Tradition

A Santa ornament on our tree.

During the Christmas holidays I love to bring out items from storage collected over the years. Some items came from my childhood home, and others were collected since I got married.

Nativity Sets

Each item contributes to making Christmas the joyous time of year it is for our family.  Traditionally, after Thanksgiving, I pull out a selection of nativity scenes that I have collected over the decades. 

A simple nativity set.

When we had our first home, I bought a small set of Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus.  Not long after that, I received a number of nativities that had been in my family for decades.

a selection of pieces from a nativity set.

In our family, selecting and setting up nativity sets each December has become a cherished tradition.  I have enough nativities now that I can change the scenes I bring out each year, allowing us to enjoy and hopefully discuss where they came from over the holidays.  The collection comes from Kenya, Greece, Germany, the Czech Republic, Peru, Japan and Italy to name a few.

A large nativity set.

The largest nativity is one that my mother and her sisters received when they were little girls. This is not just the Holy Family but sheep, shepherds, camels, ducks and trees. 

A camel and camel bearer from the early 1900s.

When my children were little, I would put it up without their help because the set is very fragile. 

A shepard

Now, my youngest daughter sets it up with me which is a new tradition I adore.

Santa Ornaments

Brian and I started another tradition after we got married.  If I remember correctly, I suggested that we start collecting Christmas ornaments so we would have a special set of our own as we grew older. 

The most recent Santa ornament.

Since then, we have exchanged Santa ornaments every year in our stockings, resulting in a very large collection from all over the world.

Last year before Christmas we thought maybe it was time to switch from Santa ornaments to something new.  The girls were shocked by this change.

“It is tradition to give Santa ornaments.”  They said.

“We have a lot of Santa ornaments.” I replied.

“But, you always give Santa ornaments!” They exclaimed.

This year, I suggested that we select one joint Santa, and Brian agreed.  We are also going to start a new tradition of giving cat and dog ornaments because frankly, it is time to start a new tradition!

Starting a new tradition.

For me, blending old and new traditions is a wonderful way to honor the past while creating new memories.  As my children move out into the world on their own they will inevitably want to do things their own way.  And creating a new tradition is an excellent way to mark this new stage of life.

I don’t know what their new traditions will be with their friends, and the families they will eventually create, but I know one thing for sure.  These new traditions will be equally as special as any that I helped them to create when they were little girls.

Taking a break

Over the next two weeks I will take a break from writing this weekly blog to spend time with my marvelous daughters and husband.  I will rejoice when the girls arrive home filling the house with laughter and late night conversations.   We will make cookies, eat good food, share time with special friends, and spend moments as a family until it is time for them to return to their own homes.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah or Kwanzaa, if these are the holidays you celebrate.  Enjoy your own traditions and take time during this season to reflect on the special people and animals that surround you.

Wishing you a holiday full of your own traditions.