The Glass Castle: A Unique Christmas Tradition of Gratitude and Stars

'The Glass Castle' is a memoir written by Jeannette Walls, where she recounts her family's unconventional Christmas traditions and her father's unique way of celebrating the holiday. Unable to afford expensive presents, her parents refused to let their children believe in Santa Claus. Instead, they taught them to appreciate what they had and not look down on those who believed in the Santa myth. One Christmas, with no money, Jeannette's father took each child out into the desert night and offered them a star as a Christmas present. Jeannette chose Venus, a planet she admired. The family then discussed outer space, learning about different stars and planets. Jeannette's father highlighted the value of their stars, emphasizing that they would last longer than any plastic toy.