Reindeer Grub

My family has many rituals but one of my favorites occurred on Christmas Eve. I do not recall when this ritual began, but for as long as I can remember we completed it every year. The Christmas Holiday has always been a time to celebrate with your family, but for children it is mostly about Santa Clause. On the night before Christmas my whole family, Mom, Dad, Jack, Sarah, and myself, would go out back with handfuls of dog food and throw it on the roof. It sounded like little balls of hail smacking the shingles. The purpose of this misuse of dog food was to give Santa’s Reindeer a little snack too. We would stay outside for a bit watching the night sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa’s sleigh. My parents later divorced and we children grew up, so that was the end of the family ritual. I remember it fondly, though, because we were still innocent kids then, still believing that Jolly Old Saint Nick would come down the chimney with a sack full of toys for everyone.