November is a big month for manly men to grow beards. I have no idea where the tradition began and I suppose I could google it, but it turns out I don’t care that much. Generally its just guys that participate, though I suppose gals are able to as well…but I don’t believe its encouraged. Let’s be honest, we have all seen gals with mustaches…surprisingly, for me its never been on the first Monday in December…either way, not cool.
For me and the men of my family, October 1 is a big deal. It is the start date for growing our beards until Christmas day. Basically the plan goes like this…grow your beard and then when we gather as a family to celebrate Christmas, we shave our beards together. But first, each man of the Woods family must shave five facial hair features in stages (taking pictures, of course) before shaving clean. Strategy is key. One must be careful not to remove hair that may be needed to complete other phases. Also, one is permitted to trim edges, but not length. So I basically go from looking like a bear to a 14 year-old just in time for my birthday two days after Christmas.
My dad looks really, really old during this stretch because his beard comes in completely white. My brother usually (always) breaks the rules and trims his because of his commitment to the phrase, “Ben, I’m a professional!” And me, well…people often ask if I have a home or if I am hungry…and I definitely get the question, “so are you preparing for a Christmas play or something? Are you a shepherd in a nativity?”
As ridiculous as it sounds, I look forward to it because its something special I do with my dad and my brother. Its really just for fun. It’s a tradition I’ve peer-pressured my family to roll with for the last five years. It’s bonding at its finest.
And I’m incredibly thankful Crystal loves me enough to be totally okay with me looking homeless, hungry, shepherd-y (?), bearish, and even 14 (wait, that sounds weird).
THE WOODS 