Traditions – Month 12 of 12 Ancestors in 12 Months

Looking Forward to Family Traditions

Traditions give us something to look forward to: They are repeated year to year and often from generation to generation; they help connect us to people and memories; they provide a chance to share the past with the present; they comfort us; they create happiness and meaning.

Food is a huge part of our celebrations and encompasses much of our entertainment. It is at the heart of our family and social gatherings. During the Christmas season, there were always the Christmas sugar cookies (made with almond extract and creatively decorated in an all day family event) and fudge. This is also the time of year when we had zucchini bread, raw apple bread, sausage balls, and the “famous” bran muffins (yes, really, they were a special treat).

My mother made huge turkey dinners with lots of sides and pies for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. One of the sides my mother made all through the 1960’s and early 70’s was Holiday DeLight. (This was a recipe that was also reserved for guests.) I recently discovered her handwritten recipe card. As tastes have changed, this “salad” has gone by the wayside, but it’s fun to see something that was once considered to be a sophisticated dish.

I also have a recipe card that my mother-in-law gave us with a family favorite, Fresh Coconut Cake. This is fun because she shares the modern day adaptations that she made and she also shows how this recipe was handed down in the family. This just makes it even more special.

Often, recipes have a cultural origin. Shoofly pie is a quintessential Pennsylvania Dutch recipe often made in the winter or during the holidays. The first time that I had Shoofly pie was right after Gary and I got married and we visited his Huber grandparents. This is his Grandma Coble’s recipe:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup dark molasses (Brer Rabbit Black Strap Molasses)
• 1  1/3  cup boiling water
• 1  1/3 tsp baking soda
• pie shell

Mix flour, brown sugar, shortening and salt together into coarse crumbs. Set aside 1 cup of crumbs for top. Mix together molasses, water and baking soda. Stir into flour mixture. Pour into a pie shell and top with reserved crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Christmas is such a wonderful time to let the younger generations know what our family values and stories are. It’s a time to revel in the their wonder.

It’s also a special opportunity to remember those who are no longer with us but who so greatly influenced us.

Traditions can be inspiring. Creating new traditions can take your beliefs and enjoyment into the future. (Gary and I have created several “Only in Vegas” Christmas traditions that we will hopefully enjoy for many more years.)