Christmas is a time for family and traditions. It's a time when our stories are molded and meant to be remembered, shared, and retold.

I am proud to share today's blog post about how Christmas family traditions are the “building blocks of our legacy”, which was written by Giavanni Swanger.

 

Building Memories and Meaning: The Power of Christmas Traditions

 

As a child, Christmas always felt like the most magical time of the year—with the smell of cookies filling the house, the excitement of seeing family you have not seen in a while, and who could forget the highly anticipated visit from Santa, which created a whirlwind of excitement. Now, as a parent, I see the same excitement mirrored in my children, but what truly makes the season magical are the traditions we have created together—the annual Christmas party with extended family and the peaceful, slow morning spent in pajamas opening presents with immediate family. These traditions are more than just rituals; they are the heart of our holiday celebration. Our traditions connect us, provide comfort, and create memories that will carry on for generations to come, reminding me that traditions are what make the season, and life, so meaningful.

Traditions have a wonderful way of bringing people together. Every year around Christmas, our family plans a Christmas party to exchange gifts and have one guaranteed day a year where we get to spend time together amidst busy schedules. We order the same 10-foot sub from a restaurant called Baldino’s, we get wings from JJ’s Buffalo Wings—half lemon pepper and half mild—and my mother-in-law makes her homemade cookies, Rice Krispie treats, and deviled eggs. We catch up on life and share stories of things that have happened since our last gathering. Every year my mother-in-law gets gifts for a game that we play that involves dice. (My husband and I always pick out which items we want and try our hardest to leave the game with the gifts we want.) We may not all be able to get together throughout the year, but simple traditions like that help us maintain our connection with one another.

Traditions provide a sense of stability and comfort. My husband and I take Christmas morning slow —or at least as slow as our children will let us. We stay in our pajamas, brew a fresh cup of coffee, turn on the Grinch, and begin sorting out presents. We take the time to enjoy our company as a family before the excitement of new gifts takes over. The slow pace of the morning gives a certain comfort after having a busy, and sometimes crowded, Christmas party. Our small family tradition provides us with a sense of peace that I hope will continue for years to come, as the lessons of love, patience, and family are passed onto the next generation.

Traditions are a good way to solidify a family legacy. They can be enjoyed for generations; I hope my children will look back on Christmases from their childhood and smile. The games, food, and laughter shared at the Christmas party have helped nurture and create bonds with our family and closest friends. I remember my grandparents sharing stories of their holiday traditions growing up, and we would gather around the table and play the same dice game my great-grandmother used to host. Those moments left a lasting imprint on me, and now I see my children creating their memories one holiday at a time. Our kids will take the lessons of generosity and the value of spending time with family and carry those values into adulthood. Though future generations may make changes to how the tradition is carried out, the underlying value will stay the same.

As I imagine myself 15 or 20 years from now, watching my children carry on our family’s Christmas traditions, I feel a sense of warmth and happiness. I can picture them hosting their own Christmas gathering; I know the traditions will live on—filled with laughter, games, and togetherness. The food may be a little different, and the rules of the games may have changed, but the same joy will come from their time spent together. Perhaps they will take Christmas morning slowly, enjoying their time together, and passing the tradition down to their kids. The traditions that we hold today such as gatherings and shared memories are more than just events or moments in time. They are the building blocks of our legacy.

 

GUEST BLOGGER, Giavanni Swanger's essay was selected as one of the best in her Writing and Communication Class at Mercer College in Macon, Georgia, which is taught by Christina Harris. As a result, I excitedly agreed to post her essay on my HER Life Hacks blog.

Giavanni is a college student studying IT and a proud law enforcement wife. After nearly a decade working in the veterinary field, she decided to return to school to pursue her passion for technology. She's also a mom to three kids and three dogs, and is turning her love for baking into a growing business. Her family traditions inspired the essay featured here, written as part of her college studies.

The Author – Giavanni Swanger and Children

 

 

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I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. 

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