As 2009 draws to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about traditions. What is a tradition? Do you have to keep doing it just because you always have? How do traditions get started?
While I was visiting my family in Michigan over Christmas, we decided to visit
Frederik Meijer Gardens, a favorite Grand Rapids attraction, to see the beautiful
“Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World” exhibit. More than 40 trees and displays representing the holiday traditions of countries, ethnicities and religions dotted the hallways, each inviting the visitor to explore a new holiday tradition from somewhere outside their own world. Some sparkled with intricate glass ornaments and elaborate embellishments, while some were so familiar, with colored lights and homemade ornaments, that I could imagine them in my own living room.
The first possible tradition I encountered was the blizzard. The last time we visited this exhibit as a family was also during a blizzard. Have we now made it a tradition to brave the inclement weather in the spirit of Christmas around the world? Should we try to keep up this tradition? It seems dangerous, albeit likely considering the high possibility we will, regardless of our own wills, encounter a blizzard on Christmas weekend in Michigan.
The second tradition I encountered has to do with oranges. My sister and I never knew why our mother would always put oranges in our stockings—until we got to the Netherlands tree. Nestled between blue and white Delftware ornaments and handpainted wooden shoes were oranges galore. Our Dutch mother, it turns out, put oranges in our stockings because her Dutch mother put oranges in her children’s stockings, and her mother’s Dutch mother put oranges in her children’s stockings, and so on. A tradition is born.
Be it oranges, blizzards, orange blizzards (Dairy Queen, anyone?)—traditions are unique, and meaningful, and I believe they come and go with time. Maybe I’ll put oranges in my children’s stockings someday, or maybe I’ll realize that kids like regular candy much more. It’s fun to try something new and see if you like it enough to make it a tradition. Here a few ideas for the coming year:
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Gather your (adult) family members or friends and
sign up for a night of Hearthside Suppers. The Conner House in winter is magical, cozy and perfectly quaint. If your experience is anything like mine was, you’ll want to come back year after year.
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Try out a Prairie Tykes class with your 2-5 year old. I often notice many of the same families when I stop in to the different classes, a tell-tale sign of a tradition-worthy experience.
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Come see our baby animals on opening weekend for our outdoor areas, March 27 and 28. No matter how hard the winter was or how restless the kids are getting, baby animals are a momentary panacea.
Whatever you choose, we invite you into the new year with us and hope you’ll see it as an opportunity to
explore, discover and experience the world around you in new and exciting ways.
1. Decorations that get you into the holiday spirit
Starting at the beginning of December, giant gingerbread men and wintery hanging decorations appeared throughout the Welcome Center. Even though temperatures outside were not seasonal, here at Conner Prairie, “elves” were busy making the season bright. My favorite decorations are the giant wrapped gifts near the gingerbread houses. I can only imagine what might be inside!
2. Snow-covered fields, trees, woods...and a balloon?
Few can argue that fields and trees frosted with snow pull you into the magic of winter, but a snow-topped balloon? Well, it may not be entirely holiday-related, but it is pretty amazing seeing a giant helium balloon covered with snow and with icicles hanging off its tethers. It took this sense of perspective for me to see how gigantic the 1859 Balloon Voyage really is, and the balloon's orange and yellow stripes look all the more vibrant next to the pure white covering.
3. The Conner Prairie Store
Who could beat shopping at work with a bit of an employee discount? I have been guilty of shopping at school or work for holiday gifts for many, many years. When I was a student at IU, everyone in the family got IU t-shirts and sweatshirts from the bookstore. When I lived in Chicago, it was city-themed gifts from the gift shop in the lobby of my building. Now that I work at Conner Prairie, it’s unique recipe books and vintage-looking ornaments for the tree. I'm excited about the gift giving possibilities for years to come as the store is always bringing in new and unique gifts.
4. The annual holiday staff lunch
About a week ago, we held our annual holiday staff luncheon hosted by our president, Ellen M. Rosenthal. All who work a Conner Prairie gathered for lunch, employee awards, employment milestone awards and a dessert competition. While the lunch was delicious and the dessert competition was filled with every yummy treat under the sun, it was the employment milestone awards that won my heart that day. Handmade candle holders, mugs, plates, jugs, a lamp and even a pie plate occupied a huge table—there must have been at least 25 items on that table. Each piece was handmade by one of our own Conner Prairie potters in celebration of a 5-, 10-,15-year or more anniversary with Conner Prairie, all the way up to one employee's 40-year anniversary. As I sat in the luncheon and saw how proud each recipient was to hear his or her name called and to receive the anniversary memento, it filled me with thanks to be part of such an organization. As I celebrate my six month “anniversary” here at Conner Prairie, I am eager to know what the next year will bring.