As our family prepares for our luminary tradition at Christmas, I’ve been thinking, what are traditions and why do they matter?

WHAT ARE TRADITIONS

• Definition 1: A tradition is a planned habit with significance.
• Definition 2: Tradition is the handing down of information, beliefs, worldview from one generation to another by word of mouth and by regular repetition of example of ceremony of celebration.
• Definition 3: For me, tradition is laying up God’s words in our hearts and passing his words to the next generation. Doing things regularly that help us in our deepest being to know and love and want God, and to pass these God-focused activities to the next generation. To stay close to God, to remember his work in our lives, and to tell the children about it so that they will fear and honor the Lord–that’s what tradition is for me.
• Definition 4: Fancy dress, optional. Good food, not optional.

WHY TRADITIONS MATTER Traditions matter because they help us remember. They are memories, and they are for memory; to keep our hearts.

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children–how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God…the LORD said to me, “Gather the people to me, that I may let them live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.” (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)

What is your favorite holiday tradition?