It all started twelve years ago when my then 7 year old son walked into the kitchen on Christmas morning. We were staying at my older brother’s house with his family and he was playing the usual role of the short order cook for the morning. My brother greeted my son and asked him what he wanted for breakfast. The stoic young lad rattled off his favorites: bacon and pancakes. Then he added one more element. “I’d like you to wear this while you cook it,” he said as he held up a plastic viking hat. His face was as serious as a heart attack.

My brother is nothing if not a good sport. Without missing a beat, he nodded, took the hat and placed it atop his head. Then he proceeded to cook all the remaining meals that morning while wearing it. To this day, come Christmas morning at my brother’s house, you’ll find him standing in the kitchen taking orders wearing a viking hat. Oh, the joy of family traditions!

Does your family have any funny traditions? How’d they start?

Click here for helpful tips on how to start family traditions: Start a Tradition