Holiday Traditions from Iowa Life
The holiday season varies widely from family to family, group to group and region to region. Iowa PBS's popular show Iowa Life offers a fascinating glimpse into how diverse Iowans celebrate, showcasing what makes this time of year uniquely special for each of them.
The El Khatib Family - Holiday Traditions
In 2022, a Dubuque family captured widespread attention on X (formerly known as Twitter) thanks to a detailed Christmas itinerary created by Janet El Khatib. Her son, Khalid, shared her meticulously planned schedule, which included meals, activities and more. Within just 12 hours, the tweet garnered 150,000 likes and caught the eye of national news outlets eager to learn more about Janet and their holiday traditions. Janet, renowned for her dedication to making the holidays memorable, goes the extra mile, especially since the siblings only gather in Dubuque every other year. She was even delighted to receive a call from Hoda Kotb of the Today Show, her favorite TV personality. While the media attention was exciting, the family’s highlight was the quality time spent together. With delicious food, fun outings and festive activities, they made lasting memories to cherish for years to come.
Maccabee's Kosher Deli - The First in Iowa
Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, who relocated from Brooklyn to Des Moines, founded Maccabee’s with a mission to provide kosher education and resources to the local Jewish community. Recognizing a gap in kosher awareness, he established Maccabee’s to offer locally processed, high-quality kosher meat. In July 2023, a TikTok video highlighting Maccabee’s as Iowa’s sole kosher deli led to a surge in popularity and sales. Each year, Maccabee’s celebrates Hanukkah with enthusiasm, adorning their front yard with a 30-foot menorah and inviting notable guests to participate in the menorah lighting. The deli becomes a festive hub during Hanukkah, serving traditional treats like potato latkes and deep-fried jelly donuts. By embracing the Festival of Lights, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, Yossi and Maccabee’s Deli bring the uplifting spirit of Hanukkah to the Des Moines community.
The Poinsettias Path - The Christmas Flower
This feature delves into the fascinating journey of how the poinsettia became America's official Christmas flower. Its story begins with the Aztecs, who revered it long before it became associated with the nativity of Jesus through various legends of miraculous transformation. Once known as the "flower of the holy night," the poinsettia was introduced to the United States in 1828. Today, more than 2 million poinsettias are sold annually across the country. In Burlington, Iowa, Steve Ritter and his family have been cultivating poinsettias for decades. According to Steve, the key to growing these vibrant plants lies in providing them with several hours of continuous darkness and nighttime temperatures that drop into the 60s. While red remains the most popular color, white and glittery variations are also in demand. Many people enjoy visiting the greenhouse to select their favorite poinsettias, which bring joy and festive cheer to countless homes during the holiday season.
The Corning Opera House Cantata
The Corning Opera House, built in 1902, originally served as a gathering place rather than a musical venue. In 2023, the community of Corning initiated a new tradition by hosting their first Christmas cantata. This event brings together individuals of all ages and backgrounds, all united by their passion for music. The leaders of the cantata group revel in the joy and camaraderie it creates, constantly pushing each other to grow and improve. The cantata celebrates the happiness of the holiday season, with performers delivering beautiful harmonies on beloved songs like "O Holy Night" and "On Hollow Ground." Despite being the smallest county in Iowa in terms of both land and population, Corning is rich in cultural depth. As one member put it, she loves to put the “unity” in “community.”
Tune in to season 2 of Iowa Life each Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for more touching stories and tradition sharing.