Deriving meaning from traditional festivities

A festival provides special memories that children can cherish. Traditions provide children with a sense of strength and continuity in an ever-changing world. How can kids imbibe values through such traditions? Friday gives a few pointers

Rituals and traditions keep alive the inner spirit of society and culture. Every festival, be it Eid, Christmas or Diwali, has its own unique set of celebrations that draws families close together.

For adults, festivals are a time for nostalgia. They revive childhood memories. Fathers turn into storytellers as they recall the time when "we had to eat with only one candle" or how "all the children used to wear new clothes and pray together in the mosque".

Festivals are not just about gifts, but offer an excellent opportunity to teach children values – values of gratitude, compassion, charity and family togetherness. Let's take a look at how parents can use rituals and traditions to teach spiritual lessons that children cannot get out of any book.

Family rituals

By definition, a ritual is a repeated activity that holds special meaning. For children, rituals provide a sense of security and comfort. "Holiday rituals in particular, help forge a family identity", says writer Gail Hudson. They help a child to connect with the past and with the future.

"I still remember how on Eid we would gather for our prayers; then take food first to the old people's home before sitting down to our family feast," says Anwar M, a Dubai-based businessman. "I try to give my own children that same feeling of connectedness. Both my daughters lead fast-paced modern lives in New York, but always return home for this festival because it's a precious, sacred time. What amazes me is they want to do exactly the same things they did when they were ten years old! They get upset if anything is different".