Growing up, I had two distinctive impressions of pumpkin pie.
Both of my grandmothers made homemade pies each year, but each was a different experience. One created a flaky homemade crust with a light pumpkin filling. My grandmother on the other side made a pie that was equally flavorful but heavily spiced, with a deep, rich color. Both were delicious in their own way.
Looking back, these pie experiences remind me that while traditions may differ, it's the memories and feelings they create that truly matter.
The Sights, Smells, and Sounds of the Season
What are some of your favorite memories from holidays gone by?
Perhaps it's the aroma of a simmer pot on the stove, a turkey roasting in the oven, or a pie cooling on the counter. Maybe it's a treasured ornament, a favorite holiday song, or the sound of loved ones gathered around the table.
Whatever form they take, holiday traditions help create lasting memories and meaningful connections.
Why Traditions Matter
Holiday traditions are more than activities we repeat from year to year. They create a sense of closeness, identity, and belonging within families. They connect generations, provide continuity, and help us understand our place in the world and within our family stories.
Research published in the Journal of Family Psychology suggests that family routines and rituals contribute to a sense of belonging and connection. This is especially meaningful at a time when many people report feeling lonely or disconnected from others.
Traditions can foster stability, strengthen relationships, and build emotional resilience. In other words, they're good for our well-being at any age.
For children and teens, traditions help shape identity and create a sense of security. For older adults, sharing traditions with younger generations can provide purpose, meaning, and a connection to the past.
Tradition Doesn't Have to Be Perfect
If you're feeling pressure to create the next great family tradition, remember that connection is more important than perfection.
The value lies in the ritual itself, not in its perfection. The pie doesn't have to look exactly the way Grandma made it. The decorations don't have to be magazine-worthy. What matters most is spending time together, sharing stories, and creating moments that people will remember.
Traditions can evolve right alongside our families.
Creating New Traditions
In my own family, we've adapted some of our holiday traditions over time.
With a smaller extended family and my less-than-stellar ability to coordinate a multi-course holiday meal, we've combined a traditional holiday gathering with something a little more casual: homemade pizza.
My kids love pizza far more than turkey, ham, and side dishes that often go uneaten. So, homemade pizza became our Christmas dinner tradition.
It may look different from someone else's holiday feast, but it works for us. We still gather around the table, share stories, laugh together, and enjoy the experience of creating our own pizzas.
The Heart of the Tradition
Ironically, this newer tradition connects directly to one of my favorite childhood memories.
I vividly remember pizza nights at my grandparents' house. Bowls overflowing with toppings lined the table, and family members would move from station to station building their own creations. More than 20 adults and children gathered together, crafting everything from simple cheese pizzas to fully loaded combinations.
But those evenings weren't really about the pizza.
They were about connection.
They were about laughter.
They were about listening to stories of family members' childhoods, learning where we came from, and strengthening the bonds that held us together.
That's what I hope to continue sharing with my own family and future generations. We all need ties to the past and to the people who helped shape who we are.
A Holiday Challenge
As we head into the holiday season, I'd like to leave you with a simple challenge.
Think about one of your favorite family traditions or rituals. If you're still practicing it, find a way to keep it going or adapt it to fit your family's current season of life. If you've lost a tradition over the years, consider reviving it. Or perhaps this is the year to start a new one.
The tradition itself doesn't have to be elaborate. It simply needs to bring people together.
This holiday season, take time to connect, reflect, share stories, and create memories. Years from now, those moments may become someone else's treasured tradition.
About the Author
Sara Attig is a Health and Family Educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving Livingston, McLean, and Woodford counties. Sara’s work focuses on healthy lifestyles, mindfulness, and building strong connections to support overall well-being across the lifespan.