Each of us grows up with unique holiday traditions.

As we grow older and marry, new traditions are borne, as we meld the customs of our family with those observed in our spouse’s old household. When children enter the picture, we raise them to celebrate these special holiday rituals, too.

Most of us of the baby boomer age didn’t start to even think about the holiday season until about this time of year, when the kudzu has been singed by frost and the red cheeks of our friends and neighbors shines through the sometimes gloomy cold days of late fall.

In recent years, major stores started putting up Christmas decorations way too early, well before the first trick-or-treater had arrived at the door. At first, this was a major shock to those of us who revel in traditions.

Now, most of us just ignore the early start of the commercial holiday season. We still wait until just the right time to start our celebrations.

That’s what we do in Covington and Newton County: We start the holiday season when it is supposed to start.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, our community will gather downtown on the square to enjoy the official lighting of our famous old historic courthouse.

There will be singing, carriage rides, and Santa, too. We will see children with that special sparkle in their eyes that only comes with this time of year.

The merchants on the square will be open for your special shopping needs and the Covington News staff will be there, too, serving up some hot apple cider and cookies.

So, stop by and see us as we begin the holiday Christmas season the old-fashioned way.