Tradionally

I find us humans to be great creatures of habit.  If I really focused on our repetitive nature and given the season, it would bring my thoughts to holiday traditions. I never found my own family to be much for holiday traditions, but other families I have had the pleasure to get to know have many wonderful traditions.

I guess I should start by first defining a tradition.  According to Webster, a Tradition is the handing down of information, beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.  I hope there are no written instructions because that would take all the fun out of it.  To me a tradition should come from the heart and be passed down because it has deep meaning and the holiday or event would not be the same without it.  In the whole scheme of things, we all have the tradition of putting up a Christmas Tree and trimming it with lights and ornaments, maybe you sing Christmas carols, or open one gift on Christmas Eve or even have that well awaited wrapping paper fight once it is all said and done. Whatever you do to make this holiday more memorable for your family, one day they too will share the same memories and traditions with their family, as to keep the torch burning for future generations. 

I feel that if you do not have one set tradition you follow, get one!  Kids love to know what to expect on certain occasions because it becomes ingrained in their minds and the excitement just builds from there. I do recall  as a child, my mother making candies for me at Christmas. I don't know if I asked for them or if she did it just because, but for whatever reason I looked forward to the yummy goodness every year!

Point to ponder:  What traditions do you keep alive and what traditions would be fun to start just because?