Should We Alter Our Christmas Traditions?

The holidays are here and many folks are asking the same question, “Should we alter our Christmas traditions this year?”

Every December, I purchase a new calendar for the upcoming year. Immediately, I pen in people’s birthdays and the rest of our traditional activities for the year. Do you do something similar?

Last December, did you pen in all of this year’s festivities and family gatherings? There was no need to use a pencil because the traditions have been celebrated the same way every year. Right?

But, now! Our calendars have been violated with red slashes, arrows, and scribbles. People are making changes. Some are canceling events altogether.

Well, that’s enough to crumble the gingerbread house, isn’t it?

Step back. Take a breath. Before we react like Wassail over a high flame, let’s ponder for a moment.

We Love Our Traditions

We love our traditions. Especially, at Christmas. Eagerly, we look forward to catching up with those we’ve not seen in months, sometimes years. And we look forward to sampling each person’s specialty dish!

Traditions bring people together. They engrave fond memories and cement emotional bonds deep within us.

We get together with relatives on the same dates every year. So it’s difficult for many of us when something, or someone, disrupts the customs we’ve grown to treasure.

However, we need to pause and possibly utter a silent prayer before we respond to the perpetrators of our calendars.

Reasons for Altering Our Christmas Traditions

In 2020, the issue of COVID-19 plays a huge role in altering our Christmas traditions. However, there may be other reasons.

Are financial hardships, travel difficulties, or other health issues affecting people’s change of plans? Or is the desire to continue a traditional activity simply fading? Perhaps the Annual Cousins’ Cookie Swap at Uncle Ulysses’ house isn’t as appealing as it was ten years and twenty pounds ago.

Maybe there are folks who simply want to cut out some of the clutter of Christmas. They want to find ways to focus more on the real reason we celebrate Christmas–the love of Jesus Christ.

Steady yourself if someone says Santa may get nixed from the list this year.

Be open-minded. Perhaps it’s time to pause or stop a tradition. Or, at least consider altering it a bit.

Consider These Alterations

It’s not too difficult to alter our Christmas traditions when we think creatively. Consider swapping the cookie event for serving together at a soup kitchen or delivering meals to shut-ins.

If distances, or even health, are the issues, consider scheduling a teleconference reunion using Skype or FaceTime. Make it interesting. Encourage everyone to wear their ugliest Christmas sweater. Or, perhaps glam it up with formal wear—at least from the waist up!

Celebrate at a different time of the year. Go ahead and plan some of those parties with friends and co-workers, but consider planning them a few months after Christmas. Generate enthusiasm by sending save-the-date invitations. Maybe send out fun reminders on social media between now and then. “Hopefully, there’ll be no madness in March, only our merry get-together!”

Other Options

Another option might be to consider hosting an outdoor event. This may be more feasible and healthier for some.

My side of the family is doing this. Due to several reasons, we cannot hold the event inside my parents’ home this year. Initially, my mom was concerned about people getting cold but I assured her everyone would enjoy bundling up and sitting around fire pits. It’ll be massively fun! We’ll still fellowship, eat, and open gifts. We’ll still have our traditional family devotion and prayer followed by singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.

The food serving table will be set up in my parent’s garage and each family will have their own sitting/dining area on the large screened porch. My parents want to plate each person’s food and they’ve asked two grandsons to be the servers. My mom has put a lot of thought into this because she wants to protect two who have autoimmune disorders, two who are pregnant, and she and my dad have had serious health issues in the past. She’s got everything ready, even little menus for each guest to circle what they want on their plate. She and Daddy are so thoughtful!

We probably won’t make meeting outside in December a regular Christmas tradition. But, this year, we definitely plan to make it a special memory. It’s teaching the next generation about flexibility, adaptability, and perseverance. Most of all, they’re witnessing what love looks like.

Show Gracious Hospitality

Hopefully, the changes in traditions won’t always be due to a pandemic. As families continue to grow with in-laws, children, and grandchildren, the calendars begin to burst at the seams. As your kids grow into adults, they’ll be pulled in numerous directions.

Be gracious.

Over the years of my marriage, my mother always set a wonderful example of graciousness. As every holiday neared, she’d say, “Find out what your husband’s family is doing. Then, we’ll work around that date.”

Isn’t that amazing?

Occasionally, I receive news informing me one of my beloved family traditions is not going to happen the way I’d envisioned it. Even though there’s an initial disappointment, I remember the unselfish kindness of my mother and I try to adapt accordingly. And graciously.

I suppose when we are asked to alter our Christmas traditions, we are given opportunities to express love by putting the interests of others before our own. This doesn’t mean we can’t express our opinions. We just learn how to do that gently and respectfully.

What is the Focus?

If you think about it, it’s not the date or the place, and quite often, not even the activity that makes our traditions special.

What is the focus?

It’s the people. Relationships always trump traditions. How we handle those relationships can promote an eternal richness that far exceeds the value of traditions.

So, the next time we hear, “Should we alter our Christmas traditions this year?”

Hopefully, we’ll respond,

“I’m sure we can work something out. I’m just thankful for you and the relationship we have.”

Your turn! Share with us one of your favorite Christmas traditions!