
As I leaf through my collection of recipes – some organized in a Longaberger recipe basket and some taped into a Hallmark looseleaf recipe book I received for my wedding – I’m reminded of so many holidays through the long reach of vivid sense memory. I can recall the swirl of spices in eggnog in my grandmother’s hand-painted Santa head punchbowl, the sparkle of green and red crystals on sugar cookie cutouts right before my mother popped the cookie sheet into a hot oven, and the sharp whiff of whiskey borne by the round tin of dark, doughy spheres a great aunt dropped off at our house every Christmas.
It struck me that the resonance of these memories harbors not just nostalgia, but deeper feelings and meanings. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to believe that carrying on cherished family recipes during the holidays is important for several reasons: it fosters connection to the past, strengthens family bonds, and keeps beloved traditions alive. Let’s look at why that matters in 2024.
Preserving Family Heritage and Legacy
A Connection to the Past
Family recipes are a tangible link to our forebears and the lives they lived. These recipes, whether handwritten in a beloved familiar hand, rolled out of a typewriter or printed in a family cookbook, carry flavors, techniques, and stories that have come down through generations. By keeping these recipes alive during the holidays, we honor the memory of loved ones and keep their presence present in our own lives.
This year, my friend Jodi took up the mantle of baking yeast dinner rolls for the Thanksgiving meal that her mother lovingly made by the dozens for so many holiday family dinners. As Jodi measured the ingredients and mixed the dough, she recalled the times she helped her mother make the rolls using the time-tested recipe from her mother’s Betty Crocker cookbook, published in 1956 and probably a bridal shower or wedding gift.
Photo 1: The dinner roll dough is ready for its first raising, as Jodi crosses her fingers that she didn't kill the yeast! / Photo 2: Freshly baked dinner rolls look and smell incredible on the cooling rack. / Photo 3: The dinner rolls were a big hit for Thanksgiving dinner!
Jodi admits, “I was nervous that the rolls would turn out as wonderful as Mom’s always did. I kept thinking back to the many times I watched her so deftly knead the last bit of flour into the sticky bread dough and expertly round up the mound of dough into the greased crock bowl, ready for raising. Would my dough raise successfully or had I killed the yeast with water that was too hot? Did I overwork the pillows of dough as I shaped them into oblong-shaped rolls? Could I tell when the rolls were baked enough by lightly thumping the tops of the golden-brown crusts? I trusted in my memories and this recipe and was rewarded – and relieved – when my son told me the rolls tasted just like Grandma’s.”
The Continuity of Family Culture
Often, family recipes are tied to cultural traditions, helping to preserve cherished customs. Whether it's a specific dish from a cultural celebration or a holiday dessert, these recipes serve as a reminder of our places of origin.
Creating a Sense of Belonging and Tradition
The Strengthening of Bonds
Preparing family recipes together during the holidays provides an opportunity for family members to share in the joy of creating something delicious and meaningful. The act of cooking together becomes a ritual that strengthens relationships and creates lasting memories.

The Comfort of Familiarity
Holiday meals often evoke feelings of nostalgia and comfort. The familiar taste of a cherished recipe can bring a sense of continuity and stability, providing emotional warmth during the colder months. It reassures us that some things stay constant, even as time passes and individual circumstances change.
Passing on Values and Lessons
Teaching the Next Generation
Family recipes come to life in the kitchen as loved ones pass along not just culinary skills but also family lore. The importance of patience, the joy of sharing, the happiness that emanates from a warm and busy kitchen are all lessons we send on to members of younger generations as they learn to prepare the dishes that have been part of their family’s history.

Son Erik makes corn casserole, one of his all-time favorite foods, for 2020 Thanksgiving. This cheese-topped delight is a treasured recipe from friend Nora’s mother Kathy.
Instilling Pride
Carrying on traditional family recipes gives younger members a sense of ownership over the family’s legacy, with a knowledge and confidence that helps them appreciate the richness of their family’s history.
Strengthening Family Bonds
Shared Experience
The act of preparing, serving, and enjoying family recipes together during the holidays fosters a sense of togetherness. In the simple act of bringing people together, meaningful foods create moments of joy, laughter, and connection. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds and generate memories year after year.
Love and Care Made Real
Gathering the ingredients and dishes to bring a cherished family recipe to life is in itself an act of love. It takes time, effort, and care to prepare a dish that holds sentimental value, and sharing it with others shows how much you value the relationships in your life. It’s a gesture that communicates warmth and affection.
Photo 1: Son Matthew prepares the 2022 version of SPC in an old Blue Cornflower Corning Ware dish that’s made the rounds through many moves. / Photo 2: This year’s version of my sister-in-law’s sweet potato casserole (SPC) ready for the oven (note that the recipe card is mostly non-specific on the quantities).
One recipe that encompasses this quality for me is my sister-in-law Kay’s sweet potato recipe. Her holiday table always features this sweet, cozy dish, and I love that she was happy to share it with me. I have such good memories of being in her warm kitchen with family members all on “side duty.” Part of its charm is that the ingredient quantities (other than the canned yams) are not set. It’s flexible enough to make exactly how you want it to taste.
Building Continuity and Stability in a Fast-Paced World
A Constant Amidst Uncertainty
In today’s fast-paced, often unpredictable world, traditions provide stability and continuity. Family recipes, passed down through the years, give us something to anticipate during the holiday season, offering comfort during a season when people often feel pressured by everyday life (or other holiday expectations).

A Sense of Purpose
Continuing to make holiday meals that have been enjoyed for generations is a way of saying that the things that matter most – family, heritage, and togetherness – will continue, no matter what changes in the world around us.
Celebrating the Art of Cooking and Craftsmanship
Nurturing Skill and Creativity
Family recipes often involve unique techniques or particular ingredients that make them special. Whether it’s the secret spice blend that gives a dish its distinct flavor or a time-honored method of preparation, these recipes are a way to celebrate the art of cooking and the craftsmanship passed down from one generation to the next.
Keeping Traditions Alive
Many families have signature dishes that are only made for the holidays, making them particularly meaningful. By continuing to make these dishes, you’re not only preserving a recipe, but you’re also ensuring that the tradition itself lives on, becoming a hallmark of your holiday celebration.
Making Room for New Holiday Recipes
You can spotlight all the traditional favorites your family dotes on year after year, but sometimes a delicious newcomer is such a showstopper that it makes an entire meal memorable, adding a little unexpected shine to time-honored tradition.
Photos 1-4: Step by step, friend Beth demonstrates the making of her Espresso Cheesecake with the help of her beloved mother’s well-traveled nut grinder.
My friend Beth writes, “Each year at Thanksgiving, I try to make at least one dish or dessert I have never made before. Sometimes it's a bomb. Sometimes it's a culinary delight. We literally do not know until we dig into it. I scan all the magazines I get for the ONE recipe that interests me and doesn't require 112 ingredients. One year, my selection was Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake, for which I had to buy a springform pan, having given mine to Goodwill a couple of moves before. ("I'm never gonna make cheesecake – I HATE cheesecake!") Never say never. The recipe ultimately involved finding and putting to good use my mother's 1960s-era nut grinder, which I had lovingly packed and moved with me on all my moves. It was a lot of work, but it was indeed a culinary delight.” Beth’s photos show that the delicious proof is in the pudding … er, cheesecake!
As You Set Your Table This Holiday
Preparing and cooking cherished family recipes at the holidays is more than just about putting food on a table. It’s a process that lays the very foundation of nurturing: connection, continuity, and the celebration of who we are. As vessels of history, culture, love, and belonging, these recipes keep the stories, memories, and bonds of family alive for those with us now … and those who come after us.

Laurie White Bergman, a retired public relations professional and recent empty-nester, finds her latest act full of places to visit, activities to explore, skills to learn (or rediscover), and friends to make it all fun and worthwhile. She lives in St. Louis County, Missouri. Connect with her on Threads: @laurie_bergman
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~ Heather M. and Jodi B.
Lovely post! Your words and pictures invited me into your family's traditions and those of our friends. My mom's specialty was egg noodles, and I've yet to try to replicate them. Maybe at Christmas, I'll try it....or maybe I'll just cherish the memory of her making them.
-Karen G.
Well done, Laur! Love seeing your boys in the kitchen! I'm gonna need that chocolate pecan pie recipe.