American Family and Traditions free essay sample

Family and traditions have always played an important role for each one of us, and they are becoming even more important nowadays, as people start not to pay attention any more to the fact that the family traditions and the values that we are taught represent the things that really matter for our personal development. I chose to make my research paper on American Family and Traditions because I think these are two of the most important, valuable things that we have to appreciate in the society nowadays. Also, I wanted to find out more about life in the United States of America and the research work that I have done really helped me understand better the Americans’ way of thinking and to know better their main holiday traditions. In the first chapter of my research paper you will find information about the American family and the most important family issues, such as the education, as well as some of the most important facts about the American family. We all know that there is no place like home, but even if this is true, there are children for whom the family is not forever, due to the fact that more and more young couples get divorced in the first 10 years of marriage or so; this is one of the main dysfunctions of the family, as I will show in my presentation. For the Americans, as for all the other nations, family is the place where you can always go whenever you need love and loyalty. The home is the only place on the earth where forgiveness and understanding must be abundant. Love, support, tolerance and carrying must be the basis for the relationship. Family life today is more challenging than ever, but love is the solution for all its problems. To support my ideas about the American family, I will present in the end of the first chapter an interview with an American teenager who made me understand better how Americans live their lives and what the family and traditions mean for them. In the second chapter, entitled â€Å"American Traditions†, I will present you some of the most important American traditions that are respected every year, such as Christmas traditions or Thanksgiving raditions. You will find out what all these traditions mean for the American people and what a great importance they have in their lives. Many of the American traditions are inherited, having roots in the culture of the Native Americans. Society passes principles and values to future generations through customs, traditions and rituals, through which they view their liv es and shape their opinions. Throughout history, cultures have passed their family values to future generations by these means. Family rituals and traditions have a great importance in a society, as they help to define family values such as the importance of the family, the integrity, the empathy and the discipline. I hope that my research paper will attract some attention on the issue of the family nowadays, on the importance of passing down the traditions that a nation has got, as well as on how Americans deal with such problems and how they make the most of what they have. 2. CHAPTER 1: The American Family 2. 1 A Definition of the Family Family is forever. Family is comfortable, fun, loyal. It is the most important thing for every American. Family is the one place on earth where we should always find forgiveness, understanding, happiness and a lot of love. This does not mean that the family should encourage or aid unethical behavior of one of its family members. Love, support, tolerance and caring must always be the basis for the relationship. These things must always exist in a family, and always be unconditional. Everyone in the world shares the joy of belonging to a family, but family patterns vary from country to country. The United States has many different types of families, but the traditional structure of the American family (mother, father and children) continues to be best model for the most part of the people, this century. Yet, over the past several decades, US society has witnessed an evolution in family structure and daily life, because of a large series of factors, such as the workplace. Some of the families with a different structure than the standard one are: single-parent families, step-parenting families, single-parenthood families or families where grandparents are raising children. 2. 2 What is Like to be a Young Person in the United States? The typical American child spends six hours a day, five days a week, and 180 days a year in school. Children in the US start preschool or nursery school at age four or under, kindergarten at five years of age. Schools provide American children with much more than academic education. More than 80 percent of all students participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports, student newspapers, drama clubs, choral groups and bands. During their leisure time, American kids spend much time watching television, listening to music or playing computer games, but many also have after school jobs. One recent study indicated that nine out of 10 teenagers said they either had a job or would like one. Child labor laws set restrictions on the types of work that youths under 16 years can do. Many youths work part-time on weekends or after school at fast-food restaurants, baby-sit for neighbors, hold delivery jobs or work in stores. Many youths are also involved in community service organizations or are active in church and religious-group activities. Other belong to youth groups such as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, were they learn about citizenship, arts, camping and other outdoor activities. Thousands of young Americans volunteer to help take care of the elderly, the handicapped and hospital patients, or help clean up the environment. Even though for most American children and teenagers life today is nearly free of serious conflict, young people are still under many types of stress. Peer pressure, changing family conditions, mobility of families, unemployment and problems at school may lead to use of alcohol or drugs, the refusal to attend school, running away from home, teenage pregnancies or juvenile delinquency. 2. 3 Education Americans have shown a great concern for education since early colonial times. Within 30 years of the founding of the first settlement in Massachusetts (1620), all towns were required to hire a schoolmaster. Today, almost 90 percent of American students attend public elementary and secondary schools, which do not obligate them to pay, but rely on local and state taxes for funding. The other ten percent attend private schools, for which their families pay tuition. Four out of five private schools are run by religious groups, where religious instruction is part of the curriculum. There are also a small but growing number of parents who educate their children themselves, a practice known as home schooling. Traditionally, elementary school includes kindergarten through the eighth grade. In some places, however, elementary school ends after the sixth grade, and students attend middle school, or junior high school, from grades seven through nine. Similarly, secondary school, or high school, traditionally includes grades nine through twelve, but in some places begins at the tenth grade. The United States do not have a national school system, but the government provides guidance and funding for educational programs in which both public and private schools take part. Each of the 50 states has its own laws concerning education. From state to state, some laws are similar while others are not, but all states require young people to attend school. The age limit varies, however. Most states require attendance up to age of 16, some up to 18. Thus, every child in America receives at least 11 years of education. In addition to the recent challenges of curriculum reform, American schools have been facing new problems. They must deal with an influx of immigrant children, many of whom speak little or no English. Schools must make sure that students develop basic skills for the job market, and they must consider the needs of nontraditional students, such as teen-age mothers. Schools are solving these problems in ways that reflect the diversity of the U. S. educational system. They are hiring or training large numbers of teachers of English as a second language and, in some communities, they are setting up bilingual schools. Schools are also teaching cognitive skills to the nearly 40 percent of American students who do not go on to higher education. A Snapshot of the American Higher Education. The United States leads the industrial nations in the proportion of its young people who receive higher education. For some careers (law, medicine, education, engineering) a college education is a necessary first step. More than 60 percent of Americans now work in jobs that involve the handling of information, and a high school diploma is rarely adequate for such work. Other careers do not strictly require a college degree, but having one, can often improve a persons chances of getting a job and can increase the salary he or she is paid. The widespread availability of a college education in America dates back to 1944, when Congress passed a law popularly known as the G. I. Bill (G. I. meaning government issue). This law provided financial help to members of the armed forces after World War II was over. By 1955 more than 2 million veterans of World War II and the Korean War had used the GI Bill to go to college. Many of them came from poor families and would not have had the chance to go to college without the law. The programs success changed the American image of who should attend college. About the same time, the percentage of women in American colleges began to grow constantly; in 2000 women received 57 percent of all degrees awarded, compared to 24 percent in 1950. With the end of racial segregation in the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans also entered colleges in record numbers. Today, the percentage of African Americans who go on to college nearly equals the general population. In 2000, 56. 2 percent of African-American high school graduates were enrolled in college, compared with 63. 3 percent of all high school graduates. 2. 4 The Effects of Divorce in the United States Each year, over 1 million American children suffer the divorce of their parents; moreover, half of the children born in one year, with parent who are married will see their parents divorce before they turn eighteen. It has been demonstrated that the devastating physical, emotional, and financial effects that divorce is having on these children will last well in the adulthood and affect future generations. Among these damaging effects are the following: ? Children whose parents have divorced are increasingly the victims of abuse. They experience more health, behavioral, and emotional problems, are involved more frequently in drug abuse, and have higher rates of suicide. Children of divorced parents perform more poorly in reading, spelling, and math. They also are more likely to repeat a grade and to have lower rates of college graduation. Families with children that were not poor before the divorce, have an income drop as much as 50 percent after the divorce. Almost 50 percent of the parents with children that are going through a divorce move into poverty after the divorce. ? The divorce of parents, even if it is by common agreement, tears apart the fundamental unit of American society. Today, on ly 42 percent of children aged 14 to 18 live in a first marriage family –a two-parent married family. It should be no surprise to find that divorce is having such profound effects on society. 2. 5 Interview with an American Teenager In order to find out exactly how a typical American family looks like and how important it is in the American society, I decided to interview (Annex 1) an American teenager, Greg Yerks, who lives in Greenfield, New Hampshire. I imagined the American family as a very modern one, in which the relationships are superficial and parents do not have enough time to spend with their children or loved ones. I ended up with a totally changed opinion, due to this interview. The answers I got from Greg really helped me have a better image about the habits, the relationships and the mentality in the American family. I discovered that the American family, generally speaking, is actually a traditional one, a family that respects the true values and principles. From the very beginning of the interview I understood from Greg that the family is one of the most important things in their lives, since it represents the place where you can always find love and support. Thus, the answer he gave to my first question, â€Å"How do you describe the American family in three words? † was simply â€Å"Important to us†. Greg said that the main three principles that matter in his family are honesty, respect, and hard work. He mentioned that due to these principles he and his family are always very happy. As long as there are certain rules to be respected and everyone does his part around the house, everything is nice and peaceful in the family. As we can see, respect and teamwork play an important role in family life, and they must always exist in order to maintain the harmony and the well-state of the family. As far as family relationships are concerned, they are often very good, according to Greg. Parents and children get on well, as long as both of them respect the rules and do their duty. The parents are loving and caring and they always make sure their children get what they need. The parents also know that the education is crucial for their children, so they provide them the chance to get a good education and to try different things that could help them develop their talents, such as doing sports, theatre, or playing musical instruments. Of course, the children must also do their part, in respect for their parents, as Greg told me: â€Å"The children are often expected to help out around the house, cleaning, washing the dishes and things like that. This is in return for all of the things parents do for their children†. During leisure time, the family members like to gather for different activities they enjoy a lot doing together. Whenever possible, the family goes different places to see attractions, does hiking together or just spends time outdoors, talking. It seems that the dinner is a very important moment of the day, as everyone comes around the dinner table and, after eating, shares conversation, which helps create strong bonds between family members. â€Å"We would often spend a lot of time after we eat in the evening just talking, which is some of the most valuable time we shared. I enjoy the dinner time spent together. It is a good chance to catch up with the other members of my family and see what is going on in their lives†, says Greg. Beside the tradition of always having dinner together and talking about family issues at dinner time, there are also many other customs that are truly respected in the American family. One of the most important holidays of the year is Christmas, which seems to be enjoyed by everyone in the United States. The custom of choosing a Christmas tree is also an important one in the American family, as I found out: â€Å"The second favorite thing I enjoy doing with my family is going to pick up a Christmas tree every December. It is fun and it is also a very important tradition in my family†. To conclude, I could say that after having interviewed Greg, I had an important change of opinion about the American family. Now I have a better knowledge about what the Americans enjoy doing as a family, about the relationships in the family and the principles that guide their lives. 3. CHAPTER 2: American Traditions Family traditions and rituals passed down through generations, play an important role in family life. Traditions and rituals help to define family values, such as the importance of family. For instance, a family who has the tradition of always gathering for dinner on holidays demonstrates the value of togetherness. For the American family, many traditions and rituals can be linked to the history of America. Examples of family traditions and rituals include weddings, anniversaries, family dinners and holiday celebrations. American wedding traditions are based on the culture and ethnicity of the families of the individuals getting married. The anniversary serves as an annual celebration of the wedded couples union. Family dinners can vary from nightly dinners to a weekly event, typically on Sundays. The family dinner serves as an opportunity for family members to gather and discuss problems from their lives with each other. Many holiday rituals are based on a familys religion, for instance, fasting on Yom Kippur (Judaism) or exchanging gifts on Christmas (Christianity). Some holidays, however, like Halloween and Thanksgiving, go beyond religious boundaries and are celebrated by American families of different faiths. 3. 1 Christmas Traditions People all around the world have been practicing holiday traditions, due to their ethnic or specific family backgrounds, for centuries. While most countries have a lot of traditions of their own, and they have passed them down for thousands of years, the same cannot be said of the United States. Due to its young people and multi-cultural diversity, America has not developed many of its own holiday traditions, but it formed a mixture of Christmas practices inspired from those of other countries. The Birthday Cake For those who choose to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas that of the birth of Jesus a birthday cake is baked and decorated, to be enjoyed as the dessert for Christmas dinner. While the cake is being eaten, those around the table share conversation, grateful for the things they have and most especially for the birth of the Savior. This is a particularly good practice for children, since it not only serves as an instructional tool, but it also offers them a structure of values and priorities that are not always expressed to the children of today. An addition to the discussion would be to read significant Bible passages (the infancy narratives, for example) or biblical stories from childrens books. Since the idea behind the practice of traditions is one of family involvement, those who have children who are over 5 or 6 years old should consider allowing them to assist in the process of baking and decorating. This will not only be of benefit to the adults who are facing the task during an already busy time of year, but it will give children the sense that they have offered something to the Christmas tradition itself. Christmas Caroling For many years, folks in the United States of America have been gathering together to sing Christmas carols at holiday time. Some communities, however, still go from door to door sharing the songs of the season. When the caroling is finished, friends and relatives gather together in order to have holiday treats and beverages (hot spiced cider, also known as mulled cider, is a great favorite at this time of the year). There are some church groups who gather together during the Christmas season to go caroling, and there are also private groups or organizations that extend the invitation to those who are interested in participating in this holiday activity. Regardless of who initiates it, this is a wonderful way to spend beautiful time with the family. Adults and children alike enjoy this type of Christmas activity, and most people are pleased to have a visit from such seasonal singers (Annex 2). Family Reading Many families gather the children around on Christmas Eve to share a good book. Quite often, the same book is read each year on that night, such as â€Å"The Night Before Christmas†. For others, passages from the Bible are read aloud so that the entire family can enjoy and discuss the readings. These are usually the infancy narratives, which are particularly appropriate for the season. Afterward, the reading is discussed among the family members, while holiday treats are passed around, including any home baked Christmas goodies that members of the family have made for the holidays. The Living Nativity Church communities often stage a recreation of the birth of Jesus, called the Living Nativity. Families belonging to a particular church save time on Christmas Eve to attend the play, as their own children may have a role in the re-enactment. In the case of the Living Nativity, being held at a community theater, neighborhood families come together to enjoy the play. The invitation to play the part of the Baby Jesus is a great honor for the family whose baby is chosen to fill the role. The Midnight Mass Churchgoing families enjoy attending the Midnight Mass together as one of their Christmas tradition each year. For two or three hours, members of the church community come together to celebrate the coming of Christmas at a special Mass that is held during the latter part of Christmas Eve. It may seem a very long and boring activity, but the Midnight Mass is spectacular and many families see this as one of the most important moments of the holiday. Family and Friends Often, Christmas Eve is designated as the time to spend with friends, and they come together for gift exchanges on that special night. In addition to gift giving, dessert tables are generally set up during the Christmas Eve. Later, Christmas caroling often comes into the picture, followed by more games or some other forms of entertainment. One of the advantages of this type of gathering is the ability to share stories of previous Christmas celebrations, including the children. 3. 2 The Yellow Ribbon The display of a yellow ribbon (Annex3) is a sign of loyalty to family, friends or loved ones who are welcome home. Usually it is used to welcome home men and women who have been away for a long time under difficult circumstances such as war or prison. In the United States, a yellow ribbon is used as a symbol of solidarity with someone who is far from home, and an expression of hope that he or she will return safe and soon. After the deployment of the American troops to the Middle East in 2001, most Americans came to associate the yellow ribbon specifically with active duty embers of the military, and supporting American troops. The history of the yellow ribbon is ancient. Several folktales and songs from England refer to the wearing of yellow ribbons by young women waiting for their lovers to come home. The association of a yellow ribbon with waiting for a loved one appears to have been carried to North America by colonists. Also, Civil War folksongs made reference to this tradition , as well as a popular marching song from the First World War, „She Wore a Yellow Ribbon†, which included a yellow ribbon as symbol of a waiting lover at home. In the 1970s, the popular song â€Å"Tie a Yellow Ribbon†. According to legend, the song was inspired by a prisoner who wrote his wife shortly before his release, expressing a desire to reunite and saying that if she wanted to see him again, she should tie a yellow ribbon to a particular tree along the road. If he saw the ribbon from the prison bus, he would know that he was welcomed home, but if he did not see it, he would know that his wife had moved on, and he would keep going. This story quickly spread throughout the country and the yellow ribbon became a symbol of loyalty. 3. 3 The Window Candle A specific family tradition that originates from colonial times includes the window candle ritual (Annex4). The window candle ritual involves lighting a candle in the evening. The flame of the candle represents the love, security and warmth of family. A window candle has been a traditional practice in many cultures. It has a variety of meanings in The United States. The practice starts with the fundamental use of fire by mankind. Throughout the history of man a campfire has represented warmth and security, as it is the source of heat to cook food and warm the body and the spirit and it makes the difference between safe and unsafe in the wilderness. Over the course of history, as the campfire moved into our homes, it has represented these very same things. In most cultures a candle in the window was used to signal the loyalty of family to a loved one who was away traveling. It let that person know that the family awaited their return and the hearth was warm and waiting for them. In Ireland, during times of religious persecution, the window candle signaled the location of religious services. 3. 4 The Recipe Box It has become customary to keep favorite Family Recipes in a special container called The Recipe Box (Annex 5). All of the secret ingredients that go into the familys favorite meals are written on 35 inch or 46 inch Recipe Cards. The Recipe Box is a family heirloom and its contents are priceless. Some of the newly married couples usually buy The Recipe Box early in their marriage and spend a lifetime together gathering the recipes that become their favorites. Foods and recipes differ between cultures because of the predominant plants and animals in a particular region of the world. Religion has also played a key role in the definition of the foods consumed by certain cultures. Over the years, as the United States has absorbed millions of people from all over the world, an abundance of recipes are available, with which to experiment. 3. 5 Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day is a celebration marked as a sense of gratitude people feel for all the good things in life. This is done by offering prayers, and by offering gifts to your dear ones. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. 3. 5. 1 Origin of Thanksgiving Day Journey of the Pilgrims The legendary pilgrims crossed the Atlantic in 1620 on Mayflower, a 17th Century sailing vessel. About 102 people traveled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was so because they were kept in the cargo space of the sailing vessel. No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing Psalms, sacred songs. The pilgrims reached Plymouth on December 11th 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days. Though the original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia, they could not reach the place owing to winds blowing them off course. Nearly 46 pilgrims died due to extreme cold in winter. However, in the spring of 1621, Squanto, a native Indian taught the pilgrims to survive by growing food. In the summer of 1621, owing to severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a rich harvest in the coming season. God answered their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. The rain saved the corn crops. First Thanksgiving Feast It is said that the Pilgrims learnt to grow corn, beans and pumpkins from the Indians, which helped all of them survive. In the autumn of 1621, they held a grand celebration where 90 people were invited, including Indians. The grand feast was organized to thank God for His favors. This communal dinner is popularly known as the first thanksgiving feast. However, there is no evidence to prove if this initial feast actually took place or if the customary turkey was part of it. According to the first hand account written by the leader of the colony, the food included ducks, geese, venison, fish, berries etc. The feast continued for three days and was eaten outside due to lack of space. It was not repeated until 1623, when a severe drought took place again. Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of thanksgiving in the year 1676. After a number of events and changes, President Lincoln proclaimed last Thursday in November of thanksgiving in the year 1863. This was due to the continuous efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, who wrote a number of articles for the cause. 3. 5. 2 Thanksgiving Traditions and Customs Family Reunion and Feasting Family feast is an important tradition during Thanksgiving Day. The entire family sits at the table during dinner and offer prayer to the Lord for His continuous grace. It is also a time for relatives living in different places to come together and celebrate. The Turkey Tradition The traditional stuffed turkey is found on every dinner table during the feast. Pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce or corns are some of the dishes cooked everywhere to mark the day. Though historians do not have an evidence to prove that the turkey was eaten during the first Thanksgiving dinner, the Thanksgiving celebration will be incomplete without it. Parades The traditional Thanksgiving parade (Annex 6, Annex 7) probably started with President Lincoln proclaiming it an official day. The parade is a way to display the countrys military strength and discipline. The main aim of such parades is to lift the spirits of the spectators and provide them a good entertainment. Today, Thanksgiving parades are accompanied with musical shows and celebrities. The Custom of Praying For centuries, Thanksgiving Day is associated with communal prayers in church and in homes. People offer various meal-time-prayers during the day. It is a time when mankind thanks God for all his blessings and grace. It is also a day to show gratitude to friends and relatives for all the good deeds. The Custom of Family Dinner Everyone follows the custom of family dinner and reunion every year. Distances do not really matter as relatives drive down to be with their family. Feasts are usually held at home. It is a time to enjoy their favorite roasted turkey with the family. The Custom of Decoration Thanksgiving is a time to decorate homes with wreaths, fresh and dried flowers. People their homes beautiful and give the interiors a whole new look and feel. They light lamps to brighten the environment. The tables re adorned with best china and antique silver cutlery to mark the occasion. The Custom of sending messages Thanksgiving is a day when people send loving messages and warm wishes to their relatives, colleagues at work place, superiors and subordinates, near and dear ones. It is a day of expressing their feelings through Thanksgiving cards. 3. 6 The Fourth of July On July 4, 1776, the United S tates of America claimed their independence from Britain and democracy was born. It is the day the Americans celebrate the spirit of patriotism and freedom. The United States is truly a diverse nation with a dynamic people. Each year on July 4, freedom and independence is celebrated in â€Å"the land of the free and the home of the brave† with barbecues, picnics and family gatherings. The Independence Day is celebrated maybe more than Christmas itself. This day is filled with activities from morning until night and many families enjoy having as much fun as possible with their loved ones on this holiday. The day has always been associated with favorite customs like fireworks, parades (Annex 8, Annex 9), barbecues, beer, picnics, baseball games, outdoor parties, public and private honoring the nation and so on. Fireworks are probably the most iconic event for the Fourth of July. Fireworks have been associated with this holiday since 1777. The fireworks shows are held in many states and families and groups even buy them for private use. They are often accompanied by singing or music of patriotic songs. Picnics and barbecues have become a Fourth of July tradition due to many reasons. The first reason would be that summer is a lovely time to be spent outdoors and the second that these two are the easiest ways to entertain a large number of guests. Baseball, Football and Frisbee Games as well as other outdoor and beach games are very popular among the young ones. There are also usually a host of activities for children, such as face painting, fairs and carnivals, organized in various public places. Public events are common in most cities, where politicians make their appearance for holding patriotic speeches. The National Anthem is sung as well as other patriotic songs. Patriotic displays are commonly seen everywhere. People customarily dress in red, white and blue and the American Flag is exposed in all places. . Conclusion My research paper, â€Å"American Family and Traditions†, did help me improve my knowledge about the American culture. It is no doubt that the American people respects and cares for its legacy – the values and traditions that it owns. I now see the American family as the core of the society, as it is the place where children get their education from; it is the place where the new generation is taught the true values of the family and the importance of it, as well as the importance of family traditions. Children that are raised in the hearth of the family will become responsible adults who care for their society, for their future generations and for all the things that will help create a strong, good-looking future for the American society. Even though the modern American family is facing different problems, such as the divorce, I found out, doing my research paper, that there are organizations which try to protect the traditional family from disappearing. My opinion is that, as long as the main family values and principles are passed down to following generations, the true American family will not cease to exist. As far as traditions are concerned, I learned that the American people respect and love their traditions that have been passed down to them from parent and grandparents. From the most insignificant custom to the most important holiday tradition such as Christmas, all of these rituals are followed every year, without exception. This demonstrates that the tradition is priceless for the American people, aware of the fact that the traditions are those that define America as a nation. The family and traditions are in a tight connection, because even since childhood, the kids are taught about every custom and holiday tradition that they see practicing in their families. It is the moment when children become aware of the fact that those traditions are part of their lives and they must be appreciated and shared with others. In conclusion, I can say that by doing this research paper I discovered new interesting things about the American people. I discovered that Americans give a lot of importance to their families and their traditions, as they know that these two are the ones that guide their lives. I can tell now that I know how life looks in the United States and how the Americans celebrate their most important holidays. I hope those who read my research paper also understood the importance of the family and traditions and now have a better view of the life in the United States.