Welcome to the Quiltblox 12 Days of Christmas! Each day until December 9th, I’ll share a word of the day that has meaning for me during this holiday season. Today’s word is: Tradition.
“The modernity of yesterday is the tradition of today, and the modernity of today will be tradition tomorrow” – Jose Andres
I chose this word because:
When I think of the word “tradition,” it can feel comfortable, knowing what to expect because we’ve always celebrated in a particular way, and it’s created some wonderful memories. Sometimes, traditions need to change as we enter new seasons of life, as friends and family grow larger and incorporate the traditions of new family members. That can be a little challenging (and exciting) as we learn new ways to celebrate that fit the time we are in now.
“Tradition” grows from memory. It starts with someone doing something meaningful — and then choosing to do it again. Over time, those repeated actions become threads connecting generations. In quilting, tradition might live in a favorite pattern, a certain fabric kept for something special, or the memory of a family quilt folded across a bed or the back of a sofa.
Traditions—like quilts—bind generations together. Maybe it’s baking cookies from your grandmother’s recipe or setting out a quilted table topper that’s graced your family’s celebrations for years. Traditions bring comfort and connection, reminding us that we’re part of something lasting and lovely.
Do you have some favorite traditions that you look forward to this time of year? When I was a kid, Christmas couldn’t happen until we went over the river and through the woods (literally)to get to Grandma’s house.
These days, I love to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” while I’m decorating the tree, the Christmas quilt goes on the back of the sofa, and we plan a special, quiet meal on Christmas Eve. Christmas day is spent with kids and grandkids – until we are ready to head home and enjoy a glass of wine in front of the fire and the Christmas tree.
Ideas for thinking about stitching tradition this holiday season:
I thought it would be fun to share some quilty goodies that might remind you of when you started learning to stitch. For me, it was embroidery and traditional quilt blocks, two things I still love today (thanks, Grandma and Great-Grandma!).
Follow Along
Each day, I’ll be sharing a new word of the day in the newsletter and here on the blog. I’m also sharing some other fun goodies in the Holiday Edition of the Quiltblox Newsletter – each day through December 9th. Be sure to subscribe today so you see it first.