Holiday traditions—those warm fuzzy moments loaded with fond memories that we look forward to with joy.
Except when we don’t.
Sometimes traditions outlive their purpose and become an onus instead of a benefit. Yet we are often loathe to meddle with tradition, especially during the holidays.
I would like to challenge you to rethink your traditions. Are they healthy? Do they fit with your values and lifestyle? Do they bring joy to you and your loved ones or do they stir up feelings of resentment? Do you look forward to the preparations or does the very thought bring on heartburn?
Is it time to Reinvent Christmas?
5 situations where it makes sense to change your traditions
- You are in a different phase of life. Maybe when the kids were little your family had a tradition of decorating the tree together on Christmas Eve. It was a magical time filled with laughter. But now the kids are grown and have jobs. Even if you still get together on Christmas Eve, decorating the tree doesn’t create the same magic. So why not invent a new tradition that better suits your current phase of life? The tree wasn’t the source of magic in the first place, it was merely a prop. The magic came from sharing a fun activity.
- Health issues. Does someone in the family have diet restrictions or physical challenges? Would changing certain traditions make it easier for everyone to still enjoy the celebrations rather than feel left out? Be creative in adapting the traditions you love to work within the limitations of the people you love.
- You have downsized. Your home. Your schedule. Your energy commitments. Your collection of Christmas paraphernalia. Embrace your new reality and create new traditions that fit within it. Maybe you cannot fit the traditional twelve-foot tree in your snug new home. Maybe you’ve downsized your decorations and no longer choose to fill your home with a plethora of snowmen. Stand firm in your decisions to downsize and do not feel guilty for changing your traditions to suit new boundaries.
- It isn’t fun anymore. We all change as we mature. The activities we loved at twelve are different from the ones we loved at eighteen, or thirty-five. If the point of traditions is to bring joy and meaning to the holiday, why persist in ones that no longer fit the bill? If your values or interests have shifted, your traditions should be adapted to reflect those changes.
- This year you just need a break. Maybe the year has been particularly rough. You are mourning a loss, reeling from trauma of some kind, or just plain worn out. Give yourself permission to take a sabbatical from the usual Christmas traditions. It doesn’t mean you are abandoning them forever. It does mean you recognize your need to scale back for a time. Tis the season of peace, love, and hope. If that means skipping Christmas traditions this year, so be it.
Final thought:
Changing traditions can be difficult. You will probably face pushback or disappointment. In those moments, remind yourself of the intention behind your decisions and stay strong. Give yourself grace to mourn what you have chosen to let go. Extend grace to others who may have their own reasons for reinventing their traditional celebrations.
May your Christmas be filled with joy and meaningful traditions that bring the family together.
