My Two Cents

by Michele Tester

TRADITIONS

I tend to go a bit overboard for Christmas. If you ask my husband and my children, they would probably say “a bit” was a vast understatement.

I love everything about Christmas. I love decorating inside and outside. I love what Christmas symbolizes. I love the Christmas spirit that surrounds the holiday, a spirit of generosity and compassion, of love, hope, and joy. I love picking out gifts. I love giving gifts. It’s not about the cost; it’s not about the money. I put a great deal of thought and time into the gifts I get for my loved ones. You don’t have to spend a lot of money if you don’t want to or can’t. It’s about the effort put into finding something that you know they would love. Simple or extravagant. It doesn’t matter. It’s the thought put into it. Do I go overboard? Yes. Do I love it? Yes. I would always tell my children when they were young that even if someone gave them socks as a gift (as an adult, we love socks; as a kid, socks are probably the last thing you want as a gift), they should be appreciative and thankful because that person spent the time picking out those socks for them. Now, as adults, they ask for socks each Christmas.

Family traditions are another aspect I cherish about Christmas. And, oh, do I believe they are important.

Traditions for Christmas are shared activities and customs that take place every year and carry special significance. Traditions are so important because they create a sense of belonging and meaning; foster a sense of reliability and structure; strengthen bonds within families; are a special source of comfort; and create cherished, lasting memories, even as they may evolve over time. Some of my most cherished memories of Christmas as a child center around the traditions that my mom and dad instilled and carried on every year.

We have many traditions in my family that my husband and I started when the kids were young, one being decorating the Christmas tree. I would make a bunch of snacks, I would turn on Christmas music, and we would all hang the ornaments on the tree, each of us always talking about our favorites and why.

Another tradition started in my home for Christmas was my buying an ornament for each of my kids every year for them to collect and eventually hang on their own tree when they moved out. I would pick out an ornament each year that held a certain meaning to them, representing a milestone, a personal interest, a movie they loved, or maybe a memory we both shared as mother and child during the year.

Another adored tradition in our home is our annual Christmas Bingo. My husband and I put away money in an envelope throughout the year. On Christmas Day, after opening gifts and eating Christmas dinner, we play multiple games of Bingo. Each game has a cash prize, starting with a lower amount and increasing a bit with each game, with the final game being the jackpot game! We have kept a list of winners for every year, so we can look back each year. We all get a good laugh when we look back over the years, and we see an old boyfriend or girlfriend of one of my kids on the list! We talk and laugh as we play. It’s something my children have always loved and still look forward to—a much-loved family tradition.

One small tradition I do every year, which drives my kids crazy, but they love and count on, is wrapping some of their gifts two to three times. I like to make them work for it.

One annual tradition that just my daughter and I enjoy is baking Christmas cookies. Every year, we pick different cookies to make. We have a lot of fun doing it, and it’s quality time spent together.

We have one Christmas movie that we watch every year, without fail—still to this day—and one we all know by heart: Home Alone. We always put on this movie while we are opening gifts. It’s a tradition we all look forward to every Christmas.

Another family tradition we have every year is enjoying donuts on Christmas morning, which I buy the day before at Fractured Prune. I may sneak one without anyone knowing late on Christmas Eve…that’s my individual tradition.

It’s never too late to start a tradition. I may start a new one this year. I’m going to be a grandmother! My daughter is due in December, and we couldn’t be more excited, thrilled, and blessed. I have no doubt that I will start a new tradition with my granddaughter, something that she will look forward to every year and something she will hopefully cherish for her whole life.

Traditions don’t need to be grandiose. They can be simple, yet meaningful, and adapted to your family. Simple traditions focus on quality time and connection. I believe that starting traditions for the holidays helps children to learn what their families value and brings families closer together. Think about starting your new family tradition this year.

That’s just my two cents.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year! Peace, love, and joy to all.