Family Traditions: How They're Created and Why They're Important

Much more than just routines, family traditions are like little treasures. Some are inherited, but others are original. Traditions help keep families strong and united. They brighten up family gatherings and provide a sense of continuity and closeness.

There’s an immense variety of traditions that uphold great family values. If you have your own family, you may wish to create your own family traditions to pass on to your children.

Here are some tips for you to build your very own family traditions.

What are family traditions?

The word tradition comes from the Latin traditio. It consists of a set of cultural assets that are considered valuable; these assets are essential, and are maintained and transmitted to new generations as a legacy.

We inherit a tradition and they become part of our identity. However, they must also be renewed and be allowed to develop new expressions so that they can maintain their usefulness and value, without losing their essence.

Basically, they consist of customs or certain behaviors that distinguish some families from others. When you pass a custom down from generation to generation, either orally or through instructions, they become a tradition.

How do you create family traditions?

When forming a new family, it’s a good idea to develop your own traditions. To create them, you could build upon an activity that you inherited from your parents. Or, you can also try the following activities:

Helpful

Giving a helping hand, such as cleaning the neighborhood gardens, or restoring old furniture and cabinets for other people, is a great activity to do as a family.

Musical

You and your family members can participate at or attend music concerts, be part of a choir or just listen to music one day a week.

Physical

These are activities that adults, children, and young people can do together. You could cook, paint, ski, walk, hunt, fish, skate or even dance.

Social

Board or card games are entertaining activities for all ages. But, you can also consider field trips to the beach, the cinema, your library, and to parties.

Nature

To enjoy nature, you can take walks during the fall or winter and stargaze at night. Perhaps you could feed wild animals, such as birds or fish, and camp in a quiet and secluded place.

Theater performances

Dinner time is an excellent opportunity to play word games or pantomimes. Another option would be to attend plays at the theater or go to your children’s school theater presentations.

6 things that you should consider when creating family traditions

When creating family traditions, you should consider the following:

• If you’re going to go somewhere to eat every so often, it’s recommended that you anticipate the expense involved, so that it doesn’t become an inconvenience.
• Do them without stress: as you continue to do them, you can learn and improve upon them.
• Build family traditions upon good memories. Thus, the results will be favorable for the whole family.
• Make simple and small things special; by doing this, you’ll create memories. Also, keep in mind that it strengthens the union between family members.
• Include your parents and grandparents in your new traditions so that they’ll feel like they’re an indispensable part of the family nucleus and don’t become distanced.
• You must teach your children that there are times throughout the year that the family should spend together. Thus, they’ll remain faithful to these traditions and their great sentimental value won’t be lost.

The importance of family traditions

Traditions play a fundamental role in children’s psychological development and help transmit many of the lessons they learn.

They tell stories and talk about objectives and values that pass on from one generation to another; these types of traditions motivate, shape and share a family’s identity.

In addition, they provide security, because when a young person knows what is going to happen, they feel calm, safe and happy.

On the other hand, they’re closely related to stability, mental health, and personality development. Traditions not only define the family identity but also that of all the members individually; therefore, traditions raise self-esteem.

There are many family traditions that foster the love and unity that you seek to enjoy. Put these tips into practice to build your own traditions or keep the ones you already have by giving them another focus. Finally, transmit them to your children to keep certain values intact over time.