Family traditions

This page contains information about Family traditions, celebrations, routines, recipes, stories, and activities that are important to our family. It is a place to preserve traditions so they can be remembered, shared, and passed on to future generations.

Holiday Traditions

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is usually hosted by Grandma and Grandpa. Everyone begins arriving around 1:00 PM, and dinner is served around 4:00 PM.

Traditions:

• Everyone brings one dish.
• Grandpa carves the turkey.
• Before dinner, each person says one thing they are thankful for.
• The children make place cards for the dinner table.
• After dinner, we take a family photograph.
• We usually play board games in the evening.
• Leftovers are divided among everyone before they leave.

Traditional Foods:

• Roast turkey
• Grandma's stuffing
• Mashed potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Green bean casserole
• Cranberry sauce
• Pumpkin pie
• Apple pie

Christmas Eve

The extended family gets together on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.

Traditions:

• Dinner begins around 6:00 PM.
• Everyone brings an appetizer or dessert.
• Christmas music plays during dinner.
• Children are allowed to open one present before leaving.
• Each family receives a new Christmas ornament.
• Before everyone leaves, we take a photograph in front of the Christmas tree.

Traditional Dessert: Aunt Mary's Christmas cookies

Christmas Morning

Traditions:

• No one opens presents until everyone is awake.
• Coffee and hot chocolate are made before opening gifts.
• Stockings are opened first.
• Presents are opened one person at a time.
• Christmas breakfast is served after presents.

Traditional Breakfast:

• Cinnamon rolls
• Scrambled eggs
• Bacon
• Fresh fruit
• Coffee and hot chocolate

Birthdays

The person celebrating their birthday gets to choose the restaurant or their favorite meal at home.

Traditions:

• Birthday person chooses dinner.
• Birthday cake is usually homemade.
• Candles are placed on the cake regardless of age.
• Everyone sings "Happy Birthday."
• Take at least one group photograph.

Annual Family Activities

We try to do these every year.

Summer Barbecue

Every summer, usually in July, we have a family barbecue.

Typical Location: Grandma and Grandpa's backyard

Activities:

• Hamburgers and hot dogs
• Corn on the cob
• Watermelon
• Lawn games
• Family photographs
• Evening fire pit

Things to Bring:

• Folding chairs
• Sunscreen
• Outdoor games
• Cooler
• Camera

Apple Picking

Each fall, the family goes apple picking.

Typical Month: October

Traditions:

• Arrive early in the morning.
• Everyone picks a small bag of apples.
• Buy apple cider and cider doughnuts.
• Take a family photograph in the orchard.
• Use some of the apples to make an apple pie that evening.