A Tradition Generations Enjoy

 Christmas pajamas! This is a tradition I remember doing in England, and now we have continued it here in Utah with my children. I don’t remember if our parents just gave us our pajamas or if the “pixies” left them at the door, but I always looked forward to our new Christmas pajamas. Our children’s Christmas pajamas are dropped off by the “elves.” I love watching the anticipation. They know the “elves” will drop off their pajamas, but they don’t know when. Each year, they try to set up a plan on how they can catch the “elves” in the act, but it never happens. Their conspiring reminds me of the children’s book series, How to catch a……. (snowman, dinosaur, tooth fairy, etc.) The children in those books try so hard to catch what they are chasing, but never succeed. Christmas pajamas seem like a small, insignificant tradition; however, I find them a joyful and cozy way to bring some extra excitement to the season.

Traditions build memories that last. They create a sense of familiarity and anchor our family. Traditions connect the generations. They bridge the gap between the past and the present. We feel a part of a bigger family unit. Traditions allow us to share memories and stories. I love that family members can experience the same event but take away different moments from it. This is why sharing our stories is so important. They help share the bigger picture of the tradition. Lastly, traditions preserve our family culture and values. They reflect what we deem to be important. They ensure that these seemingly small moments are never lost, but enjoyed and passed down. 

When we moved from England to America, our family traditions helped create a comforting constant in our lives. We felt at home because of the traditions we brought with us.