Jingle Bells Print

“JINGLE BELLS 2020.” Christmas 2020 breaks all the traditions! Each year, our family gathers for the traditional Italian “Feast of the Seven Fishes.” 2020 is the first year we will not be gathering. Over the years, the tradition moved from Christmas Eve to the weekend before Christmas to accommodate travelers from near and far. We have carried on the tradition in the United States throughout the generations. Beginning with my Italian immigrant grandparents. Carried on by my mom and her siblings, and now my generation has taken the reigns. The Pandemic of 2020 will be different. For the safety of all of us, we will not gather this year. But, we will certainly all be thinking of each other and all the fun celebrations. Each year one of our cousins distributes these Jingle Bell necklaces for each of us to wear the entire evening. No one is excused. The Jingle Bell Necklace is required!!! I was inspired to paint these Jingle Bell necklaces as a token of fondness and tribute to our many years of sustaining a very old tradition. At our house, we have a whole collection of Jingle Bell necklaces from all the many years. Necklaces from years past are scattered throughout our house. We used to jangle them during the night so that our kids when they were tots thought Santa was on his way! The Jingle Bells in this watercolor and ink painting hang on our back door. I hope you enjoy this painting and it reminds you to think of your own holiday traditions. Even though a Pandemic can keep us physically apart. Nothing can keep our lively spirits apart.