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!
#21
We have a miniature brass cannon that my grandfather made back in the 50's. We fire it off at every major family event. Weddings, funerals, major anniversaries or birthdays.
No projectiles go in it anymore. It's mostly just for the bang.
No projectiles go in it anymore. It's mostly just for the bang.
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11points
#22
Springbreaksgiving. Because one Thanksgiving a year is not enough.
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10points
#23
Before I was born, my parents went to a zoo in San Antonio and they were walking past the llamas and my mom was so close to them, one llama spit his cud in her eye!
It was super painful, but my family thought it was hysterical. That year for Christmas my uncle made her a LLAMA SHIELD out of a welding mask. They decided to start a tradition of sending her a stuffed llama (or something llama-related) every year for Christmas. I'm 25 and my mom now has over 28 llama items!
It was super painful, but my family thought it was hysterical. That year for Christmas my uncle made her a LLAMA SHIELD out of a welding mask. They decided to start a tradition of sending her a stuffed llama (or something llama-related) every year for Christmas. I'm 25 and my mom now has over 28 llama items!
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10points
#24
We have a great one called, "Let's examine my life decisions." I've lost for 20+ years running.
9points
#25
My Dad is Narcoleptic. Every year when he inevitably passes out at the table during Thanksgiving dinner my sisters & I play our favorite game called "What can we balance on Dad's head?"
So far our most impressive item is a coffee mug. I'm fairly proud of that one.
So far our most impressive item is a coffee mug. I'm fairly proud of that one.
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9points
#26
Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, my grandmother made Spanish Custard (like a flan) which was always chilled in a fancy cut glass dish.
For presentation, the custard would be flipped out onto a plate and we'd all examine it to see if 3 layers appeared (the dish is made with heavy cream which would separate slightly as it chilled and you'd get a dense creamy layer, an opaque shiny layer and an almost clear milky layer.)
These days, with the way cream is processed, the milky layer no longer shows up so we don't flip it out anymore.
My grandmother died a few years ago and my mother inherited the Custard Dish. That's when she found out that the recipe made about a 1/2 cup more custard than the dish held. All those years, everyone thought Gran was being generous by letting everyone else have the custard when she had her own stash all along.
For presentation, the custard would be flipped out onto a plate and we'd all examine it to see if 3 layers appeared (the dish is made with heavy cream which would separate slightly as it chilled and you'd get a dense creamy layer, an opaque shiny layer and an almost clear milky layer.)
These days, with the way cream is processed, the milky layer no longer shows up so we don't flip it out anymore.
My grandmother died a few years ago and my mother inherited the Custard Dish. That's when she found out that the recipe made about a 1/2 cup more custard than the dish held. All those years, everyone thought Gran was being generous by letting everyone else have the custard when she had her own stash all along.
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9points
#27
My dad grew up during the depression, so every year for his birthday dinner we have, at his request, baloney sandwiches, tomato soup, and chocolate milk.
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9points
#28
Every Groundhog day we go and get small gifts for each other for a dollar or less, then we eat flap jacks and watch Groundhog day.
No joke.
No joke.
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8points
#29
Several years ago at a family party I left a soda can in my brother's room. He went to clean up his room and put the soda can in mine. Being the stubborn jerk I was, I ended up putting it BACK in his room because hey he should've just taken care of it.
Anywho, fast forward several years and we now play hide the soda can. It was a while before we even confronted each other about it so it developed silently. You'd just be going about your daily way and BAM, soda can at you. It has gotten more difficult since we've both moved out, but both of our significant others have agreed not to interfere (and yes we still use the same nasty old mug soda can).
Anywho, fast forward several years and we now play hide the soda can. It was a while before we even confronted each other about it so it developed silently. You'd just be going about your daily way and BAM, soda can at you. It has gotten more difficult since we've both moved out, but both of our significant others have agreed not to interfere (and yes we still use the same nasty old mug soda can).
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7points
#30
Family traditions concerning my entire family aren't really a thing in my life, but I've got something that should work:
After their divorce, my parents have lived away from each other for about half of my lifetime. My mom has custody of me and my dad has always lived in other states due to his work, so I only get to see him twice a year if I'm lucky. Whenever my father flies out to see me, I pick him up from the airport. After picking him up, we go directly to this cheap Chinese place and we still get the same thing to eat every time we go there. My mom never comes with us because she finds the food there boring, but we don't mind. Some of my favorite memories with my father have taken place in that little restaurant.
After their divorce, my parents have lived away from each other for about half of my lifetime. My mom has custody of me and my dad has always lived in other states due to his work, so I only get to see him twice a year if I'm lucky. Whenever my father flies out to see me, I pick him up from the airport. After picking him up, we go directly to this cheap Chinese place and we still get the same thing to eat every time we go there. My mom never comes with us because she finds the food there boring, but we don't mind. Some of my favorite memories with my father have taken place in that little restaurant.
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7points
#31
As long as I can remember, almost all of the guys in my family take off their pants when they get home. None of us like wearing pants, we just peruse the house in boxers all day.
Also, my Dad loves to text me multiple times a day and tell me about how awesome his dumps are, and how they drive my mother either upstairs, downstairs, or straight out of the house.
Also, my Dad loves to text me multiple times a day and tell me about how awesome his dumps are, and how they drive my mother either upstairs, downstairs, or straight out of the house.
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6points
#32
For 20 years we've been vainly trying to duplicate nana's home made raviolis every christmas. We poorly make and roll the pasta (nobody can remember if she used 1 egg or 6?) about 240 inconsistently sized raviolis with inadequate sauce and mediocre bags of shredded cheese. We also make a giant mess but everyone seems to love them.
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6points
#33
We have a boppit contest at Christmas with 1st and 2nd place prizes that are usually pretty cool. Everyone competes even my 88 y/o grandmother.
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6points
#34
One year for Christmas, my father gave me a can of Spam in my stocking. The ungodly horror of a can of SPAM as a stocking gift stuck with me through the remaining year, prompting me to find a meat product of equal or greater detriment to the digestive tract. That first year I believe it was potted meat.
In successive years it has become even more interesting. This year's find was lobster spread in cognac sauce. It came from the dollar store. I can only imagine the nuclear explosion of gastric proportions that will cause. His offering this year as actually useful, in the form of black beans, although he has chosen to include my husband by sending him jalalpeno spam.
In successive years it has become even more interesting. This year's find was lobster spread in cognac sauce. It came from the dollar store. I can only imagine the nuclear explosion of gastric proportions that will cause. His offering this year as actually useful, in the form of black beans, although he has chosen to include my husband by sending him jalalpeno spam.
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6points
#35
Listening to 'Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangster' by Geto Boys on Thanksgiving.... Instead of saying grace. My dad likes it, I have no idea when it started.
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5points
#36
Everyone in my family talks about their bowel movements to one another. I don't understand it. I think I'm adopted.
5points
#37
For Easter dinner, my aunt and uncle would always buy a stick of butter molded into the shape of a lamb. Before we ate, it was my job to chop its head off.
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5points
#38
Whenever we got Chinese we had to sing our fortune before we were allowed to leave the table. I still remember the horror of standing up and singing " CONSTANT GRINDING WILL TURN AN IRON ROD INTO A NEEDLE!" while having a friend over for dinner.
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5points
#40
I wouldn't call this "tradition" weird but it's pretty special to me. My mom is a daycare teacher (2-3 year olds) so whenever it's someone's birthday in our immediate family she calls from work and has her kids sing "Happy Birthday." Also, if I need to be up early for something important my mom will give me a wake-up call and have her kids tell me "Get out of bed!" She is also the nursery director at our church and pert-near every Wednesday I get a phone call from one of her little ones telling me different animals sounds or telling me what they're doing that day in the nursery. It's always a good day when you get to talk to happy little kids.
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5points