Holiday traditions remain strong in Westmoreland County, even if on pause during pandemic

A global pandemic has disrupted the routines of so many people at home, work, school and how they gather for family vacations, reunions and anniversaries. Now, for a second consecutive year, it is impacting how some will celebrate the holidays.

“We used to always get together and sing Christmas carols. We haven’t done it the last two years,” said Janet Hartman-Good of Jeannette.

Hartman-Good said her family — a group of more than 20 blended from her side and her husband’s — typically gathers the Sunday before Christmas at her home for a celebration and to take the annual photograph of the grandchildren in front of the Christmas tree.

But with the omicron variant spreading, they decided to forgo the annual get-together. A gathering under one roof increases the potential for disagreements over who has been vaccinated against covid-19 and had their booster shots, and who hasn’t and why not.

“Rather than have family strife,” Hartman-Good said they are hoping to resume the tradition next year.

“I miss it terribly,” she said.

Mary Wilmes of Greensburg looked forward to gathering with her son and daughter on Christmas Eve, something that they did not do last year because of the coronavirus.

When her children were young, Wilmes celebrated Saint Nicholas Day — remembered as the patron saint of children — on Dec. 6, when she gave them gifts and later ornaments as they grew older.

As a youngster growing up in Dormont, Wilmes recalled her grandmother making 500 pastries for the holidays. Her mother reduced the pastry-making to 250 cookies, which she then whittled down to 125 for her own children.

For Patricia Schmadel of Hempfield, getting together with sons Eric and Francis and their families is a tradition she has carried with her since she was a youngster gathering with her parents and grandparents.

“I hope they will continue the tradition,” Schmadel said.

Their special Christmas food: canned oysters and cheese.

Schmadel’s late husband loved cheese, so much so that he once spent $250 on holiday fromage. Her son, Francis, had taken to calling Christmas “cheesemas,” she said.

Making chicken pinwheels for the Christmas meal is a tradition for Nadine Kistler of Hempfield, and one enjoyed by her 12-year-old grandchild, Jordan. The chicken, mixed with cheese and seasoning , is baked in dough, then cut into pinwheels.

When it comes to opening the Christmas presents, “I like it when they open one at a time,” Kistler said.

Lois Woleslagle of North Irwin has the perspective on Christmas traditions not many have, thanks to living nine decades and having a mother born just four years into the 20th century.

She and her three sisters grew up during the Great Depression in the 1930s and made do for the holidays during the rationing that existed during World War II.

“It’s just real nice to be with your family,” said Woleslagle, who has two children, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

They typically have a big meal — her contribution is pumpkin pie with cream — and then attend a Christmas Eve service at Cornerstone Church in Murrysville. With a spike in covid, they postponed that tradition this year.

“We’re planning to have Christmas another day at my son’s house,” Woleslagle said.