Holiday Traditions

          Years ago I was impressed by an article I read about the importance of traditions in a home.  It emphasized the role that family traditions play in making children feel secure.  Being able to depend on familiar, happy routines builds memories and shapes a child's world and values.
          The article went on to say that traditions--especially holiday traditions-- are often absent in single-parent homes where the mom or dad is burdened with just making it through the day.  They are prone to depend on  grandparents or other friends or relatives to supply holiday festivity.  It leaves something important lacking in the development of the child.
          Whether the  article was accurate or not, it impressed me enough to make me evaluate our own family traditions.  Although I had both a mom and a dad, I grew up in a home where traditions were pretty much absent.  We relied on aunts and uncles for holiday activities.  Usually we didn't even have a Christmas tree and Thanksgiving was never hosted at our home.
          Today, among my favorite memories are the traditions we created with our own children at Thanksgiving.  We almost always had 30-35 people around a vastly extended table.  Friends and family gathered early and swarmed in the kitchen preparing the feast.
          While the mom's and I cooked, we also wrote a script for a skit to be performed by the kids after dinner.  The rehearsal kept them occupied and all were little hams looking forward to their moment of stardom.
          We also prepared place cards for each person at the table.  These had no names on them.  Rather, they had descriptions or connections to events that identified everyone individually.  Things like, "Hole in One"' for the golfer who had enjoyed such celebrity, or "Sweet 16" for the lucky teen who turned that significant age in that year.  You get the idea.
          When the table was finally filled with food and people, and before the prayer, we went around the table one by one to each say what we were thankful for in that year.  Often tears flowed and the food got cold while we rehearsed our blessings, but no one cared.  it was a highlight of the day.
          Usually we invited others for dessert in the evening--friends who had their own plans, but wanted to be together on this special day.  This was the time for the kids performance.  The adults were a most appreciative audience!
          My favorite script was the year we had a Charlie Brown skit.  A forlorn turkey came to seek counsel from Lucy acting as psychiatrist for the day and sitting behind a booth that posted a fee of 5 cents.  The turkey's mantra was "I don't want to die!"  It's a wonder we didn't traumatize the kids with that one!  Lucy's advice was basically, "Get over it!"
          Traumatized or not we chalked up another year of wonderful Thanksgiving memories and hopefully a little extra security for our kids.