Traditions

 tradition

 noun, a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting

I love traditions. It could be because I am a rule follower, and traditions are really just a set of rules that must be followed from year to year. Not only must traditions be followed, but they must be followed without question. When one questions why something is being done and the answer is, "Because it is tradition!" That's it, it's done, there are no further arguments. Just think, if families had more traditions, it would be so much easier to raise children:

"Mom, why do I have to do my homework?"
"Because it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

"Dad, why do I have to pick up the dog poop?"
"Because it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

"Mom, Dad, really, college, why?"
"Because it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

"Daddy, why do I have to wait until I am thirty to I get married?"
"Because it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

Holidays are especially filled with tradition. One Christmas tradition that we had was that we always opened ALL our presents on Christmas Eve. No, not just the new pajamas, but every single present. Our grandparents would take us out to see the Christmas lights and when we came home the presents were all there under the tree even the ones from Santa. The explanation for Santa getting to our house so quickly was our last name was Cunningham and Santa delivered in alphabetical order. We believed them. I believe this tradition was devised by very intelligent parents. They never had kids bugging them to get up at 4 on Christmas morning to open presents, and everyone looked great in the pictures.

"Mom, Dad could we not open our presents on Christmas Eve this year and wait until tomorrow morning to open our presents like all our friends do?"

"Nope, it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

Another tradition was that we were the first family on our block to get a fake tree. We had one of those silver aluminium trees with one of those rotating lights. As the light rotated, the tree changed colors. We, kids, loved that tree. We thought we had the most beautiful tree on the block. Again, another tradition created by intelligent parents. There wasn't the annual paying megabucks for something that would die within a week, no finding pine needles in the carpet months after Christmas, and we never had to worry about that metal tree igniting. 

"Mooooom, could we just once get a real tree?"

"Nope, it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

Our Christmas decorations came out on the 15th of December, no sooner and no later. They were taken down on the 30th, no sooner and no later. Also, there was no decorating the outside of the house. If one didn't know us, one would think we were the Jewish family on the block with a strange glowing light in the living room. One more time, tradition created by intelligent parents. Our electric bill didn't go up at Christmas. While the other fathers in the neighborhood were climbing up ladders and falling off roofs on Thanksgiving weekend, my father was spread out on the couch watching the football games. 

"Dad, could we get some lights this year for the outside of the house?"

"Nope."

"But, Dad, all the other houses on the block have lights."

"Not all the houses, the Abramowicz's don't have lights up."

"But they really are Jewish!"

"Sorry, Kiddo, but it's tradition."

"Oh, OKAY!"

Traditions, if you don't have any, get started creating some.

Paco's Perspective

"Paco, why do you have to twirl three times before entering the house?"

"Because it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."

The Flip Side

"Flip, look at you. We will never get all those sticker out of your fur. Why do you have to chase lizards in the farm field?"

"Because it's tradition."

"Oh, okay."