Our Family Birthday Tradition
This humble tablecloth has celebrated every birthday with each member of our family for three generations. We’ve all grown up or grown old with this cloth, and a family birthday party just wouldn’t be the same without it gracing the table.
This week we’re celebrating our daughter’s twentieth birthday and the dinner table will be set with our traditional tablecloth. A colorful Happy Birthday banner will drape the kitchen doorway as it always has. Grandma’s homemade chocolate cake will glow with candles while we sing the Happy Birthday song after the meal. Our Yorkie will bark and jump up and down while our daughter blows out her candles. We’ll have our Norman Rockwell/Hallmark/Kodak moments, just for a little while, because birthdays are still celebrated joyfully, no matter how old we become. It’s the one day we each get to be special, without having to share the limelight with anyone.
Though the tablecloth pictured here is made of simple vinyl, it’s one of my most prized possessions. There are pieces of tape on the back, and a few fade spots on the front, but the tablecloth brings our family a sense of unity that never wears out.
When my son or daughter marries and starts a family, the tablecloth will go with them, and generation number four will begin using it for birthday celebrations. When the tablecloth finally wears thin, we’ll start again with a new one to pass down.
In this fast-changing world, it’s comforting to have small traditions to hold onto. The birthday tablecloth is one of ours. Does your family have a special tradition? Tell us about it.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Adele, that is awesome! What a beautiful story. You sure are a multi-faceted woman. I’ve learned that after reading your blog for so long.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
That’s so sweet, Adele! My hubby hates his birthday. (and it’s next week) :::sigh::: My birthday fell on Easter one year and my Granny made me a rabbit shaped coconut cake. She’s done it for both my daughters as well.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Marie–Where have you been? You are the winner of a free book from one of my guest authors. She hasn’t been able to reach you via email. Please contact her.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Adele, that is a wonderful tradition. Happy 20th to your daughter!
gem sivad
July 9th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Debra–I love those rabbit shaped coconut cakes! Yummy and fun. I empathize with your hubby about getting older. We all hate it. That’s one reason why our family tries to make birthday celebrations special. Takes the sting out of another year! Lol.
Gem–Thank you for the well wishes!
Thanks for stopping by and posting!
Best–Adele
July 9th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
I’ve had a lot of email problems. Still on dial-up in the boonies. Please tell Tina thanks, but I already bought a few of her books. I’m sure I’ll like them. I didn’t intend to enter a contest.
July 9th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Adele - What a great tradition. When the kids were little I always made a big happy birthday poster and decorated the kitchen. As they got older I stopped making the poster, but still hang the birthday banners across the kitchen door. There’s always a special dinner for the birthday person complete with cake and ice cream. It’s a wonderful tradition my children will no doubt continue even as they move away from home.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Nina–I think traditions are comforting and I’d bet our kids enjoy them. They’d miss those banners and cakes if we stopped providing them.
Thanks for your visit! Good to see you.
Best–Adele
July 10th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Adele - How awesome! I love the tradition and the tablecloth. Happy Birthday to your daughter.
July 10th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Amber–Thank you for your enthusiastic good wishes.
Best–Adele