Tradition // Truth // Holidays
Traditions are important, they help to create memories and make events special. However, if we simply do traditions because it's what we have always done, then they can take away from the meaning of holidays. Growing up we had lots of holiday traditions and I looked forward to specific routines each holiday season. Even in recent years, my parents have created traditions that I enjoy and look forward to. Growing up traditions were a big part of the holidays, and as I raise two little boys I hope to incorporate traditions into their holidays. Traditions are difficult to balance because why we do our traditions is just as important as what we do.
Santa is the big debate this season. Do we tell our children that a fictional character is real or do we spoil the secret and tell them that Santa is not real? The question of Santa, however is bigger than tradition. Do we tell our children falsehoods to preserve their childhood and help them conform to the world? Do we shrug our shoulders because we know they'll be exposed to Santa? Do we shield our children from the dangers of the outside world by hiding the story of Santa from them? Do we shelter our children to the point of being unable to relate to the outside world?
Another big question is how we treat advent. Do we exchange presents for 25 days? Do we light candles? Do we sing songs? Do we read scripture? Do we just watch ABC family movies? Do we keep the Easter Bunny? What about leprechauns?
I remember being in my kindergarten class and hunting for leprechauns. I don't remember my parents ever making a big fuss about the characters associated with holidays. On Christmas Eve we went to church and then opened one present. The Easter Bunny brought us baskets, but my parents hid the eggs. Santa filled our stockings, but my parents gave us our presents. On St. Patrick's Day we had corned beef and cabbage soup. We had traditions. Now as my children are growing I ask myself what do I want? What message will this tell them? Why do I want to do this tradition.
I want my children to open presents and have stockings, but do I want it to be from Santa? I want my children to hunt for Easter and eggs and have Easter baskets, but do I want them to be from the Easter Bunny? I want my children to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. I want my children to eat a traditional turkey dinner of Thanksgiving. I want my children to have American traditions in the holidays, but I want their identity to be more with Christianity than America. I want them to know that Jesus is the reason for the season. Can I maintain the magic of the holidays without incorporating characters? Will I ruin the truth of God sending his son by incorporating fiction?
How do instill a Christian worldview not just in the everyday, but the events, too? How do I communicate Jesus loves you and died for your sins in my traditions? In the end we could have Santa, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam, and Cupid, if our message is consistent and scripture is the focus. We could not include any characters and still fall short of communicating the right message.
So Santa or no Santa?
Either way, make your traditions be meaningful not just memorable.
Santa is the big debate this season. Do we tell our children that a fictional character is real or do we spoil the secret and tell them that Santa is not real? The question of Santa, however is bigger than tradition. Do we tell our children falsehoods to preserve their childhood and help them conform to the world? Do we shrug our shoulders because we know they'll be exposed to Santa? Do we shield our children from the dangers of the outside world by hiding the story of Santa from them? Do we shelter our children to the point of being unable to relate to the outside world?
Another big question is how we treat advent. Do we exchange presents for 25 days? Do we light candles? Do we sing songs? Do we read scripture? Do we just watch ABC family movies? Do we keep the Easter Bunny? What about leprechauns?
I remember being in my kindergarten class and hunting for leprechauns. I don't remember my parents ever making a big fuss about the characters associated with holidays. On Christmas Eve we went to church and then opened one present. The Easter Bunny brought us baskets, but my parents hid the eggs. Santa filled our stockings, but my parents gave us our presents. On St. Patrick's Day we had corned beef and cabbage soup. We had traditions. Now as my children are growing I ask myself what do I want? What message will this tell them? Why do I want to do this tradition.
I want my children to open presents and have stockings, but do I want it to be from Santa? I want my children to hunt for Easter and eggs and have Easter baskets, but do I want them to be from the Easter Bunny? I want my children to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. I want my children to eat a traditional turkey dinner of Thanksgiving. I want my children to have American traditions in the holidays, but I want their identity to be more with Christianity than America. I want them to know that Jesus is the reason for the season. Can I maintain the magic of the holidays without incorporating characters? Will I ruin the truth of God sending his son by incorporating fiction?
How do instill a Christian worldview not just in the everyday, but the events, too? How do I communicate Jesus loves you and died for your sins in my traditions? In the end we could have Santa, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam, and Cupid, if our message is consistent and scripture is the focus. We could not include any characters and still fall short of communicating the right message.
So Santa or no Santa?
Either way, make your traditions be meaningful not just memorable.
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