Last month I shared Thanksgiving traditions and the unique ways in which many families celebrate. Christmas, for the Hamrick family finds deep tradition just like any other.
When Christmas comes around, most of us become creatures of habit: We seem to watch the same movies, enjoy the same songs, read the same stories. If I stumble across It’s a Wonderful Life, I’m almost guaranteed to plop down on the couch and watch the movie that I can nearly recite from start to finish. I know the Christmas season is full upon us when I first hear Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” For years, we’ve enjoyed reading from the gospel of Luke chapter 1, singing Christmas carols at full volume and riding around the city seeking out the best Clark Griswold “wanna be” house in town.
These are the gifts that keep on giving year after year. The stories, songs and programs have become as much a part of the Christmas season for us as decorating the tree or setting up the Nativity scene. Entertainment often serves to separate families. But sometimes, it can help bring families together.
My daughters are older now— and I doubt they’ll let me read to them this year. I don’t know whether we’ll watch the adventures aboard the Polar Express, see the heart of Scrooge transformed or witness the Grinch carve the roasted beast , either.
And yet, even when some of our Christmas traditions fall by the wayside for a year or two, the memories are always there. And I know that, when my kids begin having children of their own, their own memories will pull them back. They’ll sit their kids down and read about the miracle birth, or they’ll all watch George Bailey help Clarence with his wings, or see Charlie Brown bring home the sorriest Christmas tree you ever did see.
And in that moment, generations will link: Grandsons and sons and fathers and grandfathers will see the same thing through much the same set of eyes. We’ll remember when we first saw Linus wrap his blanket around that tiny tree, maybe sitting with our own mothers and fathers so long ago.
Whatever your traditions, cling to them and protect them. In time, they will grow to be as much a part of your family tapestry as the family itself. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
