You might call this season Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or just ‘the Holidays’. No matter what name you give to this month’s seasonal and religious celebrations, you likely have some iconic images in mind that mean the holiday to you, and traditional events you plan to enjoy. Until those boxes are checked, it just won’t feel as if your celebration has truly arrived. We look at some of those moments that may be symbolic for you, as they are for many.

Photos by Susan Laume

Holiday lights - Decorations vary from small and simple; to use of exaggerated elements; to immense displays encompassing whole blocks, like this well known one on Marshall Pond Road in Burke. Cars line nearby streets for blocks as families walk through the cul-de-sac taking in the immense display.

Visiting Santa - Claire and Ethan Bonney, 7 and 5 years old, from Alexandria, caught up with Santa at Burke Lake Park to tell him their hopes for presents and received a candy cane

Holiday craft fairs - In its 18th year, the Lorton Holiday Extravaganza, at South County High School on December 2nd, put on by PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization), boasts more than 180 craft vendors in its fundraiser which supports the annual all night grad party and provides teacher and student support. 

Rite of passage - Building one’s courage to meet Santa, is a rite of passage, and three-year-old Lucas Quiaoit is getting closer, but not quite ready for a close conversation.

Christmas trains - In all sizes, whether traveling around the tree or through the park, like this one at Burke Lake, capture special attention during the holidays. This one piloted by engineer Chris Wise of Springfield.

Crafting - Whether one crafts for personal pleasure, to make gifts for others, or as an enterprise, crafters are especially active in preparation for the holidays. Enterprising crafter Miles Grin, age 11, of Woodbridge, started his business, recently hiring friend Jackson Rizzotte, also 11 years old, to assist him with sales at his booth at the Lorton craft show.

Silly headgear - Parent volunteers Martha Hess, of Lorton, and Pam Gilbert, of Fairfax Station, get their silly on while coordinating volunteers at the Lorton craft show held at South County High School.

Ugly Christmas sweaters - Double the ugly on singular beauties, mother and daughter Madeline Jarzenbak and Jane Zhao, 13, of Annandale, who took a moment to pose at Burke Lake Park after running a race together.

Camels - Prominent in Christmas stories of the Magi, (though other stories suggest Arabian horses instead), today, camels are finding celebrity at Christmas. Delilah, from Bar C Ranch in Clarke County, makes appearances at several living nativities during December. Her annual appearance at St Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Springfield has affectionately dubbed it ‘the camel church.’ Bar C provides another camel for rides at Bull Run Festival of Lights in Manassas. A third camel, Aladdin, who normally resides in Fairfax Station, spends time at Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate during the season, delighting visitors as he recreates the former president’s 1787 exhibition. (See Alexandria Gazette Packet, Dec 6, 2023, pg 15). 

Christmas tree lots - Pop-up lots offer Christmas trees of several varieties, tended by elves like Rob Newcomb of Burke

Nativity scenes - Christian depictions of the birth of Jesus, some with living participants, are common sights in church and private front lawns during the season. St. Christopher’s Episcopal nativity this year saw Christina and Matthew Leuthy portraying the holy family, with son Nicholas, as Jesus.