Craig Melvin On How His Mom Made Holidays In Columbia “So Magical”

Craig Melvin got his love for Christmas from his mother. “When we were growing up, my mom did everything to make the holidays extra special for us, and I’ve been trying to do the same for my own kids,” says the Today show anchor; journalist; and Columbia, South Carolina, native. Betty Jo Melvin makes a ritual of decorating her home every year, starting on the day after Thanksgiving “and not a minute after,” she adds. Bowls filled with fruits, nuts, and peppermints are set on tabletops, and red and pink poinsettias are displayed throughout every room, a festive touch she learned from herown mother. But the shining stars are the two artificial trees wrapped in strands of clear twinkling lights, one trimmed with an assortment of homemade and vintage baubles, the other adorned with her beloved collection of angel ornaments. “The trees have always been an elaborate production. Mom would leave them up until April if she could,” says Craig. Betty Jo doesn’t disagree: “I would keep them up forever. There’s something about those trees that brings me a sense of peace.”

“Mom’s mac and cheese is the official family side dish.”

Craig Melvin

Betty Jo was born in Cayce, South Carolina. By the time she turned 10, her family had moved across the river to Columbia, and she has called it home ever since. She’s the eldest of four children, the first in her family to graduate college, a retired teacher, an avid cook and baker, and the memory maker for her two sons, Craig and Ryan. “When I was a kid, I was lucky to have aunts, uncles, cousins, and my two grandmothers all around us in Columbia,” says Craig. “We could bounce from house to house and celebrate with everyone. That’s what makes Christmastime so unforgettable for me. It was magical.”

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Betty Jo Melvin’s Macaroni and Cheese

And it wouldn’t be Christmas—or any Melvin gathering—without Betty Jo’s famous macaroni and cheese. “Mom’s mac and cheese is the official family side dish. If someone can’t attend a get-together, they’ll call ahead to request a plate be set aside,” says Craig. Like many Southern recipes, this classic was passed down from her own mother, Florence, who would prepare it every Sunday when Betty Jo was younger. Over the years, she has put her own signature spin on the decadent side by adding more types of cheeses than the original, and she admits it’s definitely a crowd-pleaser. “I always get in trouble if there’s not enough!” says Betty Jo, laughing.

The holidays look a little different these days for Craig, who now resides in Connecticut with his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, and their two children (Delano, 9, and Sybil, 7), but they always try to make it to Columbia to visit family and friends, catch the Lights at Riverbanks Zoo, and create new traditions in his hometown. No matter where they’re celebrating on December 25, you can count on seeing Betty Jo’s macaroni and cheese on the table.

Related: Craig Melvin Shares the One Ingredient You Should Never, Ever Put in Grits

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