We all have really great family holiday traditions and then very horrid ones.  So it begs the question why do we keep the horrid ones?  Why not start new ones that are fun and full of life.  We are on the eve of 4th of July where we celebrate the freedom of our nation and family.  Somewhere over the years holidays have lost there meaning and become all about getting gifts, fireworks, and overindulgence.

About 8 years ago I separated and divorced my first husband.  This meant I was free to start my own traditions for my family.  However, 6 years ago I remarried the love of my life who had two sons and all their traditions.  I have come to my realization that I swept away all my family traditions and his without replacing them with any new traditions.  This has made me think upon why we have traditions and do I really need them?  The answer is not clear-cut but I feel yes we need them and should have them.

This year for 4th of July I reinstated the tradition of buying the girls 4th of July t-shirts and myself.  We have gotten t-shirts or apparel for every holiday that sells one since the girls were little.  It has brought a state of festivity back to my thinking pattern to have invested in this tradition once again.  My husband does not like holiday wear so I feel that he does not need to wear a holiday t-shirt.  It will be the girls’ thing.  I am not fond of large crowds and traffic so we will watch the fireworks from the ranch before retiring to bed.  This suits my husband just fine.  The girls can take it or leave it.   We are grilling out and making homemade ice cream with friends of the girls.  This may become a tradition we will keep since the ranch is large and comfortable for this kind of activity.

This planning has brought me peace and comfort that I am once again looking at traditions and holidays for what they are.  Family time with a celebration of freedom and country.

I would love to hear about your families traditions and holidays.  Please leave them in the comments section.  I still have many more holidays to fix over the next year.   It is not good to forget traditions it makes holidays lose their special qualities.  Making them just another day on the calendar.