Every Tradition is Traditional to Each Family

Holiday traditions are timeless, the memories attached to them are priceless, and the people you share them with are forever. From the beginning, Christmas was the time of year for Bree Ramos’ family to come together and celebrate the importance of one another. Whether they’re gathered around the tree expressing their love, or frantically cooking the meal for their “Second Thanksgiving” in the same kitchen, Ramos’ family does it together.

Ramos can always smell that it is the most wonderful time of the year when the scent of her grandmother’s biscuits burning in the oven overwhelm the house. While the younger members of the family are just learning to make desserts, the adults are frantically attempting to teach them while cooking their own share of the Christmas dinner. Ramos’ stated, “I hate cooking in grandma’s kitchen. I’m 4’10’’ and I can barely squeeze through.”

Even though Ramos’ family is only 30 minutes away from each other, it is often difficult to find time to get everyone together as a family. For Ramos, Christmas is the time of year she can always count on seeing her immediate family. One of her favorite parts of this holiday is watching the younger members of her family open presents.

One Christmas, the uncle that had been there for her since childhood surprised Ramos by coming home from the military. Ramos stated, “I was the only one that didn’t know my Uncle Fernie was coming. I got a tap on my shoulder and just started crying. I hadn’t seen him for years.”

Two years ago, Ramos received Lakers tickets for Christmas. Her dad loves basketball, and Ramos has always loved the experience of sports games with her father. Ramos stated, “It was the best day of my life. They won and we got free tacos from Jack In The Box.”

Each year since Ramos turned one, she received a new ornament from her dad. According to Ramos, “My dad picked until I could talk and say which one I wanted.”

These ornaments are the decorative ornaments that are sprinkled along Ramos’ family’s Christmas tree during the holidays. Ramos and her father like their trees flocked, while her stepmom likes her tree green and with a star on top. Luckily, Ramos’ family switches off who gets to pick the tree every year, so everyone gets the tree they want eventually.

Year to year, families must accept some new traditions, and let some old ones go. Although old traditions may seem like a lot to be giving up, past memories keep them in our hearts forever.