What are your favorite family traditions?
Do you find yourself repeating many of the same traditions you grew up with, or do you have more fun making your own new traditions?
Maybe it’s just because it’s the holiday season, but I’ve been thinking about traditions these past few weeks.
I remember when I was just 9 years old, I asked my mom for a copy of Let’s Make a Memory by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson. I would sit for hours and pour over the different ideas in that book, hardly able to wait to ask my mom if we could do some of them. Looking back now, I can see that my love of coming up with fun, creative ideas began early!
I’ve started to categorize traditions in three different ways: mainstream holidays and traditions (those traditions that are kept by the majority of people who live in your neighborhood or country), traditions you grew up with in your family, and new traditions you have made with your husband and/or children.
Here’s a breakdown of the three types of traditions, some examples from my family and thoughts on how you can use each tradition type to encourage and support the interests of your own family.
Mainstream traditions
– Sending out holiday greeting cards
– Buying or making valentines
– Hunting for Easter eggs
1. Don’t take part in a tradition just because you think you “should” because everyone is doing it. For example, I don’t send out Christmas cards or a Christmas newsletter. I used to feel bad about this; I wondered what people would think about me if I received their cards yet didn’t send them one of my own. But I realized that I didn’t enjoy filling out the cards at all. Doing something just because I “should” be doing it took away time and energy I could put into creating traditions I’d enjoy could joyously share with others.
2. Put a twist on mainstream traditions to make them your own. Instead of caroling one year, your kids could organize a paid concert that would benefit a favorite charity. Or instead of hiding Easter eggs in the backyard, hide the eggs in different locations throughout your entire neighborhood and turn it into a scavenger hunt. (This might be a good idea to do with older kids who are too “cool” to find Easter eggs anymoreJ)
Traditions you had growing up
– Buying a real tree the day after Thanksgiving and decorating it while listening to Christmas music. (Steve’s family)
– Opening up one Christmas present on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas morning.
(My family)
– My mom baking a lamb cake on Easter
1. Don’t continue an old family tradition just because you think it’s something your parents would want you to do. You might be afraid of disappointing your parents, but if it’s not bringing your family joy, it’s taking away from the spirit and purpose of the tradition.
2. Do share stories about old family traditions with your children. Even if you choose to not carry on a family tradition, its fun to go through old pictures and share stories about the special memories you made growing up. Also, by sharing those memories, you might spark some new interests in your children.
Traditions you start with your immediate family
These can be ideas you’ve come up with on your own or fun ideas you’ve heard about
– Lighting our jack-o-lanterns every night a week before Halloween while reading Halloween stories and singing Halloween songs
– Creating paper chains where we rip off one chain per day to countdown to a fun event
– Making a birthday DVD for my kids’ birthday and watching it with the whole family at their party
1. Incorporate your family’s interests and passions when creating new traditions. I love browsing through blog posts, books, and Pinterest looking for fun, new ideas we can try out during the holiday season. But some things look better on paper than they do when you try it out in real life. I try my best to only choose those things that I’m pretty sure most everyone in the family will enjoy doing together.
2. Be sure to get everyone’s input. You want new ideas to be something everyone will enjoy, otherwise enjoyable traditions for you will turn into dreaded memories for your kids – something we want to avoid, right?
3. Don’t be afraid to drop old traditions and add new ones. Sometimes certain traditions are just special for a certain season in life. Other times traditions seem to get stale; they just aren’t as interesting as they used to be. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with keeping the same traditions year after year, brainstorm as a family all the things you’d like to do during a particular holiday or season. Then, vote on those things that excite your family the most. Drop those so-so activities. This might be a good time to suggest new ideas you’ve come across, too.
Photo Credit: madgerly
What types of traditions are your favorites? Are you thinking about starting any new traditions this holiday season?