Building traditions creates memories to help us hold on to hope when times get tough.
This year my kids have needed to hang on to God through lots of new experiences, but He has given us lovely respites during Independence Day and again during Christmas.
In Let’s Make a Memory by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson, Shirley shares how her husband, Dr. James Dobson, has said that traditions give us identity.
Our traditions this Christmas especially felt like a warm, cozy blanket that gave us hugs as we gathered together.
CHRISTMAS EVE
At sunset we light the last of the advent candles and read the story of Jesus’ birth in the Bible, then sing carols around the piano.
After that, we enjoy appetizers of steamed tamales (a popular tradition in San Antonio that I grew up with), shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, and our favorite desserts.
The most important dessert is the fruit cake (in the header photo: the round cake at end of counter) from a very moist and easy recipe that my grandmother used, then my mom, then me.
When I was small, we put a candle in the fruit cake to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, a tradition I carried to my kids when they were little.
When we lived in San Antonio, I bought our tamales at HEB.
After we moved to Virginia, I made our tamales from scratch, until Harris Teeter started carrying a delicious brand from Houston, Texas.
I grew up with M&M cookies, that I elevated to oatmeal bars which are quick and easy, and much yummier.
Almond cookies are a tradition that began with my roommate after college, when she baked them every Christmas.
They were so delicious, I carried on that tradition with my kids.
When I was small we began a tradition of a big breakfast for Christmas morning before opening the presents.
While the egg dishes have changed from year to year, sausage balls, pumpkin bread, and cranberry bread have consistently been on the table.
The hot drinks, cranberry bread, and pumpkin bread have often been taken into the living room where we unwrap presents one at a time to enjoy seeing what everyone received, and to thank those who gave the gift.
After moving to Virginia we began a tradition of an Old English roast beef dinner with Yorkshire Pudding and all the side dishes, including homemade cranberry sauce.
Since we now live in the Old Dominion, which was the most British of all the thirteen colonies, this seemed just right…and delicious.
Besides, we’re Texans, so beef…it’s what’s for dinner.
EPILOGUE 2024
As I move these blogs to my new site, I have found a great article that clearly expresses what I’m trying to articulate about traditions: The Power of Remembering through Traditions, by Proverbs 31 Ministries, which I shall paraphrase.
Recalling a difficult time in her family’s life, the author poignantly explains that when the crisis passed, she and her husband asked themselves questions about how they spend time with their kids, how they pass down their faith, and how they show love.
She said that they needed traditions in order to remember…which she eloquently explains originates from God.
Throughout the books of Exodus and Leviticus, details are provided in how to celebrate various feasts and ceremonies so that His people remember Him, His sovereignty, and His provision.
Even though our day to day traditions aren’t as spiritual as those of the Biblical feasts and ceremonies, we can still create common traditions to help us build bonds with each other and faith in God.
These traditions are anchors in our days, our weeks, our years. They break the monotony of life and remind us: This is what you believe. This is who you are. This is what you love. –Proverbs 31 Ministries, The Power of Remembering through Traditions
When my kids were little, I purchased Let’s Make a Memory by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson, which set me on a path to celebrate almost everything, with lessons about God as the centerpoint of the celebration, since he is the Creator: Valentines, President’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, birthdays, Reformation Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, etc.
The links above only begin to reveal a few layers of traditions and meanings and memories over the years…
When my kids were quite small, we started with tangible activities, which became more multi-faceted as they grew older…all the while looking to God, our Creator, the specifics of which I haven’t yet written down.
Meanwhile my kids are now sharing our traditions with my daughter’s boyfriend, whom my son sees as the brother he never had.
And her boyfriend willingly joins us in our traditions, celebrations, and new adventures.
