A tradition is something a family does the same way again and again, often passed down from parents and grandparents. Some traditions happen every year, like cooking a special meal on a holiday. Others happen every week, like Sunday dinners or Friday game nights. Traditions help families remember their history and feel connected to each other across many years.
In the United States, Thanksgiving has been a national holiday since 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln made it official. Families gather to eat turkey and give thanks. In Mexico, many girls celebrate their quinceañera, a big party for their fifteenth birthday that has been a tradition for hundreds of years. In Japan, families celebrate Oshogatsu, the Japanese New Year, by eating special foods like mochi (rice cakes) and visiting temples. Every culture has its own traditions that make families feel close.
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