I think there must only be a very few people out there who don’t have routines in their life. Sometimes these routines become traditions and can continue from generation to generation so what’s the difference?
For me routine is about what time you go to bed, put the washing on or do the shopping. I’m not an especially methodical person so my routines aren’t as many as someone like my husband who errs on the OCD side. He has daily routines. Where he puts his things, laying out his clothes for the next day, which way round the coffee and teaspoons go. For him it puts him out if he doesn’t follow them or they get interrupted whereas I am happy to chop and change and go with the flow. Some routines like fish on Fridays are of course based in tradition and so the crossover begins.
Just now my usual routines have had to be replaced with new ones. No early morning alarms means no night before planning and prepping. I sleep poorly so rise late. Unless I have a hospital appointment I potter in the kitchen before doing some yoga. I try to do a few chores before resting up in the afternoon with tv box sets. Eventually these will go back to the old ways but I might keep some like the yoga.
Then there are short lived routines such as when you go away on holiday. We always like to off load luggage, go get a drink then venture out to explore and buy a few provisions. You discover places that you like to eat and your new routine becomes something like getting up , going out and doing something like a trip or museum then back to the pool to chill. Back to the room and shower and then out. You may never go back to that place so those routines end to be replaced by something similar somewhere else. If you do go back you will quickly feel at home by falling back into the former ways.
What then makes a tradition? Christmas is probably a good example to think about for most people. Our parents may have started something when we were children that we repeat with our own children. Maybe it was something their parents did. Or it could be that you see or hear something others do and make that part of your celebrations. Families grow so traditions grow or merge.
When my children were little we put the tree up overnight and told them it was the fairies that did it. I’m fairly sure my mom did the same. I added fairy dust down the stairs something I learnt from a friend. On Christmas Eve mince pies were baked and Santa left a drink sometimes whiskey latterly baileys and a mince pie. A carrot for the reindeers and a bucket of water for them to drink from. New pyjamas and a Christmas book before bed. They would always watch Raymond Briggs Snowman and Father Christmas. When I met the current Mrs Gail his birthday being on Christmas Eve that then changed the tradition. A special meal for the evening. My nieces have a Christmas Eve tradition as adults of having a sherry and wrapping presents.
We recently had a discussion about the Christmas stocking tradition, as children we didn’t have them. Our presents came in a pillow case but we always had one special present that wasn’t with the others. It was always hidden to be discovered later. One such memory of mine is getting a high hair for my Tiny Tears. Whilst dinner was being cooked I was sent to the pantry to fetch something and in there I found my Tiny Tears resplendent in her new highchair. This tradition I continued with my own children. Anyway back to the stockings. I always included things like chocolate coins, crayons, tubes of sweets, a toy car for example. These gifts from Santa were opened upstairs on the bed before we came down for present opening proper. I still do a stocking for them now. My niece’s wife has also had to pick up the mantle doing a stocking for her in place of her mom.
Another one is taking down the decorations by twelfth night based on religious tradition, Epiphany. Interestingly our mom says witches fly on twelfth night and if they see your decorations you will have bad luck so a superstition based on tradition. What’s even more fascinating is this is based on the Italian tradition of Befana the witch. How this has become part of our family rituals long before the tinterwebthingy is a mystery.
Traditional is a word that has become associated with something outdated or old fashioned but I think that a little unfair. These things be they routines, superstitions or traditions give us a sense of familiarity that is comforting. When things are hectic or out of control they give us an anchor. Tradition makes us feel we identify with our kin and gives us a warm feeling of home.
Tell me about yours or if you don’t have any tell me why you don't need them. If you don’t have any but like the idea then why not start your own.
