Each of these Holidays have dedicated symbols that embellish our homes this time of year. Some, we implement because they are pretty and some just for fun. A few holiday traditions are wrapped around our belief system as a sign of reverence for a historic figure or even a miraculous event. And let’s be clear, there is no bad time of year to be surrounded by lots of good food.
Throughout the generations, traditions are passed down or abandoned for one reason or another. Sometimes we are told by our parents why we do things and sometimes not. Like, why do we hang lights on our home? Why do we hang a wreath on the door? For me, the simple reasoning that it’s pretty and festive has always been good enough. I was raised in a Christian home, and the tradition of hanging a Christmas wreath has been something we’ve always done. In the Christian religion the wreath is known to be a symbol of the circle of life. So maybe the generations before me were acknowledging that symbolism. Or maybe my great great great grandmother just thought it was pretty too.
Many families create their own holiday traditions like going camping, learning about a foreign country or simply sitting around the fire sharing stories, ideas and laughter with a warming drink.
And again, the question is, “Why?”
Well, that IS the question we all can, and dare I say SHOULD, ask. Not only ask ourselves, but each other.
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