My answer? Because they feel comfortable like warm sweaters. Traditions just feel cozy and right.
Traditions also help us keep great memories alive. Personally, I love pulling out my Christmas recipe book during the holidays. It always reminds me of Phil’s (my husband’s) mom who passed away a few years ago. This recipe book is full of some of her favourite treats to make at Christmas; I think of her every time I’m making “Marshmallow Marvys” and other family favourites.
All of these traditions remind me of when we moved far away from family and our home, and our first Christmas here. Phil and I landed here just before the holiday season; complete with two young kids, a cat, and a dog! It just didn’t feel right. Our first Christmas here was extremely different from what we were used to, and I didn’t know what we were going to do. My mom was the person who reminded me to, ”Create your own traditions.” Start new ones. So we did!
Imagine typical Christmas preparations along with all of the over-the-top planning that comes with the holiday season – shopping, wrapping, shopping, baking, shopping, visiting, eating, shopping, entertaining, school plays, more shopping, more cooking and then more eating! Then, add moving to a new home into that equation and Holy Reindeer! Talk about a recipe for stress!
There were so many things to consider, but we knew one thing – we wanted our kids’ experience to be the priority. Let’s face it, Christmas is for family, especially the kids. One thing we were excited for our kids to experience was a White Christmas!
That Christmas, we all sat down and made a list of new traditions. It was a perfect time to create new memories. We all got to pick one new tradition each and all these years later, each tradition is honoured; from “More than Ice Cream” for Christmas Eve dinner (they were the only restaurant open that first year, and our waitress still remembers us each year), to skating outdoors on Christmas Day (only 2 Christmas’ we’ve had no ice to skate on, but hiking in 15c sunny weather is a great substitute!)
Another important item that first year was an early letter to Santa letting him know that we had moved, complete with directions on how to get to our new house! It all worked out perfectly! Santa found us and we started our traditions together. Strathmore was our new home!
Traditions during the holiday season become treasured memories, whether you are new to your town or have always lived there, keep traditions – Or start a new one! First written 2008
Nowadays, our traditions have changed again. Phil and I are now empty-nesters, so once again, we have created new traditions! Spending time on Vancouver Island & Saskatoon over the holidays, sharing those old recipes with our kids, and sharing in their new traditions in their homes!
Home, family, & traditions, that is what makes the holiday season so special. What are your special traditions? Treasure them and share them!