From jumping into the frigid Lake Michigan waters to watching Christmas classics and enjoying local radio stations on a precise timeline, Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) takes the holiday season very seriously.
Evanston’s elected officials, like families across the country, partake in unique holiday traditions throughout December.
Ask Nieuwsma what the holidays mean to him, and he will respond with Christmas cheer. The councilmember celebrates a traditional, cozy Christmas with his family each year and offers his children and their cousins $20 to jump into Lake Michigan.
“I didn’t think they’d take me up on it the first time I offered, otherwise I would have only offered five,” he said.
The Nieuwsmas also follow a strict rule when it comes to holiday jingles: no listening to Christmas music until after WXRT plays Arlo Guthrie’s classic satirical track “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” on Thanksgiving.
Nieuwsma added that no holiday season would be complete without the requisite classic movies and TV specials, such as “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “A Christmas Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He sticks to the family classics, however, adding that “baby Jesus likes to keep it light.”
Keeping with his own childhood tradition, Nieuwsma said Santa Claus always delivers his children Scotch Tape in their stockings.
“What’s up with that, Santa?” he joked.
Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) also celebrates Christmas with family. Embracing the spirit of generosity associated with the holiday, Harris typically invites several Northwestern students who cannot make it home for the holidays to her home.
The longtime community servant also has a 30-year tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa. Each year, Harris hosts an “educational” Kwanzaa celebration, teaching family and friends about Black culture.
“Part of Kwanzaa is recognizing those who came before you, so we have a part of the ceremony where we call out our ancestors and bring them into the room with us,” Harris said.
Roughly 15 years ago, Harris added a service component to her annual Kwanzaa celebration. She asks attendees to bring money or items to donate to her chosen charity, which varies each year.
Several councilmembers, such as Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th), also engage with the Evanston community by attending local holiday events.
Each year, Geracaris attends Evanston’s Christmas tree ceremony and menorah lighting ceremony at Fountain Square, Kwanzaa celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center, and the Evanston Made Holiday Market to stock up on handmade holiday-themed trinkets.
“It’s become a nice way to see friends and neighbors and acknowledge their holiday traditions,” he said.
A first-generation Argentine immigrant, Geracaris also celebrates Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, by leaving gifts for his children in their shoes. Geracaris, whose wife’s family is Italian, said the family enjoys a traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes each Christmas Eve.
For some councilmembers, such as Ald. Bobby Burns (5th), holidays present an opportunity to reconnect with extended family.
Along with his wife, mother and three children, Burns opens presents on Christmas morning, before traveling to his cousin’s house in Chicago to gather with extended family.
“At the larger family gathering, we enjoy playing games, dancing, singing holiday songs and watching the Christmas Day football and basketball games,” he said. “Every now and then, we hold a family talent show, which usually features poetry, dancing and short skits.”
Burns’ family typically accompanies him to the Church and Dodge Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Market, a festive tradition Burns helped establish to support local businesses during the holiday season.
If there existed a competition for the longest-standing holiday tradition, the crown might go to Ald. Clare Kelly (1st), who makes German spritz cookies using her grandmother’s century-old cookie press.
“Making holiday cookies is a long tradition from my mother’s side of the family,” she said.
Kelly, a former Spanish teacher at Evanston Township High School, celebrates the holidays with her son, Gus, and her brother’s family. Kelly added that she enjoys crafting handmade ornaments for her Christmas tree.
Like her Council counterparts, Kelly attends several community celebrations, including the menorah lighting, Kwanzaa celebration, “Las Mañanitas” ceremony at St. Nicholas Church and First Night Evanston New Year’s Eve celebration.
The Evanston City Councilmembers’ unique holiday traditions, many of which prioritize family, relaxation and charitable activities, reflect the diverse traditions and celebrations of local residents.
“(The holidays are) an opportunity to commune with one another and understand different celebrations,” Harris said. “It’s just about understanding where people are, hanging out and enjoying each other.”
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