Importance and Types of Family Traditions

Overcoming a pandemic has taught us the value of family and its tradition amongst many other things. No matter how awkward you feel, or how many fights you have had, family traditions are those celebrations that glue the members together. All the stress, misunderstandings, and anger melt away once you meet your cousins, uncles and aunts during “Durga Puja” or “Bhai Dooj” or Christmas. Do not think that only these elaborate festivals define a family’s traditions. It may be as simple as going camping every summer, meeting all your extended families once a year. or maybe having a simple Sunday dinner with all.

Yes, anything and everything you do with your family, from an elaborate dinner to simple fishing with your father, can be called a family tradition as long as it is recreated every year and leaves a long-lasting memory to cherish. Strange but true, it took a pandemic for the world to understand the importance of family traditions.

Different Types of Traditions

Family traditions may involve goofy activities, gift exchanges, storytimes, and even get-togethers that continue throughout the family’s existence and are passed down from generation to generation. Few originate from religious beliefs and festivals and some from societal norms and culture:

1. Traditions Originating From Religion

Since the depth of religious beliefs varies from one family to another, these traditions also vary vastly across cultures and countries. Festivals related to religious beliefs like Durga Puja, Eid, Guru Nanak Jayanti, and Christmas have given rise to traditions that are followed to date, which are as strong as the religious beliefs themselves. These have become a part of family traditions as they have been ingrained in every family member since childhood and bring them together at least once a year, no matter which part of the globe they reside in.

2. Cultural Traditions of A Family

These are imbibed from the culture and traditions you observe around you while growing up consciously or subconsciously. It develops through behavioural interaction with your environment and people in your society based on the values taught to you as you grow up. Some cultural traditions worldwide that even we have absorbed as a society are putting cake on your face while you celebrate your birthday, wearing white on your wedding day, offering prayers to ancestors, etc.

3. Exclusive Family Traditions

This is specific to a family unit. It can be as simple as cooking a meal on Sunday, going for dinner on birthdays or having a vacation in your favourite destination. It can also be elaborate if you have a big extended family. In India, inviting the whole family to weddings and funerals is tradition. These events are considered highly personal in Western nations, and invitations may be restricted.

Why are Family Traditions Important?

The importance of family rituals cannot be ignored. These serve several important purposes, and their impact is lifelong for any individual, especially growing children:

1. Long-lasting Memories: They create memories that remain permanently etched in your life. They help you reconnect whenever you meet, even after years of distance. Moments spent with your loved ones are always a welcome feeling wherever you are. Even if you are unable to attend your family event or celebrations, the memories remain and are sure to warm you up when you miss them.
2. A Breather from Daily Routine: If you have strong family traditions and rituals which push you to come back home to your parents, it is something you look forward to the entire year. You may refrain from taking leaves for your vacation to keep days available to celebrate Durga Puja with your family. It adds a little spice to your year when you deck up in traditional attire, keep your diets aside and have late-night “addas” without a worry. It becomes a significant event for everyone in your immediate and extended family.
3. Provides Consistency: Traditional celebrations become a part of the family and happen every year, providing a certain amount of consistency in a child’s life. You may often be transferred to different places for work, and your child may be changing schools often. But if you keep going back to celebrate the traditions and rituals every year, your child will feel rooted and loved and develop a sense of belonging. In this dynamic world, these small rituals provide stability and make you feel close to your cultural roots.
4. Generational Gap: Since participation in these celebrations is not restricted to age, the generation gap is minimised as grandparents and grandchildren enjoy these together. It helps pass on the values and principles of a family and society from one generation to another naturally without resistance. Since all members are in a good mood, disputes and conflicts are rare and avoided most of the time.
5. Strengthening Familial Bond: Due to distance and hectic schedules, you often forget the sacrifices made by your parents or hardly get time to spend with your child. These traditions remind you of the importance of having a family and spending time with them. You realise how precious these moments are once you get back to your daily grind and look back on your life.
6. Rejuvenates Connection: A cousin, an aunt or even your grandfather may be waiting for you to come and meet them. But with your busy life with work and kids, you will never be able to make time on a regular day or even a weekend. But these traditions bring you closer and recharge the relationship that went cold due to a lost connection. These memories created together keep you closer even when you are far apart. The importance of traditions in the family is gaining prominence as joint families in India are growing apart, and nuclear units now predominate Indian society.

Ways to Start Your Family Traditions

Though it is highly personal and cannot be dictated by any norms, here are some ideas to get you started with more such traditions to keep your family closer :

• Lullabies and Bedtime Stories: Singing to infants and tucking toddlers in with a bedtime story is not only a healthy way of getting your child to love reading but can also be a tradition that is enjoyed by all.
• Family Meals: On Sunday, cook a meal, like lunch or dinner, together. This will teach your children empathy and important life skills.
• Religious Services: Attend “Aartis” or Sunday Mass, or visit Gurudwaras with your parents and child. It helps your child learn about your culture and faith and makes them curious to learn more. It will also be a time when you can bond with them answering all their queries.
• Volunteering for Good Cause: Take time out to volunteer to teach underprivileged children or give time to aged seniors in nursing homes. You can even celebrate your child’s birthday with children of an orphanage. This will show your child how to contribute positively towards society and be selfless.

Never mind the soundness of the tradition. It can be you just goofing around with your child or parents. All that matters is that all the members take back some good memories that they cherish and look forward to experiencing every year.

>> Also Read: Selecting the Best Family Floater Health Insurance

Wrapping Up!

Family traditions can be the glue that holds families together. These provide a shared sense of belonging owing to the shared memories. They are a safe space for connection, laughter, and passing down values to the next generation. In this ever changing world, such traditions act as a comforting reminder of who we are and where we come from.

As you nurture your family traditions, you should also consider protecting your finances and well-being with a reliable family health insurance plan. Just like these traditions, health insurance acts as a safety net, protecting your family from unexpected medical expenses.

Disclaimers: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.