American Traditions The Reunion Essay - 1435 Words

Abstract This paper examines American traditions, how they are established and preserved. Specifically, I discuss traditional gatherings known as family, class, and school reunions and review ways in which they are augmented by social networks. I remind the reader of the role reunions play in the perpetuation of memories and transference of collective knowledge. It is believed that attendance at family reunions had dwindled in the 90’s but is experiencing resurgence (Baxter, 2005); this is due in part, I believe, to social network sites like Facebook and MySpace. People are reencountering their past and making connections, both old and new. Keywords: traditions, reunion, social networking American Traditions: The Reunion†¦show more content†¦That is in large part what reunions are for, the perpetuation of memories and knowledge. These events happen with certain regularity, some every year, others at longer intervals; a place where birthdays, anniversaries and engagements are celebrated, deaths and other losses mourned, and divorce stands somewhere in the middle. The family reunion has long been a multigenerational—and in my family—multiracial gathering, where time slows down and nothing is hurried. Conversations are not limited, bellies are filled, and fun is had by all! We gather together in one place to share our lives and our stories, we do activities that draw us closer together, and family bonds are strengthened, however; times have changed and it is unfortunate that some of our traditions have changed too. Just one generation back, my mother and many of the other women in my family joi ned the workforce and fumbled the family reunion ball; my generation did not pick it up. I am hopeful that will change. I believe that family reunions are integral to American culture and I would hate to lose that connection. I want my daughter and grandson to have the same opportunities that I had to find their own fold in the quilt of their lives. According to an article in a Kentucky newspaper, there is hope for that, â€Å"†¦the number of family reunions dwindled during the ‘90s, experts say, there is resurgence in their popularity, especially among baby boomers† (Baxter, 2005). It’s timeShow MoreRelatedThe Transatlantic Slave Trade And The United States1012 Words   |  5 PagesMy ancestors, along with many other African Americans living in society today are decedents of African slaves. I can remember as far back as age 5 listening to the elders in my family talk about slavery. The word slavery originated when millions of African men and women wer e forcible taken from their families and the familiar surroundings of their African villages. Brought here to an unfamiliar environment and forced to work on plantations in different parts of the United States, usually from sunRead MoreLunar New Year Is The Most Important Festival For The Chinese Community892 Words   |  4 Pagesannounced that the Lunar New Year would be made a public school day in June 2015 (Harris and Grynbaum). Within China, regional customs and traditions of celebrating New Year have influenced widely. It is pretty important for every family to clean their houses thoroughly, in order to sweep away any bad-fortune and welcome incoming good luck; the annual reunion dinner also is an occasion for Chinese families. Other major activities include giving money to kids in red packets and lighting firecrackersRead MoreHeritage Assessment1503 Words   |  7 PagesHISPANIC, ASIAN AND The Heritage Assessment of Hispanic, Asian and African American Families B.Cohran Grand Canyon University The Heritage Assessment of Hispanic, Asian and African American Families The Heritage Assessment Tool (HST) is used to â€Å"investigate a given patient’s or your own ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage†¦it can help determine how deeply a given person identifies with a particular tradition†. (prenhall.com). This assessment of 29 questions based on family, social,Read MoreMystic Chords Of Memory : The Transformation Of Tradition988 Words   |  4 Pagescauses of the war and the longstanding sectional acrimony between North and South in the public memory. As Michael Kammen suggested in his 1991 book Mystic Chords of Memory: The Transformation of Tradition in American Culture historical meaning is imbued with concern for the present. For many Americans, North and South in the late nineteenth-century, â€Å"present† concerns were economic progress and stability. Sectional discord and enmity stood in the way of rebuilding the nation, and prosperity requiredRead MoreThe Are You Born?760 Words   |  4 Pagesand how strong is y our ethnic identity? My ethnic affiliation is African American. My ethnic identiy is very strong ethnicity and we as African American stays together. We have many outings in which we stick together such as family reunion, parties, and always pray together. In family reunion, we does many dance routines such as Cha Cha Slide, D-low shuffle, Juke Slide, and eltrectic slide. In parties, we celebrate in tradition to our ethnicities is every 1st birthday, 16th Birthday, 18th BirthdayRead MoreNike Yum : A Personal Statement898 Words   |  4 Pagesget-togethers, I was delighted to learn how to make my favorite dessert. My Grandma told me stories of her making the yum yum for church potlucks and Sunday family suppers. I felt an enormous amount of pride in making this dessert because now I was in the tradition. My mom told me her memories as a kid when I asked her about the yum yum and it made her light up. She said, â€Å"I looked forward to every summer to go to my Granny Fulmer’s house. When I thought of Granny Fulmer, I thought of blueberry yum yum. SheRead Moreâ€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker Essay1310 Words   |  6 Pagesof a man and a woman but Alice Walker one of the foremost authors during the twentieth century, adds depth to her black American women by focusing on the role that race and gender played in their development. Family reunions can be times of great anticipation, excitement and happiness but for Dee, a young, beautiful, African American and our leading character, it was a reunion with underlying, unspoken tensions. Dee was Dee but Dee had changed; a new husband, nice clothes, and a college degreeRead MoreWe Must Learn Their Family s History1539 Words   |  7 Pagess history at one point or another, so let me tell you about mine. My family does things and has traditions just as any other family in the world. My family has the typical holiday get-togethers and family reunions every four years where you see the weird aunts and uncles who know exactly who you are and you just stand there like, â€Å"oh gosh, do I know this one?† Along with the typical family traditions, we also have our own. On Christmas at my Aunt s house all of the adults will play bingo for prizesRead MoreJapanese Television Essay1530 Words   |  7 Pageseveryone likes to know the domestic news, laugh, eat, watch their heroes on TV, and be reassured that they are part of a Japanese nation that is familiar and superior to that which is foreign and outside. Thus, the screening of Dosokai or Reunion; would seem like a strange idea. Dosokai was a soap opera, which showed in fairly graphic detail the sordid details of the gay subculture of the nation, which would in theory, alienate many viewers not comfortable or familiar withRead MoreI Am Proud of My Filipino and Chamorro Culture Essay681 Words   |  3 PagesPlease mark the bubble which correctly describes your ethnicity. I scan the options which range from Caucasian to African American to Hispanic and as usual, I proceed to mark the bubble which says Pacific Islander. Whenever people first meet me I get the inevitable query, â€Å"Are you Mexican..Hawaiian..Korean..Chinese..Vietnamese..etc.?† Typically, they get half my ethnicity correct, but no one has ever guessed what the other half is. What many people do not know about me is that I am a full-blooded