Family traditions and rituals, typically passed down through generations, play an important role in family life. Traditions and rituals help to define family values, such as importance of family. For instance, a family who has the tradition of always gathering for dinner on the holidays demonstrates the value of togetherness. Through helping to shape a family's values, traditions and rituals work to give families identities which family members can feel a sense of belonging to. For the American family, many traditions and rituals can be linked to the history of America.

History
• American Family Tradition, an organization dedicated to the history of American family culture, notes American family traditions and rituals incorporate the ideals held by the country's founding forefathers. These ideals include freedom and opportunity. A specific family tradition that originates from colonial times includes the window candle ritual. The window candle ritual involves lighting a candle in the evening. The flame of the candle represents the love and warmth of family. Family traditions that honor freedom and opportunity include parents sharing American success stories with their children and going on family picnics to celebrate the country's birthday on the 4th of July.

Examples
• Examples of family traditions and rituals include weddings, anniversaries, family dinners and holiday celebrations. American wedding traditions vary based on the culture and ethnicity of the families of the individuals getting married. The anniversary serves as an annual celebration of the wedded couple's union. Family dinners can vary from nightly dinners to a weekly event, typically on Sundays, according to American Family Tradition. The family dinner serves as an opportunity for family members to gather and discuss life with each other. Many holiday rituals vary based on a family's religion, for instance, fasting on Yom Kippur (Judaism) or exchanging gifts on Christmas (Christianity). Some holidays, however, like Halloween and Thanksgiving, transcend religious boundaries and are celebrated by American families of different faiths.

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Development
• Putting Family First, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of family, indicates the first step in establishing your own family traditions and rituals involves analyzing your current family habits, such as what you do in the evening and on holidays. As a family, decide what activities you can do to help promote your family values. For instance, having a weekly family game night, where you play board games, can help enforce family values of togetherness and sportsmanship. Putting Family First also notes family traditions will need to be reassessed on occasion as family members grow older.

Considerations
• Establishing family traditions and rituals involves open-minded communication between all family members. According to Family Life Works, an organization that works to strengthen family bonds, open-minded communication requires three building blocks: sympathy for others, awareness of your behavior and a sense of right and wrong. Family Life Works indicates these traits tend to develop in children between the ages of five and six.

Benefits
• One of the benefits of American family traditions and rituals includes the emphasis on family, during an age in which busy schedules has made spending time with family difficult. Family IQ, an informational resource for parents, names finding a balance between work and family an important aspect to enjoying a healthy family life. Practicing family traditions and rituals makes achieving this balance easier by designating time exclusively for family.