As autumn envelopes us, many families begin partaking in a plethora of traditions. It could be an apple picking outing, a leaf pile the size of Texas, a Halloween decorating bonanza.

Next comes Thanksgiving, where recipes are passed on from generations, touch football games are played and epic post-meal Scrabble matches are held.

From there the holiday season kicks into gear as Hannukah, Christmas and New Year’s bring their own own set of family customs.

All of these traditions are annual connections to the past, to our friends and families, passed on from one generation to the next… until they aren’t. People move, go off to college, get married and start their own families. Others pass on or just don’t have the energy for it this year or opt to spend the chilly months in a warmer climate. And so the traditions change or fade.

This is why blogging about traditions is so important. By capturing these customs they become documented for future years and no longer rely on just memories and the odd photograph.

Now the stories and rituals can be re-lived, passed on and resurrected if they happen to get skipped for a few years. Children can have their memories rekindled by looking back on blog posts from years past and bring these traditions back into the annual rhythm of family life.

And even if a family tradition hasn’t been cast aside by our busy modern lives, being able to look back at the stories and photos from each year is a great way to relive those memories and document how things change from year-to-year. Not to mention, it’s a great way to let those who can’t join you on a particular year stay connected to the yearly activities.

So as you dust off your decorations and hunt for the perfect pumpkin, take an extra picture or two. Jot down the funny quips and well-worn jokes trotted out by Grandpa. Create a digital copy of your Aunt’s famous sweet potato pie recipe.

There’s no deeper well for blogging inspiration than your family’s traditions, and few posts you’ll cherish more when reading them in the future.