Creating New Traditions (and Keeping the Old)
If you live in the United States, you surely know the Christmas traditions from this country. And you also know the traditions in place when you were a child. And you know the traditions you’ve got in place right now in your family.
Would you enjoy changing things up a bit this year? Maybe dropping off one that doesn’t hold much meaning any more for you and adding something new? Would you like to learn with other countries have as their traditions? How might you use these ideas to establish new traditions in your family?
An Iranian Tradition. Shab-e Yalda is a festival celebrating the longest night during the year. Originally viewed as ominous, Iranians now spend time with friends and family reading poetry. Think pomegranates, nuts, and persimmons.
Celebrating the re-dedication of Jerusalem’s Holy Temple in the second century BCE, Hanukkah festival of lights traditions include lighting an eight-candle menorah each night and celebrating with small gifts. Latkes, donuts, short ribs and noodle kugel are traditional foods. Don’t forget your dreidel.
Into the contents of piñatas? Kids love them. Las Posadas is a Mexican tradition representing the journey of the wise men from home to home, singing and feasting, and the breaking of the piñata. Great time to learn new music and have a traveling Christmas Eve progressive party. En nombre del cielo, Buenos moradores….
Begun only in 1966, Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday that begins on December 26 and runs through the New Year. It’s purpose was to strengthen African Americans to their African heritage. There is a lovely tradition of thinking about these ideas: Unity, Self-Determination, Working Together, Supporting Each Other, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
Diwali is celebrated in Hindu countries and, like Hanukkah, is called the festival of lights. This holiday (generally held around October) celebrates with shopping and food festivals the goddess Lakshimi, she of wealth and prosperity.
In Japan, the tradition at year’s end is to honor the year’s productivity. Niinamesei, a holiday was traditionally a celebration of a bountiful harvest where the members of the Royal Family gave thanks for the year’s food production. That’s now changed to gratitude for those who work for the nation as a whole.
In Hong Kong, Ta Chiu is a celebration of all those currently living. It is an affirmation of life, and is celebrated at the end of the year by the priests putting the name of everyone in attendance and then setting it ablaze as a recognition that those souls attending will be recognized by the gods.
It’s fun to shake ourselves out of our lethargy and ask ourselves if we’re doing what we traditionally do because of some strong meaning the tradition holds for us, or because we’re just going along to get along. I love change and sometimes a little change would do us good. I think the Girl Scouts were right:
“Make new traditions, and keep the old.
One is silver and the other gold.”
Copyright © 2017 Pat Matson all rights reserved
Pat Matson’s path of life’s unfoldment has led her into the world of copywriting where she lends her expertise to the writing of blogs, ezines, curriculum and articles with a common sense message for entrepreneurs, especially life coaches or spiritual coaches. Pat loves to bring the story inside her clients representing their businesses out into the world that needs it so. In addition to her copywriting, Pat is a Walter Method Teacher of metaphysics where she helps illuminate Life’s Laws for her students. Pat’s Write Mind is her home base.
Author: Pat Matson
Pat Matson’s path of life’s unfoldment has led her into the world of copywriting where she lends her expertise to the writing of blogs, ezines, curriculum and articles with a common sense message for entrepreneurs, especially life coaches or spiritual coaches. Pat loves to bring the story inside her clients representing their businesses out into the world that needs it so. In addition to her copywriting, Pat is a Walter Method Teacher of metaphysics where she helps illuminate Life’s Laws for her students. Pat’s Write Mind is her home base.
