It took me until I was 23 or 24 before I really started to value tradition. Up until that point, I viewed “the way it’s always been done” as an out of date reason to do something. And for certain things I still think that’s a valid statement.

But there are simple rituals and traditions in my life, such as my uncle’s whipped cream and pumpkin pie antics at Thanksgiving, my mom’s Yorkshire pudding, “Tuesdays with Morrie” dinners with my dad, getting a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve, and dancing with my husband on our anniversary that mean a lot to me. I find these things bring comfort, definition, clarity and purpose to my life. Why? Oddly enough, because they’re the way things have always been done.

One of the nicest and most sentimental gifts I’ve ever been given was a letter from my mom on my wedding day. She wrote it for me on my first birthday, in November 1979, to be opened on the day I married. When I held it in my hands I couldn’t imagine her at 26 years old, having the foresight to think of something so special for her baby daughter who would be a woman by the time the letter was read. When she wrote it, she was younger than I was on the day I became a wife.

Although it’s not a tradition yet, I know I’ll be passing that along to my son or daughter and hopefully in time it’ll become something that’s done throughout the generations of my family. A new tradition will be born…

Oh yeah- and I still have to get that recipe for Yorkshire pudding too!!

We’re curious to hear what some of your favourite family or personal traditions are. Are they new or long standing? How do you make sure you keep tradition alive? Is it important to you? Please post a comment and let us know. We’ll post again soon to highlight some of the great things our readers celebrate in their lives.