The Treasure of Traditions
Traditions!
We have had many traditions in our family. We always have felt it was so important to have traditions that our children could pass down to their children and for generations to come.
Out of all of the traditions it seemed the BELL was the one that has always stuck. It was just so much fun and brought so much joy to the whole family! The kids, along with their cousins, were excited year after year to see who would find the bell.
Each year it would change and it would get better as the kids grew older. The tradition is simple but brings so much anticipation for Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve, all the kids would scheme and plan their strategies for finding the bell the next morning. They would wake early to search for the bell as the parents were still “sleeping.” Whoever found the bell would run through the house ringing the bell and screaming “Santa came!” to awaken the parents.
As the kids grew up it really became even more fun. Of course finding the bell had to become a competition. Boys against girls. Oldest against youngest. They would choose whatever combination they thought gave them the edge to find the bell and ring it! Over the years we kept adding things to the winning bell finder. Whoever found it could open the first gift and would get $20.00. Now you know it was a competition once they heard that! Also, as the competition grew we had to put a time on how early they could get up. No earlier than 7am. Because they all would set alarm clocks and want to be up running through the house at 5am!
We have had a great time through the years with the bell. The kids have enjoyed it so much and still do as adults! We have a lot of great memories from all of the plotting and planning through the years. I cherish the memories of all the laughter and the schemes they would plot. It was something everyone looks forward to every Christmas. Even now as three grown adults they insist on hiding the bell and still get together and scheme and strategize about finding it on Christmas morning.
As we share this beloved family tradition with all of you, my hope is that you will read our book as a family, share this story with generations to come, and make your own unforgettable memories with The Bell in the Box.
