Traditions

I didn’t grow up with many family traditions — except at Christmas. My mother would decorate just about every nook and cranny of our house with festive lights, placemats, lightswitch covers, and all things Santa. We had a guardian angel at the top of our small-white-light-decorated tree and a crèche nearby. Oddly, we also had a wooden switch from Germany that I believe was intended to make sure the whole coal-in-the-stocking parable didn’t get lost. After returning from singing carols around the tree in the town center — picture Whoville without Cindy Lou Who — my father would read "‘Twas the Night Before Christmas" from his black Naugahyde chair, and my siblings and I would rush upstairs “with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.”

These past weeks at Poly, our traditions, new and old, have been in full bloom. The Winter Sing for years has closed the season with the joyful voices and squeaks of our youngest. Watching them sing and fidget with unfettered glee is one of the real highlights of the year. Quickly forgetting they are performing in front of hundreds of guests, they chat, they sing, and they wave as only children can. In the other divisions, the rituals of the days leading up to the winter break also give our students a chance to celebrate. If you join us for the closing morning meeting in the Upper School, you will hear a raucous, decidedly less pristine, round of seasonal songs and carols.

The traditions I experienced while growing up grounded me in the warm embrace of my family and our closest friends. While I knew little of the traditions of others, I developed an enormous amount of respect for how my family’s rituals nourished and helped me feel part of something bigger than my adolescent self. As I have grown older and had the opportunity to spend more time with people who do not celebrate the way I did, it has become even more evident to me how much we must learn from each other. As with all traditions, it is vital that we are thoughtful in how they evolve and change over time. The kindergarten Rose Parade is a great example of a new event that engages and recognizes all of our students’ gifts to the community. Growth makes Poly a stronger, more thoughtful and joyful community. Traditions at their best bring us together, reflecting not only our storied past but the vibrant present and future that we will celebrate as one.

Have a great break!

JWB