Un-Settling Stories by Maggie McReynolds

Un-Settling Stories by Maggie McReynolds

Breaking Christmas

when traditions no longer sustain

Maggie McReynolds's avatar
Maggie McReynolds
Dec 09, 2025
∙ Paid
a red and silver christmas ornament next to a silver ornament
Photo by Jason Mayer on Unsplash

Last night, I broke one of my favorite Christmas ornaments. It was handblown glass, one of those aqua and silver numbers in a retro “onion” shape, and I honestly don’t remember where and when I bought it. It had kind of permanent stature: it always had been; it always would be. A tradition.

Most of us, if we’re lucky to l…

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