The Power of Family Traditions
When I was a kid, every time my mom’s side of the family got together, we ate a lot, played sports, made each other cry in board games, sang, told stories, and laughed into the late hours of the night. With my dad’s side of the family, we would play cards, tell stories, pass gas, and laugh into the late hours of the night.
On Thanksgiving, we would play a civil game of flag football with our church and then, nursing our wounds, stuff ourselves silly with turkey and ham. Christmas Eve was almost always spent at one very large house, retelling the Christmas story and stuffing ourselves silly with ham and cake. On New Years Eve, we would line up on the street to watch the Rose Parade floats make their way to Pasadena- we got to see them before anyone else. Later, we would stay up until midnight for the big countdown. Then we would break into the Martinellis sparkling cider, and the family would kneel together in prayer for the new year. Then we would all head home trying to avoid the bullets falling from the sky in our LA neighborhood.
Interestingly enough, most of the experiences I remember today from my childhood and family revolve around these traditions. There was some magic in those experiences that cemented my notions of faith, family, happiness, and fun.
I know there are those for whom ‘tradition’ is a bad word, a relic. While I agree there are some traditions that are better cast off, I know there are some traditions we should never do away with. Traditions define our families. If done right, they bind us together. Sometimes, they are silly or inconvenient. But not all that is old is outdated. They serve a very essential function in families. In fact, it’s hard to define your family without the existence of traditions.
With the holiday season almost upon us, how will you observe or create family-building traditions? Maybe your tradition is waking up early on Black Friday to shop until you can’t see straight. Maybe it’s playing in the snow and coming in for a round of hot cocoa. Maybe it’s going to church. Even just watching the yearly Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special together is a tradition of sorts. Whatever you choose, these traditions will forge relationships between you and your family members that will not be easily forgotten.
Although it’s always best to start early with traditions if you’re a parent, traditions can start at anytime and often in the most unexpected ways. Maybe your family isn’t the together type. There’s always a first time, and you never know when something good might stick. So give traditions a try this year and watch what happens with you and your family.
