Sometimes, some of your best family traditions can start by
accident. One of our favorite traditions started that way, when I was
an guilt-ridden, exhausted mother of young children--looking for a way
to celebrate New Year's and get the kids to bed early.
Christmas
is a crazy busy time for our company and several years ago, I felt bad
that we hadn't been downtown yet to see the Christmas Lights at Temple
Square. The magic of all those tiny lights together were always one of
my favorite parts of the holidays. When New Year's came that year, I
knew I had one more night before the lights were turned off and we'd
have to wait until next year. So we headed into town on New Year's Eve
to see the lights.
I think I was honestly too tired to walk around and we ended upstairs in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building at the Garden Resturaunt
overlooking the block just as the sun was setting and the lights were
coming on. It was beautiful to relax and watch as night fell over the
city and the lights came on. The food was good, the kids were good and
we discovered fried pickles. This young mother discovered some peace
during the busy holiday season.
So, at the risk creating a long
wait at the restaurant, I recommend this tradition to you. Over the
years, we've stayed after dinner to catch some of the Eve
traditions, concerts around Temple Square, or a carriage ride around
town, but our favorite tradition has remained--dinner overlooking the
lights as sun sets on the year.
This tradition is new to our generation, and I don't know that it will be passed down to future generations, but like all traditions, it has become a comfort in our lives--marking the passing of time and making us feel grounded together as a family.
Wishing you a hopeful and prosperous New Year.
Cross posted on the Visit Salt Lake Blog.
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