The smell of bacon has a way of pulling people out of their rooms and into the same shared space, no invitation required. In this special, Christmas-themed episode, a glitter-covered strip of bacon hanging on a tree becomes a surprisingly fitting symbol for what the season is really about.ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores how a family joke about ribbon-candy ornaments evolved into the “Christmas bacon,” the final ornament placed on the tree each year, and why bacon itself makes sense as a metaphor for the holiday spirit. Drawing on memories of large Christmas Eve breakfasts filled with Southern staples and extended family gathered shoulder to shoulder, the episode reflects on how food, scent, and shared rituals create anticipation, togetherness, and belonging. Along the way, Alderdice considers how traditions are rarely planned but instead accumulate meaning over time, carrying memory, laughter, and connection from one generation to the next. The result is a playful yet reflective reminder that Christmas is built less from perfection and polish, and more from warmth, community, and the small traditions that quietly anchor us to one another.For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.

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