Christmas. For many of us, our picture of this holiday is a static one: we've "always" done this or we "always" do that. Indeed, that idea of tradition and stability and connection is one of the true themes of the holiday. I make Aunt Bill's Brown Candy or Mim's Texas Pralines because my mother did, my grandmother did, my great-grandmother did.

Celebrating that connection is wonderful, but don't let it blind you to the very real fact that Christmas also changes. If I compare our current Christmas celebrations to my childhood holidays, I find that today's rejoicing is longer, faster, more intense and more expensive. Not better or worse, but different.

This is, I humbly submit, as it should be. Children grow. Families change. On growing older, many of us explore new spiritual depths, finding meaning in different places.

And, yes, it means that while I treasure my copy of a candy recipe that is written in my great-grandmother's hand, I also know that modern cooks needed the transliteration I provided a few years ago. Where Granny Hawk measured sugar in pounds, I measure in cups. Where grandmother Mim cooked her pralines over the stove, mine get made in the microwave.

Times change, and so do holidays. Be of good cheer! Christmas has room for both tradition and novelty, and no one need feel constrained from Christmas innovation.

But I really have to wonder whether my sons' children will treasure my old 5 1/4-inch floppy disk, containing updated recipes for grandmothers' favorites ...

today's task: learn about other traditions

The holiday season isn't just Christmas, hard as that can be to realize in our go-go consumer economy. Other nations, races and ethnic groups have fruitful and fascinating holiday traditions that also enrich this season of the year. This holiday season, learn more about Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, and holiday celebrations of other countries.

Open the doors, and bring new dimensions of the holiday season to your family. The world is wide and large and full of goodness to share. What better time to rejoice with the whole world?

to print today ...

Holiday Traditions

today's recipe ...

Freezer-friendly chicken recipe from my children's Grandma Swain:

Chicken Biscuit Casserole