Traditions are the stories from our family that are passed from one generation to the next. They are our history and provide the knowledge of who we are, where we come from, and the values we hold. This is how you experience your family time together + how you relate to others, + you can either create them with intention, or they’ll be formed by default.
It helps to define your family’s identity + culture, + is a way of demonstrating how each of us belong. Belonging to a community, or a group with a defined identity, is crucial to our experience as human beings. We thrive when we feel that we belong, that we’re part of a bigger story. Creating + establishing traditions help provide the definition of who we are + what we belong to, the framework within which your family functions.
Something as simple as giving hugs + kisses in the morning + at night become tradition. Having a special saying for saying hello + goodbye. How we spend our Friday nights and Sundays. Anything that is a meaningful practice for you + your family.
Most of us have traditions we practice at Christmas. In our family there are events we like to attend, like the Santa Claus Parade + the Lighting of the Lights at our downtown park, + enjoying sticky buns on Christmas morning. We all bring traditions we experienced growing up into the family units we form as we grow up, but it’s equally important to create new traditions with our partners + children, melding together the family identity we grew up with into a new, but familiar identity to experience with our loved ones.
Take some time before getting into the full swing of the holiday rush to think about what is important to your family + what the spirit of Christmas is to you. Consider traditions your family has practiced. Why are these traditions important to you and do you want to continue them this holiday season? Don’t hold rigidly to traditions for the sake of it. Hold firm to those traditions that touch your heart and home, family values and priorities. Keep these thoughts close to you through the Christmas season to create a special + intentional season of love + togetherness.
[…] briefly touched on this subject before, right here, but this month I want to dive into it a little […]