How a person's or family's ethnic or gender identity can change over time.

• A family may adopt new traditions that reflect their changing values or the cultures of their members.

Interview with a Grandparent

I interviewed my grandmother, who is 85 years old, about some of her family traditions that may no longer be part of the family practice, or that has evolved. She told me that when she was a child, her family used to have a big dinner every Sunday with all of their extended family. They would cook traditional dishes and play games together. However, as the family grew larger and more dispersed, it became difficult to get everyone together for Sunday dinner. Now, her family only has a big dinner a few times a year, on holidays and special occasions.

Another tradition that has changed over time is the way that her family celebrates Christmas. When she was a child, her family would go to church on Christmas Eve and then open presents after midnight. However, as she got older, her family started opening presents on Christmas morning. She also said that her family used to decorate their Christmas tree with real candles, but now they use electric lights for safety reasons.

Why Traditions Change

There are a number of reasons why traditions may change over time. Some common reasons include:

• Changing needs and values: Families may change their traditions to reflect the changing needs and values of their members. For example, a family may stop celebrating a particular holiday if it is no longer meaningful to them.
• Convenience: Families may change their traditions to make them more convenient. For example, a family may start opening presents on Christmas morning instead of Christmas Eve because it is easier for everyone to get together.
• Safety: Families may change their traditions to make them safer. For example, a family may switch from using real candles to electric lights on their Christmas tree to reduce the risk of fire.
• Social pressure: Families may change their traditions to conform to social pressure. For example, a family may start celebrating Christmas in a more traditional way because they feel like they are expected to do so by their friends and neighbors.

It is important to note that there is no right or wrong way to celebrate traditions. Families should be free to change their traditions in a way that works best for them.

A person's or family's ethnic or gender identity can change over time in a number of ways. For example, people may adopt new cultural practices or identify with different gender identities as they learn more about themselves and the world around them. Families may also change their traditions over time, reflecting the changing needs and values of their members.

Here are some examples of how a person's or family's ethnic or gender identity can change over time:

• A person who was born in one country and raised in another may identify with both cultures.
• A person may adopt a new religion or cultural practice after marriage or as a result of personal growth.
• A person may come out as transgender or non-binary after previously identifying as a different gender.
• A family may stop practicing certain traditions because they are no longer relevant to their lives or because they find them to be offensive or harmful.