Here’s your chance to share your family’s holiday traditions on The Murfreesboro Post

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Here’s your chance to share your family’s holiday traditions

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Sunday, December 7, 2008 7:39 am

In today’s world of fractured families, holiday traditions tend to be split between parents, in-laws and other family gatherings.

But some families hold their Christmas routines dear, and try every year to make memories that last a lifetime.

“Holiday traditions are an important part of growing up,” Post reader Kimberly Harper said. “When children become adults, they will reflect on the memories they had during this season of celebrating Jesus’ birth and attempt to continue traditions or create new ones.”

Some leave town and spend the holiday at an exotic resort, away from friends and family.

Others donate their time to helping the less fortunate at a local homeless shelter, like the Salvation Army or Room in the Inn. Still others decorate the tree together, while listening to Christmas music or watching a Christmas movie.

Mrs. Murfreesboro Jeanne Bragg has written about how her children alternate Christmases between parents and in-laws and, when the kids come home, the Bragg family does the same things they’ve done for years.

Her husband Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg will tell Christmas stories from his childhood. Then the family gets into the car to tour the city’s best light displays, complete with the Post’s “Holiday Brites” map.

And every Christmas morning Mayor Bragg has to set up the video camera at “just the right angle, get the fire going and have the Christmas music ready too before he would let (the kids) in the room,” Mrs. Murfreesboro wrote in a past article.

Traditions don’t have to be complicated, they can be as simple taking a family photo in front of the tree or like Post reader justdance whose photo-taking has continued through the generations.

“Every year we take a picture of our kids coming down the stairs on Christmas morning,” reader justdance posted on the Post’s Web site. “Well, my kids are grown now, and we have a ten year old grandson who has joined in with them, but we still do it every Christmas.”

Justdance added the kids get more excited about the photo now than they do the Christmas gifts.

Traditions for younger families generally include going to see parents and grandparents, or having extended family come over on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

“I have fond memories of getting together with extended family on Christmas Eve to enjoy great food and exchange gifts …” Harper said. “My uncle always came over for Christmas breakfast and then we all headed to my Grandparents’ house Christmas Day.”

But now she has her own family and they’ve developed their own traditions, like finding a special holiday event to attend every year.

“For example, last year we went to see ‘The Grinch’ ice exhibit at Gaylord and this year we went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes at the Grand Ole Opry,” she said, adding her family also tours local light displays like the Braggs.

Whether young or old, make the Christmas Season your own by keeping traditions and continuing them through the years.

“You may not realize the impact you will make on the people you are sharing your tradition with,” Harper said. “Who knows, it may last for generations.”

To share your family’s tradition,log in and post a comment here.

Tagged under HOLIDAY BRITES

Member Opinions:

By: khite on 12/10/08
A tradition I have always enjoyed was going to Waffle house after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.