Traditions

I love the line from the musical Fiddler on the Roof - “Without our traditions, life would be as shaky as, as a fiddler on the roof.” The line was spoken by Tevye very early in the play to introduce life in Anatevka, the small Russian village where the play is set. In many aspects of life, traditions give us a way to bond, a way to establish a common culture.

Take our Soroptimist clubs, for example. Most of us know that “Founders Pennies” started after WWII as a way to help our European clubs rebuild. This has become a lasting tradition among Soroptimists. Many of our local clubs, including Salt Lake, began well before WWII. Imagine the pride our members must have felt knowing that they were helping Soroptimist across the ocean; and imagine how they might feel now – knowing that this tradition lived on.

As we think about Breakfast with Santa, one of our purposes in providing Christmas as a reward to our single moms is to take away the stress of Christmas and give them an opportunity to create their own family traditions. As we think about the Christmas program at Horizonte, one of the highlights is the opportunity we have to share Christmas traditions with these young parents.

It is the traditions we remember – long after the gifts are used, worn out, discarded or “re-gifted.” Our traditions give us lasting memories. Our traditions become a part of who we are. As we celebrate Thanksgiving and look toward Christmas, may we be mindful of just how meaningful our traditions can be. Happy Thanksgiving!