The Antler Ritual
Artists, actors, writers and directors share their memorable holiday gifts and traditions

Santa’s other reindeer, Champagne. Photo: Sam Damiano

We have a tradition at our house. It’s a goofy thing that happened one year that turned into a tradition—but isn’t that how many traditions start? Anyway, my husband Sam and I live with cats, and one day while I was Christmas shopping, I found a pair of reindeer antlers made to be worn by a cat. The antlers struck a chord with me because “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has always been my favorite holiday show, and I love the part when the Grinch fashions antlers for his trusty dog Max. At the time, we just had one cat, Sabrina. I bought them and had Sabrina wear the antlers. Well, not exactly wear them. It was more like, let’s hold her and, while she hisses and snarls, we’ll put the antlers on her head and laugh. A few years later when Lucy came to live with us, it was her turn for the antler ritual. She didn’t like it any more than Sabrina. But still, every cat that came into our lives had to wear—or attempt to wear—the antlers at Christmas. That’s one of my favorite holiday traditions, although it you were to ask the cats they’d tell a different story. (Even though Champagne seemingly takes the antler ritual in stride, the look in her eyes say it all.) On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, when the family is assembled in the living room, I’ll ask, “Who’s going to wear the antlers this year?” The answer will be found in the sound of little cat paws scurrying for cover.

In honor of this holiday season, I asked members of the South Florida arts community to share their favorite holiday tradition, their most memorable gift, and their thoughts on New Years’ resolutions. Read on to hear their thoughts.

Clive Cholerton

Christmas in Canada

By Clive Cholerton

Most Memorable Gift:
As corny as it sounds coming from a Canadian kid, I most remember the hockey stick I was given for Christmas when I was a boy. I'm from a family of six and we didn't have any money. My mom worked worked a part time job, (she was a school teacher full-time) selling McLean's magazines (Canada's version of Cosmopolitan) to have extra money to buy Christmas presents for the family. Even at that age, I knew the sacrifice my mom had made, and now as a parent myself, I'm in awe at how hard she worked to provide for her children.

Favorite Holiday Tradition
We now celebrate the Jewish holidays and my favorite part is the candle lighting we do each night of Hannukah. We have three different stages of candles that we light each night. We sing—well Margie (wife, actress Margery Lowe) and Evan (son) do—when we light the first set of candles. It is eight nights where we reconfirm our commitment to family.

New Year’s Resolution
I've made them in the past and by March or April they are usually forgotten with. Last year I resolved to make my signature more legible. It didn't stick and I am back to my chicken scrawl. I haven't decided on one this year or not.

Clive Cholerton is the artistic director of the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton. Their current production, The Voysey Inheritance, runs through December 13. www.caldwelltheatre.com.

Lela Elam

The Taste of the Holidays

By Lela Elam

My favorite holiday tradition is eating my Mom's chitterlings, or as we like to call them (and by "we", I mean Black people) chitt'lins. If you are not familiar with them, they are hog intestines in a delicious broth. No one makes them better than my country ass Mom. People come from far and wide this time of year hoping to get a bowl. I've been eating them at Christmas time since childhood, because I didn't know what they were, by now even though I know, they are just so delicious, I can't help myself.

Lela Elam is a Carbonell Award winning actress. She will next appear in No Child at the Waterfront Playhouse in Key West, a one-woman show that she originally did at GableStage in Coral Gables.

Noel

Bittersweet Holidays

By Noel

Most Memorable Gift
This one is both for me, good and bad: Very good when I received my visa to leave Cuba, December 11, 1980. Very bad, when I received the news that my Mom died in Cuba, December 11, 1985

Favorite Holiday Tradition
After Thanksgiving dinner, talking and sharing special moments with family and very dear friends.

New Year’s Resolutions
I don't believe in New Years’ resolutions. Life is an every day work in progress, so if you deal with all the challenges presented as best as possible, there is no need for drastic resolutions.

Noel is an artist in Miami Beach. Upcoming exhibitions include shows in San Juan Puerto Rico, Barcelona, and the European season with the Luxury Liners. His new work can be seen in a one man show in Miami next April. www.studionoel.com.

Sally Bondi

Unusual Gifts

By Sally Bondi

Most Memorable Gift
A vacuum cleaner or a speeding ticket paid.

Favorite tradition
Fresh real trees. I used to get ones to plant in the yard but these days I’m too much of a gypsy.

New Years’ Resolutions
No resolutions. It’s a set-up for great expectations. I believe these days are full of high hopes but low expectations.

Sally Bondi is an actress who is currently appearing in Wonderful Madeline’s Christmas at Actors’ Playhouse. She will next appear with Avi Hoffman and Michael McKeever in Millions of Miles at the Crest Theatre in Delray Beach, January 8-10.

Christopher Demos-Brown

The Great Holiday Gift-off

By Christopher Demos-Brown

My favorite of our holiday traditions is an annual "gift off" between my father-in-law and me. Each of us tries to give the other the most ridiculous gift. The competition usually devolves into 20 minutes of passing baubles and pieces of junk back and forth. Winners of the past have included, a hubcap, a gallon jug of yellow mustard, a coffee table book titled "Toilets of the World," and band aids shaped like bacon.

Christopher Demos-Brown’s new play, When the Sun Shone Brighter, will have its world premiere at Florida Stage in Manalapan, May 12 through June 20, 2010. www.floridastage.org.

Deborah Sharp

We Wish You an Itchy Christmas

By Deborah Sharp

Most Memorable Gift
I got the mohair sweater I asked for when I was 13 years old. All the girls were wearing them ... at least all the girls in climates cooler than my native Fort Lauderdale. Christmas was a sizzler that year: Six-hundred percent humidity, and about 90 degrees. But I insisted on wearing my mohair. I itched, I sweated, I broke out in prickly heat. But at least the rash was bright red, a festive touch for the holiday.

Favorite Holiday Tradition.
I'm a Christmas and Easter churchgoer (the minister always seems to be looking at me from the pulpit when he wonders aloud why the pews aren't as full on non-holidays). But I do love candlelight Christmas Eve services at the little Lutheran church in Fort Lauderdale where I was raised. The hymns, the sermon, the fellowship, the spirit of the season—it's all familiar and strangely comforting, no matter how lapsed I am the rest of the year.

New Year’s Resolution
I never make resolutions. Life is stressful enough without me putting myself through the wringer because I didn't lose five pounds and quit watching mindless TV. Gotta go—my backlog of ''Big Bang Theory'' episodes await.

Deborah Sharp is the author of the Mace Bauer Mystery series. Her latest book, Mama Rides Shotgun: A Mace Bauer Mystery was released July, 2009.

Meredith Lasher

Short and Sweet

By Meredith Lasher

Most Memorable Gift
A car – I didn’t ask for it and I didn’t want it. It was the worst gift ever; you cannot buy love.

Favorite Holiday Tradition
Mistletoe.

New Year’s Resolution
I can’t wait to find something else to volunteer for…not!

Meredith Lasher is president of SouthFloridaTheatre.com as well as president and founding member of the Women’s Theatre Project. Their next production is The Year of Magical Thinking, February 18 through March 14. www.womenstheatreproject.com.

Asandra

Letting Go of the Past

By Asandra

Every year, on December 31, I perform a ceremony called The Burning Bowl. This entails writing on individual pieces of paper whatever I want to release or let go of from the previous year. It can be something emotional or material. This clears the way for a new beginning without any "baggage." Each of the pieces of paper is folded up, and then, one at a time, they are put into a bowl where they will be burned. When I am left with only ashes, I leave the ash at the base of a tree to offer it back to the earth. I am now ready to start the New Year.

Asandra is an artist in Miami.

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