Traditions old and new

 Like millions around the world, I have been watching the Platinum Jubilee celebrations from Britain this week. When it comes to tradition, pomp and ceremony, no country does it better than the UK!  Google defines tradition as "the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on this way." So basically, anything that is done the same way over the generations may be considered a tradition. Traditions give us structure and roots.

We all have traditions, whether they be cultural, religious or family. Of these, family traditions are the most personal- and the most flexible. Anyone can start a tradition-after all traditions centuries old had to start somewhere! What is a tradition in your family? Do you always have turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner? I grew up in the UK so Thanksgiving was not a tradition in my family. I adopted the traditions of my husband's family, as taught to me by my American mother in law but they have adapted and changed over the last 45 years. That's the thing about families, they constantly grow and change; spouses and partners are welcomed into the family, divorces happen, people age and pass away, babies are born, young people move across the country. The July 4th picnic turns into a family reunion, when all those far flung family members return to the fold. Sometimes, it's the only chance you all have to be together and I am a big believer in the importance of recording the event in photographs! 

I have photographed lots of reunions over the years and the history they record becomes more valuable as time goes on. In 2016, my husband's aunt Helen turned 90 and her children organized a weekend celebration that was dubbed "Helenfest". Family members flew in from around the country for the weekend, which culminated in a lunch at the country club. The pictures taken that day record a happy group of people on a joyous occasion. Aunt Helen passed away unexpectedly two years later but that weekend she was the Queen!

Human beings traditionally gather together to celebrate any big occasion. That's what has been so hard about the last couple of years of the pandemic. This year, there will be a lot of celebrations! Whether it is a family reunion, an anniversary, or a Platinum Jubilee, pictures will be a part of that celebration. Go, have fun, celebrate together and make sure to get a group picture so that you can relive the joy for years to come!