Origins and History of the Uncles Christmas Party

By Shirley (Ortega) Rinck

The Christmas Party was started to celebrate the Christmas holiday with the brothers and sisters and their spouses in a small group which could be held at one of their homes. 

I don't know whose idea it was or if it was just all of them coming up with the idea. I do know everyone shared their homes and the ones with the bigger houses did it more often. Not all attended, but most of the brothers and sisters did.  

Then when people moved farther away it became harder to hold the parties because some of them didn't want to drive that far.  There was also some sickness in the family so that took some toll. The older cousins were invited so they could drive their parents or parent. I think it stopped because too many of them got sick and couldn't attend anymore.