‘Twas the night of traditions

MONTROSE — On Christmas Eve, the Jackson family has a few traditions. Attend Christmas Eve mass in the afternoon, cook a turkey dinner and watch their favorite holiday movie.

Nothing says Christmas to the Jacksons like the fireplace lit, a glass of eggnog with a plate of gingerbread cookies and Bruce Willis’ saying “Yippie-ki-yay...” in the film “Die Hard.”

No, it’s not most people’s choice for a Christmas movie, but it works for the Jackson family.

“You know, we spent Christmas at my uncle’s house one year when I was a kid and the movie was on TV,” said Brent Jackson, 25, who comes back to spend Christmas in Montrose with his family. “The movie takes place around Christmas, so I think it works. For some reason I can’t explain, we just kept watching it on Christmas Eve.”

Just like the Jacksons, there are several Montrose families who have their own special traditions for Christmas Eve.

Seth Travers of Montrose said his family liked to keep things simple.

“We usually have some of our family come to town or we go wherever they are,” Travers said. “But no matter where we are at — we always take the little kids in the family around town and check out all the lights before bed. Even us adults still enjoy the lights.”

Mary Daniels, who comes from Denver to visit her sister and family in Montrose each year, said her family’s tradition was “easy as pie,” and included church, opening one gift and watching “Christmas Vacation.”

“It is truly one of those movies that is a Christmas classic,” Daniels said of “Christmas Vacation.” What I love about it is that no matter what age you are, it is hilarious. Some other Christmas movies are geared to either kids or adults. But everyone can laugh at Chevy Chase.”

While some carry out traditions that have been in the making for years, others will look to start new traditions.

Andy Clark of Montrose said he was traveling to Los Angeles to spend the holiday with his parents, who recently retired in Los Angeles.

“My folks used to live in Denver and this will be the first year in my life I haven’t spent Christmas at my old house,” said Clark, who is 24-years-old. “I think it will be a little weird, but also exciting. I am going to the Lakers game on Christmas Day to watch them play Boston. That will be a good game.”

Clark said some of the old traditions would still be intact — including putting his favorite ornament on the Christmas tree.

“I have this old, ridiculously ugly Spider-Man ornament that I’ve had since like elementary school,” Clark said. “I am going to bring it with me and put it on my parents tree again. My Dad’s going to hate it, but it just wouldn’t be the same on Christmas not having that ornament on there.”