Is It Time to Break Some Holiday Traditions?
Traditions are part of what makes the holidays memorable. Thinking back on your childhood, you might have some amazing memories of holiday’s past that are steeped in tradition. You may have even brought some of them into adulthood and your own family. There’s no doubt that traditions help families stay connected and remind them of their roots but there may come a time when it helps to break traditions and build new ones.
Should Traditions always be Kept?
Traditions can bring comfort and a sense of familiarity and belonging, but they can also be stifling and keep you from growing and expanding. Holding onto traditions can exclude other possibilities that might be a better fit for you and your family. While traditions can be a wonderful way to hold onto the past, there may be room for change in your future.
Here are some indicators you might be ready to break some traditions-
Your family dynamics change
It might have been fun to participate in a tradition for a season, but a change could be in order. If your family dynamics change and it doesn’t make sense to hold onto a tradition, be open to letting it go, creating a new one, or making a modification. Some typical reasons family dynamics change:
- Marriage, divorce, blending families
- Children mature or grow up
- Time constraints or changes in schedules
- Health issues
When the dynamics in the family change, it may be time to break a tradition and begin something new.
You’re bored or change interests
Some traditions felt great for a time, but everyone is always changing and growing. Adapting and expanding your interests can affect your traditions. What once felt comforting begins to feel controlling. Don’t let familiarity cause you to hold onto traditions that you’ve outgrown.
Creating New Traditions Can Create Joy
Finding new ways to create traditions during the holidays can reduce stress and create joy. Growing and expanding with your family as it changes can help you hold onto traditions you love. It also allows you to find new ones that have meaning for where you are in life at the moment. Ask yourself these questions to help you create new traditions.
What makes sense for your stage of life?
If your children are small, there may be a host of activities that you engage in as part of your tradition. As they age, it makes sense to stop some activities and find new age-appropriate activities. Asking what makes sense for your current stage of life will help you break traditions you don’t need and create ones that everyone will enjoy.
What do you love most this time of year?
Ask yourself…and your family what they love most and want to do each year. This will help you engage in the activities that matter. You never know, that one time you had pizza for Thanksgiving dinner could become a yearly tradition. You never know if you don’t ask!
Review!
Sometimes traditions can actually weigh families down and cause stress. It’s important to take time and review your beloved traditions and see if there isn’t room for improvement, retirement, or creating new traditions altogether.
Loving Life — The Reboot!
Dominique
11 Comments
jo
Ours changes constantly and we’ve had to have Christmas celebrations in November many times because my son is a chef and often has to work over the holidays.
Ben
This is an excellent post. Family traditions are great, but they’re only great if they still bring joy. It’s okay to move away from some of them if things change.
GiGi
I feel like a BUNCH of traditions are going to be broken this year. It just is what it is! I kinda just feel like this year doesn’t count!
Cinny
I think traditions can be followed or changed. We adapt based on current surroundings and family situations.
ashley t
What a great post. We follow some traditions but for the most part we make our own.
Heather
While our family has traditions, we also switch things up each year to keep it fun.
Natalie
We changed our traditional Christmas celebration a lot when we moved to the UK two years ago. We picked up some new things here and definitely changed our routine. It’s different but also fun. Change is good.
Angela
Insightful post! I only keep the traditions that i love in my home!
Nikola Roza
Traditions are great to keep as they give the brain a dose of much needed familiarity in a hectic world of today.
However, if you find you’rekeeping up with your tradition becuse that’s how it’s supposed to be, and not becuase you really enjoy whatever it is you’re doing, it’s time for a change.
Veronika
I like to keep traditions but not to perfection and exactly as they used to be. I live across the world from my family so things always change.
Lily
Maybe if the tradition is broken a new one will take its place. I am making a few new ones this year.