How important is tradition?

[MotherofConfusion]

Does your family celebrate the holidays with the same traditions and customs passed down through the generations? Did you create new ones when your children were born ... or do a blend?

Share how you celebrate and which traditions you've kept in the family and describe any new ones started. Also, do you have favorites you hope your children pass down?

[Clare Frederick]

I would like to think we've maintained a lot of the traditions my parents provided us when we were kids. We still unwrap gifts on Christmas morning, and then go over to Grandpa's house to have Christmas lunch and unwrap more gifts. Before everyone opens presents, we still read from the gospel of Luke, the way my mother did before she passed. When I was little, it was hard having to sit through the reading before opening presents, but now we do it in her memory, and my thoughts on the whole thing have changed quite a bit.

I think the most important tradition I'd like my children to carry on is the value of just being together as a family, in some capacity, and enjoying each others' company. I don't expect my own children to continue our exact traditions necessarily, but I do hope they at least remember the importance of family during the holidays. We only get a few during our life here on Earth...might as well make it a good one.

[MotherofConfusion]

My fave part of the holidays was baking with my mom and helping her with her sewing projects. Usually that meant I was stuffing doll bodies or helping cut out patterns.

This will be the first year we have a major holiday at home. Generally we traveled to the grandparents, which was fun but now I'm ready for hosting at least one of my own. So I've declared Thanksgiving is at my house and all are welcome to come. I'm excited to start having some traditions we do at home for home with the kids.

We'll be starting on the baking tonight. Six dozen cookies for a holiday cookie exchange party this weekend.

[GeorgiePorgie]

You know, I’ve never thought about the importance of tradition…we just sorta do the same things each year because they feel comfortable. When my husband and I started celebrating Christmas together, we absorbed each other’s traditions. His family always opened gifts on Christmas Eve so that his mom could have enough time in the kitchen, so now we do that. It felt a little odd at first, but the kids really like feeling they get to celebrate “early.” He still ends up shopping for everything last minute (yes, even Christmas Eve!) while I’m on zippee.com months ahead looking for a store that sells the telescope he wants. Oh, and there’s always honey baked ham—the food’s the most important part!

[Gail Marshall]

When you are hosting exchange students, the traditions just get longer every year! From our Polish student, we set an empty place at the table in honor of people who have passed on or cannot be with us; in honor of the Europeans, we celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6, which means you put your shoes on the fireplace (or outside the front door -- they fight about that) and St. Nicholas fills them with chocolate! Loooove that one! Our Austrian student already has announced that gingerbread is a must, so I guess we will be building a house this year!

And in exchange, they get traditional American needlepointed Christmas stockings; the gift pyramid (nesting boxes from Costco that has a little gift in each box-- we make it as tall as they are); a Christmas season that lasts for two months; Christmas lights all over their bedrooms --we even have holiday bedspreads for them that light up! They love Christmas Tree Lane -- have never seen anything like it.

[jkrage62]

It is often chaotic trying to get everyone together working around their schedules etc. This year we are going to bring Christ back into Christmas. As it is supposed to be the Celebration of Jesus' Birthday we are inviting him to his own party with a place at the table and just honoring him. Christmas has gotten way to commercial. Since my daughter is grounded she isn't getting any big present this year. Apparently the only thing she good use is some brain cells cause hers clearly arent working.