Question of the Week: Family Traditions

By JoAnn Turnquist
President and CEO, Central Carolina Community Foundation
December 13, 2013

For years, my husband and I attended a ‘Christmas Vacation’ viewing party.  Once the eggnog was poured into moose mugs the movie would begin.  Even though everyone knew most of the dialogue by heart, we’d still howl at Sparky’s attempts to provide a perfect Christmas and the perfect gift for his family.  Although Chevy Chase’s attempts are a bit over the top for most families, all of us try to provide the perfect holiday for the folks we love.  Our traditions help us do this – the dinners, the decorations, the stories. Traditions are powerful for a family as they require time.  The time together helps us make new memories while also remembering the past.

When the movie ends at our ‘Christmas Vacation’ party, conversations often turn to the eccentric members of our families and what Christmas was like when we were kids.  We recall the fun and crazy things we did as families – like sleeping next to the tree to catch Santa or decorating a sibling with Christmas lights.  As you begin the countdown to Christmas, share your stories and traditions with your family.  Ask your children to list their favorite tradition and suggest a new one for the New Year.  Traditions can add layers of texture to your life which will last not just during the holidays, but throughout the entire year. 

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