Christmas Traditions

A while (a long while) ago,  I asked for questions on Facebook. Rather than answering all at once, I have been answering as the timing seems right. Today, December 2 is the day to answer this one from Kelsey Bender: 

"How do you decide to whether or not make something a family tradition?"

I saw a picture yesterday from a cousin which showcased her parents making Christmas cookies with the grandkids. This sparked a conversation on how this was a tradition for them and how the same kinds of cookies are made year after year. This got me thinking about what we do with our families, especially this time of year during the holidays. 

There are some things that Leo and I do with our children simply because it is what has always been done, as it is for many families. Like:

          -exchanging gifts on Christmas

          -hanging stockings on the fireplace mantle

          -the tree

          -attending a Christmas church service

          -baking cookies

          

Then we have put on our own variation on it:

          -opening stockings and new pajamas on Christmas Eve

          -We have no fireplace to hang stockings, so ours have always gone up the staircase.

          -Our church service has varied over the years as we attend different services

          -We try to bake Amish Church Cookies, but other baking, not so much. My mom always

             makes cookies for the kids for their gift, so I kinda get off easy here. 

Other traditions that have developed over the years:

          -Camping out in the living room Christmas Eve as we watch "It's A Wonderful Life"

           (BEST Christmas movie ever!)

          -Hot chocolate as we watch the movie

          -I enjoy picking out an ornament for each child every year that fits them for that year

          -Mistletoe in the doorways

          -Red and green paper chain in the kitchen

          -A big Christmas breakfast

As the years go by, and the kids grow up, things change. Not only that, but I work too, often on Christmas Eve. We have had to adjust traditions even more, sometimes keeping the spirit of the tradition, just changing it to fit where we are. This year I have Christmas vacation and Leo and I were going to change things up a bit. 

An Old-Fashioned Christmas at the Bender Cabin...sounds fun, right? 

"But what about the stockings?"

"But, we have to open gifts Christmas Eve, by the tree."

"How will we cook breakfast?"

"It won't seem right."

"There's no electricity."

So, where do our family traditions come from and how do we decide which ones to keep?

I think they just happen and then they just feel right. Then they just keep coming back year after year, becoming tradition. There are things that I don't' really think of as "tradition", but as I found out when we tried to change it, they are. 

And don't you dare try to change it!

Love,

Dianne