Article Contributed on: 11/25/2007 7:28:56 AM
Keeping traditions alive is what makes each family unique and special. Some traditions revolve around holidays, some are religious in nature, and some get handed down through the generations because, "That's the way we always did it."
Christmas is a perfect backdrop for traditions. What fun to watch the current generation creating Christmas memories with the next generation, using some of the customs of past generations.
In our family, we designate one day during the holiday season when all 32 of us can be there. We have a buffet supper with theme dishes from various cultures. One year it will be Italian, another Chinese or Hawaiian etc... Everyone under 18 receives a stocking filled with goodies. Everyone over 18 participates in our traditional white elephant game, only the white elephants are new items with assigned theme or color. Last year the color was gold. What fun keeping an eye out for the most unique gold gift throughout the shopping season. Everyone hopes their white elephant will be the coveted one.
One of our best traditions evolved out of the white elephant game. (White elephants are huge in our family; you could say they are a tradition.) On this particular occasion a cousin was present and brought a ceramic swan as his white elephant. It was supposed to be a vase. It had a large purple tulip in the front and another purple tulip in the back. It immediately caught the fancy of our family members, who thought it somewhat gaudy and unattractive. The game went on and on, as everyone vied for the ungly swan.
Over the years, the swan kept reappearing. Once it arrived at a maternity hospital filled with congratulatory flowers for the new mom. Another time it showed up at a restuarant holding the drink for Grandpa's birthday celebration. It continues to appear at anniversaries, graduations birthdays etc... Everyone in the family has been surprised with the gift filled swan at some celebration or milestone. They then fill it up and pass it forward to someone else at a later occasion. What started out as a joke has become one of our treasured family traditions.
Traditions are the key to keeping a family connected. The tradition can be the smallest thing, like serving green milk on St. Patrick's day. Or it can be something really special, like a sweet sixteen birthday party. The more traditions a family shares, the more their bond of closeness is reinforced.
It warms the heart to hear children and grandchildren saying, "In our family, we always_________." You fill in the blank with your own special family tradition.