The Power of Traditions
My kids really like pickled herring. Yes, really. It’s not that it’s the single most delicious food in the world. (Although it might be in the top ten!) It’s the fact that their grandma makes it each year. The whole family enjoys pickled herring at Christmastime. It’s special. It’s tradition.
Traditions bind family members together. Whether it’s eating pickled herring, attending a candlelight service on Christmas Eve, or collecting toys for kids in need family traditions draw us close. There’s power in our traditions. Values are instilled and relationships are strengthened.
But traditions sometimes need to change. A mom in a parenting class told me how her in-laws insisted on preparing a particular side dish for Christmas dinner every year. The only person who ate it was her mother-in-law who had passed away a number of years ago but some were adamant about continuing with the traditional food.
Old and new traditions can meld together. It takes good communication, a desire to try new things, and a willingness to let go of the old. Scott and I have integrated Danielson family traditions with my immediate family’s and added a few of our own over the years. As the boys have grown, some of the customary activities have been set aside to accommodate their maturity. For example, the boys outgrew the family Advent celebration at our church as it was geared for younger children. The live nativity is a must! The chocolate and glitter Advent calendars are out as well as the calendar with the little doors with treats. (Baby Jesus from our nativity set was behind December 25.) Now it’s a box with individual surprises sent to their college P.O. box.
Another change in our Christmas traditions is with the St. Lucia celebration. This began when I was a little girl delivering breakfast to my parents in bed. It has morphed from a candlelight breakfast delivered to my parent’s home after Scott and I were married to breakfast at our house when the boys were young. Now it is a celebration of the true Light of Christmas, Jesus, in memory of my dad. He enjoyed Swedish Christmas festivities and food so much. It’s a joy to have others who knew and loved him along with new friends join us for a traditional Smörgåsbord with a nod to St. Lucia.
Consider the traditions you keep. Rather than filling the calendar pages with busy activities and obligations, choose carefully what is important to you and yours. These questions will guide the conversation.
• What are your favorite family Christmas traditions?
• Why are the traditions treasured?
• What family traditions have become obsolete?
• What meaningful new traditions can you add to the mix to build faith in your family?
May your Christmas traditions fill your heart with joy and point to the One who is the only reason to celebrate!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Start a new tradition! Download Nine Gifts from God to Thrive Rather than Survive During the Holidays from the 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting Team! The 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting Ministry provides expert faith-filled information and heartfelt encouragement for parents and ministry leaders. Book a workshop or retreat for your church or parent group.
© 2016 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Faith First Parent