"Historians are unsure of the exact source of the tradition, they do know the custom goes back centuries, at least back to Renaissance Europe and possibly back to Roman times, maybe even in France when they changed the calendar and called all those who celebrated the New Year in April - April fools as they had changed the new year to begin in January."
Regardless of how and when it started it is something that still goes on today… these are traditions we carry. Traditions are what we are talking about today.
We all have traditions that we follow, and most of them revolve around holidays. Where did they begin? Not sure, but one thing that does happen is that as families grow, traditions evolve and change. When I was little, during Christmas gatherings with my dad's side of the family, all of us grandkids would put together our own Christmas play—a nativity play. We would dress up, and then all the parents and grandparents would watch.
It was fun for us and created great memories. As we grew older, this tradition phased out, and the younger grandkids didn't keep it up. However, the memory of traditions is what truly makes them enduring.
Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it."
When we were kids, our parents did the best they could, and it's the memories and lessons taught to us that we look back on. Some traditions are worth holding onto, while others may be adapted or changed. However, it's the ones taught throughout the Bible that we should absolutely cherish and uphold.
Celebrating certain things can become traditions. Easter is one that is celebrated in two different ways: one commemorating Christ's death and resurrection, and the other involving a bunny.
When we had kids, we discussed which traditions we wanted to continue and which ones we didn't. One thing was certain: we wanted Christ to be the center of the holidays we celebrated.
Both my husband's family and mine are followers of Christ, which made it easier for us to prioritize this focus. However, it was interesting to note that our family celebrations were different from each other's. So, compromises and adjustments were made when it came to our children.
1 Corinthians 11:1-2 says, "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you."
No matter what your traditions are, Christ should be centered and kept in your thoughts.
There are traditions within the Church that were passed down from Jesus himself. These include the Lord's Prayer, the Last Supper, communion, and sharing the Good News.
These practices were initiated and taught by Jesus to his disciples. We continue them today because they hold significance for us in remembering Jesus and all that God has done for us.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, it states, "He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teachings we passed on to you, both in person and by letter."
Let's hold firm to all that it taught to us in the Word of God and continue to share and grow as we hold tight to the traditions we have that glorify the Lord.