The importance of carrying on family traditions
When the holidays are mentioned, the image of the stereotypical American family comes to mind: perhaps the father figure carving up the turkey, a motherly woman wearing an apron in the kitchen or maybe even the image of a family seated around an overloaded table of food.
While these images are nice to imagine, most families have their own unique traditions when it comes to the holidays. Some people may celebrate the upcoming season by going on a road trip to cut down their own Christmas tree straight from nature, others make tamales with various members of their family and most participate in gift giving.
There is never a wrong way to celebrate traditions because each family is unique. However, when life becomes too chaotic for activities that have been practiced for years, it may be time to remember what matters most during this festive season.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word “tradition” as, “the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.”
Traditions teach people about where they come from and help to establish bonds between family members. They teach us to cherish the special memories created with loved ones even after they have passed on.
“Our traditions act as a compass for all of our human relationships and personal interactions, the qualitative experiences of our family life, and ultimately, the development of civilized societies themselves. As we honor traditions, so we learn to honor ourselves, and in the final analysis, each other,” said Donna Rockwell, doctor of psychology, in an article published in Ambassador Magazine and republished on the website PsychAlive.
To put it into perspective, children learn about their family through their traditions. They learn that the events done year after year are something to look forward to and to help with as they grow older. Unfortunately, in this age of technology, as children grow older they are less inclined to help with family traditions because electronics are more enticing. As the years have passed, people’s lives have only grown crazier with various priorities to juggle, so most people look for any shortcut that will make their lives easier to manage.
Why learn to make the family recipe for gumbo when grandpa will always be there to cook it? Why participate in the annual trip to the tree farm when you can buy one at the local grocery store? Why should you travel out of town to visit relatives when you know that both the airport and roadways are going to be jammed with other annoyed travelers?
People are becoming more self-involved and technologically focused. Even when families are able to come together to celebrate the holidays, the majority of time is spent focused on various screens rather than face-to-face interaction. The kids are watching television and everyone else is either on their phone or on their computer. They are not taking the time to realize that these precious moments spent with family are valuable until these traditions cease to continue.
During this holiday season, take a break from technology and see if someone needs help in the kitchen or setting the table. Perhaps play with your little cousins and teach them to build a gingerbread house. Every moment is precious, don’t let a single one slip away.
