Do We Need More Holiday Traditions?

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Added: Tue Dec 4th 11:00am
Posted in: Family

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I'm not sure where the thought came from - probably an episode of Oprah. I found myself wondering if the Middleton’s have enough family holiday traditions. Like any good dad, I want my children to cherish the memories of this wonderful time of year.

In a world where nearly everything's disposable, traditions remind us that some things are meant to last. The really good things can last for many generations. Suddenly, I felt like I was letting down my great-great-great-grandkids.

For us, the holiday season usually begins on the day after Thanksgiving when I drag out the tree and hook up the lights. (Most holiday traditions involve work for dad.) The girls can’t wait to take the ornaments out of the box and discuss each one while hanging it on the tree. We share the honor of placing the star on top of the tree. I string a few lights outside and declare that “the Middleton’s are representin.” It’s our way of acknowledging that we’re not going to win any contests but that we do have the spirit. At night, we cruise the neighborhood and check out the lights of those who may win a contest. We listen to Bing Crosby and bake Christmas cookies. We go to grandma and grandpa’s house on Christmas eve. It’s great. But is it enough? What holiday traditions are we missing?

I checked online and found plenty of suggestions for creating new traditions. Most went something like this: "Take a cardboard box and have everyone in the family fill it with things that tell a story about where they live and the lives they lead there: seashells, pressed flowers, pine cones, trading cards, ticket stubs, -- anything that says "me". The idea is to make the box a reciprocal affair--while your kids are assembling one for their cousins upstate, their cousins will be putting together a similar box for them.”

Are you kidding me? Who wants a big box stuffed with your cousin's trash? Who wants the stress of choosing small items that represent their life and mailing them out of state? "Happy holidays, here's your big box of pine cones and ticket. stubs. They represent my life!"

That's when it hit me like a 5 lb. fruitcake. Real traditions aren't contrived. You don't google them. Real traditions that withstand the test of time are the small, simple things that we do naturally and effortlessly. Like watching football. And overeating.

Why are we so obsessed with creating something more? Isn’t spending quiet time with those we love while giving thanks for all we have tradition enough? Why do we feel compelled to undertake a major project that requires countless hours and only adds to the holiday stress?

The answer, of course, is that we’ve become a nation of Type A overachievers who try to attach a to-do list with a timeline to everything we do - including our holiday schedule. Holidays should be a time when less is more. Relaxing is a time-honored tradition in the Middleton household. This year, I'm chillin. I’m goin’ off the grid. Someday, my great-great-great grandkids will thank me for that.