| Embracing New Holiday Traditions |
| As a kid, I thought the world felt smaller and cozier in December. I simply associated the month with a warmth that not even the summer sun could give. Our family tradition was to gather at my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve. We came and went with plates of food, sparking new conversations throughout the night. My cousins and I goaded each other to ask the adults “when we would open presents,” none of us brave enough to volunteer ourselves. Then, in 2011, my grandmother died just a week before Christmas. That winter in 2011 was heavy and gray. I missed my grandmother’s light and how it spilled over into Christmas. I still do. However, her absence didn't mean the end of our traditions. it just meant we had to adapt to keep our Christmas celebration alive. |
| Adopting new holiday traditions can be tricky, especially when they are brought on by difficult circumstances. Here are some steps that can make the process a bit easier for all: 1. Think about what you like to do together. Whether that’s watching Christmas movies or gathering for a meal, the new tradition will be much easier to adopt if everyone enjoys doing it. For my family, we now enjoy a hearty spaghetti dinner. 2. Combine the old and the new. Sure, my family no longer congregates at my grandmother’s house. But even though the backdrop of our Christmas dinner has changed, the atmosphere has not. My cousins and I outgrew begging to open gifts, but we keep the wonder alive by sharing our childhood stories about waiting for Santa and, of course, we also share memories of my grandmother. 3. Don’t force it. Reluctance to change is normal, especially when it involves something as personal as the holidays. Introduce new activities and foods, and work together as a family to determine what you enjoy. New traditions may evolve over time, and that’s okay. What makes them endure is the joy you share as you create new memories while honoring the old. |
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