Traditional ways to change a tradition? Isn’t that an oxymoron? lol
I think, as always, the underlying force in change of any kind is an open minded attitude and willingness to examine how a certain tradition, situation, has expired it’s viability.
This takes a mature and emotionally and self inquiring type of personality, skill, that many do not possess.
My ex husbands mother was extremely rigid in her ideas about Christmas “tradition”, and refused to accomodate those of us that wished to have more of our own family time, those that wished to back out of gift giving and have donations made to their favorite charities instead, those that could not travel to her home every year and those younger members that could not afford to buy multiple gifts for everyone.
She kept trying to up the minimum amount spent on gift giving.
My daughter got into it with her grandmother this past Xmas when she was choosing, for the first time in years, to spend Xmas day with her boyfriends family. OMG! She was guilt tripped, told that ” actions speak louder than words” and in general her grandmother really drove a wedge in their relationship because she is so self centered that everyone MUST follow her criteria or be punished.
It’s about accepting that things change and being willing to re-negotiate on a regular basis, based on changing circumstances and life situations.