Now that the spirit of the holidays can be felt in the air, signs of the season are everywhere:  strangers smile and greet one another, children anticipate forthcoming gifts in wonder, and the desire to spend money on everything from festively wrapped sweets to holiday decor is a welcome temptation. Yet in the excitement of “something new,” have we forgotten the magic of “something old?”

Traditions are one of the most important aspects of the holiday season and often make for the most special moments. In our time conscious society, many families tend to forego tradition in the interest of convenience. Whether it be stress, fatigue, or an indifferent attitude toward “doing the same thing”, it’s certainly easy to focus more on the now than what once was.   Sound familiar?  Isn’t this how we also rationalize stepping off of our exercise routine?   We think we can simply dismiss the importance of our exercise “tradition” in order to accommodate immediate distractions and obligations. 

Holiday traditions bring families closer together.  In fact, the majority of children who are exposed to holiday traditions will pass them along to their own children one day.  What if we bestowed the same importance on our tradition of exercise?  Doesn’t a consistent routine of exercise and activity brings your body and mind together?  Could we effectively make exercise a tradition that we pass along to our children?  

The best part about traditions is that they don’t have to cost money – a tradition is what you make it! Maybe your household gathers their sleeping bags in front of the fireplace every Christmas Eve for story-telling and a family slumber party, or maybe it’s volunteering for a particular charity or event.  Your tradition might even be as simple as taking an early evening walk around the neighborhood to see the holiday lights.

No matter if you’re waiting for the arrival of your first child or you have a couple of teenagers on your hands, it’s never too early or too late to begin your own traditions. Children of all ages place importance on traditions because of the relational experiences that help them bond with their family members, a feeling that even the most expensive gift can’t provide them.    

What traditions do you share with your family?

Related posts:

1. The Joy of Simplicity
2. Baby’s “First” Christmas