Our Irish Heritage: A Look at celebrating traditions and why they matter
At times, we all need an extra dose of joy or a reminder of our unique and shared heritage. Celebrating traditions that shape us can be one way to bring that spark back into focus and give thanks for who we are. Whether it's family recipes, experiences from abroad, treasured stories passed down through generations, or learning about other families' customs, these small acts can make a big difference in showing appreciation for what connects us. In this blog post, we will explore why celebrating traditions is important and offer ideas on how to start honoring them in meaningful ways today.
Creating a Legacy Celebrating Traditions
Passing down traditions from one generation to another is essential for celebrating our shared cultural heritage. It ties us together as individuals, families and communities, creating a sense of belonging and enriching our lives. Creating a legacy for future generations is also an invaluable way to honor the past — whether it’s passing down family recipes or stories about loved ones who lie before us. Doing so helps ensure that our culture remains alive and vital for generations to come. Above all, celebrating these traditions year after year helps bring joy and warmth into the present moment, creating moments of connection between us all.
A Note From Gael about Celebrating Traditions
If you couldn’t tell by my name (Gael) my family is Irish. So I love celebrating our heritage this month and celebrating traditions. My father helped me foster a love for music, a passion for traveling, and a lifelong celebratory spirit with days full of dancing and singing. This month (and every day) I teach my small humans about our past, remember my father and his legacy, and sing my way through the day with them.
It’s always a reminder that we can find good, even in the midst of grief.
Things to read, listen to, or watch
Read – How to Start Celebrating Life in the Midst of Grief
Watch – Thoughts on Grief – The Good Things That Can Come After Loss
Listen to – Sharing Music Memories about Irish Music
A Resource to Check Out While Celebrating Traditions
How to Celebrate Your Heritage with Storytelling
Family history and family heritage are great places to find stories. Knowing how to start can be the tricky part though. That’s where this resource comes in, it will help you kick off conversations with the people you care for and help them celebrate their heritage with stories.
Storytelling Activity I’m Loving – Celebrating Traditions
Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day, why not enjoy some storytelling that’s on theme!
Some of my favorite questions to ask storytellers this time of year are:
- Do you have fond memories or no memories of St. Patrick's Day?
- Who were you with for your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day?
- What happened in your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day?
- When did your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day happen?
- How did your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day make you feel? How do you feel now about it?
There are usually many fun stories of music, parties, and festivities that come out of these questions! Maybe you’ll get to experience some today!
Telling The Stories
Celebrating traditions is an important part of self-care, allowing us to recognize our family’s histories and cultures. As we remember the past, we bring our culture into the present and honor it as a unifying force. With these mindful actions, may we find ourselves channeling simpler times, beaming with gratitude and passing along refreshing perspectives to younger generations. We can use these moments as a chance for reflection and appreciation for all that shapes who we are.
To kickstart your journey in honoring your traditions, why not check out The 52 Weeks of Storytelling Journal– a journal with guided prompts to help you learn more about yourself and your family? It provides prompts that will help foster meaningful conversations between family members about their shared experiences in order to deepen connections and develop an even stronger sense of cultural appreciation.