Christmas Traditions

They say children learn by repetition, in fact its main purpose is to reinforce memory. Christmas traditions are a wonderful way of creating repetition for our children and families over the holidays. The sights, smells and sounds of the traditions we start will imprint memories for years to come. Even the simple ones, like the taste of egg nog, will bring back all the joy and love from years past.

My personal favorite is opening a new ornament on X-mas Eve, each person gets a new ornament to hang on the tree. My mother started this tradition when we were small, then as adults she gave us all of our ornaments for our family trees. I've loved this tradition and have carried it on with my girls.

Every family has traditions and no matter how simple they are, even if they don't cost a dime, don't underestimate their importance. In this crazy commercial era we are living in, I worry that traditions are dying away. Like compound interest, traditions compound love through memories over the years. They bring us back to footy jammies and laying awake waiting for Santa. They bond us to our siblings, awe us with gratitude and remind us why all of the hard work we do at Christmas time is worth it!

After all, without something to look forward to....What else is there? I won't be in footy jammies this year, but I will lay awake, not excited for Santa, but to see my girls open their gifts. In two years they won't remember what I gave them under the tree, they will remember laughing over the butterscotch pull-a-parts that we made Christmas morning....because we do it every year. :)