Treasuring our Traditions

Jun 12

Dear FIG Friends,

I have had lots of thoughts on Treasuring our Traditions. When I think about the Christmas season and the month of December, I think about traditions we have made as a family that we look forward to experiencing together or even new ones we might want to try out. But what does it mean to treasure our traditions? Treasuring our traditions during the Christmas season means honoring the practices, memories, and values that connect us to the people we love, while also allowing those traditions to grow with us. It's not just about repeating rituals for the sake of routine—it's about recognizing the meaning behind them and using them to strengthen our sense of belonging, gratitude, and joy. What does it mean to "treasure" our traditions? I think it means to treat it as something special and worth preserving which involves recalling the why behind the tradition.Maybe the tradition came from a loved one who passed away, or it reminds you of childhood joy, or it helps your family slow down and connect.

Treasuring it means remembering why it matters. It means sowing down, in order to be present in the moment so that we can actually experience it, not just check it off the list. It is something we share by teaching children, inviting newcomers, or retelling the stories behind your customs which gives those moments deeper purpose. Maybe it means allowing the traditions to evolve.

Treasuring doesn't mean freezing them in time. It means holding onto what is meaningful while adapting to changing seasons of life—new babies, blended families, losses, or new homes. We can use our traditions as connection points as they become anchors—moments in the year when we intentionally come back to each other. How are we more intentional and purposeful with holiday time together ? Sometimes we create a "holiday priority" list. We sit down as a couple or family and choose things we must do, would like to do, or even something we no longer want to do. Now this might sound silly but sometimes we schedule connection the same way we schedule an event. We block off time to have breakfast together or a night to watch a Christmas movie, or a no- device night with hot cider or hot cocoa so that it becomes part of the rhythm of the season instead of an afterthought. It's on the calendar so it is something we look forward to.

If you are building moments of togetherness into what you already do then the connection doesn't have to be a big event. Maybe you turn cookie baking into a shared, relaxed activity. You turn on Christmas music while wrapping gifts. You take a nightly walk in the neighborhood to see lights or to chat about your day. Picking one night a week to cook a meal as a team is always fun. All these are simple ways to deepen your connection to those you love or

maybe are getting to know. There are the traditions that I would call "anchor traditions", these are things we always do together. Writing gratitude or blessing cards to one another. Reading a specific Christmas book together. Decorating the tree as a family. Watching the Nutcracker ballet together.Attending a Christmas Eve service after a delicious meal. The

anchor traditions become something everyone looks forward to. Overall my hopes during the busy month of December is that I can look forward and then look back and see that we made time to connect whether it was over a meal, a book, a walk, a game, or a meaningful conversation. One thing is for sure though, I encourage you to remember ( and I tell myself this too), we need to give ourselves permission to simplify. Treasuring traditions is not by doing more, but by being present in what you choose to do.

Hold onto what is meaningful.

Be present as you celebrate.

Pass on memories and values.

Use your traditions to strengthen connection.

Choose what matters most.

Make time for togetherness.

Build connection in ordinary moments. Let love- not perfection (or your idea of it) -

guide the season.