December 30th, 2009
Now is the perfect time to create new traditions that bear meaning and significance to you and your loved ones. Here are some ideas for creating your own holiday traditions, beginning today.
New traditions aren’t necessarily meant to replace old or long-standing traditions; rather, they are meant to breathe new life into our favorite holidays. Here are some quick tips for creating your own traditions.
1. Improve upon an existing tradition.
Take any tradition (regardless of whether or not you’re currently upholding it — you might even choose to “borrow” someone else’s holiday tradition) and personalize or update it to make it more “you.” For example, in many households, a baked ham is the centerpiece of a traditional Christmas feast. But what if your family isn’t particular fond of ham? Why not create some other special “feastly” tradition, from cornish hens to roast duck to Grandma Josephine’s famous lasagna. It’s your holiday — make it your own by choosing something everyone in the family will enjoy.
2. Begin with the end in mind.
If you are young or have young children, imagine your grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) many years from now. What tradition would you love to see them continue to carry on for generations to come? What meaningful holiday legacy would you love to leave? All traditions were started because someone somewhere did something…and then repeated it the following year. That means you can create any tradition you like, beginning this year.
3. Get input from your loved ones.
It’s easy to get enthusiasm and buy-in from others when you include them in the decision-making process. Ask for input from those you’ll be celebrating with and you’ll see a lot more participation in the tradition itself (as well as a tendency to remember the tradition next year!)
4. Break tradition and create something new.
Why not get totally creative and do something that no one has ever done before? It’s your holiday — celebrate in your own unique style.
5. Allow it to unfold naturally.
Some traditions are borne simply from the joy that comes from the act itself. “Let’s do that thing we did last year” is how traditions are spontaneously created. Ask your family: What did we do last year to celebrate, that you would love to do again this year? The answers may surprise you.
Here’s an easy tradition to start: rent a projector from Projector123.com and spend a couple of evenings watching your favorite holiday flicks. It brings the family together in a non-traditional way, and keeps everyone out of the hectic pace of holiday traffic and shopping malls.
After all, isn’t togetherness what the holidays are really all about? Click here to order now.
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