Favorite Family Traditions

Daily writing prompt

Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.

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Growing up, my family had traditions, but once my parents became involved with a church, those familiar customs faded away. For most of my teenage years and into adulthood, everything revolved around the church, and traditional Thanksgiving dinners were transformed into buffet-style meals where the congregation contributed dishes. After leaving the church, I experienced several years without celebrating Thanksgiving with family, as the church did not acknowledge Christmas or other holidays that many cherish. While I didn’t care much for certain holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the two that meant the most to me; they were what I longed for.

A couple of years later, I fell in love and got married. I vividly remember our first winter together when we set up a small Christmas tree. The following year, with the arrival of our child, Christmas came alive again with all its joys. Despite the guilt instilled in me about celebrating Christmas—being told that Christ wasn’t born in December—I chose to embrace the season. I never understood why Santa Claus was celebrated alongside Christ, as it seemed a contradiction steeped in deception. I believe it’s vital not to lie to children, as they learn to navigate truth and deception soon enough on their own. Disagreements are welcomed, but I ask for respect in those discussions.

As I began my own family, I was determined to create a nurturing environment that encapsulated all the joys of family life. I yearned for a loving, tight-knit family, despite my own family’s chaotic past, influenced by a domineering father and a mother who didn’t stand up to him. When I married, I was already carrying my own emotional scars but so was my first husband. It’s important to clarify this background, as it informs the lack of traditions that I inherited.

I established my own traditions to pass down to my children. Thanksgiving became my favorite holiday, complemented by my love for cooking. From the moment my kids were old enough to join the table, I dedicated three days to making Thanksgiving special. The first day was all about baking—Italian Cream Cake, cherry pie, pumpkin pies, cheesecake, and cookies if time allowed. On the second day, I prepared deviled eggs, homemade mac and cheese, potato salad, and baked a stuffed chicken hen and smoked ham topped with pineapple rings on the third day. It began early in the morning, ensuring everything was ready for our family feast, with enough food to last for three days of grazing. We gathered around the table on Thanksgiving afternoon and enjoyed each other’s company. That evening, we would drive around to see Christmas lights, and the next day we would decorate our Christmas tree. I started putting up some outdoor lights, keeping it manageable for our budget. My children loved the simple traditions we created together. As they raise their own families now, they often reach out for my recipes, especially for the Italian Cream Cake and homemade mac and cheese, which remain their favorites.

For Christmas, I prepared a feast of ribeye roast and the same beloved sweets from Thanksgiving, all enjoyed on Christmas Day. I chose to let the kids open their gifts on Christmas Eve, knowing they were from us, while Christmas Day was reserved for a delicious meal, movie watching, and enjoying the beauty of the holiday lights.

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