Creative Christmas Traditions

Most people who know the Cannon family, know that our values and traditions are a bit different from the "normal" American family. No matter how wierd and "erratically unrefined" we may be, our traditons are innocent bits and pieces of our ancestors that we as today's generation represent. 

Every December, the Saturday before Christmas, the Cannon family meets at the house of my grandmother and grandfather, Alice and Taylor Cannon. Anyone who knows Alice Cannon knows that she is a strong willed, ill tempered, woman who lets nobody stand in her way, and if they do... God Bless them! However, on Christmas, Alice seems to get a little joyous because she knows that her wonderful family is soon to gather together to have the best Christmas party ever. On that Saturday before Christmas, all Hell breaks loose as Alice and Taylor's three children, two daughter in laws, one son in law, 5 grandchildren, and three step grandchildren meet for the last time before the new year. 

The Cannon family is quite a musical family. Doug, the youngest child plays the banjo and fiddle. I would not say that he plays it well... but he plays it. He tends to want to make instruments too, like the banjo that he gave me a few years back. No, it doesn't exactly play in tune. Alison, the oldest child, is very fluent in the "opera language," and also plays the piano and keyboard quite well. Then there is Hal, the middle child, often known as the "Prodical Son," and none other than my father, who plays the guitar and sings. Every year before we chow down on Cannon feast that outweighs any family reunion lunch, there is a rendition of "Blue Christmas." Now, this is not just ANY rendition, this is the CANNON RENDITION, which can be done rap style, country style, and Alison's favorite, opera style. This rendition is very appealing to Taylor Cannon, my grandfather who was struck with Cancer and Dimentia about 10 years ago. Along with the rendition, there is a dance that goes along with it, that is the most unique and exquisite dance anyone could ever see.