Tradition

Tradition is synonomous with family. Or family is synonomous with tradition. Either way, Cyndi and I have focused our marriage and our family on traditions old and new. I think it helps center each other. I think it helps give a feeling of security and comfort to our children. We both come from backgrounds with many traditions. And it's something we plan on keeping up. Here are some of the traditions we follow:

1. Thanksgiving...when we first started dating, we made a decision. We didn't want to do the whole, afternoon with my family and rush over for evening with hers. It causes way too much stress and doesn't allow for quality time with either family, in our opinion. We've done Thanksgiving at our house for the past ten years (minus one year when we lived in Philly). My mom used to put a damn good Thanksgiving meal together. But as our families grew, and her house didn't, it just made sense to move the venue. The total number of attendees has gone as high as 28, and we feel the more the merrier. Several years ago we started a "what are you thankful for" game, where everyone writes down their year's thanks, and we guess who wrote what. It's a fun game; a nice tradition.


2. Lighting of the Christmas Tree...In the center of Elk Grove, the Village always places a huge Christmas Tree. The Friday after Thanksgiving, residents, families, and friends, join together in a tree lighting ceremony. Santa and Mrs. Claus come. There's fireworks, hot chocolate, cookies. Sometimes the weather is very cold and snowy, others it's bearable. Either way, we have been going for eight years.


3. Pierogi making...Cyndi's family has made homemade Pierogies for years. We get together the Saturday after Thanksgiving and work in somewhat of an assembly line. Everyone brings a dish to pass, as well as one of the stuffing's we will use (we always bring the cheese). We've made as many as 500+ pierogies in one day. We eat them on Christmas Day.


4. Christmas...we spent Christmas Eve with Cyndi's family. My mother in law is from Denmark and they have many traditions centered around Christmas. We eat the same meal (duck and pork), play the same dessert game where you have either rice pudding or lemon fromage, and in each bowl a whole almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond has to hide it in his.her mouth until the end of dessert. The winners receive a prize. We also dance around the tree singing songs (in Danish and in English), and open presents from youngest to oldest. Christmas Day is the Polish Tradition: Mushroom soup, polish sausage, peirogies.


5. Holiday Party...Because I come from a mixed family (Jewish and Catholic), we spend a nice evening with my family to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. The kids all exchange gifts and we have a meal together. A couple of years ago, we even went ice skating. My kids get the benefit of learning both traditions.


6. Wedding Anniversary...we will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary tomorrow (October 19). Every year, for the past 12, we watch our wedding video and light our unity candle. It's so much fun to see the day/night, laugh at ourselves and others, and remember that day. We added two more traditions (2 years and 3, respectively). Today, we went to Starved Rock State Park, and completed a two hour hike to see the Fall colors. Luckily the weather has cooperated. Tomorrow, we will go to The Melting Pot for dinner. Cyndi loves fondue and the kids don't gripe about having to wear nicer clothes to go out. It's a nice 2-3 hour meal. Both additional have added a special touch to our already established tradition.


7. Teddy's...on Thanksgiving morning, we go to Teddy's Diner for breakfast. We started this tradition the year my dad died. My dad loved Teddy's Diner. So to keep him alive with us for the day, before we start cooking, cooking, and cooking, we have a meal in remembrance. This year will be #3.


8. James Francis Ryan Memorial Pub Crawl...this will be my 3rd year, but the event's 10th. It's the creation of one of my friends, Jeff Burd. I went to grad school with Jeff Burd. Whenever Jeff Burd enters a room, he announces, "Hi, I'm Jeff Burd." Even if everyone in the room knows him. The pub crawl is a blast. We meet at The Billy Goat on Wells at Noon, eat a burger and enjoy some beer, and begin the crawl. About every 1 1/2 hours, we move. We go to The Berghoff, a few Elephant & Castles, Rosi, The Pepper Canister, Pippins, and a few others. It's a true drinking marathon (not a sprint). My brother, Darrell went with me last year, and Ira plans on joining us this year. December 12 this year, if you are interested.

We have other traditions and there will be more that we begin. Traditions are fun, but they are hard to create and hard to maintain sometimes. Especially the ones that have been in the family for generations. But, in my opinion, it's the hard things that keep a family together.