Locals Share Family Holiday Traditions: Part 2
By Julie Perine on December 12, 2020
The Ramsey family has some deep-rooted holiday traditions.
Christmas is the one day each year that the family gathers in their log home, located on Hinkle Lake Road. The residential structure is one of Bridgeport’s first, built in 1834 by Simeon Lang. Decked in pine, the atmosphere is perfect for a good old-fashioned Christmas. It reminds the family of their appreciation for family, their city and its history.
Following Christmas Eve dinner, each family member opens a party popper that contains a paper crown and a game. Sporting their new headwear, they each play with his or her tiny new toy. The Ramsey family believes the wonder of Christmastime is for those of all ages. This year, those ages will span more than seven decades. The oldest is Bridgeport City Attorney Dean Ramsey and the youngest is baby Jack, Ramsey’s first male descendent. It is likely that this Christmas will be special in more ways than one.
Cassie Ramsey Busdeker, the Greater Bridgeport CVB executive director, is a member of that family. It was her story that inspired this story about holiday family traditions.
For several years, it’s been an Alvaro family tradition to not only eat Christmas dinner together, but to serve other families.
On Christmas Eve, Buz, Beckie and their kids – all now grown – celebrate with the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes.
The Italian-American celebration typically includes some combination of anchovies, whiting, lobster, sardines, cod, smelts, eels, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels and clams.
Buz is pictured breading the fried shrimp, with a little help from one of his grandchildren.
But when Christmas morning arrives, the family goes to work cooking for community families.
“We all work the Community Christmas dinner sponsored by our church, First Presbyterian Church,” said Beckie Alvaro. “The dinner crew puts together over 300 dinners and delivers them.”
A longtime family tradition of Julie Burkhammer Fulks is the Hallmark Christmas ornament - and it all started with her.
"Starting in 1973 - the first year they were made - my grandmother Dorothy Burkhammer bought me a Hallmark Christmas ornament," she said. "I was the first grandchild and as more grandchildren were born, she continued to buy ornaments for everyone in the family every single year until she died in 2019 at 99 years old."
Last year, Grandma Burkhammer purchased about 25 ornaments.
"She took time in choosing each of our ornaments and now we all have Christmas trees full of ornaments chosen just for us by our grandmother," Fulks said.
The Mayo family has always believed that a picture is worth a thousand words. For their holiday photograph keepsake, they have a designated - though unique – backdrop.
“This tradition started on my parents’ basement steps. Each Christmas, we would have our family picture taken on the steps,” said Debbie Mayo Stewart.
Barbara and Johnny Mayo both passed away more than a decade ago, but the Mayo girls have continued the tradition, each year adding spouses, children and grandchildren.
For more than three decades, the Gum family has sent to family and friends Christmas cards featuring their children. Now that they have grandchildren, they are recreating those photos with members of the newest generation.
Do you have a holiday family tradition you would like to share? Email julie@connect-bridgeport.com.
Read Locals Share Holiday Family Traditions: Part 1 HERE. Read the third installment in the series next weekend.
