Traditions are the heart of all families, regardless of your background. When immigrants
leave behind their home country, it’s easy for these traditions and values to slip away.
However, traditions are the aspects of life that make you uniquely tied to your familial
roots. Keeping traditions alive allows these values to pass down for generations, which
can play an integral role in the cultural understanding of future children.
In this article, we will explore the importance of keeping traditions alive in an immigrant
household. Keep reading for practical ways you can preserve your family's history.
Why is it Important to Keep Traditions Alive?
Create Stronger Family Bonds
Traditions are what bond immigrant families together, especially through the transition
to a new place. When you come together for holidays and celebrations, you all share
your unique traditions as a family unit. This helps younger non-immigrant generations
feel like they have an identity within the family. When tradition is absent, it can be difficult for everyone to share in the commemoration of the past. A major focus for all immigrant households is maintaining unity; tradition is a huge part of that.
Raise Future Generations With an Understanding of Their History
Future generations won’t have memories of their homeland, or where their parents/
grandparents grew up. Traditions built a connection to their history that lasts a lifetime. If
they go to visit family abroad, they will feel right at home. In many ways, tradition is just
as important for immigrants as it is for their future kids.
Shows Reverence for Your Cultural Roots.
Every family shares a special lineage of cultural and ancestral experience. Traditions
are a way to show respect for your cultural roots, which play a large part in your daily
identity. Everyone is influenced by their past and the religious, cultural, geographical
and personal traditions that make them who they are. Never underestimate how important it is to hold onto these pieces of yourself, and your family.
Practical Ways Families Can Preserve Their History
Create a Family History Kit
A family history kit is a keepsake of all of your important mementos. This can include
special recipes, medals, report cards, plane tickets, letters, or notes from the past. Keep
track of everything you accumulate over the years from your parents, grandparents, and
children. As your kids' age, this kit can be passed on to them to continue the tradition.
It’s a great way to sit and reflect on your family’s history; remembering all you have accomplished and all you still have left to look forward to together.
Film Family Stories
Whenever your family comes together for celebrations, film family stories together.
Have everyone document their special memories, well wishes, and childhood stories.
Over time, you will have enough videos to put together a family documentary. Future
generations will be so happy that they can remember the people that made them who
they are today.
Organize and Share Memories With Lalo
Lalo is a platform to discover, share, and preserve your personal family stories. Maintain
traditions for years by sharing pictures, recording oral histories and writing down stories
all in one place. It can feel overwhelming to safely document and store everything over
the years.
That’s why we created one place where you can do it all while collaborating with family
members far and wide. Lalo provides a safe, ad-free and private space to create and retain family history. Share your milestones and special moments without fear of your private data being sold to third parties. Staying safe and connected to your history has
never been easier than with the Lalo mobile app.
