Passing on Traditions
Some of the strongest bonds in many families are passed on from generation to generation as a result of cultural heritages from the land of their ancestry. Those customs often retain cultural tastes in food, dress, dance and even in professions.
Another passing on of custom can be that of a trade or profession. Throughout most of history, children learned the trade of their fathers that had in turn been learned from their fathers.
Because many modern societies have given up such practices altogether, crafts that have endured for centuries are being lost.
Even if a youngster does not wish to follow in his father's footsteps, if a trade, craft or profession has been learned, he will have something to fall back on.
It's amazing today how few boys do any household jobs, paint or mend things, change the oil or tune up the car. Only a small number of girls know how to sew, quilt or even cook for the matter.
You see, in order to learn many of these skills, you have to spend time with your father or mother or with grandparents.
Since most of us are not living on a farm, we don't know how to plant, cultivate, harvest, can, bottle or freeze vegetables and fruits. Even if many families wanted to have a vegetable garden, they wouldn't know how to. Yet many middle-aged parents have known how to plant a garden--and almost every grandparent had one; probably grew up on a farm or in the country. Why haven't we passed on these fun and useful skills?
If you have not learned any skills that should have been perpetuated in your family, why not take a little time to backtrack and learn from your father or mother in order to pass them on to your son or daughter?
Building New Traditions
Maybe you are part of a family that just does not have a long family history. Perhaps you have no knowledge of your ancestry or even of a craft of your parents.
But that should not stop you from establishing bonds in your family now. Actually, whether you have realised it or not, there are really only two courses of action to take. Either build meaningful and lasting traditions in your family, or drift into nontraditions that will cause your family to split farther and farther apart from one another.
Why not sit down this evening and talk over what kind of relationships will best benefit your family? Get out the old picture album. Recall Granddad and Grandma--even your great-grandparents. Maybe you'll bring up some long lost part of your family past that your children have never even heard before.
Then talk about what kind of new customs you would like to incorporate into your family. Some of the most meaningful family experiences can be worked around vacation. Perhaps visiting national parks, or taking up camping, fishing or other outdoor activities, will be something your family can enjoy.
One of the best ways to spend vacation time is to hold regular family reunions such as have been mentioned earlier.
So whether you decide on special vacation trips, outdoor camp-outs, dinners or nothing more than a quiet afternoon in your own back-yard, make up your mind to build strong family bonds. You'll always be glad you did. Not only will it pull your family together as a team now, but someday your grandchildren will thank you for establishing family bonds that will be passed on to their children and to generations yet to come.
So...... how's the article friends???? Hope it will really helps us and our families as well as the generations yet to come to preserve strong family ties. I belief that we can still get together with our family, though not as specifically mentioned above by the author, but on the other way round........ For example, instead of getting all the children to come home for holiday at the parent's home (which is the children's home town) , why not gather at one of the children's place instead, off course depending on which is more economical and convenient to all. As we all know that most children today will be studying or working in another city, where there are better jobs opportunities than being with their parents at their home town. Another situation will be, going off for a holiday at an agreed destination or spot, where all will meet and have an enjoyable family vacation together. Then, once a year (maybe during the New Year festivals) the children can plan to come home to celebrate this grand festival with the rest of the other family members, such as Uncles, Aunties, Grandparents, Cousins, Niece, Nephews, and off course their 'long time no see - friends!' See....... it can be done right???
Dear friends, everything is possible if we really put our mind into it!! Remember, this week is "Family Week", so...... have an enjoyable week with your family and continue to "Build Strong Family Ties" within your family.......... God Bless You All!!
Some of the strongest bonds in many families are passed on from generation to generation as a result of cultural heritages from the land of their ancestry. Those customs often retain cultural tastes in food, dress, dance and even in professions.
Another passing on of custom can be that of a trade or profession. Throughout most of history, children learned the trade of their fathers that had in turn been learned from their fathers.
Because many modern societies have given up such practices altogether, crafts that have endured for centuries are being lost.
Even if a youngster does not wish to follow in his father's footsteps, if a trade, craft or profession has been learned, he will have something to fall back on.
It's amazing today how few boys do any household jobs, paint or mend things, change the oil or tune up the car. Only a small number of girls know how to sew, quilt or even cook for the matter.
You see, in order to learn many of these skills, you have to spend time with your father or mother or with grandparents.
Since most of us are not living on a farm, we don't know how to plant, cultivate, harvest, can, bottle or freeze vegetables and fruits. Even if many families wanted to have a vegetable garden, they wouldn't know how to. Yet many middle-aged parents have known how to plant a garden--and almost every grandparent had one; probably grew up on a farm or in the country. Why haven't we passed on these fun and useful skills?
If you have not learned any skills that should have been perpetuated in your family, why not take a little time to backtrack and learn from your father or mother in order to pass them on to your son or daughter?
Building New Traditions
Maybe you are part of a family that just does not have a long family history. Perhaps you have no knowledge of your ancestry or even of a craft of your parents.
But that should not stop you from establishing bonds in your family now. Actually, whether you have realised it or not, there are really only two courses of action to take. Either build meaningful and lasting traditions in your family, or drift into nontraditions that will cause your family to split farther and farther apart from one another.
Why not sit down this evening and talk over what kind of relationships will best benefit your family? Get out the old picture album. Recall Granddad and Grandma--even your great-grandparents. Maybe you'll bring up some long lost part of your family past that your children have never even heard before.
Then talk about what kind of new customs you would like to incorporate into your family. Some of the most meaningful family experiences can be worked around vacation. Perhaps visiting national parks, or taking up camping, fishing or other outdoor activities, will be something your family can enjoy.
One of the best ways to spend vacation time is to hold regular family reunions such as have been mentioned earlier.
So whether you decide on special vacation trips, outdoor camp-outs, dinners or nothing more than a quiet afternoon in your own back-yard, make up your mind to build strong family bonds. You'll always be glad you did. Not only will it pull your family together as a team now, but someday your grandchildren will thank you for establishing family bonds that will be passed on to their children and to generations yet to come.
So...... how's the article friends???? Hope it will really helps us and our families as well as the generations yet to come to preserve strong family ties. I belief that we can still get together with our family, though not as specifically mentioned above by the author, but on the other way round........ For example, instead of getting all the children to come home for holiday at the parent's home (which is the children's home town) , why not gather at one of the children's place instead, off course depending on which is more economical and convenient to all. As we all know that most children today will be studying or working in another city, where there are better jobs opportunities than being with their parents at their home town. Another situation will be, going off for a holiday at an agreed destination or spot, where all will meet and have an enjoyable family vacation together. Then, once a year (maybe during the New Year festivals) the children can plan to come home to celebrate this grand festival with the rest of the other family members, such as Uncles, Aunties, Grandparents, Cousins, Niece, Nephews, and off course their 'long time no see - friends!' See....... it can be done right???
Dear friends, everything is possible if we really put our mind into it!! Remember, this week is "Family Week", so...... have an enjoyable week with your family and continue to "Build Strong Family Ties" within your family.......... God Bless You All!!
1 comment:
A fabulous article you've shared.
It's really true that most traditions, customs or even cultures are diminishing especially with the younger generations, not to mention the future generations!!
Today, children are moving to cities to advance their career, so only the parents are left at home in their hometown. It's rather scary to think of it as most parents today are being sent to the most unexpected & unwanted place "The Old Folks Home"!!
Hope this article will really helps to open up the minds, eyes & hearts of all families as well as reminding us of what is actually happening in families of today's era.
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