There is something comforting about family traditions – time honored practices in a home.  With Christmas just around the corner, holiday gatherings and activities are in full swing.  From the simplest of baking special treats, unwrapping handed-down ornaments to orchestrated getaways, everyone celebrates with their own personalized experiences.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are drawn on traditions we had as a family.  I wonder if you have similar memories?

Going to the annual Christmas party at my dad’s job.  What a special time it was!  A fancy luncheon complete with chocolates for dessert.  Santa would be there, handing out gifts to each child in attendance.  They were over-the-top gifts for our family – things that were well out of our conservative budget. We looked forward to the gathering each year.

Walking to the town center to visit the life size manger scene.  In the town where I grew up, they literally have a town square – a small park where the two main streets converge.  They put up a life-size nativity complete with large statues of wise men, shepherds, animals and Mary and Joseph.  Baby Jesus is still brought to the manger, just before Christmas Day, by a procession of residents singing carols.  Thanks to social media, I still get to visit!

Special outings. Whether to Santa’s Village, Olvera Street or another location to experience different holiday celebrations, we learned and loved the variety.  The year we went to Olvera Street in Los Angeles, my dad wanted us to experience Las Posadas, Mary and Joseph’s trek to Bethlehem.  The colors, sounds and the donkey, remain imprinted in my memory.  Our Christmas was celebrated with a Mexican breakfast and a few additional ethnic touches throughout the gift giving.

Cabin Christmas in the woods.  Even though I was sick with the flu that year, I still remember looking out the cabin window and seeing deer.  They were so close!  Until that day, I hadn’t seen a “wild” animal other than in a zoo.  The moment was enchanting, with our scraggly Charlie Brown tree twinkling indoors with its popcorn garland and the snow globe like scene outside.  I still remember the food even as sick as I was – the homemade, hand-dipped caramel apples looked good but weren’t part of my holiday meal!

As an adult, we create our own traditions – Nutcracker ballet outings, Snowflake Lane – a local nightly tradition with live music, drummer gals and guys from local schools, dancers, winter characters and princesses, the family tree search and cutting, sledding in the nearby mountains, going to town tree lightings and the Christmas lights neighborhood cruising.  As the years continue to pass much too quickly, traditions continue to evolve.

Something will never change – the focus on the manger.  Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.  It is the acknowledgement that He came to earth.  Regardless of our traditions, each component points to Him.  Whether it is a tree with lights with an angel or star at the top representing the Star of Bethlehem or angels who shared the news of Jesus’ birth with the shepherds; gifts under the tree symbolizing gifts brought to the manger by the wise men, or Christmas music embodying choruses sung by the angels.  All of it points to our Savior.  As the days draw us nearer to Christmas, I hope you and your family draw nearer to Jesus.  Enjoy the family traditions, create some new ones and celebrate the birth of Christ with joy, laughter and love.