Sharing Family Traditions During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time filled with traditional symbols, celebrations and activities unique to one’s belief systems, communities and families. Traditions are continued patterns handed down from generation to generation that come in many forms, whether it’s a ceremony, food, dance, gift, event, etc.
Senior friends and family members are our lifeline to family traditions as they have the earliest account of them, and in some cases, they may be the very people who started them.
This year, one of the best gifts you can give and receive is the simple gift of love, openness and time by learning more about your loved ones and experiencing family traditions with them.
Here are four ways to honor family traditions this holiday season:
1. Family Memories
Ask your senior friends and family members about their favorite holiday and family traditions as a child. What were they? What made them so special? How did they impact their life? You might even discover new traditions worth implementing again. Additionally, the nostalgia from recalling childhood memories may bring great joy to your loved ones, a gift in itself.
2. Family Events
Participate in a traditional family activity (or many!) with your loved ones, whether it’s going to a holiday show, volunteering, or watching a particular holiday movie together. Learn more about how these traditions started and why they are special.
3. Family Recipes
Cook a family favorite dish with your loved ones. This is a great bonding experience as well as a way to get the “secret family recipe” that you can continue to cook and pass down.
4. Family Specialties
Learn more about a skill or talent unique to your loved ones and even try to study them. For example, you could be introduced to a new hobby, such as sewing, knitting or fishing, or you could even strengthen an existing craft by learning more tips and techniques from them.
Remember it’s also the season of giving! Take the opportunity to give your attention to your loved ones and learn more about them this holiday season, so they continue to live on through future generations…
Natalie Drugan
Natalie Drugan is a nutrition and lifestyle health coach. Natalie is dedicated to helping others make healthy choices centered on clean food, toxic-free environments and happy living. Natalie received her nutrition health coaching certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC, the world’s largest nutrition school. As a Certified Nutrition Health Coach, she studied over 100 dietary theories and learned from world-renowned experts and doctors including Andrew Weil, MD, Walter Willet, MD, Mark Hyman, MD and Deepak Chopra, MD. Natalie is board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). Additionally, Natalie received her BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University.