The Sanctity of the Family Table

And 4 Holiday Family Traditions Your Children Can Pass Down

There’s Something Special About The Family Table.

Particularly when you pull out the extension, grab the extra chairs, and cram everyone around for those precious holiday meals.  Family meals become their own unique thing over time.  One family tradition that we just finished was our annual turkey fry the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day.  It is always so fun to welcome the all of the young adults back to our home who we remember back when they were 10 to 12 years old.  Now….all of these young ones are in their late 20’s and oh so much has changed.  It makes us so happy to visit with them as they share what they are up to in their jobs and personal lives! We look forward to frying up the turkeys – 3 in total this year as all of the guest bring their favorite Thanksgiving dish to share with the crowd.  It is definitely one of our favorite events of the year! 

The family table is the one thing capable of bringing together all of your kin for a precious annual ritual that reminds us we always have someone in our corner, no matter how far away we go. 

As times change, children grow into the people they were always meant to be.  Eventually, they’ll go and create families of their own.  The family table is your opportunity to give them memories that will last a lifetime and then some, as they pass down traditions to their children. 

The traditions that last are the ones that involve the whole family, especially the kid!  Looking for some memorable traditions this holiday season?  We’ve got you covered!

1. Create a Centerpiece Together

The food at the table is what brings us together, but creating something special is a unique experience by itself!  Everyone, no matter their age, can participate in the tradition of making the table centerpiece.  Young kids can go find the prettiest leaves and place them down the middle of the table.  Older kids can get crafty with pinecones or make a wreath with fresh foliage and branches.  Make candles, add photos, get as creative as you can! 

Want a way to shake this up year to year?  Come up with a theme by pulling a few words out of grandpa’s favorite hat.  Some word bank ideas to get you started:

Add whatever words you like to your hat and let the creativity flow!  Take a photo of your centerpiece with the family gathered around every year and put them in a small photobook to look back on each holiday season. 

2. Set a Memory Plate

Inspired by the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead, as well as the church candle altars for remembering loved ones, this tradition is a beautiful way to remember loved ones around the holidays. 

As the faces around the family table change year to year, traditions will shift.  It’s normal for the first few holidays after the loss of a loved one to feel difficult and uncertain.  Consider setting a place at the table with an empty chair in honor of loved family members who are no longer able to be present at the holiday table.  You can serve their plate with all of their favorite dishes, or you can light a candle at their place setting alongside pictures of your loved one(s). If the mood is right, the family can take turns sharing memories of their loved ones with the table, you can toast to their legacy, or you can say a prayer in their honor.

If the dinner table itself is a little too tender, the fireplace mantle is also a beautiful and sacred space to hold their memory.

3. Pick a Game to Play Each Year

From charades to board games to flag football, turn on your favorite holiday playlist and let the games begin!  Something that works for all the ages at your table and is fun for the whole family.  Charades is a classic, because even the youngest kids and older folks can participate! 

If your family loves a friendly competition, you can even attach “stakes” to the game – the winner gets dibs on the dessert leftovers, or the winner gets the honor of making the turkey next year.  Have as much fun as you like in creating your own prizes for winning.

Want to make it extra fun?  Grab a polaroid camera or pick up a disposable one from the convenience store, and pass it around during the game.  You’ll end up with a fun photobook of memories from that year’s family table, complete with stories to go along with your photos!

4.  Share Stories Around the Table

Much like any tradition, the tradition of sharing stories can be as silly or as thoughtful as you like.  Each person can share the story of their favorite memory from the year, or you can shake things up by having a theme (silly stories, love stories, vacation memories, pet stories, happy accidents and lucky breaks, etc). 

This is a beautiful tradition to begin, especially among family members who don’t see each other often.  It helps keep us connected to each other around the table and enjoying the precious little moments in each other’s lives.  Even the kids can join in, sharing their firsts and their excitement for all of the things they discover about life each year.  For the older folks at the table, it’s an opportunity to pass down wisdom, or to prove that no matter how grown up you get, silly things and misadventures are still a part of life!

What Traditions Will You Share This Year?

We’d love to hear from you.  Tag us on social media, or email us to share what inspired you around the family table this year!  What stories had you rolling with laughter?  What centerpieces did you and your loved ones create?  Who won the game, and what did the winner get? 

Happy Holidays, from all of us at The Magnolia Company.