Introduction
Immigrant families face numerous difficulties when arriving in another land and trying to build a life there. Along with legal barriers and obstacles preventing newcomers from acquiring official status, there is also a cultural gap that might complicate the integration process and exclude people from communities. For this reason, accepting the customs and traditions of a new country is the way to understand it and feel a sense of belonging to a culture. At the same time, for children already born in another land, observing the rituals, such as Thanksgiving dinner, might seem unnecessary and banal. However, for immigrants and their children, the ability to celebrate national holidays and follow the local culture means safety and optimism that a home is acquired.
The Role of National Holidays for Immigrant Families
The importance of culture and tradition might be unclear for people born as citizens or immigrants’ children. For instance, cogitating about his own experiences, Lee (2014), a child of Korean immigrants, remembers that for him, Thanksgiving was “predictable, even banal” (para. 3). The rituals associated with the holiday were ordinary and were not considered as something special. However, for the parents who experienced the difficulties of immigration from North Korea and the long process of integrating into the US society, it was a necessary step towards entering the local community and ensuring their children would become Americans.
The differences in views on culture and the gradual acceptance of its importance can be explained by the generational gap. Thinking about the divergence in views on Thanksgiving between children and parents, Lee (2014) admits that in childhood, he did not realize that they had “the entire weight of Korean history” as their background (para. 12). In other words, their mentalities were formed under the impact of American worldview, and the tradition already became rooted in their worldview. However, it can be considered the achievement of the parents who correctly realized the meaning of culture and its necessity to integrate into the world and ensure that children will grow with an understanding of current values.
Finally, the ability to follow local customs and make them part of everyday life evidences stability and gives hope for the future. From this perspective, the repeated rituals during Thanksgiving, the succession, and the chance to celebrate it can be considered a great treasure (Lee, 2014). It shows that immigrants who once came from other lands want to find their place in a new country and, as a sign of gratitude, accept its customs and traditions. That is why the routine celebration of the big holidays within a family is one of the best gifts parents can offer their children. It would help to shape their mentalities, make them part of society, and provide them with optimism and assurance that a home is found.
Conclusion
Altogether, the importance of culture and following traditions might be underestimated. However, their role in people’s lives can be seen using the example of immigrant families. People who had to overcome numerous challenges to arrive in a desired land and find their own place there wanted to protect their children from similar challenges. For this reason, by establishing specific rituals, such as celebrating Thanksgiving, they raised their children as Americans. That is why tradition is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children to guarantee stability, optimism, and a feeling of belongingness to a nation.
Reference
Lee, M. M.-O. (2014). Eat turkey, become American. The New York Times. Web.