Handcrafted Memories: The Power of Family Traditions

When I was a little girl with golden locks, my grandma called me “Teenie Wee.” Her kitchen seemed enormous to my tiny frame, so it was glorious when it was filled with cousins, aunts, and uncles for a holiday. My favorite was how the table was moved and plywood was added to the bar to make a giant banqueting table. 

As the oldest granddaughter, my grandma gave me a very special task: crafting name cards for each place setting. Each year, I poured time and thought into my creations. Naturally, as I got older, this cherished responsibility passed to younger cousins and eventually to my own children and my sister’s children. It became a beloved tradition to have a child-crafted name card on the holiday table.

Memories through the generations

This year, my daughter and grandson crafted handprint cutouts decorated with crayon markings and stickers. Each had the name of her in-laws for their holiday gathering. It warmed my heart to see the tradition being passed along. In some small way I felt my grandma’s presence.

Traditions have always been important to me. I intentionally wove traditions throughout my children’s childhood, hoping to impact their lives with meaning and memories. For example, I remember my grandpa reading the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas eve when I was young. As my children grew, their dad carried on that tradition as we set out the nativity. Another favorite was reading The Legend of the Christmas Tree as we decorated our own. These simple acts became meaningful ways to pass down the true spirit of Christmas.

Tradition passed on

My mother-in-law introduced me to a fun Thanksgiving tradition: making little turkeys out of vanilla wafers, Rolos, candy corn, and chocolate frosting. My little ones loved crafting them each year. As they got older, we delivered these treats to the nursing home. When I became a teacher, the tradition extended to my classroom, where I made turkeys with my students before Thanksgiving break. This year, my grandson joined in for the first time. Generations and many people are woven together by a simple tradition.

Another tradition involved counting the days until Christmas. My mother loved to gift us with the chocolate advent calendars. My sister and I loved to open the little door each day to discover the Christmas-shaped treat inside. Additionally, my mother-in-law created a twelve days of Christmas tradition that revealed daily a small wrapped gift in a stocking. Each of these traditions have carried on. Although they have slightly evolved to fit the new generation, they are filled with the love and memories of the past. 

This holiday season, I believe that the heart of the celebration lies more in the traditions than the dollars spent on gifts. Revive something your parents or grandparents did for you and share your memory with your family. Or, start a new tradition, one infused with intention and love. Who knows? One day it might be passed down, just as my daughter passed ours to her son, now reaching a fifth generation.