Traditions

Our family traditions are LEGION.  From my side, we have a great deal of Dutch and Swedish.  I think our family is the only one that still sings all four verses of the Dutch birthday song.  We also have, from my lovely wife's side, many British traditions.  Today celebrates one of those traditions, namely, the annual Julbord, or Christmas Smorgasbord.  I look forward to it all year, and the gathering of family and friends that happens far too infrequently. I have been thinking much of traditions, and why we have them.  Traditions bridge gaps that can become chasms between generations.  As I made potatiskorv (Swedish potato sausage) with a compatriot of mine today, I thought of my grandpa Eriksson.  I thought of the times that we made sausage together before his passing.  And I thought of how sad I am that my kids won't meet him in this life.  But when we have traditions, it brings a little bit of those times back, and lets us reminisce on the times that have been.  And it lets us share them in some small respect with our progeny. My kids may not meed their grandfather, but they will know something of him from the traditions that he passed down. 

But what if the tradition has been going on so long, that it no longer has meaning?  A quote from one of my favorite childhood movies comes to mind.." Numbly rehearsing their rituals, in a blur of forgetfulness".  Tradition should be celebrated and encouraged.  But we need to remember that the traditions that we are celebrating have meaning.  In other words, WE NEED TO KNOW WHY WE CELEBRATE THEM.  Tradition without meaning is pointless.

So this holiday season, look to the traditions that you celebrate, and see if maybe... maybe they need to be changed, adapted, or maybe new traditions replace.