Photos by Shelley Hanson Martins Ferry resident Alaina Ritchie, left, poses with her mother Melissa Ritchie of Belmont while shopping at Valley Cheese in Centre Market in Wheeling on Tuesday. Melissa Ritchie says one of her favorite Christmas traditions is decorating her tree with ornaments made by her late mother.

WHEELING — While out shopping, eating and enjoying the season, Ohio Valley residents revealed some of their favorite Christmas traditions.

Martins Ferry resident Cole Harry said his favorite Christmas tradition is gathering with his family on Christmas Eve.

“We play games … have a little dinner and open gifts,” he said while eating at the McDonald’s in Martins Ferry.

He noted one his favorite games to play involves a gift exchange but then people get the chance to choose a different gift being held by another. He noted it was a lot of fun.

Another game involves using a tape measure to try and drop a ball into cups. If one drops a ball into a cup they win a prize.

Terry Endsley of Martins Ferry, who is pastor of Center Wheeling Fellowship Church, enjoys giving a sermon on Christmas Eve.

“We tell the Christmas story and sing hymns in between,” said Endsley, who is also manager of the Martins Ferry McDonald’s.

Ohio County Sheriff Nelson Croft, who was grabbing lunch at Valley Cheese in the Centre Market, said he enjoys being part of his church’s live nativity scene each Christmas. He attends the Wheeling-Marwin Church of the Nazarene. On Christmas day, the family travels from one sibling’s home to the next for visits and gifts. At the end of those visits everyone meets at his aunt’s house in Clearview for one final get-together.

Middlebourne native Bobbie Harlan, who now lives in Tennessee, said her favorite tradition is purchasing fish and shrimp at Coleman’s Fish Market in Wheeling and taking it to her parents’ home.

“All the men go to the garage and fry the fish,” she said, noting the women prepare the rest of the dinner inside.

Wheeling resident Jordan Hess said his favorite tradition is watching football. He was looking forward to seeing the Raiders and Notre Dame games.

“And right now it’s Coleman’s for me on Christmas eve-eve,” he added.

Gian DeGenova of Wheeling said he also enjoys watching football games at Christmastime.

“We go through the Festival of Lights on Christmas Eve,” he said of his family.

Belmont resident Melissa Ritchie said her favorite Christmas tradition is getting to decorate her tree with the homemade ornaments her late mother gifted her many years ago. Some of the ornaments include birds and a sleigh made from popsicle sticks with her name burned into it.

“I put them high up on the tree. I’m going to pass them down to my children and grandchildren,” she noted.