In today’s society, finding time for families to spend together has become increasingly difficult. Many wonder if quality time is still possible amidst our busy lives as providers or college students. Moreover, the idea of family has undergone significant transformations. We now encounter various interpretations and portrayals of what it means to have a family. Some maintain traditional family structures while others have intricate family trees due to divorce, single parenthood, and remarriage. Additionally, there are individuals who opt for independent living but maintain strong bonds with friends they consider as family.
Many individuals find it challenging to celebrate together and may see traditions as outdated and irrelevant. Traditions are often perceived as imposed by someone unattractive whom we only encounter on holidays. This indicates that relying on past examples is no longer feasible, and instead, we must create new traditions within our own families. While celebrating may not pose a difficulty, it requires finding innovative approaches.
Why should we celebrate tradition? It provides us with something to anticipate and emphasizes that there are certain aspects of life deserving of our gratitude. For some individuals, the concept of honoring tradition is unsettling, let alone establishing new ones. We acknowledge the necessity for something to bring a sense of organization and stability into our lives. However, we are uncertain about how to establish our own traditions. We tend to believe that traditions must encompass weighty and intricate concepts that have existed for centuries and will continue for many more years.
In my perspective, traditions do not need to be extravagant or tied to religion. To me, a tradition is simply an activity that brings happiness and comfort, which is why we continue to participate in it over time. Frost’s “Mending wall” tells a story that can be viewed as an unintentional tradition. When the two neighbors come together after winter to mend the wall, they also engage in conversation about their thoughts and feelings. For example, every Sunday, my father prepares tea and sets up two cups—one for himself and one for me. This routine has become familiar to me. If I had to get my own cup from the cabinet, it would feel out of place.
Every morning, the sight of my cup in the kitchen fills me with readiness and anticipation for the day ahead, bringing me a small measure of happiness.
Each night, I continue to sleep with an old pillow that should be discarded. However, I have grown attached to it and find solace when resting my head upon it.
While diligently working on homework assignments, I find comfort in the familiar sounds coming from the kitchen where my mother is busy preparing dinner. These comforting noises serve as a constant reminder of our shared routine.
On Sundays, our family has established a tradition of dining at a Chinese restaurant where we feel valued and acknowledged as loyal patrons.
If we didn’t have these particular traditions, we would have alternative ones. This is because traditions are exacting. Examine your own life and you’ll observe that they are ubiquitous. We definitely need them to introduce some structure into our lives. For instance, contemplate a chef who works extensive hours and is seldom present for dinner, except on Mondays. Then, on those occasions, he departs the restaurant earlier than usual and hurries home to spend time with his family. His family knows they can depend on this, and they commemorate by having a distinctive dinner at home every Monday night.
My friends Brian and Andy have a house with both a living room and a family room, but I have never witnessed them utilizing the living room. Once, I complimented its exquisite decor and inquired if they ever make use of it. Their response was, “Indeed! Every Sunday, we sit in there to peruse the newspaper.” Meanwhile, my neighbor’s children adorn their house windows with seasonal illustrations such as Valentines, snowflakes, pumpkins, and fireworks. This serves as a reminder for upcoming holidays. Additionally, Vine, another friend of mine, indulges his son Jackie with “horsy rides”. Each night at seven-thirty sharp, Jackie mounts the majestic steed and elegantly dismounts onto the plush carpeting.
The importance of these moments is challenging to assess as they encompass individual traditions and innovations aimed at enhancing the meaning in people’s lives and their loved ones’ lives. Tradition plays a crucial role in everybody’s life to some extent. By engaging in these activities, familial bonds are forged, and a sense of fulfillment is achieved. Partaking in such endeavors fosters unity among individuals and aids us in comprehending our personal identity. Each action we take and every day we live contributes to the formation of tradition, albeit in various forms.
