I think the quirkiest of our holiday traditions (besides TW’s weird obsession for matching holiday pajamas) is the fact that everything is a tradition. If we’ve done it once, it’s a tradition – according to little Liz.
This, I will admit, drives me a little nuts. But, it’s also quite amusing.
Going to the park by the hospital to take pictures that will be put on t-shirts for her mom for Christmas is a tradition – done once, years ago.
Going to Sears in holiday pajamas for photos is a tradition – done once, years ago.
Thank goodness I’ve done an excellent job of making it clear that last year’s “12 days of Christmas” celebration was a one time deal. It was fun once but I wouldn’t want to do it every year.
How quirky are your family traditions?
What’s so unusual about my family’s traditions is that they are so USUAL. They are what’s to be expected of traditional families: A glowing tree, a Christmas ham, matching pajamas, and a glorious Christmas breakfast. They go off calmly, peacefully, and without a hitch. Well, for the most part. But in general there is peace, harmony, and even love, or at least reverence for the traditions. We have become the Typical American Family. We enjoy each other’s company and we look forward to the holidays and all of the togetherness they bring. How many people in this crazy culture can say that?
When my kids were really young I made an Advent calender for them. I’m not a particularly good seamstress (or mathematician), the pockets turned out to be huge – probably five-inch squares. Even now as teens they expect me to hang the calendar filled with little Christmas goodies. It’s getting harder and harder to find age appropriate stuff for them and having to get 48 of them by the end of November is even more difficult. But I will still be filling it up, and setting it out late night on Nov. 30 until they tell me to stop. It’s probably more important to me than them… it keeps them kids just a little bit longer.