Why Traditions Matter

December – a time of holiday celebrations for many, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, or other important events this month.  These holidays are often filled with traditions – lighting the menorah, decorating a Christmas tree, playing Dreidel, sending Christmas cards, special prayers, special music and favorite songs, the ugly Christmas sweater, and often – our favorite foods.  Traditions provide meaning around an event, be it a birthday, holiday, or even daily bedtime.  They are closely related to behaviors, habits and rituals.  Traditions also can provide a form of anticipation, certainty or security in their predictability, .e.g. “we always do this first and then next is…”  That sense of certainly can help people understand where they ‘fit” – what role they play, what they should do, and how to belong – to a family, to a group of friends, to a group of co-workers or teams, to a temple/synagogue/church, or any other organizations in their local community.  Traditions have always played a role in maintaining cultural values, beliefs, and practices.  Traditions strengthen our sense of history and belonging.¹

Traditions can be rich in their meaning.  They can invoke memories.  With our patients, do we assume that their traditions are the same as ours?  Can we assume that traditions have happy meanings?  Maybe.  For some, traditions will be helpful to stimulate memory and awareness of the holiday season and help them be present in the world around them.  For some, the holidays and traditions may invoke memories of loss, crisis, trauma, or general sadness.  Exploring the meaning of tradition will take time, and they may need assistance to create new traditions that reflect new foundations in their lives, the anticipation of moving forward and making positive changes, and making good memories for the future.

What traditions are important to you during this time of year?

How do you integrate traditions and meaning into therapy with your patients/clients and their families?

1. Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noël Piper, copyright © 2003