What is your most cherished family tradition?

My mother and father each came from a family of five siblings and had at least 40 first cousins, so four times a year they would gather for a “family meeting.” In summer we’d have a picnic at Jackson Park in Chicago; winters meant Hanukkah celebrations. First there would be a short business meeting in which the adults decided which organization would receive their pool of tzadakah (charity money). Afterward the men would play cards and the women mah-jongg, while the kids were free to play or listen to the adults’ stories. There was always a huge meal, and the meeting location would rotate so each family got a chance to share favorite recipes. Today the stories continue, the tzadakah is collected, and the memories grow.

This tip comes from Real Simple reader Sandra Kosner, Orland Park, Illinois