Most families have some sort of routine or tradition they carry out around the holidays. Some families do something out of the ordinary, like hide a pickle in a tree. Some families stick to more classical traditions like having a family dinner and watching Christmas movies you’ve seen a thousand times before. One thing remains the same; the family does something together. In the Usry family, having teddy bears for breakfast is a cherished family tradition.

“Every Christmas morning after we open presents my mom shapes these little teddy bears out of this sweet bread and uses buttercream icing to decorate them specifically for each of us,” junior Lindsey Usry said.

This tradition has been in Usry’s family since she can remember, but it is not the only tradition her family takes part in every year. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are full of traditions in the Usry household.

“On Christmas Eve, me, my two older brothers and my parents wake up and bake amazing food the whole day. Then we go to church and open family presents when we get home. On Christmas Day we wake up at seven in the morning, open Santa gifts and eat our teddy bears. After that we drive to my grandma’s and spend the day there,” Usry said.

Family traditions are what make holidays special. They give people something to look forward to and bring families closer. The holidays are a great time to start new traditions and keep others alive.

“The teddy bear tradition is important to me because it keeps my childhood alive.”