Having traditions as a family means that you have some activities or experiences that you like to pass on from each generation. It can be a lot of fun, and as the family grows, can be something that you can all enjoy. They are something that the family can look forward to at certain times of year, and it can be something that can really help families to bond. They can also help create a sense of identity, as well as belonging, helping to create amazing memories. There is also some continuity with this across generations, which is a really lovely thing.
Over the past year or so some family traditions and holidays have been a little different, as we’ve not been able to see family in the way that we normally would. The good news is that there are some tools that can help, such as using Elfster as a way of doing an online secret Santa, or creating wish lists on a site like Amazon to then get gifts sent to families that are far away. Keeping them going can be something that takes planning, as well as commitment. But there are things that we can do to keep them going and to get all of the benefits of it experiencing family traditions.
What each family can choose to do as traditions can be completely different, but if you feel like you don’t have many traditions as a family, now could be the time to think about what you could do and what would work well for you. Here are some of the reasons why it can be a good thing for your family:
Benefits of Family Traditions
- They can help all of the family to have some amazing memories. You probably remember some things that your family did for Christmas or Easter when you were a child, so creating that for your own family is an amazing thing for them to have and be able to reminisce about.
- Traditions can help your children to bond with your family and help to give them a sense of security that comes from this kind of regularity and continuity. They know what to expect each year. This also helps them to have a real sense of belonging, especially if they know that cousins, uncles, and grandparents are all going to be doing the same kind of thing.
- All families are different, but when you have traditions that suit you and your family, it can help to pass down the family values that you hold close. This could be something religious or cultural, and will help children as they get older and move to have families of their own.
- Family traditions help to keep families connected, and it can also be an element of family history with traditions. There may be some things that have been done for generations, and it can be a great time to teach children about great-great-grandparents and why they started a certain tradition, for example.