Are Christmas Traditions Dying Out or Are They Just Continually Evolving?

Time changes everything, and family Christmas traditions are no exception to this. I think that members of most families can describe how their Christmas traditions have changed over the years.

I remember when I was growing up in the UK in the 1950's, that the whole family on my grandmother's side would visit her house on Christmas Eve to exchange Christmas gifts. Then they would all return there on Christmas Day for the best meal of the year.

Back then my parents were the exception, as we lived on the south coast of England and had to drive 150 miles to the town where my grandmother lived, but the rest of the family on my mother's side all lived in the same small area in the Midlands of England.

Now, the family has not only grown, but it has spread across the globe. I still live on the south coast (but have spent 15 years in the USA prior to returning home). Most of the rest of the family are scattered around the UK as well as in New Zealand, so gathering together at any time is almost impossible, particularly at Christmas.

With each new generation, new families are added who each have their own traditions, as the children grow up and get married. In this way our old traditions are blended with those of the other family lines, plus some new traditions are added, and as the older generations fade into memory, so do some of those traditions that they once held dear.

Technology advancements in recent years have also been instrumental in changing Christmas traditions that have probably not varied much in generations.

For example, it was always a tradition for many families in the UK to play board games together over Christmas, and on Christmas Day they would have their Christmas Dinner (usually at lunchtime), then sit down and watch the Queen's Speech on television, followed by a hit movie, often a James Bond movie or something spectacular.

When I was growing up there were only 2 or 3 channels on the television, and new movies had to be released for years before they were even shown on television. Now, however, there are hundreds of television channels, video games, the internet, and so many more diversions, especially for the younger members of the family.

It's rare to see many families sitting down to play board games any more, and something else is often likely to replace the Queen's Speech, with just the highlights being seen on the television news later - maybe.

Many family members are more likely to be seen spending their time on social networks like Facebook over the holidays, communicating with "friends" that they have never met, rather than spending precious time with the others in the family, who might be in the same room as them, but might just as well be a million miles away.

I do miss those days when the family would all gather together for the holidays, but I guess that time must march on, as it does.

There are some benefits to the technological changes though. I remember calling my family in Australia on Christmas Day, which used to cost an arm and a leg. We used to have about 20 seconds each to say something, with a rotary phone, and although it was to talk to them, it wasn't the best of experiences. Now we can have free video calls with Skype, so we can both see and hear family who are far away. We can also share photographs and videos almost instantly, instead of waiting until a film roll was complete, getting it developed, and then putting copies in the mail.

I just hope that the future generations don't forget the joy that goes along with family gatherings and reunions, or their importance to help keep a family unit together.

I wish you all a very Happy Holidays, and many more to come.