Tuesday Tidbit: Traditions
written by Kate H.
Tradition: the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
To me, traditions are the most valuable aspects of relationships. Game day, birthday, or holiday traditions are annual reminders of the special moments you experience and the people you share those moments with. They can also remind you of those who came before you and helped create the special moments you enjoy each year.
Every holiday I look forward to celebrating with my family and friends. From “Friends-giving” to Christmas morning celebrations to Easter Sunday brunch, I have many traditions that make each holiday even more special. Thanksgiving, in particular, has always been an exciting day for my family. We have many traditions associated with this day in addition to the delicious meal. My cousin, aunts, uncles and grandparents all come in town and we have a great time catching up with one another.
As a family, one of our Thanksgiving Day traditions is anonymously writing down what we are thankful for on a slip of paper and putting it into a bowl. Then, once we finish our meal, we pass the bowl around and each person grabs a piece of paper. One at a time, we then read each slip of paper aloud and the goal is to correctly guess what each person wrote. Some of us try to be sneaky by disguising our handwriting or writing ambiguous phrases on our paper to make it harder for the guessers. Not only can this activity add some humor to our lunch, but it also helps us express our gratitude to one another. I often find that writing something down and having someone else read it makes it easier to speak honestly of what I am thankful for without feeling awkward or dramatic. This tradition helps my family appreciate how special each moment is that we have together.
Another one of my most favorite traditions is cooking and baking with my mom the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We are known for our Pumpkin Muffin Donut-holes. We make the batter Wednesday night and refrigerate it until the next morning. When we get up, we stay in our pjs, turn on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, start the Christmas music, and begin baking the delicious donut holes. There is a certain feeling I get each Thanksgiving morning that is indescribable: the warmth of the fireplace, the comfort of my pajamas, the sounds of Christmas carols, and the aroma of pumpkin filling the house. I look forward to it every year! When my mom and I are done baking, we make plates of the donut-holes and take them to our neighbors to say Happy Thanksgiving! To me, this is not only a special time with my mom, but it also reminds me of the importance of giving and building community wherever I go.
I challenge you to recognize the traditions you have and think about how they have played a role in shaping you and bringing you closer to friends and family. If you don’t have many, start new traditions that you can pass along to your future family. During these last few days before Thanksgiving, do your best to appreciate all that you have instead of focusing on what you don’t. One thing I am extremely thankful for are my traditions and everything they give me to look forward to!