Families are becoming more and more scattered, both figuratively and literally. The traditional family of Mom and Dad and children is more than likely today to be Mom and step Dad and half siblings. In addition, economic conditions force people to move away from the old homestead, making it difficult to keep in close contact with family members.
This is where tradition plays an important role. Tradition was always important to our ancestors on the farm or back in the old country, but it seems that now that we need it more, we have been losing our traditions. If you want your family to feel close to one another, even if they are not necessarily physically close, you can start some family traditions of your own. Traditions normally center around some basics of life, such as food, celebrations and clothing.
Food
Of course, the ideal tradition is to share family meals with one another, and not too long ago, it was the tradition to spend every Sunday at Grandma’s house for the big Sunday meal. With family’s varied activities, and Grandma probably spending half the year in Florida, this is not very common any more, but we can find new food traditions to share.
- Share recipes. Handing down a family recipe is a great way to feel part of the same tradition.
- Friendship bread. Many friends and families keep the same dough going for years, and each time a loaf is made, the person who brought the dough is thought of.
- Pot luck dinners. If we can’t have big dinners at Grandma’s condo, how about everyone cooking a special dish once a month and sharing it. No major burden for anyone, and lots of fun for everyone.
Celebration
Since we don’t see each other on a routine basis the way families did in the old days, it is now important to make sure we treat every special occasion as a real celebration and make sure we share them together.
-Weddings. Stop the trend for small weddings. Families need to share this special day, especially since it represents the growth of the family
-Christenings. Another addition to the family should be an occasion of joy and celebration and the whole family should be involved.
-Major Birthdays. Every baby’s first birthday, every child’s thirteenth and sixteenth birthday, and all the big ones as adults: 50, 60, 70, 75, etc. Make sure your family never forgets to share them together.
Clothes
This may seem like an odd one, but the tradition of handing down certain items is a great way to keep continuity in a family. There is nothing more special than a bride wearing her mother’s or even grandmother’s wedding gown on her wedding day, and christening robes have been handed down for generations. There is even a tradition in some families of making the christening robe from the bride’s wedding gown. A full circle indeed.
Sometimes being a family involve adding new people to your circle of trust. Unfortunately it’s a dangerous world and you wouldn’t want to expose your family to anyone who could harm them. This great article can help you learn about ways to protect your family from strangers.
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