Keeping holiday traditions dynamic
We are very accus tomed to seeing pumpkin, turkey, and pilgrim decorations at Thanksgiving time. Meshed with fall colors and specialized food items, Thanksgiving is generally observed among believers who have common beliefs and values passed on from generation to generation from the time of the pilgrims to the present. Schools in our area often put on Thanksgiving programs, and churches observe an emphasis on being thankful and perhaps observing a meal together as a family of faith. Recently I’ve been to different schools with my grandchildren to eat a lunch with them, that included turkey, dressing, green beans, and other common food items eaten at a Thanksgiving meal. The hallways were lined with decorations made by the students pertaining to Thanksgiving.
Many homes are also decorated inside and out for Thanksgiving.
Christmas is no different.
On a larger scale, many people go all out to decorate the outside of their homes for the Christmas season. Lights, trees, and wreathes adorn most homes, and some insist on using real trees and greenery instead of tinsel and artificial trees. One of my children always advocated for a real tree, so some years we used a real one as opposed to a pre-lit artificial tree.
Many traditions have survived countless generations because they are a transmission of common cultural practices and beliefs. However, while they are the same, they are also very different also. Why? Because the observance of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays presents an opportunity to express one’s beliefs, while adapting to the changes taking place by newer generations. I grew up with homemade decorations on our real tree, while many of our decorations today are manufactured elsewhere. Meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas were always special because so many family members came together to celebrate but the food has changed to some degree.
Keeping traditions dynamic involves maintaining long-time practices, for example, family gatherings for holiday dinners, with the ability to adapt to new expressions, such as new foods or activities brought in by newer family members. Our family has been made richer for all the new holiday observances that are still rooted in past traditions. This sets tradition apart from traditionalism, which is more about strict observances with little or no allowances for change. Churches, families, and individuals should strive to keep their celebrations rooted in Biblical truth, but allowing for changes that maintain a dynamic element to their observance. Have a dynamic Thanksgiving and Christmas!
