The holidays are filled with traditions and every family has their own, handed down for generations. Traditions surround the holidays, from Christmas trees and ornaments to the food and festivities. While traditions are important in remembering where we came from, they are also important for where we are now.

With families spending less time together throughout the year, between work, school and activities, the holidays give them more time to be together. Following traditions it's a way to reconnect, to draw closer to one another. Traditions help hold families together.

Your kids may grumble now about spending time with their relatives, but in the future, they will treasure those times.

Traditions aren't set in stone, though. Don't be afraid to build new traditions with your family. When a couple gets married, it's sometimes hard to decide which set of traditions to follow. There are ways to incorporate both sets of traditions, as long as everyone works together, making the holidays more memorable for everyone. Sit down and discuss the ideas that everyone has, and before long, you'll be having a wonderful time.

Some families only open presents on Christmas morning, while others open them on Christmas Eve. A good compromise would be to allow for one special or small gift to be opened on Christmas Eve, while the rest wait for Christmas day. This is a good compromise, which the kids especially love, because it extends the excitement of the season. Others use stockings as the Christmas Eve treat, or Christmas crackers, which are another fun project for the family to make.

Another thing to consider is starting all new traditions for your family. Take a day and make decorations for the house. Old Christmas cards make wonderful raw materials for all new decorations. They are easy for the kids to cut and paste together. Many craft sites on-line have suggestions for simple and fun creations. Try having an old-fashioned Christmas, make paper chains and popcorn strings. You might surprise yourself at how much your family enjoys a “low tech” Christmas.

When starting new traditions, another thing to consider is volunteering to help those less blessed than your family. There are many charities that love to have people come help before and during the holidays. There are also charities that accept new and gently used donations. It will surprise you at how giving your family can be if given the opportunity to think of others before themselves.