subject: Establishing Traditions For A New Generation [print this page] One reason that I always look forward to the holidays as much as I do is because of the delightful traditions my family has established over the years. Now that I am married to a man that came from a group with its own traditions, we have had to discuss how we were going to develop holiday pastimes for the new family we have created.
If you find yourself in the same predicament--or your loved ones haven't yet established any traditions at all--then let me give you some insight into how we have reconciled the past with our future.
When thinking of new traditions, it can be hard to cater to everyone. But that's why we decided to formulate a plan that does just that. No matter who we are spending the Christmas holiday with, we devote the morning of Christmas Eve to eating breakfast at a favorite local restaurant that serves traditional American food.
That way, everyone can get precisely what they want, and no family member is under the stress of having to clean up afterward. Plus, it's been a great way to discover new eateries. My in-laws in southern California have introduced us to historic restaurants in Downey (in Los Angeles County) that serve perfect omelets, incredible waffles, and the crispiest bacon on the West Coast!
Don't be afraid to look to other cultures for inspiration. Though my husband's family is completely Caucasian, his mother decided to have a go at making tamales many years ago and has done it every Christmas since. She taught me during the first Christmas season my husband and I were married, so I have implemented the practice in our own family.
In my opinion, holiday traditions should be uplifting and even instructional, whenever appropriate. My aunt teaches her family about the early pilgrims' sacrifices at Thanksgiving by giving each family member five kernels of corn to represent the pilgrims' lean winter rations. For each kernel, they must explain something for which they are grateful, and they cannot repeat what someone else has already mentioned.
When I learned of this particular practice, I was touched and decided that my husband and I would adopt the same tradition. Of course, when another family's pastimes appeal to you, you can always modify them to make them more personalized to your loved ones.
The holidays are meant to be a time of bonding, too, so think about the things that your loved ones have in common. I love to bake cookies, muffins, and cakes, while my husband enjoys paintballing and other rough-and-tumble activities. So while he and his manly cousins take off to an indoor paintball arena, the girls stay home with me to help in the kitchen, so it's fun for everyone.
