COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Traditions—activities that are observed year in and year out—are an important part of every culture and are especially significant at the Christmas season, said Suzanne Bean, community liaison for Mississippi University for Women’s Center for Creative Learning.
Bean, who created “Learning Matters” for local CBS affiliate WCBI-TV, has featured family traditions in one of the program’s segments and has learned a lot about how families establish their particular traditions.
“Traditions are important in every culture as a way of building trust and security,” she said. “Regardless of what else may happen, the traditions will not change. So much in our lives these days is temporary. Traditions provide something for every person to hold on to and to rely on.”
Even as important, she added, is that they provide a way to link generations. “Traditions create a bridge between the young and the old, the past and the present.” Individual traditions may involve foods, decorations, special activities or other things unique to families, she said.
Her survey of MUW families turned up some long-held holiday traditions, but she said any family can create meaningful experiences that can be repeated for generations.
“One of our faculty members who is a native of India said he has recreated as much as possible the celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, he remembers as a child.” It includes food, lights similar to Christmas lights and fireworks, Bean said.
Closer to home, Christmas traditions range from celebrating the 12 days of Christmas by watching a different Christmas movie each night to adding a new handmade ornament to the tree each year.
Others say they have bought and dated a new Christmas ornament for their children each year since their birth, making it more special by trying to find an ornament reflecting a significant event that year for the recipient. One family has a tradition of opening one gift—always pajamas—on Christmas Eve. They wear them the next morning while opening gifts.
“Some traditions will just happen,” Bean said, “but they should include everyone in the family. Because of the season, it’s an especially good opportunity to incorporate a tradition that includes service. Holidays are a great time to practice generosity.”
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Dec. 17, 2012
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