Local customs promote a sense of belonging. When times are hard, and you don’t know your neighbors — it may be time to invent a tradition

By Collin Leonard

The word “tradition” can mean many things to many people. It carries connotations of rich ancestral practices, national holidays and that song from “Fiddler on the Roof.” 

January is the perfect time to reflect on the traditions in your own life, from the Christmas rush you’re still recovering from to the New Year’s resolutions that are destined to die in February (also a tradition).

In my own experience, co-workers and friends have a wide array of responses when asked about the traditions in their families. Some excitedly tell me of annual activities that work to reconnect them with their heritage. Others freeze, wondering if they have anything unique to bring to the table.

I can’t help but identify with the latter, feeling I am missing out on something that should have been there, but wasn’t. Upon further reflection, I’ve begun to realize my traditions rarely involve interactions with people outside my immediate family and friends. This realization began a deep dive into the traditions that others have — their purposes, what makes them meaningful, and how to start my own.

Many practices were invented to manufacture a sense of national identity. You might not know that May 1 is “Loyalty Day;” I can only guess it is celebrated by whispering the pledge of allegiance to a picture of Mount Rushmore. For Independence Day, some Kentuckians celebrate by shooting obsolete electronics out in the woods. A man at the airport informed me that the community of Bar Harbor, Maine, bets on lobster races (I don’t think the lobsters know they’re racing).

And while traditions can be fun and lighthearted, there is a dark side. Dueling in powdered wigs and Mariah Carey at Christmas do not promote a community’s well-being.

Traditions are a reflection of society, and the importance of these activities cannot be overstated. They are some of the most effective mechanisms for developing a sense of belonging and are a catalyst for communal gatherings.

https://www.deseret.com/2023/1/21/23540901/why-tradition-matters-and-how-to-start-your-own