Home For The Holidays: Keeping Traditions Alive
You might think that holiday traditions aren't a big deal, or that some people go a little overboard in the name of keeping those traditions alive. We're big fans of holiday traditions and through sickness and health, rain or shine - we're determined to keep them alive year after year! Why? Because we believe that holiday traditions have the power to connect a family and community as nothing else can. Traditions bring us together and they help us connect to our history, for years and years, from generation to generation. They give us something to remember, something to smile about and something to look forward to.
Some are forced, some happen a bit more organically, and some naturally fade away over time. The beauty of tradition is that it's never too late to start a new one! Today we're sharing our team's favorite Christmas traditions in hopes that you'll be inspired to start a new tradition this year!
TRADITION IN THE KITCHEN
For the Jones family, so many of their favorite holiday memories take place in the kitchen! On Christmas morning Lauren always whips up a batch of her beloved cinnamon rolls. Not only are they delicious but they're reserved only for the most special occasions, like celebrating the birth of Jesus!
Courtney looks forward to Plaza Park bars each year. Her mother's recipe is a delicious confection of cream cheese, sugar, and cake mix. Sounds amazing, right!? She also enjoys putting a festive twist on a classic moscow mule and serving her holiday mules any chance she gets! There's just something about food that makes the season so much merrier!
TRADITION IN A CUP
Can't hold out until Christmas for your favorite tradition? Kick it off the day after Thanksgiving and enjoy it each and every day throughout the season! Tiffany, Wes & Hannah Grace enjoy hot chocolate and a Christmas move nearly every night from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve! A fun hot chocolate recipe, and a new movie each night keep the tradition alive along season long!
TRADITIONS THAT BLESS OTHERS
Each year when her girls were little, Tracy would invite her daughters to pick a few of their toys to donate to those in need. While preparing their home for new gifts that Santa would bring, the girls learned about a need in their community and how they could meet it! It was an excellent learning experience for her girls and a lesson in giving that they'll surely never forget!
When Sarah was asked to share her favorite holiday tradition, she smiled remembering the shoeboxes her family puts together for local children in need. Each year they collect gifts for a specific child, shopping for items on their wishlist to ensure a happy Christmas morning for each child!
TRADITION AROUND THE TREE
So many holiday traditions revolve around the tree. Some remember stringing popcorn, others reflect on the joy surrounding a new ornament to add to their collection. And of course, there's nothing like opening gifts around the tree on Christmas morning. Each year McKenzie and her family drive up to Georgia to hand-select and cut down their tree. Sure it'd be much easier to order in a faux tree from Amazon and store it in the attic year after year, but where's the fun in that!? ;) No matter how big the family gets or how busy each of the members becomes, everyone is very serious about keeping this tradition alive! It'll be something the children (and adults!!!) remember forever!
If there's one take away here, let it be that traditions nurture our spirit and are an important part of family bonding. They can be anything big or small you and your family already enjoy doing. Don’t get bogged down in instituting the perfect family tradition, it’s about the experience you share with your family! And don't forget, it's never too late to start a new tradition!