Are traditions important to you?

[heyheysg]

So you have holidays and people act differently, dress differently, do specific things in a specific manner on certain times of the year. Put up different decorations and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

But logically speaking, there isn't a reason why you can't have 'Thanksgiving' on any other day of the year aside from the arbitrary date.

People who don't participate feel all crap for not being with their families who they otherwise ignore all year long.

So are traditions important to you and why?

 

[WarmasterPopey]

Traditions for me usually only come about if there's some good memory or something attached to the first time it happened, I pay little attention to traditions regarding holidays etc.

Last year, my tradition was to go down to the petrol station and buy a bottle of coke between 12am and 1am every Wednesday morning, just to celebrate the fact that I'd gotten paid again. I'd also stop by the pub on the way to class and have a beer with a mate (also every Wednesday morning), but that was only because the pub I stopped at was right around the corner from my university.

 

[crudus]

Traditions as far as my memories go, yes. Example: before a trip I buy a six pack of Dr. Pepper and pour half of the first can onto the ground and finish the can and drive off (this ritual is promptly followed by 20 minutes of driving then White Castle). Every time I have a safe trip

 

[PandoraMagic]

i love my family traditions and i stick to them because it reminds me of when i was a kid with not a care in the world and no need to worry about stupid people/shit

 

[Bofus Teefus]

Hmm...well I usually volunteer to work the holidays. I guess that makes it a tradition. It's important to me. I mean, I get paid and all that. I guess that makes it important to me. Sure...traditions are important.

 

[rokkolpo]

yes traditions are important.

it keeps us close to the people we care about and express their values the same as you do.

 

[Gardenia]

Christmas for me lasts from 20:00 to 21:30 on the 24th of December. That's when we eat. All other traditions I couldn't care less about.

 

[ultimasupersaiyan]

I'm of European decent so I keep as much traditions as possible, but living in Australia and having Australian in-laws(through my sister's dumb husband/boyfriend/whatever) who pee on anyones traditions that aren't theirs, it's a bit trying to stay true to them and keep them happy.

 

[retrochimp]

To me, tradition is one of the worst reasons to do anything. Essentially it is a societal excuse to do something without having to think it through. This isn't to say that all traditions are bad, but to do something "because it's always been done this way" is an invitation to stagnancy, ignorance, and eventually persecution of those who question the tradition.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Traditions are unnecessary, but some are fun. Our family used to have the tradition of baking ginger bread every year the day before Christmas (the 23rd, that is). Sadly, we don't do that anymore. It was so much fun.

But traditions to date aren't important, but it feels unnecessary to do Christmas every day. It loses the sting.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

i don't really have any traditions. never been someone to do that type of stuff

 

[thisisyournamenow]

in my mind yes they make the culture etc. i like traditions

 

[annoyinglizardvoice]

I can't stand when people keep silly ieas around just because "it's tradition". I see such behaviour as backwards and pointless.

The only things that could be classed as traditions that I bother with are giving some cash towards rememberence each year and buying stuff for my mates around the Saturnalia period.

 

[Jharry5]

The only time of year that I observe tradition is at Christmas; this isn't due to religious beliefs, but more a yearning for a more carefree time before I grew up. The traditions I follow aren't the 'traditional' traditions (if you'll excuse the incredibly poor wording of that), but more family traditions. When these peatered out when I hit my teens, it was kinda sad.

Any other time of the year though, I don't follow them.

 

[Puzzles]

I'm open to change.

It's just that change is normally for the worse.

I stopped Christmas and things years ago, and I try hard not to do anything on my birthday. I like to have fun and make a mess at other peoples parties, rather than have my own.