Olivia Martinez, on TikTok @teenyolivemartini, has shared a truly unique and beautiful family tradition. Each year, they use the same holiday tablecloth and have every guest at Christmas dinner sign it. Since 1997, this tradition has been carried on, with sweet signatures and doodles accumulating over the years.

Preserving Family Memories with a Holiday Tablecloth

Holiday Tablecloth: A Centrepiece of Family Gatherings

The tradition began in 1997 when Martinez's "super crafty" mom took up embroidery. She learned cross stitch as a child with her mom and has always been creative. It has become a centrepiece of their big family Christmas Eve gatherings. With her mom having eight brothers and sisters, their family gatherings are always large. They have family over for Christmas Eve appetizers and drinks, and this is when everyone signs the tablecloth. They use a water-soluble marker that washes away after stitching over everyone's names.During the Christmas Eve gathering, the family enjoys each other's company. After the gathering ends, they kick off Christmas by embroidering the names. They usually start after dinner and finish by the 26th or 27th, depending on the size of the dinner. Sometimes, when they have a big group, they all sit on the couch with the tablecloth on their lap like a blanket while stitching and watching Christmas movies.Martinez was inspired to share this tradition after seeing other TikTokers post about family traditions. She knew people would appreciate it but never expected it to go viral. To date, the video has more than 1.5 million views."My mom has been the most excited about the video blowing up. I posted it around 10 p.m., and I didn't even know it had gotten a lot of views until she woke me up the next morning to tell me," Martinez says. "The first day it was up, she texted me hourly while I was at work to update me on the metric milestones. She has read and responded to almost every comment and is so happy that her tablecloth inspires others."Martinez is excited to see her family tradition being celebrated as they add another year's worth of memories to the tablecloth. "It's super special to see the signatures of loved ones preserved, especially if they are no longer with us."

Family Involvement in the Tablecloth Tradition

What started as a project for just her mom evolved into a family craft. When Martinez and her siblings were little, her mom stitched everyone's signatures. Once they got older, around 11 or 12, they liked to help. They all started stitching their own names. Martinez recalls, "I don't really remember being taught. My mom would just give me a needle and thread and let me work on it. She never made me feel like I would'mess up.' It's endearing to see some of the messier names from younger kids anyway." She adds that even her dad participates. They usually make him stitch over his signature because he always draws a really intricate picture.This family tradition not only brings them together during the holiday season but also preserves the memories of their loved ones. It's a special way to celebrate each year and create lasting memories that will be cherished for generations to come.