Traditions Make Seasons Exceptional

Traditions

Traditions have built our nation and our lives to be what they are today. If you ask anyone you walk up to if they have a tradition, I bet they could name at least one if not more traditions their families participate in. Let’s dive in a bit deeper, shall we?

What are they?

The Dictionary explains Traditions as long-standing or transmission of customs or beliefs from one generation to another. To give or hand over for safekeeping.

Reasons for Traditions

Language

The languages we speak or learn to speak transfer from generation to generation. It’s a part of our heritage, something to keep alive from ages past. What languages can you speak? I am fluent in English, of course, but I would love to learn Gaelic. My children are learning Chinese and Japanese and in turn my husband and I are learning some as they learn.

Sports

The sports we watch or participate in started somewhere, right? They have been played for so long they will continued throughout the years and celebrated during certain times of the year. The Superbowl, The World Series, The Stanley Cup Finals, and Basketball Championship to name a few are very popular.

Holidays

The holidays we celebrate are those that travel through time as we celebrate them from year to year. Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Christmas, The Fourth of July and many more have been celebrated each year to recognize different events and victories in our nations history.

The Arts

Music, plays, performances and more are enjoyed every year. There is no finer entertainment than the performances on a stage.

Food

Food is one thing that never changes and yet always changes. Variations of dishes, how to cook them, their ingredients, and more provide traditions within many families. What food you eat when, such as Turkey on Thanksgiving or in my family a rotation of ham, lasagna, another dish I can’t remember each Christmas.

Fashion

Though fashion changes throughout the years, there are records, plays, movies, even photo galleries and events that keep the tradition of long gone wardrobes alive. Who would love dressing in clothes from the 1930’s for a day?

Religion

Your beliefs and customs have been passed on since time began. Every religion has a story of how it started along with events that occurred throughout history. We tell these stories to our children and they will continue as long as we continue to pass them on.

Importance Of Tradition

Creates Identity

Traditions teach and provide younger generations with stories, tales and customs of where their family came from, their religion, and their culture. Stories are the best way to pass on traditions.

One such story we have is back in 2008 one of my sister’s was uncertain what she wanted for Christmas. My parents gave her a gift that unbeknownst to them would create a tradition that is still going today. They wrapped a fruitcake (one of those long rectangular ones you can purchase from any store) in a box with rubber bands attached to it. My dad had fun asking us to shake it and guess what was inside. My thought was bouncy balls. To this day, every year that same fruitcake is wrapped up many different ways. Some include mailed to the receiver, buried in a box of coal, had a candle formed around it, and in a giant stuffed bear that apparently pooped out the fruitcake. It is an event we cherish and share together every year, which leads into the next topic…

Family Connection

Traditions can enforced and strengthen family connections and ties. If you have a larger family as I do, you may have a family reunion where you can connect with all those relatives you haven’t had a chance to see in a while. Or perhaps you take a trip every year as my sisters and I try to. We go to a cabin or resort for a few days to a week to catch up, have fun and strengthen the bonds we have as sisters.

Teaches Values

Through rituals, customs or family stories you can impart on your children the values and moral aptitude you desire your child to receive as a young one. Reading to them at night, praying each morning and before bed, and daily family activities can impart upon them the values they need to become amazing adults.

Hand Down Religion and Culture

The teachings of your culture and religion will not continue unless your young ones or even older ones don’t hear the stories, revelations, testimonies, and culture from you. It gives them a look into the past as they learn about how their family came to be, how it formed and grew to be as they are today. Don’t let that slip away.

Creates Fond Memories

Just like any memory; actions, stories, and tales are attached to them. Create lasting memories with your family and your traditions will continue to bring joy and happiness as the years move forward.

Some of our Traditions

Would you like to hear about some of our traditions?

What are Your Traditions?

I would love to hear about your family traditions! Do you have something unique that you pass around as we do?