December 23rd Is Jill’s Day

Christmas is all about traditions and I looooove traditions.

I love taking my crew to Target on Black Friday so everyone can pick out a new Christmas ornament. I giving the kids new jammies on Christmas Eve. I love how Santa always brings the biggest and best present then leaves it unwrapped and ready to play with on Christmas morning.

Yep. I love me some holiday traditions.

And one tradition I really love is on December 23rd – Jill's Day.

What's Jill's Day? Well, this is a little tradition my husband and I started by chance when I was pregnant with Melanie and it's turned into one of our family's BEST non-traditional traditions.

December 23rd Is Jill's Day

For many years, my husband had a sweet Labrador dog named Jill whom he loved completely. Like, WAY more than he has ever loved me and I'm not even joking. This was his girl and she was completely devoted to him (when we started dating she used to crawl between us in bed, put her back against him, and puuuuuush me with her paws to try and get me away from him).

Well, in 2012, I was miserably pregnant with Melanie and happened to be home alone with Jill while The Boy was off hunting. At this point, Jill was pretty old and had been sick for quite a while. The vet told us to just keep her at home and comfortable until she died.

Well, guess what happened on the 23rd? Yep, that sweet old dog passed away. I texted my husband to let him know and he headed home.

After we buried her, he was really upset and we both were incredibly hungry. So, we hopped in the car and picked up a pizza.

We couldn't bring ourselves to head home right away so we sat in the car and ate our pizza. After a slice or two, we decided to continue eating while we drove around and looked at Christmas lights.

And that, my friends, is how Jill's Day started.

Ever since then, on December 23rd, we load up in the car, grab some food to eat, and drive around looking at lights while we feast on pizza or fried chicken.

Nothing about this tradition is complicated or fancy. Just a car, some crappy fast food, and whatever houses are lit up in the neighborhoods closest to our home.

Sure, I could make up cute little lunch sack dinners, create a holiday light watching Spotify playlist, buy matching outfits, and plot the perfect route to hit all the best light displays. I mean, I COULD.

But I don't. Because this non-traditional tradition isn't about all that. It's about remembering a sweet and devoted dog who made my husband very happy.

What's your family's non-traditional tradition and why do you love it so much?