What makes a tradition? The dictionary (Merriam-Webster) defines tradition as an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (such as a religious practice or a social custom).

Holidays are all about traditions. In the fall, we start with Halloween which has grown from a night of costumes and candy collection to weeks of decorating, parties, cemetery walks, ghost tours and zombie parties. Then we almost skip over Thanksgiving and go onto Christmas. In Fredericksburg and at the area malls, Christmas trees sprouted in the flower barrels, tinsel, ornaments, wreaths and lights appeared right after Veterans Day. Yet, families and friends still do celebrate Thanksgiving. Food sections in the newspapers are full of Thanksgiving fare, special ad inserts offer traditional foods - turkeys and all the fixings, yams, green beans, pumpkin pies; and harvest decorations are on sale. Once into December, it is all Christmas trees, poinsettias, ornaments, decorations, lights, Santas, snowmen, reindeer, sleighs, parades, Christmas markets, craft fairs, musical performances, gifts and wrapping.

Over time, traditions do evolve. Holidays used to be associated with families. Now that people are much more mobile, gatherings with parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents may not be possible. People celebrate with friends and neighbors. Thus the relatively new tradition of Friendsgiving, begun about 2007, where friends gather and eat a large meal.

Many of us still celebrate the "traditional" events. The first weekend of December brings the annual Fredericksburg Christmas Parade, Handel's Messiah 50th Anniversary, and the 41st Spotsylvania Christmas Parade. The second weekend brings the National Park Service's annual observance of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc.'s 49th Candlelight Tour, and the Stafford Christmas Parade. There are countless markets, craft shows, decoration workshops, parties and concerts between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

If you want to know more about Aunt Elsie Lewis's angels, Harold Ballard's Santa Claus, or Lem Houston's holiday social calls, come to the Heritage Center.