“Our moral traditions developed concurrently with our reason, not as its product,” explains Friedrich August von Hayek. In the short story, “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote, two cousins work hard and long hours to make fruitcakes for their friends as a Christmas tradition. Throughout the short story, the fruitcake- making tradition helps maintain and even strengthen Buddy and his cousin’s friendship. The importance of traditions and their role in strengthening relationships is evidenced by Buddy and his cousin’s bonding and hard work put into making the fruitcakes every year. The amount of time that Buddy and his cousin spent together baking fruitcakes made a great impact on their relationship, in a positive way.