Tis’ the Season for Tradition

Unless you have been locked up inside your room for the past few weeks you’ve undoubtedly noticed that the Christmas season is upon us. One trip down Orchard Road is all it takes. There are lights and ornaments and decorated trees everywhere. This yearly tradition of decorating for the holidays is one important way to celebrate the holidays.

This weekend I was reminded of the importance of celebrations and these decorating rituals in my own life. My family went to a Christmas Tree Trimming Party at some close friends’ house. We go every year - well most, anyway. Last year we missed it, and I remember feeling a sense of something missing from our holiday celebration. This party has become an important “road marker”  of the year.

What happens at this party is that we decorate the family’s tree together as we munch on delicious homemade holiday snacks and catch up with friends; some of whom we seem to only see at this party.

The cool thing is that when we arrive, the only things on the tree are the lights. We string together strands of popcorn to begin the decorating. I love this part! It’s really “old-fashioned”, and it feels homemade. And somehow that reminds me of times when I was a kid doing the same kind of thing with my family, except we tended to thread cranberries.

Once the popcorn strands are up, there are boxes of ornaments to add. Everyone takes part, from the youngest to the oldest. It’s a real family affair.

And that, to me, is really what the holidays are all about. Family and friends being together, doing the things we do once a year at a particular time. Celebrations like this become anticipated events on the calendar. And now that I have kids, I’m excited to see that they are eager to join in the fun!

How does your family “mark” the season?  What role to traditions like this play in your life?