In less than a couple of months, campers from all over the United States (and beyond) will begin their summer “tradition” of attending summer camp.
When I think of traditions and how much they bring to our lives, I am immediately brought back to The Fiddler on The Roof, and Tevye singing his heart out to explain why we do certain things time and time again….because it’s tradition! Tevye may have been singing about the specific roles we take in the family and carrying on these roles to keep us grounded and connected, but traditions go so much further and mark so many important events in our lives.
A tradition can be defined as an occasion or event that becomes custom practice. Wikepedia defines Tradition as “a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past”. The word “tradition” itself derives from the Latin tradere or traderer literally meaning to transmit, to hand over, to give for safekeeping.
These rituals can be annual; like holiday gatherings and family reunions, or destination specific; like vacationing in the same place each year. Traditions can be any activity you repeat to mark an occasion or event. Family traditions create closeness between people…a sense of belonging and identity. They link us to the bigger picture, and connect us to people who have come before us. Traditions bring a sense of security. We come to rely on certain rituals and events that unify us and bring back memories of the past. The players of the event may change, but the tradition remains the same and keeps us connected to the past, in addition to building memories of the present.


In a world of constant changes and great distance between people, it’s great that we can embrace old traditions and strive to create new ones. Looking forward to another summer of wonderful traditions, new and old.
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