Trick or treating, turkey trotting, and trimming the tree are all known traditions for many American families. They are fun, ways of breaking the monotony of everyday living and lend joyous, spirit filled, magic and texture to foster eventful gatherings during the holiday season. Traditions can assist in strengthening family bonds, teaching values, connecting family generations, and creating lasting memories.
Growing up practicing the same customs year after year may result in oblivion about how those traditions began. They don’t happen spontaneously. They are decided upon, planned, implemented, and continued throughout the years. Some are worth passing on. Perhaps some no longer are of interest. What about when two people, whose families had different long-standing traditions get married? Is one obligated to partake in the other? Should the couple maintain both? What should happen after a couple starts their own family?
A great way for couples and families to foster family bonds is to begin their own holiday traditions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with considering continuing previous traditions. These are what connect family generations. However, a new event created by members of a new family nucleus creates a connection and fosters intimacy. Considering values, purpose, or even a family mission statement are possible factors to consider. For families wanting to begin one or more new traditions, here are some ideas and examples:
Fellowship – The holidays are a time of year for gatherings. Office parties, pot-lucks, and family reunions provide opportunities for personal connections. This can also be a local custom right in the home or neighborhood.
- Organize a neighborhood holiday gathering and change the host every year.
- Invite church members over for a parent gift-wrapping session.
- Bring back Christmas Caroling in your neighborhood or even extend it beyond the neighborhood and entertain residents at a senior living facility.
- Organize a holiday party at an orphanage.
- Have a neighborhood secret Santa event.
Service – Service is a value worth passing down to children, and the sooner they become accustomed to serving others the better. There are many ways to serve during the holidays.
- Volunteer at a local shelter or participate in a food drive.
- Participate in Toys for Tots. You can donate a toy, host an event, or volunteer at the local warehouse.
- Unite a pet with a vet.
- Participate in Operation Christmas Child.
- Offer holiday assistance to someone in need (Deliver a tree, help hanging lights, assist with gift wrapping, or host a small kids event to allow parents alone time to wrap and hide presents).
Creativity – Both children and adults enjoy creating. Although children create all year round in school, the holiday season heightens creative activity. What a fun way to foster collaboration right in the home.
- Have a baking night. Decorate cookies and gingerbread houses.
- Make ornaments for home décor and gifts.
- Create homemade greeting cards.
- Make decorating the house a big fun filled event so it feels less like a chore. Add Christmas music, food, hot chocolate, and friends, with a little friendly gift giving exchange by way of a treasure hunt.
- Have a holiday themed paint night.
- Make memory jars of special moments for the New Year, but don’t stop there! Open the jar the following Thanksgiving (remembering to be thankful for the positive memories), gather any photos that were taken during these moments, and put together a video or slide show, and mail DVD’s (digital Christmas cards) to distant family members.
Gratitude
- Remember a long forgotten, by many, simple act of putting a gift in your mailbox for your mailperson to show thanks for the service provided in rain, sleet, or snow.
- Organize a special singing class message for a teacher.
- Gather letters, from members of your community, for your local police/fire/EMT stations to express gratitude for risking their lives to save others’ lives.
- Take up a collection for a gift for an office, school, or hospital custodial worker.
- Gather letters and care packages for overseas troops, who are away from their families during the holidays, to express thanks for serving our country.
- Leave a thank you note for those who work early, late, or holiday hours so others can shop for deals.
- Give thanks to God for all blessings.
Worship
- Participate in a Nativity play
- Attend Christmas Eve service
- Get an Advent Calendar and also read scripture, as a family, from an Advent devotional on each day.
- Sing songs of praise.
- Blog, or write stories about the birth of Christ.
Family traditions can be large or small. Having the participation of all is what matters. When life changes, kids move out, business and responsibilities result in a little neglect of one another, long held traditions could be cause for a pause to slow down, reconnect, and rekindle family relationships. My neighborhood has started traditions, families have traditions, my daughter and I have a mother-daughter day tradition, religions have traditions, and cultures have traditions. They may be a great way of having a connection to a commonality, and family traditions can aid in strong family connections. Any type of tradition is simply a long-established custom passed on through generations. However, a long-established practice doesn’t make it a rule, law, or commandment. There are already long held commercial traditions that have drowned out the purpose of celebrations. Let us not forget to remind ourselves, and teach our children, the difference between traditions and the true meaning of a holiday like Christmas. Families can add to, decrease, change, or make new traditions. They can be simple or extravagant. It’s the togetherness, positive memories, lessons learned, values and love shared that matters.
Enjoy your new family traditions and Happy Holidays!
Leslie Cristea
