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Most of us don't have to try very hard to remember a family tradition from our childhood that gave special meaning to the holidays. As we approach this holiday season and take time to spend extra time with our families. It is a great time to consider rekindling lost family traditions and get them recorded in our scrapbooks. Or better yet, start a new family tradition and record this year as the beginning of that tradition.

While the family is together this year, ask your parents or grandparents about traditions they had when they were children. Perhaps they will remember a tradition that for whatever reason stopped occurring. Traditions can range from something as simple as reading a special story to something as complex as a family gathering. My mom told me about how my grandmother would prepare a tray of cheese and crackers and everyone would nibble as they opened the Christmas presents. My mom didn't carry on the tradition with us, but I think I will rekindle that tradition this year with my family. When I am taking pictures, I will be sure to journal about the tradition being portrayed and the story behind how it started and lost its fire then started again.

In this layout, Mickey McGowan isn't sure where or when the tradition of “The Brownies” visit started in her family, but she documents the details of the tradition and how far back she remembers the tradition. She has also used the hidden journaling technique on her layout by sliding the journaling behind the layout and adding a pull tab to make the layout more interactive.

Journaling: I am not sure how the tradition started but ever since I lived with my father, the Brownies have come at Christmas time with a gift. They always come very close to Christmas, just when you think you can't handle the suspense any longer. They leave their little footprints on the counters or table, anyplace really. And always if you follow the trail you will find a present. I have carried on this tradition with my own children. They do not find it odd or wonder how the Brownies originated; they are just thankful that they come. As the children get older they realize that their friends do not have visits from the Brownies. They tell me how lucky we are to be one of the only families to see proof of these little visitors! December 2000

Here, Mickey journals about her favorite family tradition and how it is carried out. She is sure to include all the details so that if for some reason the tradition were to lapse, future generations would be able to understand the tradition and rekindle it exactly the same as it was carried out today. She is also sure to include the excitement the children show in her journaling as well as in the photographs about the tradition.

Journaling: Our family has many traditions but this has always been one of my favorites! On Christmas Eve morning we all receive a packet of Magical Reindeer Food to use that night before we go to sleep. These are the special instructions that are written on the packet: Sprinkle on the lawn at night. The moon will make it sparkle bright. Santa's reindeer fly and roam, this will guide them to your home. C.J. and Riley look forward to this special tradition every year. We open our first Christmas present of the season and it is always a new pair of pajamas to wear that night. After that we read The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Then it is time for the most exciting part of Christmas Eve! We sprinkle the Magical Reindeer Food on the lawn! This means that Santa Claus will be here soon! We always stay outside for a little while to see if we can spot Santa's sleigh in the sky. December 1999

In this layout, Mickey journals about the tradition that is carried out after the tradition explained in the layout above. In Mickey's heartfelt journaling to her son, CJ, she includes her emotions during the tradition and not only how the tradition began, but the story behind why the tradition began and why it is important to her family now. I am sure this is a tradition CJ will carry on with his own children for many years to come.

Journaling: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg has become a Christmas Eve favorite for our family. I gave this book to Auntie Ashley as a Christmas gift when she was little. Grammy Donna enjoyed it so much that she bought it for C.J. when he was a baby. And so the tradition was born. I read you the story of The Polar Express every Christmas Eve and try not to cry. This book has always filled me with such wonder and delight! I can only imagine how much joy that late night train ride brought to the boy and what sadness he must have felt knowing that his parents could not hear the bell. I know in my heart I still believe and I want to give that Christmas joy to you. I wish for you to grow old and always hear the bell. I wish for you to always believe.

So, whether you are journaling about age old traditions from the past or new traditions that your family is beginning, along with the facts, be sure to include the emotions that you and everyone else is feeling about the special traditions that enrich your lives and make the holidays that much more special.

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Sabrina Gould

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