Traditions are arguably the backbone of any society and impact how people see themselves and others.

Most Christian people grin at the notion of Christmas traditions, which evoke delicious anticipation and nostalgia due to the festiveness of this joyous occasion. 

We can virtually smell the candles, taste the special meals, and hear the old traditional music.

Personal events like birthdays and marriages, as well as seasonal festivals like Thanksgiving and religious holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah, are all marked by rituals. And the more excellent the ceremony, the more joyous the occasion will be.

But it’s not simply the joyous atmosphere of the season that makes us crave traditions; they’re also an essential feature of most cultures.

Consider this — from the harvest festivities of the ancient Aztec empire to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, customs have taken center stage in all civilizations. 

So what is it about traditions that you find so appealing? What is it about doing the same rituals year after year that makes us feel warm and fuzzy?

Traditions have predictability and stability

There are a few fascinating answers to this question from the angle of psychology. One of them, of course, is that humans like predictability and stability; we crave it so much that, according to 2010 Northwestern University research, up to 93 percent of all our activities may be anticipated ahead of time.

The regularity of some aspects of your life is essential for your growth and emotional well-being; a little routine may be beneficial, especially when we’re children and teenagers. In addition, instability can have a significant impact on a child’s future life.

We cherish tradition because of who we are as a species and how we’ve evolved to endure difficulties. 

However, its science is much more complicated than our desire for stability. Because of this, rules must comprise a set of particular components to lodge themselves in our thoughts and communities securely. 

Appealing meals

A Christmas feast would not be complete without a festive supper. Cooking has been our species’ defining feature since the earliest humans huddled around a fire to roast their kill.

The long hours spent in the kitchen and dining room preparing and eating holiday meals fulfill some of the same social purposes as our forefathers’ hearths. Sharing a ceremonial meal signifies community, gathers the entire family around the table, and facilitates dialogue and connection.

Food and meal preparation is central to all societies’ rituals. According to Jewish custom, all food must be chosen and cooked following precise guidelines (Kosher). 

Only the right hand is permitted to be used for eating in regions of the Middle East and India. In several European nations, locking eyes when making a toast is required to avoid seven years of poor sex.

Expected gifts

During the Christmas season, it is customary to exchange gifts. From a reasonable standpoint, this may appear senseless, at best, as recycling or squandering resources.

But don’t dismiss the significance of these interactions. Anthropologists have observed that in many communities, ritualized gift-giving plays a vital role in preserving social bonds by establishing networks of reciprocal interactions.

For the people and the people in the world, for the people in the world. The genius of this approach is that most people wind up getting what they would have bought otherwise—the money is recycled, but everyone still enjoys giving and receiving presents.

Family bonds

The most crucial function of holiday traditions is to preserve and deepen family relationships. Indeed, for distant relatives, Christmas customs may be the glue that ties the family together.

Ritual is a strong indicator of identity and group membership. According to several of my field investigations, participating in communal rituals generates feelings of belonging and enhanced compassion toward other group members.

It’s no wonder, therefore, that the first time spending the holidays with the in-laws is typically seen as a rite of passage — a symbol of a basic family membership.

Children place a high value on holiday customs. According to research, youngsters participating in group rituals develop more closely associated with their classmates. Furthermore, having more pleasant recollections of family traditions appears to be related to having more favorable interactions with one’s children.

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