Category Archives: Rituals, festivals, holidays

A Long Goodbye

Nationality: American/Cameroonian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Arlington, VA
Language: English

TEXT: “In my Cameroonian culture, funerals usually last several days so that everyone has time to come together and support the grieving family. It’s not just a quick one day service and burial, it’s a time for the whole family and the community to gather, share memories, sing, pray and be present with eachother, to remind the grieving family that there is still joy in life. I remember one funeral, a family friend’s, where people came from different parts of the world, just to offer their condolences and stay with the family to offer more support. The long funeral helped the family feel less alone, and it became a time for not just mourning, but celebrating the person’s life and the legacy they leave.”

CONTEXT: The tradition shared by F during a discussion about how cultures handle grief and funeral customs. F explained that in Cameroon funerals are major events that can last days, even weeks. These gatherings give everyone a chance to travel, attend and offer comfort to the family for long periods of time. F recalled a time when people traveled long distances just to be present for the family, showing how important it is for community support to be available during difficult moments like loss. The focus is on both honoring the dead and helping the grieving family.

ANALYSIS: This is both an example of a funeral custom, and a communal ritual that helps people deal with grief together. In Cameroonian culture, funerals aren’t rushed, and services are far from short. The extended mourning period allows the family and community to have more time so that no one feels left out or unsupported. The extended mourning period allows for further emotional healing, sharing memories and a display of respect for the deceased. It also shows how community bonds are both strong and unbreakable, since these traditions help keep those bonds alive, even during hard times.

Waiting for the Kings

Nationality: American/Ecuadorian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Washington, DC
Language: English

TEXT: “ In my household, we celebrate both Christmas and Three Kings Day. We don’t open presents on Christmas day, instead, we wait until January 6th. It’s a holiday that my family has celebrated for generations, even if it means I have to wait to open presents. It’s considered a Christian holiday and is celebrated in both of my parents’ home countries, as well as some of my friends from school and people in my community.”

CONTEXT: This tradition was shared by the informant, A.J, during an interview about holiday customs that are somewhat different from mainstream practices. A.J explained that instead of opening presents on December 25th, their family celebrates Three Kings Day on January 6th, following a tradition passed down through generations. This Christian holiday, also known as Día de los 3 Reyes, is celebrated in both of A.J’s parents’ home countries and is also familiar to others in A.J’s community. Even though the wait to open presents is longer, it’s a meaningful tradition that connects them to their cultural and religious roots.

ANALYSIS: This is an example of a culturally specific holiday ritual that reflects both religious belief and heritage. While Christmas is widely celebrated in the U.S. with gift-giving on December 25th, Three Kings Day holds special importance in many Latin American and Spanish-speaking cultures. Celebrating it shows how immigrant families and multicultural households preserve their traditions while living in a different cultural setting. For A.J, the celebration is not just about receiving gifts but a way to honor family history, cultural identity, and share that experience with others in their community.

Hair and the Moon

Nationality: American/Ecuadorian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Washington, DC
Language: English

TEXT: “Whenever my older sister needs a haircut, she asks my mom since she knows how to cut people’s hair pretty well. I remember my sister asking my mom to trim her hair down a little bit, but my mom said no since the moon wasn’t full. Confused, I asked her why she couldn’t cut my sister’s hair if there weren’t a full moon, and she told me that her hair wouldn’t grow back fast or evenly if it wasn’t trimmed during a full moon day.”

CONTEXT: This story was shared by the informant, A.J, during a conversation about family traditions and superstitions passed down through generations. A.J talked about a moment when their older sister asked for a haircut, but their mother refused because it wasn’t a full moon. When A.J asked why, their mom explained that hair grows back better, that is faster and more evenly, if it’s cut during a full moon. A.J mentioned that their mother is Hispanic, and this belief appears to be common among many Hispanic families.

ANALYSIS: This is an example of a folk belief connected to nature and timing, specifically involving the lunar cycle. In many Hispanic cultures, it’s believed that the moon has an influence on natural processes, including hair growth. Even though it’s not scientifically proven, the belief continues to be passed down and practiced. It shows how traditions and superstitions can shape everyday routines like haircuts, and how cultural wisdom combines natural observation with caregiving habits in the home.

Tears to Cheers…?

Age: 26

Story: “I know this isn’t a tradition or ritual that is unique to me, but it’s something that I’ve experienced a lot, and it’s always weirded me out. But how come after funerals, there’s always like a big party or dinner? Every funeral I’ve ever been to, like for both my grandparents, for my uncle, and for my parent’s friends, there has always been something like a dinner or celebration afterwards. And all the tears that were shed turned into laughter and reminiscing. I’ll be honest, it’s super sweet seeing everyone get together and share memories of those who passed, but I never understood why. I’m 26 now, so I think I grasp the sentiment and significance a little bit more of celebrating the life and memories of someone you lost. But to be completely honest, when I was in middle and high school, I was always like ‘I was just bawling my eyes out and now we have to go to this restaurant and everyone’s gonna drink?” I thought it was super weird, but I am starting to understand.”

Analysis: This reflection offers a real and honest glimpse into the cultural and folkloric significance of post-funeral gatherings, revealing how ritual serves both communal and emotional functions. This person’s evolving perspective reflects a common perspective in cultures where mourning is followed by celebration. These post-funeral meals act as informal, yet deeply meaningful rituals where storytelling, shared food, and collective memory help process loss and reaffirm social bonds. This person’s initial discomfort, particularly as a kid, highlights how rituals can feel dissonant when their symbolic meanings are not yet fully understood. Yet, their growing awareness at age 26 reflects how rituals often gain meaning over time, especially as individuals experience more loss and maturity. While hearing this story, I had realized that I had the same experience with funerals growing up, and I completely understand where this person is coming from. Post dinner/party funerals are really weird, but as I got older, they started to mean a lot to me. This story shows how ritual practices surrounding death are not just about mourning the absence of a person, but about sustaining their presence through living memory.

Grandma’s Singing Teeth

Age: 23

Story: “Growing up, I had this insane birthday tradition that my grandma would do every single year, for all of my siblings. And brace yourself, cause honestly it’s extremely weird. But growing up, I think honestly, for as long as I can remember, after we sang “Happy Birthday” my grandma, who wore fake dentures, would take out her teeth and make them sing “Happy Birthday” AGAIN. It wasn’t until after she was done singing with her fake teeth that we were allowed to eat cake and celebrate. It was honestly really embarrassing anytime I had a birthday party, because I was afraid my friends would think my family was weird … and honestly we are. But since my grandma has passed, I miss the days she would make me laugh and she would sing with her dentures. For a few years, my mom bought those fake chattering teeth and we sang with those. I would like to start doing that again.”

Analysis: This story is the epitome of how even the most unconventional and wackiest rituals can have such significant meaning. This person’s account of their grandmother’s quirky birthday tradition demonstrates how humor and repetition can turn an ordinary moment into a memorable rite of passage. While the tradition may have felt embarrassing in childhood, it has since taken on a lot of weight as a symbol of familial ties and connection to the past. From a folkloric perspective, this tradition blends oral performance with material culture, showing how objects can become vessels of meaning and memory. The story also touches on the intergenerational passing on of rituals, how the narrator’s family adapted the tradition after the grandmother’s passing, keeping her spirit alive through the toy chattering teeth. I interpret this to be such a sweet tradition, and coming from experience, I know how important and special it is to have a fun-loving memory of family members that have passed, so I love how this tradition has grown for this person. Ultimately, this tradition reveals how homegrown rituals can function as intimate forms of cultural expression, bringing together families, and showing the strength of a tradition.