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| TREASURING TRADITIONS by Wayne Bristow Today, traditional is out, contemporary is in. If it’s not "cutting edge" or "innovative," it doesn’t deserve positive mention in the media and isn’t worth your time to investigate. It’s all part of our youth culture that has determined that old is bad, and that anyone over the age of 50 is not a worthwhile marketing target. The traditional family is to be ridiculed, marriage is considered passé and morality is relative. Superheroes are out. The rewriting of history is in. If anything smacks of the sentimental, it is considered naive. All of this is wreaking havoc in our culture. At this time of the year, I’m especially concerned about the tendency of so many people to scorn traditions. Some Christians contribute to this when they attack anything and everything but the strict scriptural boundaries of Christ’s birth. I am a firm believer that we can maintain the spiritual integrity of Christmas while enjoying and profiting from the celebration’s rich traditions. Traditions are vital to strong families and the moral and spiritual health of communities and nations. Today, as never before, family and community leaders need to be committed to preserving old traditions and establishing new ones. I am thankful that my parents were romantic and traditional. This has enriched my life and, whenever I like, it allows me to go home with great joy. This is true even though my mother and father are both dead and no family members still live in my hometown. When my wife, Robbie, and I celebrate Christmas, I’m at home again; a home where rich traditions were preserved and established. We put an old angel, who has long outlived the intact beauty of her youth, on top of our Christmas tree. She is traditional. We put ornaments on our Christmas tree that date back to my childhood, and those that were hand made by our adult son’s child hands. They are traditional. Everywhere our travels take us, we buy new Christmas tree ornaments. We are establishing new traditions. When we set up the nativity set that our son, Rob, and I purchased in Bethlehem when he was nine years old, we know that the manger has missing pieces and that one of the shepherds is without his staff. In spite of this, it will be in our bay window this year and next year. It is traditional. Soon, Robbie will make peanut brittle, and I will go in search of the best traditional fruit cake to be had. With the old recordings of Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney being played throughout the day, I’ll snack away on the candy, and devouring a piece of fruit cake will be my last act of the day. My mother established these traditions, and I would not dare to mess with them. Who would want to? On Christmas Eve, we will go to church, come home to non-alcoholic egg nog and fruit cake, gathered in front of a good fire while Rob reads the Christmas story from Luke. We will give thanks for our Savior’s birth and eagerly exchange gifts. It’s traditional. Long after Christmas day, our house will be warmed by the lights and sounds of the Season. The tree will stay up until after New Year’s Day. It’s traditional. If your heritage is rich in Christmas traditions, be thankful and keep them alive and well. If you did not know the blessing a traditional family and rich traditions, determine to begin establishing your own this Christmas. Long after you are dead, someone’s life will be fuller because you did. Christmas Tradition* By Wayne Bristow Copyright © 2000 Wayne Bristow For me to discuss Christmas tradition Calls for a lot of romantic admission. I’m guilty on every count. Bring on the tinsel; I can take any amount. Strains of "White Christmas" put me in a trance. Once through "Jingle Bells," and I’m ready to dance. I declare open season on peanut brittle, Losing all care that it goes to my middle. Trim the tree, and do it quite early. Take it down before the Super Bowl, and I’ll get surly. You frown and say you hate fruitcake? Give it to me, and you’ll my Christmas make. Clean the hearth and decorate the mantle. Bring in the Yule log and all the wood you can handle. Put a candle before each pane, And hope that flakes soon fall on our lane. With nog and the singing of Bing and Gene, Before a crackling fire I become serene, Musing about the ones I used to know, And imagining sleigh bells in the snow. Call it commercial and say you’ve had enough. Cry out against catalogs, sales and stuff; But leave me alone if you gripe and rave. It’s an overdose of Christmas tradition I crave. * "Christmas Tradition" is taken from Wayne Bristow’s popular book, 18 Miles From Earth, Stories From Barber Shops, Front Porches and Supper Tables. For information about how to secure your own copy of this book, or to find out about discounts for Christmas giving, call 1-888-868-2543 toll free or e-mail Be sure to ask about Wayne’s new recordings, "Freedom," (featuring his poem, "God Bless America - Why?") and "There Will Always Be Cowboys,"(featuring his West Texas Christmas story, "Too Cold"). |
