Let’s talk about tradition. It’s defined as “the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.” While traditions vary drastically from home to home and family to family, one thing remains the same — tradition and home go hand in hand.

Traditions often start with a story, so that’s how we’ll begin today. Once upon a time, my family sat down to dinner.  Dad had just come back from a long business trip and was clearly happy to be home. As we enjoyed a home cooked meal, Dad looked around the dinner table and dramatically declared, “Isn’t it nice all sitting down as a family?” My sister and I rolled our eyes at our sentimental father, but sure enough the next evening, just as everyone sat down to the dinner table, my sister and I raced to say it first.

Isn’t it nice all sitting down as a family?

And he was right.  It was. From that day forward, it became our version of grace.  Every evening before anyone lifted a fork, we’d repeat that simple phrase.  It was a blissful reminder that home, family and the stories shared over dinner were certainly worth appreciating.

I haven’t lived at home for several years now, but I still say our version of grace with my future husband. “Isn’t it nice all sitting down as [almost] family?” He, too, rolls his eyes. But, I know we’ll carry on the tradition when we have children of our own.

Tradition comes in so many different shapes and sizes. And sometimes, we don’t even realize we’ve created a new one. In Coldwell Banker‘s newest 2015 TV ad campaign, “Catch,” we see how the tradition of backyard baseball is passed down from one generation to the next.

What are some of the traditions in your home? Wearing matching pajamas on Christmas Eve? Baking Grandma’s secret chocolate chip cookie recipe? Throwing an annual 4th of July barbecue? Let us know in the comments below — we’d love to hear.