Traditions are rituals we often hold dear, with special meaning for the family and a way to celebrate our shared culture. However, there may be times when we feel pressured by family traditions to do things in a certain way.
Christmas, for example, is meant to be the “most wonderful time of the year,” but it can sometimes be a strain, given all the pressure and expectations to have fun and to get along with everyone.
This could result in just going through the motions of traditions and rituals, making it all feel more like a chore than an expression of joy.
Family dynamics may change—perhaps through divorce, the death of a loved one, or the blending of families into new, beautiful yet challenging arrangements. As time passes, old traditions may not seem suitable for you and your family or for the values you want to foster in your children. Creating new traditions with your family—or even with your friends—can be a powerful way to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones.
A tradition or ritual is an action or series of actions that you perform more than once, often at a specific time of the day or year. Traditions are frequently associated with religion, as every religion has traditions in some form, as part of its practice. But not all traditions are religious: graduation ceremonies, observing national holidays and attending local festivals are all examples of secular traditions.
Traditions have many positive effects on families and social groups. Here are some excellent benefits of traditions:
Creating traditions is something you can do with your loved ones, so everyone feels connected to the practice. Here’s how to get started:
First, identify what you already do that counts as a tradition.
Ask, “Is this tradition serving my family and me?” “Does it need to change or be replaced with something that suits us better, or do we like it as it is?”
Come up with something new. Perhaps you want to light candles if you haven’t before. Maybe you want to meditate together. Write a song or a poem. Maybe your new tradition is culinary. (Is there a new food item that is more connected to your family now than what you ate growing up?) Whatever it is, creating something new with your loved ones is an excellent bonding activity.
While you may start making new traditions around Christmas, consider bringing them into all parts of the year—some can be daily, others weekly, and others still can happen once or twice a year. The new traditions do not have to be elaborate to have meaning. Keep them simple if they suit you. Have fun with it. That’s the best part of creating traditions yourself: you and your family can truly enjoy them!