The Heart of the Holiday Season: Family, Tradition, and Giving Back

The Heart of the Holiday Season: Family, Tradition, and Giving Back

By Brooke Abbott Abron

The holidays are a magical season full of family, food, and joy from sharing moments with the people you love. But beyond the twinkling lights, the carefully wrapped gifts, and the abundance of holiday treats, there's something even more special that makes this time of year unforgettable: traditions. Family traditions, in particular, anchor us to our past while helping us create new memories for the future.

At my house, holiday traditions are not just about what we do but how we do them—together. As we gather around the table to share meals, laughter, and love, it's clear that these traditions are a powerful thread weaving our family closer with each passing year. Whether it's a dish passed down through generations, a game we play every year, or how we give back to our community, these moments are more than just customs; they reflect who we are as a family and what we hold dear.

The Importance of Creating Traditions

Celebrating family traditions is essential to fostering connection, establishing a sense of belonging, and creating lasting memories. Passing down traditions provide a foundation for your family, a set of rituals that offer comfort and continuity, especially as life changes. They help keep the season's spirit alive and allow younger generations to feel grounded in something that transcends time.

Creating new family traditions doesn't need to be complicated. It can start with something as simple as a special breakfast on Christmas morning, a new holiday movie you watch together each year, or a service project your family commits to every December. What matters is that it's meaningful to you and your loved ones. Feel free to blend old customs with new ones to create something unique that reflects your family's personality and values.

Family Traditions That Bring Us Together

My Cajun and Creole roots genuinely come alive for our family during the holiday season. And we are a people who love to celebrate family heritage and traditions. So, each season has its own set of traditions that we practice. We have a big family—thankfully, the more the merrier in our case! And just as Thanksgiving requires us to break it into sections because there's so much food, Christmas is a three-day celebration full of food, music, and love. I'm excited to share a glimpse of our traditions, and perhaps you can find inspiration to start your own.

Christmas Eve:

Our holiday celebrations kick off with my great grandma's Christmas Spaghetti. This dish is a labor of love—a trifecta of chicken, shrimp, and Louisiana hot sausage simmered in a rich tomato sauce and poured over spaghetti pasta. We top it off with thinly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, and let me tell you, it's the stuff of legends. Alongside this meal, we'll have a nut-free charcuterie board (always a crowd-pleaser with cheeses, deli meats, fruits, and crackers), tamales, Mexican shrimp cocktail, fried catfish, cabbage, and greens. And let's not forget the dessert table: pumpkin bread, caramel cake, cookies, and pound cake. There's music, games, and laughter as we share in the joy of each other's company, and before the night ends, we each open one gift. It's a small gesture, but one that brings excitement and anticipation to the season.

Christmas Day:

Christmas morning starts with everyone at their respective homes, opening presents and soaking in the day's magic. Then, we gather at my grandmother's house for breakfast—shrimp and grits, crispy bacon, biscuits, eggs, and fresh fruit. It's always a cozy, heartwarming start to the day, especially as we sip on hot chocolate or freshly brewed coffee and share a gift from under grandma's tree. After breakfast, we'll all settle in for a movie, complete with a basket of goodies—popcorn, chocolate, candy, and other movie snacks we can find at the dollar store (Hey, listen, the dollar store is where it’s at! They have all the classic candies and chocolates for half the price!).

While my family enjoys the movie, I get to work on the gumbo. Let me tell you, the smell of that rich roux simmering on the stove is like a hug in a pot. I prep all the items beforehand. I cut up my seasonings and trinity. Make a stock from the shrimp peels and tails. Wash and season my meat and cut up all the sausage. Sometimes, I may have to make the hot sausage, but that is a whole blog for another day! The day of, I combine all the prepped ingredients—shrimp, smoked sausage, hot sausage, chicken, oysters, crab, the trinity, and garlic— into simmering away into my roux and stock from scratch to create a flavorful dish that brings the love of our ancestors to our holiday table and is perfect for our big family. We serve the gumbo with rice, French bread, and a crisp salad. For those who don't love gumbo (though let's be honest, it's hard to find someone who doesn't!) I also make a pot of greens, fish or chicken, and, of course, red beans to go with the rice.

Dessert is always a grand finale: bread pudding, peach cobbler, and maybe a chocolate pudding pie. It's pure indulgence, and the best part is the second serving!

The Day After Christmas:

This is when we head to my great aunt's house with my cousins, neighbors, and family friends. The day was filled with leftovers, laughter, and more food—because who doesn't love holiday leftovers? There would be wine, apple cider, coffee, and the occasional roast or pot of gumbo to complement the leftover dishes. After my beloved great-aunt passed away, this tradition shifted a bit. Still, we're determined to keep it alive and find a new place to land in the future, where we can continue the tradition of gathering with family and friends to close out the year with love, laughter, and community.

A New Tradition: Celebrating Kwanzaa

My youngest brother introduced one of our family's newest traditions about 17 years ago: the celebration of Kwanzaa, which begins the day after Christmas. It's a tradition that's quickly become dear to us, a time to pause, reflect, and come together meaningfully. We typically gather at my mom's or grandmother's house. Still, this celebration is a bit different—thanks to the magic of technology, family, and friends who can't be there in person often Zoom in, sharing their own libations, stories, and the people they wish to honor each night.

For us, Kwanzaa is less about exchanging gifts and more about acknowledging who we are, where we come from, and who we can become. It's about uplifting one another and celebrating the strength and resilience of our ancestors, as well as the blessings of today. There's a deep focus on unity, purpose, and collective well-being—values that resonate with our family's spirit. And while the focus is on community and reflection, you can bet there's still plenty of food. After all, being Creole and Cajun means no celebration is complete without a delicious spread!

This new tradition has become a beautiful addition to our holiday season, and we look forward to it each year as it brings our family even closer together.

Giving Back: Our Family's Holiday Tradition

Giving back to the community is one of the most critical aspects of the holiday season. My family has always believed that the holidays are about more than just receiving—we try to teach our children that it's equally important to give. So, each year, my child and I dedicate time to donating holiday treats and specific items to our local food banks. We donate new, carefully wrapped toys to children's hospitals, especially for patients with chronic conditions who can't be home for the holidays. And for their parents, we will often donate gift cards or a care package because, as someone who lives with several chronic conditions that can be debilitating, I understand what it's like to be in the hospital for the holidays or special occasions.

It's a tradition that warms our hearts, and we hope to instill in our children the value of kindness, generosity, and community. The holidays remind us that we have the power to make someone else's season a little brighter.

Creating Your Own Family Traditions

As you plan your holiday celebrations, take a moment to think about the traditions you want to create for your family. Whether it's a special meal, a community service project, or a game you play every year, make sure it brings everyone together. You can blend cultural traditions, new ideas, and personal quirks to create a unique holiday experience that's all your own.

And remember: the holidays aren't just about perfection. They're about connection. So whether you're big on big meals, small gifts, or even giving back, embrace the season's spirit and create traditions that will last for years.

Happy Holidays, y'all—let's make them count!