Hometown Holiday Traditions

NEWS FEATURE

Holiday Traditions

By Jim Walker

Signal Staff Writer

Holiday traditions make this season special, and whether yours are small, such as an eggnog toast when the star is put on top of the tree, or larger such as hosting an annual Christmas dinner for 50 of your closest family members, these are the things we treasure. With that in mind, we asked some of our best-known SCV residents to share what their traditions might be.

Justin Diez

Captain of the SCV Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station since March of 2020, and a resident of our valley since 2004, Justin Diez said that one of his family’s (including wife Ursula and two children) most important traditions is to enjoy the Christmas lights around town. “Every year we get in our car with hot chocolate and blankets and the children in pajamas, and we drive around to all the holiday lighting hot spots,” he said. “The kids just love that.” Other traditions include family gatherings. “On Christmas Eve we visit with my wife’s side of the family, and on Christmas Day with my side,” he said. “We also like to go to Six Flags Holiday in the Park,” he added. “You see Santa and Mrs. Claus, and we make s’mores in the fire pit.”

Diez also enjoys the holiday traditions at the station. “People bring ornaments from home to decorate our tree, and our SCV Sheriff’s Foundation caters a massive meal of Chinese food for those who are working on Christmas Day.”

Mike Garcia

“Christmas for the Garcia’s is a magical time of year. We take time to honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and give thanks for the blessings we enjoy as Americans. With two young kids, the highlight for Rebecca and I is Christmas morning, as Preston and Jett open their gifts from Santa. “Christmas Eve is spent at my mom’s house and Christmas dinner is at my in-laws — very traditional and low key, with just family. The kids and I have started a new tradition at our house, where we are trying to put bigger and bigger blow-ups out front. We currently have a 25-foot inflatable Rudolph in our front yard!”

Ken Striplin Patrick Moody

Ken Striplin, city manager of Santa Clarita, is also well known in the SCV. “Each year I love spending time with my family, my four wonderful children,” he said. “It is an opportunity to get away from the day-to-day and focus on being together and spending quality time. Each year on Christmas Eve my kids are excited to open one present. In the morning I wake up and make a huge breakfast before they wake up. Once up, we all sit around the table, while the kids get excited to open their presents. As they sit around taking turns opening presents, it is always amazing to watch and see their faces. It is also a reminder of them growing up and how important it is to take the time and enjoy each year, as those years are finite.”

Dr. Harleen Grewal

Dr. Harleen Grewal is the owner of Skyline Smiles dentistry in Canyon Country. She and her family (which includes her husband, Yuvi, daughter Ariya, 5, and son, Abhi, 4) have lived in the SCV for five years and have truly become a part of the community, including donating to several local entities each year, “such as the schools and Soroptimist Club.” Their holiday traditions include “family gatherings from Thanksgiving to Christmas.” Decorating the Christmas Tree is a big part of that, especially enjoyed by the children. Food includes Christmas lasagna and “the kids make gingerbread houses and bake cookies for Santa,” she said. “Christmas Eve we have a big family party at the in-laws’ home.”

Santa came to Skyline Smiles this year, with the celebration including toy collection for the Boys and Girls Club, and Grewal’s children wrapped a number of those toys. This tradition will continue each Christmas season, as will giving bonuses to her employees.

Regarding gift-giving, Dr. Grewal said, “We don’t do wish lists. We teach the children that Christmas is about giving.”

As the director of marketing and public relations for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Patrick Moody is well known to SCV residents. “My wife Suzanne and I have three girls,” he said. “One of our girls, Ellen, has been singing in choirs for many years. One of our favorite traditions is attending her holiday performances. For four years this meant attending the winter concert at Valencia High School. Ellen is a senior at Cal State Long Beach now, so this year we’ll be driving to Long Beach for the concert. This tradition was interrupted during the pandemic, so we appreciate the concerts even more now. We won’t even mind the drive down the 405!”

Jon Hatami

L.A. County Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami says “the Christmas season is really a time to pause, give back to others, and truly do nice things for your family, friends, community and even people you don’t even know. It is about extending love and friendship to one another. I am incredibly blessed to live and raise my family in Santa Clarita and to be where I am today.” In December, Jon, his wife, Roxanne, and the children Jonathan and Lindsey decorate their house and tree. “Also, ‘Max’ the elf returns from the North Pole every year, starting Dec. 1. Every morn-ing, the kids wake up and search the home for what Max is up to next.” On Christmas Eve, “Roxanne and the kids bake cookies. We always have to place out some cookies and milk for Santa. The kids get to open one present on Christmas Eve and they also get to place a new ornament on the tree. We attend Christmas Eve service at Lancaster Baptist. When we get home, we read the kids “The Night Before Christmas. “We attend Hanukah dinner at our friend’s home every year in Canyon Country. We also drive the kids around Saugus so they can see the wonderful homes decorated with Christmas lights — a Santa Clarita tradition. “My dream was to be a dad and have a family of my own. And, for that I am forever thankful. The Hatami family wishes all of you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas and Happy Hanukah. May the true spirit of Christmas shine in your heart always. Merry Christmas!”