Celebrating Christmas in Texas is different. No snow, no cold, and a few other traditions unique to the Lone Star State.

We’re excited to be where we have both snow and cold this year, but memories of our Texas Christmases linger.

A Christmas classic story to read was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Christmas-In-Christmas-Series/dp/0882891758" target="_blank">The Night Before Christmas in Texas, That Is by Leon A. Harris,</a>  Based on the well-known "Night Before Christmas," this tale with a definite Texas spin has entertained audiences for more than forty years.

From the inside cover flab: <em>A Western Santa Claus-decked out in Levis, a ten-gallon Stetson, a cowboy vest, and with a bandana around his neck-makes his Christmas journey on a buckboard piled high with presents.  Swooping in over the prairie to the amazement of sleepy residents and jackrabbits alike, a plump, jovial Santa parks his buckboard outside a peaceful ranch house. From boot-stuffing gifts to the faithful "hosses" pulling his "sleigh," this is a Christmas tale rich in Texas tradition.</em>

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/gene-autry-record.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4009" alt="Gene Autry record" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/gene-autry-record.jpg?w=150" width="150" height="135" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Autry" target="_blank">Gene Autry</a> recorded the poem for Columbia Records in the 1940s or 50s. I have a copy of the original 78 record.

Take a listen to a later release:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agLmsP3wZIk&amp;w=560&amp;h=315]

These are some other Texas Christmas traditions we've brought to Colorado with us:

<a href="http://countyfairpickles.com/Pickle_legend.html" target="_blank">Hanging a pickle on the Christmas tree</a>

Lining our sidewalk with <a href="http://www.flicluminaries.com/history.html" target="_blank">Luminaries </a>

<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121791809" target="_blank">Eating tamales on Christmas Eve </a>

Christmas is next week. I’ll be taking a break to enjoy my family and friends.

Before I go, though...

You can take the gal out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the gal.

While I’ll be celebrating Christ’s birth in the snowy woods of SW Colorado this year, I’ll be singing…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK3-JNLHlok&amp;w=420&amp;h=315]

And that’s my wish for all of you -- MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y’ALL! See you next year.