How do you celebrate holidays?
By Tracy Schruder
Holidays aren’t what they used to be. The remarkable women who once orchestrated big, beautiful gatherings – our grandmothers and mothers, the family matriarchs – held a special place in bringing everyone together with joy and commitment. They were the glue that held the family, celebrations, and holidays together. I think back to my mom, who for over 50 years, put together the home, the meal, the dessert, and the entertainment all on her own. There was never a need for caterers or Disc Jockeys. She learned this tradition from her mother and grandmother, and those strong women who came before her. We had profound respect for these amazing women, and we showed up for them.
Since my mom has passed away, no one has picked up the tradition. Our family no longer celebrates together in the same way, though we have our own celebrations with our individual families – and anyone from the wider family who wants to be there is always welcome, come what may. We do our best to make the best of everything, but it’s not the same. Years are flipping by, and children are growing up quickly. Because we no longer gather on holidays and special occasions, we’re no longer as familiar with each other. Children are forgetting who their aunts and uncles are and don’t know their cousins – a far cry from how we were raised.
I’m close with all my cousins, and it makes me sad that this next generation won’t know each other and feel the joys of the friendships and bonds that can be created. I basically celebrate holidays by the seat of my pants these days, with hope that we can all get together again and rekindle the traditions laid out by the matriarchs who built this family.
Thank you for reading 😊
🩵 Tracy 🩵
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