This year was my first time away from my family for Christmas, but all the same I was lucky to be able to spend it with my second family. I spent my early childhood in Halifax so I was somewhat familiar with some of the traditions and celebrations that go on around the holiday season. The Raiders had their Christmas party mid December, hosted by GM’s 44 and Shmurph. Many laughs were had and alcoholic beverages consumed, and a few other things we won’t get in to. One holiday tradition I learned of this year was “Tibb’s Eve”, a Newfoundland tradition of drinking on December 23rd before you have to spend time with your family. A few players decided to take part in this, and myself being Irish, where a lot of Newfoundland culture originates from, happily agreed to take part in. This was a mistake obviously as I ended up having a few too many and spent all of Christmas Eve wishing I had never been born. Christmas day the team got together for dinner and afterwards exchanged our secret santa’s. Overall I would say that my first holiday season with the Raiders was an enjoyable one, but it still isn’t quite the same as being at home with your family and friends.

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