Growing up, all of your family’s traditions were perfectly normal. Nobody would question them, and you might have assumed that every family followed the exact same rituals. But there comes a time in many adults’ lives when they realize that not only was their family unique, they might even be seen as crazy…
Netizens have been revealing the most bizarre, wholesome, and unexpected traditions that their families have. From how they celebrate certain holidays to rules that they must follow before leaving the house, this list proves that every family is special. Enjoy scrolling through these traditions that you might want to implement in your own family, and be sure to upvote your favorites!
#1
We have an awesome tradition when there's a death in the family. The night befor the funeral the family gets together and buys a huge bottle of the deceased's favorite alcoholic drink. Usually tequila or whiskey. We all sit around and drink till its gone. There's usually some tears, and a ton of fun talking about old memories. Then when the alcohol is gone everyone writes a note to the dead, or gives a speech depending on how much we've drank. Them the notes put into the bottle and buried the next day in the casket. It's a good way to get out feels and come together as a family.
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30points
#2
We had an aunt who was pretty far into Alzheimer's. One year at thanks giving, my entire extended family was holding hands while our uncle, her husband, said grace.
Uncle: In Jesus name...
Aunt: Son of a b...!
Everybody: Amen!
She's gone now, but we keep it going.
Uncle: In Jesus name...
Aunt: Son of a b...!
Everybody: Amen!
She's gone now, but we keep it going.
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19points
#3
For as long as I can remember my mom has buttered my nose on my birthday. I have no idea where this tradition originated. She's also been so kind as to carry this over to my significant others. Ive gotten wise to her and the sneaky way she tries to carry butter in her hand without me noticing, but then she gets me tipsy and I let my guard down and BAM! Butter nose.
Basically my mom is a huge dork.
Basically my mom is a huge dork.
19points
#4
We have this great tradition where we all hate each other and haven't talked to one another for years.
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18points
#5
If we leave the house, forget something and go back in, we sit down and cross our legs before we leave again. My grandmother started it. Now I use it as an opportunity to think of my grandmother every now and then. Puts a smile on my face.
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17points
#6
I happen to be part of a very tight knit, loving, Christian family. My brother and I are close to the same age, and when we would have friends who just needed a day/week/month away from their less fortunate home life, my parents were more than happy to provide. We had one month where we took in so many kids that I was sleeping on the couch all month. Aside from the neck trouble, it was nice. It's humbling when you know that your home life is so darn simple when you have a friend whose stepfather actually tried to sleep with them. If they didn't have a place to go they could have really been in trouble. Instead, we got them a job, an apartment and sent them on their way away from the mess of a home they were in.
17points
#7
On Christmas Eve, during dinner, we always set the table for one extra person, wether it be someone who calls last minute or someone on the street that needs that dinner. Sometimes it stays empty, sometimes it doesn't, but it's nice to be prepared and invite someone that can't have that on their own.
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17points
#8
Whenever my family orders pizza for dinner, we lay out a blanket in the family room and eat on the floor. My parents did that before they were married, and we still do it 20 years later.
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16points
#10
A little over a decade ago my mother found an old high school art project while packing up boxes in preparation to leave my childhood home. This piece of "art" was terrible. It was a hand sculpted toothbrush holder. Basically a large green cup, but with the top of it being a huge wide open mouth, with big nasty teeth and a tongue spilling out well over the side of it. It was coloured and kilned. It will now be solely referred to as "The Beast".
My mother is very nostalgic and hates to throw things of this nature away. So she gave it to my sister who was already married and moved out. This is where the fun begins. My sister(Emily) denies it was her that made something that ugly and says it was my brother. My mom tells her to give it to him then. But, when Emily tries to give the wretched spawn that is The Beast to my brother(Merrick) he also denies fathering such an abomination.
This escalates quickly, very quickly into a full on war. Emily and Merrick spend the next ten years finding new and creative ways to sneak the object into each others homes and hide it. Because if the other person doesn't even know it is in their house, it clearly will not be in yours. But if you have hidden it on the other, you are always wondering, "Have they found it yet?!", "Is it in my house".
Finally, the war ends when my Merrick comes to me asking for help. You see I was doing some construction work in my sisters house. He looks at me with intensity and camaraderie that only a brotherhood can produce, "Hide it somewhere she will NEVER find it!". I just nod assuringly and take The Beast home with me.
The next month I am making and installing custom cabinetry in my sisters master closet. And I get the idea. There is a larger piece that I made to go floor to ceiling, to hold all her jewelry and a mirror with a chest of drawers below it. I cut a hole in the wall, wedge The Beast between two framing studs and seal its tomb as I glued, screwed and nailed that SOB into the wall. I took pictures of the entire act, as per Merrick's request, and he slowly started leaving hints to my sister that she might want to take a look around her house for it. Finally at Christmas, Merrick made a hand drawn sketch of The Beast with the words "You are not alone" wrapped it up and gave it to her on Christmas morning. Emily spent a year looking for it, the next Christmas he gave her the pictures of it being sealed into the very framework of her house. It was beautiful. Game over.... or is it.....
Fast forward to last year, my mother walks up to me at Christmas time, the entire family in the living room. She says, "Close your eyes and hold out your hands", I comply. She places something in my hand, the texture is very familiar but the shape is foreign. "Open your eyes.", she says. I look down. In my hands is another piece of hand crafted "art" coloured and kilned, and it is actually, somehow, uglier than The Beast. "WHAT IS THIS!" I yelled. She smiles and just says, "Flip it over.". I do, and on the back engraved into the very clay that formed it, is my name, age, and the date it was made. There was a moment of silence in the house, and everyone knew. The years of peace and comfort had come to an end. The nights of being able to lay your head on your pillow and know you were alone, and your family was safe from It, oh but a distant memory.
A new war had begun....
EDIT:As requested many times below, PICTURES!
My mother is very nostalgic and hates to throw things of this nature away. So she gave it to my sister who was already married and moved out. This is where the fun begins. My sister(Emily) denies it was her that made something that ugly and says it was my brother. My mom tells her to give it to him then. But, when Emily tries to give the wretched spawn that is The Beast to my brother(Merrick) he also denies fathering such an abomination.
This escalates quickly, very quickly into a full on war. Emily and Merrick spend the next ten years finding new and creative ways to sneak the object into each others homes and hide it. Because if the other person doesn't even know it is in their house, it clearly will not be in yours. But if you have hidden it on the other, you are always wondering, "Have they found it yet?!", "Is it in my house".
Finally, the war ends when my Merrick comes to me asking for help. You see I was doing some construction work in my sisters house. He looks at me with intensity and camaraderie that only a brotherhood can produce, "Hide it somewhere she will NEVER find it!". I just nod assuringly and take The Beast home with me.
The next month I am making and installing custom cabinetry in my sisters master closet. And I get the idea. There is a larger piece that I made to go floor to ceiling, to hold all her jewelry and a mirror with a chest of drawers below it. I cut a hole in the wall, wedge The Beast between two framing studs and seal its tomb as I glued, screwed and nailed that SOB into the wall. I took pictures of the entire act, as per Merrick's request, and he slowly started leaving hints to my sister that she might want to take a look around her house for it. Finally at Christmas, Merrick made a hand drawn sketch of The Beast with the words "You are not alone" wrapped it up and gave it to her on Christmas morning. Emily spent a year looking for it, the next Christmas he gave her the pictures of it being sealed into the very framework of her house. It was beautiful. Game over.... or is it.....
Fast forward to last year, my mother walks up to me at Christmas time, the entire family in the living room. She says, "Close your eyes and hold out your hands", I comply. She places something in my hand, the texture is very familiar but the shape is foreign. "Open your eyes.", she says. I look down. In my hands is another piece of hand crafted "art" coloured and kilned, and it is actually, somehow, uglier than The Beast. "WHAT IS THIS!" I yelled. She smiles and just says, "Flip it over.". I do, and on the back engraved into the very clay that formed it, is my name, age, and the date it was made. There was a moment of silence in the house, and everyone knew. The years of peace and comfort had come to an end. The nights of being able to lay your head on your pillow and know you were alone, and your family was safe from It, oh but a distant memory.
A new war had begun....
EDIT:As requested many times below, PICTURES!
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15points
#11
My mom and dad split when I was 4. When they finalized the divorce it was a week before Christmas when I was 8. My dad got custody and after Christmas dinner and stuff he put me and my sister to bed. An hour or so later I could hear my dad crying. I went out to hug him. He was watching Die Hard on TV. I sat and watched with him. So now every year, we watch Die Hard together.
**TL;DR:** Yippee-ki-yay, Mr. Falcon.
**TL;DR:** Yippee-ki-yay, Mr. Falcon.
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14points
#12
Everyone gives the dogs silly voices. Every time they do something wierd or silly, one person in the family will dub it over in some wierd voice.
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14points
#13
Whenever my Italian side of the family gets together for Christmas, at some point during the meal someone will get up and blast "Dominic the Donkey". It becomes a big sing-along, complete with goofy dancing.
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14points
#14
A few years ago my brother and I started a tradition of seeing how many times we could work an odd word into conversation with our uptight dad and stepmom at holiday visits.
Two years ago, the word chosen was "lesbian," which, considering how closed-minded my stepmom is, was hilarious. The key is to turn the conversation, so the chosen word comes up organically, not just interject it whenever.
Well after three days of somehow fitting "lesbian" into every conversation, we're all sitting around the dinner table when talk turns to Anthony Hopkins, about which my bro says, "Anthony Hopkins, what an incredible thesbian." That was the year they almost caught on.
Two years ago, the word chosen was "lesbian," which, considering how closed-minded my stepmom is, was hilarious. The key is to turn the conversation, so the chosen word comes up organically, not just interject it whenever.
Well after three days of somehow fitting "lesbian" into every conversation, we're all sitting around the dinner table when talk turns to Anthony Hopkins, about which my bro says, "Anthony Hopkins, what an incredible thesbian." That was the year they almost caught on.
13points
#15
Easter egg hunt for our dogs. We make Easter eggs, like three dozen, and hidden them for the kids, but later we put the dogs in the front, then hide a few eggs for them, rubbing them around on the ground to leave scent tracks. They LOVE it, and most have picked it up quickly. Some are too good and we end up realizing we just fed the dog 6 eggs and its going to be fartsville soon...
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12points
#16
When my great grandmother passed away in the mid 90's my dads side of the family cleared out her house. We found an ugly small statue of a kid hold grapes. In addition we also found this light that is a small boat covered with shells. So every Christmas Eve we pick 2 names out of a hat. If you're picked you must display the item in your home till next year.
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12points
#17
Pretending to be asleep. When ever a family member or guest arrives at our home, everyone, no matter what they're doing, will be fast asleep snoring obnoxiously.
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11points
#18
My kids are grown and we live in different parts of the country.
Whenever one of us gets on a plane, we call each other and say, "I regret nothing."
Creepy, but fun.
Whenever one of us gets on a plane, we call each other and say, "I regret nothing."
Creepy, but fun.
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11points
#19
When I was a kid, Christmas became a competition with my mother (procurer of Christmas gifts) on one side, and my sister and I on the other. If we figured out what we were getting, we won. If we didn't, my mother won.
The game escalated to such a level that my mother started leaving decoy evidence out, in the form of lists suggesting our "big gifts" were to be, for example, a set of encyclopedias and sailor suits.
Still, we won every year.
Until she came up with a better idea: label the gifts with code names, and keep a master list of who each code name mapped to. That way, we'd have no way of knowing which gifts were ours.
At first, the code names were appropriately seasonal: "Frosty", "Dasher", "Dancer", etc. Then, she started to run out of ideas, and being a nurse, fell back on what was familiar: disease names. We have had gifts addressed to "Gonorrhea", "Rubella", and my favourite "Necrotizing fasciitis". This tradition has continued well into our adulthood, until the present day (I am 35 now).
Also, for holiday dinners, we name our dinner animal (turkey/ham) before we eat it. Examples: "Gordon Lightwing", "Piggy Stardust", "Notorious P.I.G.", and others that I can't remember now.
**TL;DR: mom addresses our Christmas gifts to disease names; we name dead animals before we consume them**.
The game escalated to such a level that my mother started leaving decoy evidence out, in the form of lists suggesting our "big gifts" were to be, for example, a set of encyclopedias and sailor suits.
Still, we won every year.
Until she came up with a better idea: label the gifts with code names, and keep a master list of who each code name mapped to. That way, we'd have no way of knowing which gifts were ours.
At first, the code names were appropriately seasonal: "Frosty", "Dasher", "Dancer", etc. Then, she started to run out of ideas, and being a nurse, fell back on what was familiar: disease names. We have had gifts addressed to "Gonorrhea", "Rubella", and my favourite "Necrotizing fasciitis". This tradition has continued well into our adulthood, until the present day (I am 35 now).
Also, for holiday dinners, we name our dinner animal (turkey/ham) before we eat it. Examples: "Gordon Lightwing", "Piggy Stardust", "Notorious P.I.G.", and others that I can't remember now.
**TL;DR: mom addresses our Christmas gifts to disease names; we name dead animals before we consume them**.
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11points
#20
Every Christmas Eve my family and I turn off all the lights in the house, except for those on the tree, and listen to the 70s rock epic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly. My Dad played it for my sister and me on Christmas Eve when I was 8, because "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" appears during one of the more extended breakdowns. We have done this every year since - and I'm now 30. I do it with my wife and son if we are not home for the holidays.
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11points