The Value of Family Rituals
This time of year is a good time to talk about family rituals. We think about getting together with family and friends and sharing some old traditions or starting some new ones. For families, Christmas means sharing religious beliefs or ethnic foods or the simple exchanging of gifts. These rituals have a symbolic content that provides meaning for the family involved.
Studies show that rituals are on the decline, particularly the ritual of eating meals together. In the past, this has always been a basic ritual for most families. It’s become a victim of our go-go-go and overcommitted lifestyles. Most people blame lack of time for not having many family rituals.
Rituals can be considered the measure of a family’s stability. Family rituals, such as celebrations of Christmas and birthdays, allow children to develop an identity in their immediate family and extended family. They experience feelings of belonging and closeness. These rituals create the memories that children will always cherish. I remember from my own childhood the family gatherings we had on Sundays. We shared more than coffee and sweets. We shared love, laughter, and a sense of kinship.
Be inventive and create some new family rituals! When our daughters were young, we had a cute way of hugging as a family we called the “sandwich.” My husband and I were the two slices of bread. The girls came along to provide the “filling” and we all squeezed together until we ended up laughing. The best rituals are really nothing more than a reflection of our desire to be close to one another.
Jill Phillips
ECFE Parent Educator