Here I sit in front of my laptop on Christmas Day. As I type this, the clock reads 7:53 AM. I’ve already tore through my Christmas gifts, and my wife has done the same. While she is quickly wrapping up a desert to take to her parents house this evening, I’ve decided to take this brief moment to light a cigar and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Yesterday on the Stogie Review Fan Forums, I asked if anyone had a special cigar they planned to smoke on Christmas Eve. There were lots of interesting answers which made me think about what I would be smoking on this special night.

In my family, for as long as I can remember, we have always decorated the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. I am not sure where the tradition came from, but it has always been a fun evening for the family. Last night I ventured out to my parents house to see my parents, siblings, and nieces & nephews. Shortly after arriving the kids got to decorating the tree and carrying on. When it was all said and done, I slipped off into the basement to have a holiday cigar with my father.

I handed him an original Oliva Masterblend and he handed me a Padron 1926. The funny thing about the Padron was the story that goes along with it. Two years ago on Christmas Eve my wife and I got engaged. After the formal announcement to my family, my father and I slipped into the basement for a cigar.

Before I could pull one from my travel humidor, my brother handed me an early Christmas gift, a Padron 1926. This was the first cigar I smoked after becoming engaged and it was a fantastic way to round out the evening. The following year on Christmas Eve I smoked yet another Padron 1926 to commemorate the one year anniversary of our engagement.

This year I planned to smoke the same cigar. In a rush after finishing work I decided to forgo hitting up the cigar shop to purchase one. I was almost positive I had one resting at home in my humidor. After all of my running around was complete, I began packing my travel humidor before leaving for my parents house. It was then that I realized that I must have given away my very last Padron 1926 and the cigar shop had closed long ago.

I dug around for a bit trying to find a 1926, that I was sure wasn’t anywhere to be found. I eventually gave up and packed a 1964 in its place. I made my way to my parents house and chalked up my botched tradition to simply being busy. After I was finished playing with the kids, I headed to the basement for that traditional cigar.

When my father handed me that stick I was in shock. To the best of my knowledge he was not aware of my tradition and he single handedly saved the day. After a great day I had a fantastic night in a cloud of smoke.

Thanks Dad!