The Day after Christmas

For most people the day after Christmas consists of left overs and sleeping off the events of the day before.  For the Holahan family the day starts bright and early going to mass at Mother of Sorrows, filling almost a whole side of the sanctuary we all sit thinking about Grandpa Holahan in our hearts.  Thirty-two years ago today my dad's father passed away.  This morning I listened o my dad unpack the events of that day and after 32 years his whole family still gets together to remember his life.  A lot of people don't understand this tradition, but I think it started as a way for my grandmother to not be alone on that day and continued as a tradition to celebrate who Grandpa was. Even though I never had the chance to meet him I still love this day of hearing stories and thinking about Grandpa Holahan.  My grandmother is no longer with us either and our family still finds joy in getting together the day after Christmas.  We always go to mass at her church, have breakfast as a family, go to the movies as a family, and have dinner as a family.  It is a full day and one of my favorite days of the year.  I'm so blessed that our family still wants to get together after so many years.  My dad is one of 6 children and each of them remember different things from that day so I always look forward to learning more about my grandfather. I know that Nana Holahan is looking down and smiling in the arms of her husband so happy that her children and many grand children continue to remember each of them on this special day!  

Love you Grandpa and Nana!