The cool thing about meeting new people and having an active social life isn’t just the awesome company—you get to expand your understanding of the world and humankind. Namely, you get to see what things you have in common with others while also discovering a simple fact—what’s ‘normal’ for you and your folks might not be how your neighbors live.
Internet users took to an online thread to share the strangest family traditions that they’ve personally witnessed while visiting someone else’s home. While some of these are incredibly wholesome (we love the ‘turkey parade’ and Addams Family theme song recital), others are weirder than weird. We’ve collected the most interesting traditions of the bunch to share with you, so scroll down to take a peek.
#1
Instead of praying, a full family recital of the Addams family theme song before meals. They were wonderful people and foster parents.
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99points
#2
We have The Werewolf Seat. My father reserved it for people that were new to the family circle, new boyfriends or family friends. He figured that if a Werewolf attacked it would eat the new person in that seat. He would calmly tell the would be partner or friend that they would be the first to go when the werewolf showed up. It was quite the ice breaker. My dad's insane and wonderful.
75points
#3
My uncle does real gifts for everyone on Christmas, but then you get something random too. This year i got a piece of toast. He toasted a piece of bread, stuck it in a ziplock and stuck that in the gift bag with some (much appreciated) gift cards. It’s fun when someone brings a new partner over and they’re so confused. I’ve gotten zip ties, a turkey baster, i think one partially used 9 volt battery (or it was a package of two that had one left, i can’t remember). All of them have been useful at some point, especially the 9 volt bc my smoke detector needed a new battery almost immediately after lol. My kid even stole the piece of toast when he was hungry and found it in the gift bags (it was early the next morning, before the sun was even up, and i forgot it was in there). He said it was “actually REALLY good.” There was no butter or anything on it lol. It’s a cute tradition and i can’t wait for my kid to be old enough to get one but he’s still young enough that he’s not even really aware of the joke right now.
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59points
What’s important isn’t that you have a handful of incredibly specific traditions that you follow but that you have something—anything!—that you consistently do with your family to connect with them. This can be Sunday lunch together, vacationing at your usual spot, watching sports live or on TV every time there’s a big game on, celebrating Xmas, going to Easter mass, or organizing football game watch parties where all of your loved ones and neighbors are invited. It can be any combination of activities, anything at all. The feeling, not the format, is what’s important here.
Meanwhile, there are bound to be variations even among widespread traditions like Christmas. Some families might focus on the religious aspects while others hone in on a more lighthearted approach. What food you serve, when you eat, how you decorate, when you exchange gifts, what your overall philosophy on gift-giving is… there are bound to be tons of differences. Over time, these differences can grow and you end up with lots of variations of traditions. It’s nice because you feel like you’re celebrating with your local community while also having a slightly different approach to the holidays that’s unique to your family.
#4
Hot dog time.
My buddy in middle school had like 4 or 5 other siblings, and occasionally they'd do this activity for dinner called hot dog time. Each child was given a paper plate with a bun and plain hot dog. Condiments were hidden around the house, like easter eggs. There was a countdown, and his parents would shout "relish, set, go!". Then we'd run off and try to find the condiments we wanted. "I got mustard!" would be called out, so if we wanted mustard, we'd have to go get some mustard before continuing the hunt. "I got ketchup!" echoed through the house, but I didn't like ketchup, so I always skipped it. If someone dropped a hog dog while running around, everyone would chant "don't cry over spilled dogs!", then they'd be given a cold one as punishment. I once had to eat the cold hot dog.
My buddy in middle school had like 4 or 5 other siblings, and occasionally they'd do this activity for dinner called hot dog time. Each child was given a paper plate with a bun and plain hot dog. Condiments were hidden around the house, like easter eggs. There was a countdown, and his parents would shout "relish, set, go!". Then we'd run off and try to find the condiments we wanted. "I got mustard!" would be called out, so if we wanted mustard, we'd have to go get some mustard before continuing the hunt. "I got ketchup!" echoed through the house, but I didn't like ketchup, so I always skipped it. If someone dropped a hog dog while running around, everyone would chant "don't cry over spilled dogs!", then they'd be given a cold one as punishment. I once had to eat the cold hot dog.
49points
#5
On the first day of winter they’d all (3 kids and both parents) eat ice cream for dinner, with milkshakes to drink. Needless to say I was very happy to be invited several times.
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48points
#6
Eating dessert before dinner because “life’s too short.”
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42points
WebMD explains that there are three main categories of traditions: religious, cultural, and family-specific. The latter might not have anything to do with things greater than the family itself, but they’re still very meaningful.
Traditions as a whole help you connect to your family, neighbors, country, culture, and religion. They’re a way to feel part of a community and to develop relationships with the people around you through shared values, ideas, and beliefs.
Aside from connection, you also get a feeling of stability. If you and your family cook lunch together every weekend, no matter what, it’s something solid for you to cling to, no matter how tough or chaotic things get in other areas of your life.
#7
I had Thanksgiving with a family who took me in once. They did a turkey parade thanksgiving morning. Where they took the turkey through each room in the house saying "turkey parade"
41points
#8
It was s Sunday. My family was visiting church friends because they had kids the same age as us. We were sent to the basement where we sat. We did nothing. They had a rule that you couldn't watch tv, listen to music, read, or even do homework on Sunday. We were that bored we asked about homework! They literally sat and did nothing on Sunday after church.
We never went back. I think my parents even thought it was a little weird.
We never went back. I think my parents even thought it was a little weird.
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36points
#9
Years ago, Thanksgiving at a friends house. When the table got set up, and we all sat down, the Westminster (?) dog show was playing on a small 13inch TV/VCR combo on a buffet table at the head of the table. When I started to speak general table conversation, I was shh'ed, and told (like I was an idiot), "TV is on," and they pointed to the TV. Not a word was uttered the entire meal, just all 10-12 people around the table, all watching the dog show on this tiny TV while serving themselves in silence.
Later on, my friend said it wasn't so much that they "worshipped television," as I had accused them of, but that years ago, the fighting around the table got so bad that the rule became "no talking while the TV was on." So, that worked, and so when the TV was on in the room, nobody was allowed to speak. This eliminated all the snippy side comments that turned into verbal brawls, I guess.
Other than that, they seemed like a nice family.
Later on, my friend said it wasn't so much that they "worshipped television," as I had accused them of, but that years ago, the fighting around the table got so bad that the rule became "no talking while the TV was on." So, that worked, and so when the TV was on in the room, nobody was allowed to speak. This eliminated all the snippy side comments that turned into verbal brawls, I guess.
Other than that, they seemed like a nice family.
36points
Keep in mind that traditions aren’t static. They gradually change over time to accommodate new people and ideas. And that’s okay. Again, to reiterate, the important thing is to have the tradition itself, not clinging to one particular way that it’s expressed. So long as you and others get together, deepen your connection, and feel uplifted, you’re doing things right.
The awesome thing is that you can start new traditions whenever you want, but you’ll need to be proactive. A weekly hike or a family meal (preferably with no phones at the table!) might not require too much effort, but it still needs to be organized.
#10
Santa leaving each family member matching pajamas while everyone is at midnight Mass. Kinda sweet really.
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36points
#11
They all got up at like 7am sharp, showered and dressed for the day, and then went downstairs to eat breakfast together at the table.
I guess that's not weird in of itself (well, it was for me), the weird thing is that apparently they didn't inform guests of that.
I slept over said friend's house when I was 11-12, wondered where my friend had wandered off to when I woke up. I came downstairs still in my pajamas, hair unbrushed, to find them at the fully set up table finishing up. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, orange juice, the works.
The parents shot me a dirty look. They said I couldn't eat at the table because there wasn't enough room and they only made enough for their family. They offered me a bowl of cereal instead lol. I wasn't even allowed to take a shower because I didn't bring any toiletries and they didn't have any to spare.
I went home hungry and in my pajamas, never went back!
I guess that's not weird in of itself (well, it was for me), the weird thing is that apparently they didn't inform guests of that.
I slept over said friend's house when I was 11-12, wondered where my friend had wandered off to when I woke up. I came downstairs still in my pajamas, hair unbrushed, to find them at the fully set up table finishing up. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, orange juice, the works.
The parents shot me a dirty look. They said I couldn't eat at the table because there wasn't enough room and they only made enough for their family. They offered me a bowl of cereal instead lol. I wasn't even allowed to take a shower because I didn't bring any toiletries and they didn't have any to spare.
I went home hungry and in my pajamas, never went back!
35points
#12
One for my husband: my family does a Thanksgiving lasagna instead of the traditional meal.
My mom hated all the food fuss, so I suggested making lasagna instead one year. It stuck until I left home, and my mom will always make one if we visit for the holiday and vice versa. My husband was baffled at first, but has loved the tradition. Doesn't matter if it's homemade or store bought, just depends on what we feel like doing each year.
My mom hated all the food fuss, so I suggested making lasagna instead one year. It stuck until I left home, and my mom will always make one if we visit for the holiday and vice versa. My husband was baffled at first, but has loved the tradition. Doesn't matter if it's homemade or store bought, just depends on what we feel like doing each year.
30points
#13
In high school, I gave a buddy a ride home after football practice. His mom asked me to stay for dinner.
I sit down with the family, my buddy, his mom, dad, and brother. They’re having a roast and potatoes. There’s also a 2 liter of coke on the table.
After a few minutes, I’m thirsty, so I ask where they keep their glasses. The dad tells me, “we just drink out of the bottle” and takes a swig of coke. He passes it to the younger brother, who also drinks from it, and he hands it to me.
I just said, “I’m good”. I ate and got the heck out of there.
I sit down with the family, my buddy, his mom, dad, and brother. They’re having a roast and potatoes. There’s also a 2 liter of coke on the table.
After a few minutes, I’m thirsty, so I ask where they keep their glasses. The dad tells me, “we just drink out of the bottle” and takes a swig of coke. He passes it to the younger brother, who also drinks from it, and he hands it to me.
I just said, “I’m good”. I ate and got the heck out of there.
29points
#14
I had a friend who was required to go to church 7 days a week. No church in town actually did that, so they would go to several different churches, even though they weren't the same denomination. I was invited once to the pentecostal. It was.. an experience.
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24points
#15
Maybe not the strangest after reading the rest of this thread but my childhood best friend had a couch nobody was allowed to sit on. It was all white and had plastic sheets over it. I sat on it one day while putting my shoes on to leave his house and go out to play. His dad proceeded to berate me and tell me that the couch was just for show and nobody was allowed to sit on it. I have no idea why that was the case. Who the f**k has furniture you’re not allowed to sit on. Especially when it’s covered in protective plastic?
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24points
#16
I would not call this tradition, but I went over to someone's house in the summer(when I was a kid) and for breakfast, they brought their son the food from the previous night's dinner that he didn't eat. They had blended it in a blender and heated it up for him. Was spaghetti or something.
His Mom said, "We don't know how you do things in your house, but in our house when we pray over the food, we have to eat all of the food."
I can't explain it adequately, but it was creepy.
His Mom said, "We don't know how you do things in your house, but in our house when we pray over the food, we have to eat all of the food."
I can't explain it adequately, but it was creepy.
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24points
#17
My wife's family has a chant they do for anyone opening presents, so birthdays and Christmas presents. Every single grandchild (and there are a lot of them) added their own line to the chant... when they were 3. Every line also has added gestures to go with it. Nothing like a room full of adults yelling "dee! dee! dee! dee!" while pointing at the nearest ceiling fan! My favorite is probably making siren noises while doing a low level head bang, though.
It takes 2 to 3 minutes and they do it before. every. single. person. opens their first gift. Thankfully it's been toned down as it used to be done every single time for every single gift. In a group of over a dozen people!
That first Christmas was hell, and let me tell you, I did that chant in full every single time wondering about my life choices. Still married though, and they're great people!
It takes 2 to 3 minutes and they do it before. every. single. person. opens their first gift. Thankfully it's been toned down as it used to be done every single time for every single gift. In a group of over a dozen people!
That first Christmas was hell, and let me tell you, I did that chant in full every single time wondering about my life choices. Still married though, and they're great people!
23points
#18
Wasn’t my encounter; a friend of mine told me about the first time they stayed at their partner’s in-laws for a holiday to spend the night.
The place wasn’t spacious, which was fine, and the partner’s mother used a sound machine to fall asleep. Something a lot of people do. I do that, my kids do. Fan sound, ocean sound- it’s fairly common.
What they discovered, too late, was that the mother of the house went to sleep every night listening to *vacuum cleaner* noise. And not a handheld, whirring one. More like a big- industrial sounding suck machine. She would turn it on before bed, and the gentle calm was assaulted with loud pipe exhaust and squealing belts.
When my friend asked their partner why they didn’t at least warn them, they told them they hadn’t thought it was a big deal.
The place wasn’t spacious, which was fine, and the partner’s mother used a sound machine to fall asleep. Something a lot of people do. I do that, my kids do. Fan sound, ocean sound- it’s fairly common.
What they discovered, too late, was that the mother of the house went to sleep every night listening to *vacuum cleaner* noise. And not a handheld, whirring one. More like a big- industrial sounding suck machine. She would turn it on before bed, and the gentle calm was assaulted with loud pipe exhaust and squealing belts.
When my friend asked their partner why they didn’t at least warn them, they told them they hadn’t thought it was a big deal.
23points
#19
Strange? My in laws invite like 40 people over for Christmas or thanksgiving, only have enough food for like 20 people and watch all the outsiders starve while the blood family knows to rush the food trays and load up their plates like gluttons.
Needless to say I have not spent another holiday with them in over 10 years. Love having to leave a family event to go to Jack in the box
Needless to say I have not spent another holiday with them in over 10 years. Love having to leave a family event to go to Jack in the box
23points
#20
It was tradition to watch Goonies on Thanksgiving Day.
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22points