I have been 'boycotting' Christmas for about 3 years, but this year, I let go all of my anger and brought down the faux tree from the attic. I was raised by this tree since childhood and I put it up this year and I was really happy doing it. I played Christmas music as I did and spent my time wiping and dusting the old ornaments and putting them up myself. I found some really silly ones I've made when I was really small with my sibling and it took me to fun memory lane. So, I've revived my tradition of putting that tree up and I realized what I've been missing.
But my family tradition is more set on New Years... coming from my parent's culture. We make a big New Years breakfast and they are all traditional food. Can't wait to eat it.
Hi: A French tradition - the male head of the family gives the whole family a blessing on new year's day. This included the adults, not just the children. Aunts and Uncles, cousins, etc. It was traditional to pay a family visit to the grandparents' house on New Year's Day - it was respectful as the grandfather was the head of the household and it was the grandfather who performed this blessing. When we lived close enough we could manage this visit and it was wonderful to meet up with aunts, uncles and cousins. However, in the more modern world when families live farther apart, it was the father of the household who blessed the children.
We also had an old fashioned singsong. My mother and one uncle, her brother, had lovely voices. They had been asked to sing on radio once upon a time. They would sing all the old songs and requests. Some songs were join-in songs and they were fun.
This seems like such a long time ago. I'm a grandparent now, but there is no one to continue the tradition of the blessing.
Excellent post hugs4u! Traditions are great and can be really comforting to some, traditions usually bring forth positive memories from past experiences.
Creating new traditions can be really exciting to! With new friends, new family members, new environment...etc
This year I am doing something a little different..I am cooking a beef roast for Christmas dinner..Not sure if I will cook on Christmas eve or Christmas day yet..Just going with the flow and relaxing this year..We have a tree and lights again this year thanks to my partner..I make cookies yesterday while he trimmed the tree..than put some little decorations here and there around the house..Whats so unusual is that this year while we were getting out the decorations we came across things in the box that we had forgotten we had..It was all brand new to us and kind of magical..I guess we are making our own traditions this year...
I wonder what favourite holiday traditions are enjoyed by others?
I know there are staple foods which i enjoy like roasted chestnuts. I also like chocolate(year round!). I want to ask my family about traditions since they are helpful to enriching the experience, and connecting generations, as well as cultures.