Holiday Traditions: A remedy this 2020

This year has taken its toll on all of us. Just as the weariness was settling in, we are ending the year with the need to not gather in groups. Holidays: the time and place many of us look forward to being with those we love. The time when we have special traditions, parties, events, and special outings. Those are gone this year or drastically different.

I read everyday a collective weariness, disappointment, and a sense of being lost and uncertain this holiday.

Yesterday, families stayed home, mine was no different. Every Thanksgiving my family makes Grandma Frederickson's pumpkin pie. It is a staple, a tradition. When we are together, one person makes it. If we are not together, it is always made wherever you may be. It started with one text from my aunt "pumpkin pie on grandma's plates!"

Then a text from my cousin, and then from my brother "grandma's pumpkin pie on IKEA plastic plates!"

One by one we each sent each other our photos of us eating grandma Frederickson's pumpkin pie.

We were apart, but we were together.

The day before Thanksgiving another aunt delivered another family tradition - lefse. We are Norweigan, and this is a staple every Thanksgiving and Christmas. We did not gather together to make and eat lefse this year, as is our yearly tradition. But she delivered some to my door!

We were apart, but we were together.

So much looks different this holiday, what holiday traditions will keep you together?

What traditions gather your family, even far apart?

I asked my dad yesterday where Grandma Frederickson's pumpkin pie recipe came from. Her pumpkin pie is well known, requested, and many who taste it for the first time say its the best pumpkin pie they have had. I figured with this level of renown, there must be a special origin. My dad's response: the back of the festal can.

Traditions are powerful because of the love and meaning we pour into them. This holiday, you don't need to scour Pinterest or every recipe book to find the perfect tradition. Your family's special holiday tradition could be as simple as the recipe on the back of the festal can.

We may not be gathering this year, but we can still be together in our traditions.

We may be grieving the loss of a loved one this year, their presence can still be honored and felt in our traditions.

My grandma Frederickson died 2 years ago. The food she so faithfully made year after year is still bringing her family together.

Though you may be apart from those you love, you can still be together.