Old traditions and new traditions are very much a part of any holiday. This is especially true in the season between Thanksgiving and the new year. This is an excellent time to make plans to spend time with family and friends and to leave a legacy.
Do you celebrate old traditions passed on for generations in your family? Can you and younger members of the family retell the story or the significance behind each one? How can you personally pass on a cherished tradition? I just read about printing handwritten family recipes on tea towels. They can also be framed for display or printed in a book as part of an heirloom family collection.
New traditions have emerged out of necessity since 2020. COVID statistics put a damper on large family get-togethers and travel so gatherings are more intimate and precious. Increased costs paired with lost wages and earning power make simple things important again. Our environment also continues to suffer, and some are rethinking the amount of stuff they need. Ask anyone who has had to flee a flood or wildfire what is really important.
Old traditions, new traditions, or a combination of both may also come about as you examine your lifestyle. Those who are part of the “great resignation” have affirmed that quality of life matters. So, too, for retirees and those about to retire. How will you incorporate what matters most into your life? What part do family, friends, old traditions, new traditions, and this season play?
When my husband and I bought our condo in Tampa, Florida in September 2007, we spent all of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year holidays in our second home. This was the first time we were away from family for the holidays. We quickly realized the warmer climate was no equal to the warmth of sharing holiday traditions with family and friends. In 2008, we started a new tradition of spending Thanksgiving in Virginia instead of Tampa. This family connection was especially important while my dad was alive and living close by.
Old traditions, new traditions, or a combination of both will nurture family and friends throughout the holiday season. What will you bring to the celebration?