I used to work with a woman that had a unique Christmas tradition.  Every year, she would search for a special ornament (not the dollar store kind, these cost a few bucks, and came from places like Crate & Barrel, Macy's or Pier One).  They didn't have to be super-expensive.  I think they were usually under $15.  She bought one for each of her children (a boy and a girl) who were very young at the time and probably didn't think much about a silly ornament.  But the point was that one day when they got married or moved out, she could present them with a box filled with a lifetime of ornaments to decorate their trees.  

I remember buying my first ornaments at Wal-Mart or K-Mart when I first moved out.  I had to buy garland, a tree skirt, ornaments, the whole kit and caboodle.  It cost a pretty penny after adding in the cost of the Blue Spruce tree (I'll never forget that perfectly gorgeous specimen sitting in my apartment).  Not to mention the tree topper!  My co-worker had started this tradition to save her children the cost of shopping for tacky ten-for-a-dollar ornaments.  They would already have a box-full of beautiful keepsake ornaments instead.

At the time, I had a step-daughter who was already 10 or 11.  So, I tried to catch up.  The first year, I picked up some crafty ornaments at the Goffstown High School Craft Fair that is held before the holidays.  I believe the one I bought her was a colorful fish (we used to fish) with bulging eyes.  I tried to buy ornaments that were individual and unique to my step-daughter.  One year, it was a Pier One Imports rustic elephant (she was into elephants at the time).  Another year, we were on vacation in Florida in December.  We picked up a Flamingo ornament to mark the ocassion.  Last year, I splurged and bought a Radko ornament from Macy's.  But every ornament had a story behind it.  If the year wasn't on the ornament, I would ask her to please use a sharpie and mark it on the back if possible. 

So, I'm in search of an ornament right now.  I'm leaning toward a puzzle ball shaped ornament from Crate and Barrel.  But I'm still looking for just the right one.  It's become a little adventure, to search for the ornament that sends a message or means something to her.  She's grown up now, and when she moved out, she did have a tree-full of ornaments to decorate with.  It's different now, but the tradition continues. 

Last year, my step-daughter had a daughter of her own.  And when Christmas came, she picked up a special ornament for her.  A new tradition that transferred from one family to another has now transferred to a new generation (only she doesn't know it yet). 

It's my turn to pass the tradition on to you.