Tradition is defined as "a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc. for a long time." My family has always been one to follow traditions. From Christmas to summer vacation, we have more traditions than I can count on my fingers. You name it, we follow them. From the exact placement of decorations to the day we get the tree to the types of Christmas cookies we bake. But why are traditions so important?
Traditions give us something to look forward to.
Of course, certain times of year are always full of excitement and anticipation. But take a minute to think about what these times would be like without traditions. Whether big or small, there is most likely something you can think of that you have grown up doing year after year. For me, it's driving around in the car with my family, eating Christmas cookies, and looking at the lights and decorations on houses around town. Don't get me wrong—the holiday season is amazing enough as it is. But it just wouldn't be the same without traditions.
Traditions help us create meaningful memories.
Some of the best memories we have can be traced back to our traditions. They become ingrained in our minds and make us who we are. Some of the happiest, clearest, and most vivid memories we have stem from family traditions. Something I remember from years ago is getting lost in a neighborhood as we drove around looking at lights. We drove for what seemed like hours before we found our way out. As silly as it may sound, it's memories like these that will stick with us and make us smile as the years pass by.
Traditions connect generations.
The traditions we take part in every year have often been done by parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. It's important to thank our parents for exposing us to traditions and giving us the opportunity to experience and take part in something so beautiful and unique. At times, it can be difficult to keep up with traditions. Sometimes it requires a lot of planning and effort, but it is always worth it. One day in the future, I hope to pass down my family's traditions to my own children. Traditions bridge the generation gap, and this is powerful beyond words.
Traditions are constant.
These days our lives are hectic, fast-paced, stressful, and just plain busy. It seems as though everything is in a constant state of change. Traditions give us the opportunity to slow down and appreciate the simple things in life. Of all the things that come in and out of our lives, traditions will always be there for us to remind us of where we came from and who we are.
