It seems few rituals stay with us these days, except for the holidays. We celebrate with parties, services and family gatherings. We come together, because we want to see people and because we honor the tradition behind the gathering.
These times let us acknowledge that, at least once every year, we strengthen our ties to family and friends. Pressures to make these times separate from the general society remind us that perpetuating important traditions depends on us.
Participating in these celebrations reminds us that, as individuals, we value the past given to us and that we care enough to mark the significance of this every year. We hear some people tell us that these occasions only abide because of outmoded or old-fashioned ideas that outlived any usefulness. I say they need to continue, because the traditions they represent never go out of fashion.
Americans love the concept of progress, and we know what benefits this love brings us. Looking at the past 100 years of technical innovations illustrates this, and we want the development of this progress to continue. As people, the ways we commemorate traditions that material advances never outmatch become invaluable.
When people say, “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” or any other salutation that signifies a tradition based on some form of faith, some people take offense. However, if these expressions become cast in the light of a cultural tradition based in personal faith, then no offense presents itself. We have a heritage that we need to communicate.
Because the outside world seems to change at a faster pace, it becomes even more valuable to celebrate what we celebrated hundreds of years ago. Our ancestors carried some wisdom with them, and observing holidays every year acknowledges that.
What we value enough to celebrate every year indicates what we deem most important about our lives today. Time-tested values, such as compassion, friendship and respect, come to my mind, values that hold a society together over extended periods of time.
I spoke with a local business owner, who said the recent recession made people “think about things.” In addition to providing us with festive gatherings, the holidays give us time to “think about things.” Annual traditions observed and remembered serve this purpose well.
All of this leads us to just how imperative it becomes to preserve our rituals as a country. I am grateful to live in a place that sets aside at least one day every year to give a “Thanksgiving.” This holiday marks the need for remaining thankful and grateful every day.
The quality of our lives seems to grow in proportion to the celebratory rituals we have. Creating new ones with friends and family refreshes our interactions with each other and creates new traditions that we carry with us. We look forward anew even to days that people celebrated many years ago.
I hope we all enjoy our holidays and that we share the joy they bring us with everyone. The season grows as happy as we decide to make it, here in Plant City and everywhere.
Scott Toler is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor living in Plant City. He may be reached at etoler25@tampabay.rr.com.