"Family Tradition: Cinnamon Rolls"

The main holiday tradition in my family is cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning. I know what you’re thinking – that’s it? That’s a tradition? The answer to those questions is: Yes, it is a tradition in my family, and a long-running one at that. When my mom was a kid, her mom (my grandma) would always make them on Christmas morning. It was quick and easy – they’d be working on cooking up Christmas dinner for the rest of the day. It caught on. I suppose even when my mom was living on her own, she’d be making those cinnamon rolls for herself too. The rule has always been that the cinnamon rolls would always be put in the oven right before everyone opened presents. That way, the house smells delicious. And we’ve never had a preference for a brand, but it is usually Pillsbury – although they do run out quickly. 

This tradition is something I’ve been doing my whole life; every Christmas Eve I go to bed and I can already taste the cinnamon rolls in my mouth. I have been Pavlov-ed into associating cinnamon rolls with Christmas – they are probably the thing I associate with Christmas the most! And every morning while opening presents my mouth starts watering in anticipation because I can smell the cinnamon rolls cooking.  I can still remember how when I was a kid – the picky eater I was – I would only eat the cinnamon rolls if my mom squished them and poured syrup on them, like a pancake. It’s one of those things I eventually got over and I am no longer a peculiarly picky eater, don’t worry.

But the main reason this is so important to me is because it symbolizes the changes my family has gone through. Initially, my mom would make them for her, me, and my dad. Then, my grandpa came into the picture. But now, it is just me and my mom now, together. (Not including extended family.) And every year she still makes them. Even when there are less presents to open, even when the joy of Christmas has been dulled by adulthood – the cinnamon rolls are still there, perpetually, unchanging, and extraordinarily delicious.

My mom and I are not a traditional family by definition, but we are close-knit and happy – which is the important part. Not everyone’s families or traditions look like they’re straight off a Hallmark card. And that is okay, I am sure many people my age are in similar situations. But the cinnamon rolls have been an enduring symbol of my family. No matter how good or bad a year has been, there is one guarantee every single year that I can certainly look forward to: a delicious plate of cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.

Soon enough, it will be my tradition for my family, too. I have already started helping out make and prepare the cinnamon rolls even though it is just my mom and I. While I haven’t been baking them all by myself yet – my mom still loves doing it – I surely will be at some point. And that’s all part of what traditions are – passed along from generation to generation. Hopefully, if I have a family of my own someday, they’ll start doing it and continue the Christmas morning cinnamon roll tradition along. It is something we hadn’t thought of as a tradition, but just something we do – which makes it a tradition by definition. Sometimes, all you need is yourself, a loved one, and some delicious cinnamon rolls on a cold Christmas morning.