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December 2019

The Power of Tradition

What a Tradition Really Means

My experience with the holidays

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“Tradition is a guide and not a jailer.” 

~W. Somerset Maugham

Christmas is often regarded as one of the most magical times of the year. The dazzling lights, the merry songs, and of course, the excitement of presents. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, after all, so naturally it would be America’s favorite holiday. But the holiday that I think doesn’t get quite enough love is New Year’s. New Year’s Eve is often swept under the rug as the holiday after Christmas. There isn’t much leading up to it, besides the occasional “What’s your New Year’s resolution?”. No songs, symbols, or festivities that make it distinct from other holidays. Personally, New Year’s is a fun holiday, but not one I think much about. It usually seems like a small special event before I have to go to school. 

My New Year’s Eves usually play out similarly. It starts with my dad and I sitting down on our old couch to watch a movie at about 8:00. The type of movie never matters, just something that we can both laugh at while the minutes tick by. My sister has gone out to meet with friends while my mom has gone to bed early. It’s just me and my dad in our dimly lit living room. After the movie is over, I’m usually not sure what to do. What I end up doing is going to play on my computer because I don’t want to watch another movie, but I don’t want to miss New Year’s. After an hour or two of being by myself, I come back out to wait for the countdown. My dad has woken my mom up and we all sit back and wait for the ball to drop. Eventually, it’s time. 3..2..1! The cheap party poppers we bought explode with a snap. Unlike most of the East Coast, there isn’t a loud cheer, just a couple voices showing their appreciation for the new year.

It doesn’t seem like much looking back, but that’s what I like about. There’s no major rules of the holiday, you’re free to celebrate how you like. New Year’s Eve isn’t an extraordinarily special holiday, but one that I am grateful for. It’s not about the presents or the food, just a small moment for you to enjoy yourself. Sure, after five minutes the joy starts to dissipate, but it still is a fun holiday. I get to celebrate my own way, not a way that people before me decided was good. What makes a tradition special isn’t how long it’s been around or how many people follow it, but the fact that you have fun with it, whether it’s by yourself or with crowds of others.