Nowadays it’s pretty difficult to maintain family traditions, especially in my family.
As a member of a large family, who for the most part is all grown up now, it gets even more difficult to keep the traditions that we had when we were growing up. Many are lost in transit as we hurl through modern times on the bullet train we call 21st century living.
Generally, Christmastime traditions are unpacked, dusted off to take rightful places as part of the season. These special nuances come in many forms, such as a particular decoration from the past or attendance at special activities.
The one tradition that is most sacred is one that my parents started, and I am very proud to say has carried on to my nieces and nephews. Every Christmas morning, the first person to wake up had to go throughout the house screaming “Happy Birthday Jesus!” This tradition not only scared the boots off everyone still trying to sleep in, but also was a constant reminder of the real reason behind the holiday.
In today’s world it is very easy to just think about the commercial side of Christmas, which is great. As a people we are the more generous around the Christmas season than any other time of the year. However, we must not forget what the holiday is really all about...being with family and celebrating the birth of Christ.
In my hectic job sometimes it is very difficult for me to travel home for the holidays, especially with the bulk of my family living over nine hours away. But hopefully this year I will be able to make it back up to Northwest Arkansas, because there is not much better in this world than spending time with loved ones.
So from my family to yours have a very Merry Christmas.
Joseph Brown is the editor and publisher of The Star-Herald. He can be reached at jbrown@starherald.net.
