As the holiday season draws near, we can’t help but celebrate the unique family traditions that make this time of year so special. From festive meals and cherished rituals to new customs that bring loved ones together, these stories highlight the warmth and diversity of holiday experiences in our community. It’s a wonderful opportunity to honor the past while creating new memories.
Join Bellevue Lifestyle as we dive into the heartfelt stories, delicious recipes, and meaningful moments that make the holidays so cherished for four Bellevue families.
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The Zylstra's
By Christy Zylstra
The sound of snow falling softly in the mountains, the chatter of voices in cozy packed restaurants, all come to mind when the words, “family tradition” comes to mind. One tradition that always remained is our annual Christmas Eve dinner. The buzz is in the air as the anticipation for Christmas comes to a head. The day moves slowly as we relish in the joy of the moment, while the feeling of what’s to come takes center stage. Making this special dinner is a full family activity, making Christmas cookies, & everyone pitches in. Some years every ingredient is thought through, while others we throw it together at the last minute. But the act of sitting around the table and eating dinner as a family remains. There is something about being around the table as a family, that feels so nostalgic. It takes something that you do so often, such as eating, and slows it down in a way where you feel as though time has stopped.
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The Dubei's
By Monica Dubei
Laurențiu and I are small business owners in Bellevue, WA—he runs Ideal Hardwood Floors, and I own Monica’s Ideal Design. This fall, we celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary with our two daughters, Adeline (4) and Katherine (3).
I was born and raised in Bellevue, while Laurențiu immigrated from Romania in 2015. We embrace both of our backgrounds and are deeply involved in our cultural church, especially during the holiday season. Christmas caroling is a central part of our celebrations, as we worship the birth of Jesus Christ. We sing carols in both English and Romanian, sharing the joy of the season with our community.
One of our most cherished traditions is organizing the annual senior citizens' lunch at our church. It’s an event where we serve the elderly members of our congregation and honor their long-standing marriages. Their stories of love and dedication inspire us each year. For Laurențiu and me, it’s a beautiful way to serve together as a couple, while learning from those who have walked the path of life and marriage before us.
As our daughters grow, we hope to pass on these traditions, teaching them the importance of faith, family, and their cultural heritage.
The Oliver's
By Candace Oliver
Baby its cold outside! I LOVE this time of year! Cozy blankets, cuddling by the fireplace, watching movies, baking cookies, giving gifts, and celebrating Christ’s birth. This is such a reflective time of year that always brings life into perspective. There is SO much to be grateful for. Bryan and I are committed to cultivating a culture of contribution in our family. We want to impart in our kids the heart posture of “what do I currently have? and how can I use that to contribute to make the world a better place?”. Most often, the simplest gesture makes the MOST impact. Who doesn’t love a homemade cookie and a heartfelt handwritten card of encouragement? I have cookie recipes that have been passed down through the generations that ooze with melted chocolate and pure JOY! The cards we write are intentional with what the recipient has meant to us. We also include a word of encouragement for their year to come. Of course the cookies make my mouth water just thinking about them, but this tradition is more about slowing down, spending time with one another OFF our phones, and using what we have to spread love. What do I currently have that I can give to bring a positive impact to those around me? It’s always a cookie and prayer Happy Holidays!
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The Le's
By Tammy Le
The holidays in our family are all about creating new traditions that blend fun and meaning. We love spending time creating with our hands—whether it’s mixing up Chex mix to share with friends or making salt dough ornaments to hang around the house. To slow down the holidays and enjoy our community, we go for drives in the neighborhood, admiring the twinkling lights. A couple of must-do traditions include visiting two Bellevue holiday favorites: Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, and Snowflake Lane in downtown Bellevue. The mix of these big and slow moments helps us embrace the magic of the season while trying to stay present with one another.