far more important to have my dad with us than to celebrate on any certain day.

In my adult life, no one in my immediate family is a first responder, but Gerald worked many years for newspapers that published 365 days a year. Once again, we moved holidays to when we could all be together.

For the past 10 years, we've had kids working at Macaroni Grill, and yes, it's open all the major holidays, including Christmas. So yes, we continue to move the day in order to celebrate with everyone.

This has always been my "normal." I'm often surprised to hear about families that always celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th or Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. Like every year? Really? What if someone can't come?

That said, not everyone likes the idea of moving the day. Seth, for example, is not a fan. Here's a post about that from four years ago. But I'm guessing once he comes home after two Christmases without his family, he'll be thrilled to celebrate on whatever day works.

This year, Gerald, Amanda, and Eli all worked on Thanksgiving. Our solution was to prepare and eat the Thanksgiving feast the Sunday prior, and then to go to Mac. Grill for dinner on the "real" day. It worked great! That Sunday we feasted on the traditional roast turkey, stuffing, smashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, and deviled eggs. For dessert, both pumpkin and chocolate pies and my own personal chocolate-dipped pecan tart. Everything was delicious. Isaiah flew home just in time for dinner, so aside from Luke, who lives in Maryland, and Seth, who is all the way in Paraguay (sigh!), we were all here.

Thursday, those of us not working went to Mac. Grill for dinner. We got to hang out with Amanda, who served us, and see Eli from afar, as he worked the expo position, calling food orders and putting together plates to be delivered to tables. Eli no longer works there regularly (He teaches 5th grade), but he agreed to work Thanksgiving, and now they've convinced him to come back and work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day also.

...which means, once again, we get to move the day. I believe we will do our Christmas Eve traditions the night of the 25th, once everyone is back from work; our full-on Christmas celebration will be all day on the 26th!

Perfect.

What will I do during the day on the 25th? Chill. Go to a movie. Probably eat and hang out at Mac. Grill with Eli and Amanda.

Moving the day is as natural as breathing. I've been doing it all my life. How about you? Do you ever move the day?