Religious Holidays and Losing the Older Generation

With religious holidays such as Easter, Ramadan, and Passover just around the corner, it is common for those of faith to follow their respective traditions. As more of the younger generations become less religious or secular, it can be important to consider your family’s traditions. Our elders are often the keepers of our family traditions, and it is important to learn from them before they are gone. 

Preserving Traditions

Talk with your family elders about the different traditions of your cultural and faith-based holidays. It is important to record these practices and recipes for the years to come. Making a record can help preserve the customs and ensure that they don’t pass away with your elders. While many elderly individuals will be protective of their recipes, they will often want the younger generation to get involved. Keeping these traditions alive well after their passing may be important to them.

Honoring Traditions After a Loved One Passes

The traditions held by your family can be a way to honor those who have passed. Try following the holiday recipes and following the traditions of your family. If you did not get a chance to compile recipes or a list of traditions before your elders passed away, consider reaching out to family, friends, or others in your community for help. Those still with you can be a great source of strength and tradition. While faces may change around the table over the generations, some traditions should still hold true. 

Breaking Tradition

Traditions can be important, but they can also change. Our elders are usually the keepers of tradition, but can often be the most averse to change. While it is important to honor those we lose, it can also be important to recognize a chance for something new. Creating new family memories with those around you can still be fulfilling. Talk with your family, and consider which family customs you may want to change. Should you introduce new dishes to the holiday? You may want to discontinue practices that no one enjoys but were customary to the holidays. Exploring your options and making new holiday traditions with your family can be fun and exciting. You may even want to change things up each year. While it is important to respect tradition, spending time with family and friends is the most important part of the holidays. 

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.