dancingthroughchaos

‘Tradition serves as an avenue for creating lasting memories for our families and friends.’  – Frank Sonnenberg (US author)

With a week to go until Christmas Eve, I’m fairly sure that your house is now bedecked with holly, ivy, paper chains, tinsel, cards and lights of varying degrees of extravagance depending on your taste, budget and, more importantly, tradition, as is mine.

When we were children, making paper chains was a ritual that was part and parcel of Christmas preparations.  No decorations were allowed up prior to 9th December since that was my Dad’s birthday.  Since he is now enjoying far more exciting birthdays partying with the angels, it’s no longer a relevant factor.  

Our tree was the most feeble creation you’ve ever seen.  Apparently, when my eldest sister was born a real tree was purchased which, being rooted, was then planted in the front garden and stood for many a long year as a helpful landmark as well as a challenge for one of our cats who had to be rescued from there one snowy year.   I remember this vividly since a) I was the one who had to go up the ladder; b) the sub-zero temperatures meant my hands stuck to the aluminium rungs, and c) the cat in question stuck her claws into the branches so firmly that the ensuing wrestling match damaged me considerably more than her. The replacement tinsel trees have never quite cut it but, consequently, an artificial tree is not a deal-breaking issue for me.

Christmas is the season where family traditions come to the fore.  Annual repetition cements their importance in our memories; their familiarity contributes to feelings of safety and security giving us an inner glow as we reminisce about our childhoods.  When all around us the world seems to be losing it’s mind and it’s combined grip on reality, I am comforted by curling up in front of a movie I’ve watched a million times while white fairy lights twinkle and I drink something indulgent form a mug I only use at this time of the year.  It’s a treat to play raucous board games with whichever family members are around, ignoring the clock, losing ourselves in friendly banter – at least while the more competitive among us can reign ourselves in.

The shared memories we create from consecutive Christmases provide some of the glue that can help stick a family together.  While I appreciate that for some people, the idea of having even one day (let alone three) of forced occupancy with family members is the stuff of tension, arguments and nightmares, for me it provides a cosy and reassuring blanket of laughter, banter and ‘Do you remember when…’ conversations. 

These are also opportunities to express the things that are most important to us: faith, family, and food may feature in yours; they certainly do in mine.  I love putting up the nativity scene; I’m a groupie for any ‘Nine Lessons & Carols’ church events (donkeys not compulsory, but I’m delighted to have them along); and the food…! Growing up, treats of the culinary type were in short supply, but the roast turkey we enjoyed with our extended family on Christmas Eve was aways epic and in our house we children drank ginger ale as if it were fine, aged claret.  

Frank Sonnenberg, who is quoted above, also wrote: ‘Traditions represent a critical piece of our culture. They help form the structure and foundation of our families and our society. They remind us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become. Once we ignore the meaning of our traditions, weʼre in danger of damaging the underpinning of our identity.’   He was writing in the context of a nation, but I think the same is true for the family unit regardless of size and shape.

Traditions are helpful markers in our annual trip around the sun.  I’m amazed at the variety held dear between different households.  There’s no right or wrong way of doing Christmas; we can pick and choose our traditions or start new ones. What’s the tradition you make sure happens each Christmas, I wonder?

However you choose to celebrate the 25th this year, I hope that there’ll be time to draw breath and consider again the wonder of the incarnated Son of God exchanging the perfection of heaven for a smelly stable and the constrictions of a human body in order to bring light, life, hope and salvation to world that couldn’t find any room for Him.  I want to ensure that amid the merry mayhem I do find room for Him with all His uncomfortable challenges about life as well as His unfailing promises, not just for the season but throughout the coming year.

Happy Christmas.

[All images courtesy of Pixabay.]