by Lorinda K. F. Newton

The 1971 musical Fiddler on the Roof opens with the energetic song, “Tradition.” In it, the main character, Tevye, explains how the Jewish community in Anatevka, Russia, keeps its life in balance through its traditions:

“For instance, we always keep our heads covered and wear a little prayer shawl. This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition get started? I’ll tell you. I don’t know. But it is a tradition.

“And because of our traditions, everyone one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.

“Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as…as a fiddler on the roof!”

Despite not having a homeland for thousands of years, the Jews have remained a people group because their traditions kept their ethnic identity alive.

Similarly, Christians and others who embrace the traditional Judeo-Christian worldview must strive to preserve their heritage and identity in a now hostile culture. American schools once passed on our heritage to the next generation, but now they vilify it.

Generation to Generation

Through homeschooling, families can preserve their heritage, identity, and faith by passing on traditions they received from older generations. Maintaining meaningful customs builds a foundation on which children can build their lives. These traditions provide a sense of purpose by being part of something bigger than themselves. From our ancestors to future generations, God weaves our stories to create a meta-story in which we all play a role.

Practicing traditions is not enough, however. One must know why they exist. Empty rituals hold no value to the next generation.

Due to someone not transmitting the knowledge, Tevye never learned that the reason Jews wear prayer shawls with tassels is that God commands it in Numbers 15:38-40. Not knowing where the traditions came from, he failed to pass on some of them to his daughters.

In the same way, families today can fail to pass on their heritage and faith-building traditions to their own children.

Multiple Christmas traditions, some meaningful and others simply fun, provide parents with amble opportunity to teach their children important lessons about their family and faith.

Have you ever explained why you always bake Grandma’s special Christmas cookies, or deck the halls with a particular item, or always attend a Christmas Eve service?

 This year, consider ways to transfer to the next generation your family identity through traditional food, unique holiday decor, classic stories, family gatherings, or acts of service.

And don’t just follow the traditions. Explain their importance and, if you know, why and how they got started.

In the Christmas Mood

Deck the Halls

The festive time of Christmas often fills our calendars with numerous activities. This includes decorating our homes with Christmas cheer.

For years, my family has kicked off the season on Black Friday. With holiday music playing in the background, we would display our Christmas décor together as a family.

Family time often is a learning time for those who homeschool. If a child is curious about a particular Christmas symbol, suggest that he research it and share his findings with the family.

Stories of Christmas

Many storytellers include a Christmas-themed tale in their portfolio, either for entertainment or edification. What stories does your family enjoy?

The Newton family traditionally watches The Muppet Christmas Carole on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Then throughout the month, we view several favorite Christmas videos such as The Grinch, The Santa Clause, and A Christmas Story.

When our kids were young, we also read Christmas picture books, both Christian and secular, and for a few years, we read through the Advent book series by Arnold Ytreeide: Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, and Tabitha’s Travels.

Some families attend performances of The Nutcracker Suite each year—or perform in it. Churches and community groups put on plays and programs with a Christmas message.

These stories present differing ideas about Christmas. Discuss these differences as a family. Many stories tell of people “saving” Christmas from disaster. In contrast, how many tell the true story of Christmas of God entering history as a helpless babe who would grow up to be the Savior of not Christmas, but all mankind?

 Merry Activities

 Many people enjoy cookie exchanges or white elephant parties. Others like caroling or attending sing-alongs. I had a friend who was from a musical family. Each year, they, with her aunts, uncles, and cousins, would head into Seattle for a Handel’s Messiah sing-along.

Whatever your family does to “make the season merry and bright,” consider what aspects have significant meaning to you and explain this to your children.

Traditions with Meaning

Tastes and Smells of Christmas

Every family probably has a particular smell they associate with Christmas: the fragrance of evergreen, hot cocoa, or gingerbread cookies. When I was growing up, my house smelled of cheese ball.

Early in my life, my mom was given a simple but savory cheese ball recipe. Family and friends loved it so much that she began making several each year as gifts.

At the height of her cheese-ball making, she made 40 cheese balls each year, filling our refrigerator with the tangy scent of Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. My family of four packaged this dairy delight in assembly-line fashion. We Funks were known for our cheese balls.

My parents grew weary of the work and expense when I was in high school. Yet, we continued to make one cheese ball for our annual Christmas Eve party.

Today, I wear the cheese-ball mantel and make one each year.

Are your children familiar with the legacy of a particular holiday food everyone expects to see each Christmas? Is it connected to a relative who immigrated from another country or a tradition that started in America? How does it shape your family’s identity?

Decorations with a Purpose

Some people decorate their homes with designer Christmas trees with matching balls and coordinated garlands. Others have an eclectic collection of ornaments amassed over the years. We fall in the latter category. Yet, most of our ornaments tell a story about our family’s interests, heritage, memories, and faith.

For example, one ornament represents my husband’s barbecue passion, and another signifies our daughter’s taekwondo black belt accomplishment. Our son’s childhood Buzz Lightyear may be found on a lower branch. A retro RV and several souvenir ornaments remind us of past adventures.

Ornaments I brought home from West Berlin in 1987 denote my father’s German background. Displayed on sturdy branches are a British beefeater and a bagpiper that my husband picked up on a London trip. They represent our shared English and Scottish heritage. Added to the heritage curios is our daughter’s bell from India. Ornaments depicting the Space Needle, two Washington state ferries, and a few owls connect us to our home on Puget Sound.

A beaded Christmas tree made by Doug’s Auntie Dottie, who passed away suddenly from cancer, is hung in her memory each year. So are the crocheted snowflakes that Doug’s mom made for what turned out to be her Christmas.

In a place of honor, near the top of the tree, hang the “Lion and the Lamb” and “Happy Birthday, Jesus” cake ornaments. These remind us why we celebrate.

Unwrapping our ornaments is like flipping through an old scrapbook. We reminisce together as we hang our treasures on the evergreen. May our children pass on some of these memories to future generations.

Do you have decorations that hold special meaning for your family? Tell your children their stories.

 Nurturing Relationships

At age two, our son began going on “Santa dates” with my parents. They’d go to the mall, eat dinner at Panda Express, get their picture taken with Santa, and then shop. During these outings, they started our son’s nutcracker collection that continues to grow to this day. When our daughter joined our family in 2009, she started an angel collection that she displays in her room each year.

The Santa dates ended when the kids were teens. Yet, both kids have fond memories of spending time with their grandparents.

What outings does your family do to build relationships? Do you drive around a neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights or let the kids spend part of Christmas break at a relative’s home?

 Serving Others

It’s easy for kids to get caught up dreaming about what they will get for Christmas. To counteract this focus on self, engage your children in serving others.

Since our son was in preschool, we’ve filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Early on, the kids helped to pick out items.

As a family, find a service project to do together, such as helping in a soup kitchen or buying gifts for an Angel Tree. This teaches the kids that it’s better to give than receive. For Jesus came into the world not to be served but to serve and be a ransom for many.

Make the Christmas season more memorable by highlighting meaningful family traditions, and may your children pass on this heritage to the next generation.

And don’t let Jesus get lost in the shuffle of Yuletide activities. For He is the Reason for the Season. Happy birthday, Jesus!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

Lorinda K. F. Newton began homeschooling her children in 2004, and her family joined Academy Northwest in 2014. Her family lives on beautiful Whidbey Island north of Seattle, Washington. She writes about faith, culture, and governing from a biblical worldview at Lorinda’s Ponderings. ©2021 by Lorinda K. F. Newton.