Sunday, November 29, 2015

Keeping Traditions Alive

Traditions are important to me because they were passed down from my mother, and every year at Christmas I want to keep the traditions alive - the ones from my own mom and the ones that I created for my family when the kids were little.  Here's a few traditions that I hope to keep for years to come.

Sugar cookies are my
favorite cookies
of all, so I bake them
every year.
 
 
White Christmas is a must
to watch every season.
 
 
Wrapped presents with a
BIG black initial
was something that my mom
did for us kids, and
I carried on this tradition
with my own kids.
 
 
I still put pomegranates
in their stockings,
no matter what age they are. : )
 
 
We each have our own
holiday cups
on Christmas day
filled with hot chocolate
or eggnog.
 
 
These holiday cookies
are so yummy,
and as soon as I see them
in the store isles,
I buy a box to take home.
 
 
I put this trinket box
out every year and it's special
to me, as it belonged
to my mom.
She had it in her kitchen
all year long.
 
We listen to Burl Ives
while decorating
the tree.

 
There's nothing like
sending cards
and receiving cards in
the mail.  I hope
I never stop this tradition.
 
 
I try to explain to my girls
how important
family traditions really are.
They will one day
pass them on to their kids
and think about
their grandmother and mother,
while they tell them
stories of Christmas' past.
 
 
~Sheri

31 comments:

R's Rue said...

Those cookies

It's me said...

Yeah!!...Christmas is comming....lovely week Darling....love love love. ❤️❤️❤️

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Sheri, yes wonderful traditions from our Mothers and our Grandmothers are engrained in our hearts and over the years define our holidays. We pass them down to our children and they to theirs. Sometimes traditions fade away and to me it is unfortunate because you lose the precious emotional imprints from the past, breaking the emotional bonds. Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions.
xoxo,
Vera

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Wonderful traditions Sheri!
Mine are very much the same and I am carrying on those passed down from my mother to me!
My daughter and her family live in France so she has picked up new traditions of that country!
Wishing you a joyous advent/Christmas time!
Shane x

20 North Ora said...

Holiday and family traditions are so special. Love all of yours.

Have a great week.

Judy

LoveT. said...

Wonderful Images! i love this Time of the Year :)

lovely Greetings, kisses

Attic Clutter said...

Hi Sheri..
Oh such cute stuff (:)
I found the site where I got my banner..the background is
from another site I think..here is the link:

http://blo64rt.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-08-06T11:00:00-07:00&max-results=8

for the banner
and if it doesn't work..the name of the site is:
Cute N Cool Freebies and other stuff.
Hugs,patty

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Sheri thanks for your visit to Philadelphia ;-) I always enjoy your comments. John and I have a special tradition, on Dec. 15th which is our anniversary we go to lunch and then buy our Frazier Fur live Christmas tree. This December it will be our 37th year. I truly believe it's traditions upheld and honored that build a foundation of contentment in our lives.
By the way my Grand Dane (13) favorite cookie is also butter/sugar cookies. I will make him Star shapes and sprinkle sugar crystals on them which appear like ice. Stars at Christmas have become our newest Christmas tradition. The first Christmas of my sons passing I purchased a star for him in the Big Dipper. Named in his honor, it guides me to sleep every night. Now stars are a Christmas tradition in our family. I just shared a couple of my traditions hope other's will too.
Sending you peace and love,
Vera

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Sheri, I couldn't agree with you more. Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect on all the family traditions surrounding the holiday. I love your mother's trinket box. We have been doing a little decorating and as we bring out the decorations it's like bringing family that have passed back home. xo ♥

Gypsy Heart said...

I love this, Sheri, thanks so much for sharing! I love holiday traditions. My mother loved them all but Christmas was her favorite and she made it special for all of us. I miss that! My Abby loved Christmas so much and it just hasn't been the same without her. Making new traditions is not as easy as it seems.

I do love sugar cookies! :) I have a sweet friend that had to move back to Syracuse to care for her parents. Last year she sent me a huge container of her sugar cookies!! Such a treasure ~ We both used to live in the same apt complex and I really miss her and our shared times.

I so hope you're having a lovely Sunday!
xo
Pat

Susie said...

Sheri, Traditions are very important part of our lives. My girls used to go home from my mom's on Thanksgiving day once it started to get dark and they would play Christmas music the whole evening. Yes, it was the Bing Crosby record...they know every word. LOL. Wishing you and yours lovely traditions to carry on and on. Blessings, love you, Susie

Doreen@foxdenrd said...

As we grow up, sometimes we don't even realize that what we are experiencing is indeed a tradition. It is only when we grow older and wiser and appreciate that which is most important, do we come to treasure and nourish them.

Some of your traditions remind me of some of ours Sheri...the cookies, the mug, the Burl Ives music. All these things are what makes the holiday season so very special, and can bring us closer. Not only as families, but as bloggers who share each other's love of the season.

xxx

Linda said...

Sheri, I love Burl Ives! Love everything here and your photos of the cookies....mmmm. :)

NanaDiana said...

I love Christmas traditions, too, Sheri. It is so much fun to see things that have belonged to previous generations and you only hope that the next generation appreciates them as much as we do.
Love that little box that belonged to your Mom. Happy week to you! xo Diana

Riitta Sinikka said...

♥♥♥ love your beautiful post♥♥ happy Monday my dear friend♥

Patricia said...

You have some beautiful, and unique, family traditions Sheri. All are so charming. We do have one of our own - we have Shepherd's Pie every Christmas Eve, sometimes with little plastic shepherds sitting on the top. It came from a comment our older son made as a child, connecting the Manger scene with the popular Australian pie. He is nearing 40, but I still like to do it!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Ahh......we need tradition in our lives to ground us to where and to whom we belong. When those traditions get lost, we find ourselves creating new ones, with a flavor of the old. YOUR COOKIES LOOK GOOD! We never made them with icing on top, but you MUST tell me how to make that icing, Sheri!

I wish you a fabulous month of December because for me, the entire month and preparation is part of the tradition for me....the 12 days of Christmas, PLUS!

Sending you warm wishes for a fabulous family tradition sweet one.

Tessa~ Here there be musing said...

Holiday traditions, any holiday, are so important. so very important.

the farther along in age we go, some have to go by the wayside. but they can be taken up, by our children, in their own homes. and thus, they continue to live and bring joy.

to us too, since we know, they are continuing.

Christmas hugs,
Tessa

BEAUTYEDITER.COM – Beauty Blog said...

absolutely stunning dear!

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Celestina Marie said...

Hi Dear Sheri, Love this post and sharing in all your wonderful Christmas traditions. We do many of the same and always have sugar cookies iced and decorated. They are a favorite here too.
Love the little box that was your mom's. What a darling treasure to enjoy each year. Burl Ives at Christmas is a must and White Christmas too.
Wishing you the joy of the season my friend.
Love to you, xo

Unknown said...

Oh, wow! Looks like it is time to write a letter to Santa Claus:)

irenethayer.com

Holly said...

Those are very beautiful traditions. Ours change a bit year from year but some things remain unchanged. Blessings for the new month and season!

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Oh Sheri, what wonderful traditions... What touches my heart is the big black letters.. Such simple things that seem to stay with us forever.. I too, love sugar cookies.. The little trinket box of your Mothers is just lovely..
I have a very old Christmas piece that belonged to my mom, the paint is all worn off, but I love it so... It plays music and turns around.. I can't believe it still works.. I put it out every year..
Enjoy the holidays, dear friend..
Penny

francis said...

Thank you for writing this down and sharing it with me/us .
i miss my mother more than ever reading this . Wish I could have her here and ask her about christmas . How she would see it here and now .
But I have to do that on my own ..... having her in mind .
I love making cookies too . I make star-ones for all my children every year .
I love sending and receiving the christmas-cards too !
and I love having the tree , the smell when I enter the room , the little ligths and all the ornaments ..... enjoying now with my granddaugther this year .
We have a dutch tradition to celebrate at first on december 5 , its SINTERKLAAS .
have a happy time Sheri

Carla from The River said...

Hi,
I loved your post today. I am so thankful my boys enjoy our traditions. If I do not do one, they usually ask? "Hey, why are you not doing or making this mom." That makes me feel good. They grow up so quick. I am so happy they have enjoyed the traditions.
Great post - Thank you!
Carla

handmade by amalia said...

I love family traditions, they add such personality to a holiday. My mom loves Burl Ives and used to listen to him a lot as I was growing us, I think of her every time I hear his wonderful voice.
Amalia
xo

Beauty Follower said...

Love tradition in the xmas holidays!
Wonderful photos!

Have a great new month :)
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr/

somewhere on the avenue said...

Lovely traditions! We always give each other a stocking filled with chocolates, sweets and a silly cheap present, and as well as spoiling each other at this time of year we also have 2 Tree presents each, funny ones usually! xx

Lowcarb team member said...

What a lovely post Sheri
Traditions are so important, and just lovely to pass down.

Such a special time of year. Our first card arrived in the post this morning, just lovely to receive and put on the shelf.

Have a happy Season, I hope it's a special one for you and your family.

All the best Jan

Red Rose Alley said...

I loved hearing some of the traditions that you have also, thank you for sharing them. :)

Unknown said...

Your holiday traditions are simply lovely, Sheri. Thank you for sharing the details of how you create the family history and holiday traditions. We always watch 'White Christmas'in our house too.
Love the holiday inspiration my dear.
xx