Tradition is overrated. Yes, I know birthdays are fun, but there are so many other unuseful and downright stupid practices that are only kept because “it’s tradition”. In a rapidly changing world in which individual trends are fleeting, it has brought me to wonder why some of these things are still relevant. Wedding Dresses, Football, Holiday Shopping, Graduation ceremonies, Family Heirlooms, and many more are over-prioritized for no logical reason.
The Thanksgiving Turkey is no laughing matter in my family. It is the centerpiece of the entire meal and has been the holiday’s traditional entree since the 1800s. Although it has become a staple and symbol of togetherness and gratitude, I could just as easily be okay with ham or chicken and many would agree. Both taste significantly better than turkey and can put a damper on our Turkey overconsumption and food waste problem if more people choose these options.
Like Thanksgiving’s menu, other traditions also show how cultural symbols can linger past their meaningful purpose. For example – Football, is the ultimate American pastime. That’s literally why we have it, to pass the time. This cultural phenomenon, in the form of a game, has brought communities together to create a collective excitement for rivalry. One could question its ethical status though. With its high rates of injury such as concussion and over-commercialization, is it really that great? Even CHS students attend these games, not to watch attentively, but to socialize. Half of the student section probably couldn’t even tell you what a fumble is. With intense idolization and fandom, people tend to forget about who the players are off the field and only care about how well they play on the field.
Like football, some traditions might make us wonder whether they’re more about appearance than genuine connection. As the winter season approaches, my family receives a plethora of cards that warm you up for the holidays. The nice messages and pictures can be sweet and make you feel special, but I’ve never understood the real value of Christmas cards. In reality, people make Christmas cards to send to everyone they know just to show off the fun events and people they had been with that year. You hang them on your fridge for a month or two. Then after New Year’s, you throw them in the trash. It may seem like a sweet gesture, but in reality, it’s kind of a waste. Our digital world is just as useful. Why not just share an online version of your card, or even be creative and make a warming holiday video to share with family and friends?
Even our school has changed a common American high school tradition to make sense for the changing times. The Prom King and Queen Contest was a tradition at CHS that was rooted in social hierarchy and popularity. This tradition carried on until one year a girl was voted queen in an effort to make fun of her. The school saw this as a problem and changed it the next year. Now, students are nominated for their exceptional character and academic work ethic by teachers and students. It is no longer a popularity contest, but a way to honor dedicated and deserving students with an award.
Don’t get me wrong, tradition is special because it brings people together and allows us to have exciting events or experiences to look forward to. But, in a world that is constantly changing, it may be worth asking ourselves which traditions genuinely add meaning to our lives and which we keep around simply out of habit. Reimagining some of our practices could remedy this, and make our traditional actions more meaningful to us. We could bring food that everyone enjoys to Thanksgiving dinner, visit friends and family instead of just sending a card, and vote for a deserving and dedicated student for prom queen. While we don’t want to toss tradition aside, maybe it’s time we think about enriching these traditions more.
