#family-traditions

#family-traditions

When I figured out that my son would be born in December, I was instantly worried that he'd deal with having his birthday overshadowed by the season. Luckily, over the years, my son developed a different attitude and began to think of Christmas as something for him. But I have still always been careful to protect his birthday as a separate festivity.

We are two weeks out from Christmas, which means that all across the land couples are at each other's throats. Christmas truly is the season of giving - giving your other half massive amounts of shit. The pre-Christmas fights range from the deeply inconsequential (what date to actually put up the tree) to the existential (why do we have to have three separate meats for the Christmas dinner?) to the make-or-break-a-marriage type (whose family gets the Christmas morning and whose family gets the afternoon).

"No big deal," her dad, a middle school principal for 45-years, told her.

From keeping your purse off the floor to skipping chicken on New Year's Day, these family superstitions didn't fade - they stuck. Call them cultural traditions, old wives' tales, or just "I'm not risking it." They promise good luck, ward off "the devil," and trace how beliefs travel from grandparents to Gen Z'ers. As bizarre as some of them sound, we keep them for the same reason we keep family recipes: they were handed down with love, warnings, and a little drama.

Growing up, I always envied the kids who built gingerbread houses at home. My family and I rarely baked together in Brooklyn: Like many Asian diaspora families, we stored pots and pans (and our rice cooker!) in the oven. When I became a mom, I made sure my son got to experience some holiday magic as defined by American culture. We started with store-bought kits from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

As a mom of six, Christmas used to feel like a pressure cooker. Every year, I tried to create the "perfect" holiday - the ideal gifts, the matching pajamas, the Instagram-worthy stockings. I spent December weekends navigating store aisles, scrolling for deals, or stressing that I wasn't doing enough. By the time Christmas morning finally came, I was exhausted, financially stretched, and secretly relieved when it was all over.

I was coming up out of the subway the other day when a man spoke to me from behind. He complimented me on my outfit and then looked at me. He remarked that he had thought I was someone else a prominent woman in our city. It was a compliment in that regard, but a little jarring, too. This woman is much larger than I am at least I think so.

No matter what region of the country you live in, you'll find a super cool Yule installation to love on our list. Some bring the Christmas cheer to horticultural attractions, like Brookgreen and Longwood Gardens, others set big cities ablaze in millions of walk-through or drive-through lights (including Austin and Las Vegas). And of course, there are plenty of charming small towns that go all out with seasonal displays (hellllooo Leavenworth, Washington).

My late mother made a special Christmas cookie that required tedious decorating, considering each person's personal preference for toppings, and giving them as gifts to family and friends. They always had a place of honor on our family Christmas table. When she was no longer able, she gave me the cookie cutter, and my daughters and I took over the family tradition. It takes the three of us several days to make, bake, decorate, package and mail cookies to family members around the country.

"It is by far my favourite time of year. My birthday is Christmas Eve, so growing up Christmas was always this double-whammy, extra-special time. You're celebrating your birthday and everyone's in great form because it's Christmas, so it has always been such a big family occasion for me."

Growing up in a Mexican household, it never truly felt like the holidays until my abuela, very aptly, broke out the yellow box of Abuelita chocolate from the tiny cupboard next to the stove. My family and I would decorate the Christmas tree, laughing and reminiscing over handmade ornaments. Then we'd soak up the beauty of the silvery lights in the sala, warming our palms with mismatched tazas of chocolate.

I wouldn't say I had a particularly English upbringing, but there were two things my mum held on to fiercely when it came to her children celebrating cultural holidays. Of the utmost importance was Christmas, of course, but Pancake Day came a close second. I'm not really sure why this day mattered so much, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's to do with eating pancakes for dinner, lovingly doused in lemon and sugar.

You don't have to have a lot of seasonal decorations or decorate every corner to make your home feel magical. Instead, create a few pretty little moments of charm-places that make you smile every time you walk by. Display intentional pieces that will feel nostalgic and memorable: a charming Christmas village (I'm smitten with my new gingerbread houses), a bowl of vintage ornaments, even Christmas cards from loved ones displayed on a string with little clothespins,

As September begins, legions of Californians have just wound up their summer travels, which often follow family traditions. Frequently there are lakes involved. Or islands. Or a national park.

We made a conscious decision to build a life filled with adventure and presence while raising our children. We wanted our kids to experience the richness of life in the now, not in some distant "someday" that may never come. We turned travel sports into family adventures We explored local diners, quirky museums, vintage ice rinks, and small-town treasures. Each trip became a story. And somewhere between roadside doughnut shops and freezing-cold bleachers, we realized we weren't just watching games, we were building core memories.

My grandmother had a remarkable ability to create something cozy and plentiful with very little on hand, showing the importance of resourcefulness in meal preparation.

Daniela García Hamilton's hybrid canvases showcase vibrant traditions and immigrant experiences through portraits of family, utilizing colour, pattern, embroidery, and oil painting.

"Sundays were always my favorite day because I knew that we'd all be together," says Matlin, who became the first deaf actor to win an Oscar in 1987 at the tender age of 21.

My teenage daughter called me twice in a row. Worried, I texted, 'In a meeting, emergency?' She replied, 'No, just a good table on the side of the road.'

Now, it's just Danny going to this new world, but I can't say a lot about it - but I could say, if he's a Reagan, it will never be just Danny. There'll always be a Reagan a phone call away. And the traditions that the Reagans have, Danny wouldn't abandon those traditions.

Del Real Foods’ emphasis on authentic flavors and traditional recipes reflects a commitment to wholesome ingredients and the love of family cooking, especially Abuela's influence.

Sometimes a little change would be refreshing. Besides, my husband isn't a big ham guy, and we can never conquer the mountain of leftover ham in the fridge following a family feast.