Strong families are built on a foundation of connection, closeness, emotional safety, security, and stability. One effective way to nurture these qualities is by establishing and maintaining family traditions. In Kentucky, family traditions and values are deeply intertwined with a strong sense of community and support networks, making them a cornerstone of the region’s culture.

In London, KY, the Wilderness Trail Area recently hosted a Holiday Cooking School, an event dedicated to celebrating and preserving family traditions. Using the "Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions" curriculum, the event highlighted the importance of traditions while also educating participants about food safety.

The Holiday Cooking School welcomed 186 participants from eight counties in the Wilderness Trail Area, including Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Rockcastle, and Whitley. Alongside the attendees, 19 vendors contributed to the success of the event, making it a vibrant and interactive gathering.

The impact of the "Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions" curriculum was evident in the evaluation feedback. Among the participants who provided responses (70%), an impressive majority gained valuable insights:

• 89% learned how family traditions create lasting memories.
• 85% understood how traditions connect generations.
• 85% recognized the role of traditions in offering comfort and security.
• 84% appreciated how traditions help strengthen family bonds.
• 86% connected the concept of strong families with the presence of meaningful traditions.

This event emphasized the importance of traditions in fostering strong families and highlighted ways to celebrate shared values.