be well
Create new
family
traditions
BY BEVIN WALLACE
Regardless of faith, many of us have rituals this time of
year—anything from visiting a farm to singing songs or
baking treats from Grandma’s recipes. Usually, we feel
drawn to reenact such symbolic activities for special
occasions only. But consider this: You can also create your
own everyday routines to share with family or friends—
meaningful, fun, and familiar customs that convey your
values, togetherness, and continuity. “Rituals should allow
you to slow down and convene,” says Jennifer Trainer
Thompson, author of The Joy of Family Traditions (Celestial
Arts, 2008). According to a 50-year research review by the
American Psychological Association, rituals and routines
are linked with marital satisfaction, health, academic
achievement, and stronger family relationships. “The
search for meaning and identity through ritual is ancient,”
says Thompson. “But in today’s hectic world it’s more
important than ever.”
How to start
Helpful tips
Become a personal historian. Consult older family
members about their childhood traditions, and see if you can
re-create one of them.
Begin a new custom. Hold a weekly family movie night
with popcorn and sleeping bags. Bake a family recipe on the
first day of winter break. Turn off the lights and celebrate the
winter solstice (December 21) with a candlelit feast. Take
a family snowshoe hike on New Year’s Day.
Make each day a special occasion. Eat one family meal
per day; brush your teeth together; read poetry or bedtime
stories every night.
Live your values. Have kids clean and mend gently used
toys from last year to donate to a local shelter.
+ Rituals don’t have to be momentous or
time consuming to be meaningful.
+ Don’t let the ritual overshadow the spirit
of the event.
+ Include kids in planning.
+ Minimize interruptions: Turn off phones
and computers.
+ If a ritual feels forced or isn’t fun, especially
as your children grow, abandon it.
JOSE LUIS PELAEZ INC / PHOTOLIBRARY
22
