15 of the Weirdest Family Traditions We’ve Ever Heard!
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Families are full of unique customs, some of which are downright quirky. Join us in celebrating the unconventional as we delve into the weirdest yet most cherished tradition that your family continues to embrace. From the charmingly offbeat to the delightfully odd, let’s share the threads that make your family tapestry one-of-a-kind.
Funeral Traditions
One interesting tradition was “A funeral tradition where you bury a bit of your hair and some food with the person or, more often, pet. Thinking of being “Something for the road and a part of me that goes with you.” I didn’t realize until later in life it wasn’t a widespread thing, and I’ve no idea where it started.”
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Another tradition was, “We bury our own. Some people think that’s weird It’s after the funeral service. We bring our own shovels. Usually, it’s just family. Sometimes it’s incredibly painful.”
Birthday Traditions
A user replied, “In 1973, my uncle did not remember a gift for my dad’s birthday. He was eating an apple, so he tossed the core at my dad as a gift. My dad put it in tin foil in the freezer and gave it back to my uncle on his birthday. Every year whoever had the apple gave it back to the other. My uncle died a few years ago, so now his son and my dad give it back and forth. When my dad passes, my cousin and I will continue the tradition. The apple is now in several layers of plastic bag and a Tupperware from the 80s.”
Another user added, “We skip 99.9% of the Birthday Song at parties and get right to the best part, “YOUUUUUUUU!” No joke. Mom lights the candle, everyone holds their arms out toward the birthday boy/girl, and we all sing “YOUUU,” and then the candle gets blown out. I thought it was corny at first, but it cuts to the point, saves shy singers any embarrassment, and we get to the cake sooner.”
End of the World Traditions
One tradition was, “Every time someone has predicted the end of the world (The Rapture, December 21, 2012, etc.), my family has a get-together and a tea party. Over time, the tea party evolved into a “tea party with crazy-hats,” as my aunt has a crate filled with ridiculous costumes. So we’re all a group of people sitting around a table drinking tea while wearing tophats, WWII helmets, turbans, bunny ears, etc. Then at the end of the day, we gather outside and watch the sunset as we prepare for the world to be destroyed. Then we get in our cars and drive home disappointed.“
Coming Home Traditions
A person shared, “My family ambushes each other when we walk into the house. My mom likes to hide behind the couch and lob a “grenade” at your feet which then “kills” you. The grenades are usually ibuprofen bottles or rolled-up socks. My brother and dad prefer to shoot from sniper positions in the kitchen. I, personally, prefer hiding behind the front door and tossing a “flash bang.” I have been getting “killed” for 25 years, and I still get killed whenever I visit home.”
Christmas Traditions
One comment was, “Every Christmas, my immediate family gathers to watch all three Lord of the Rings movies. Usually with a metric ton of snacks and such.”
A second comment was, “EVERY Christmas, we’d go to my grandma’s for dinner, and she’d always pull out these “party cracker” things. They’re these tubes with a paper crown (we had to wear these at dinner), some terrible jokes/riddles, and a small toy inside. You open them by pulling the ends, and it makes a pop. She did this every year for Christmas until a few years ago when she passed. Now my wife makes sure we have our party crackers, and we wear our crowns.”
Watermelon Traditions
A user replied, “Whenever we cut a watermelon open, one of us has to say “oink,” or we’re not eating.”
A second user added, “My family has a tradition that we have followed for decades. Every year, somewhere in September-October, we buy the biggest watermelon, store it in a cool place until New Year’s Eve (we live in Russia, and New Year’s Eve is December 31), and on holiday we take this watermelon out and cut it up. In this way, we can eat delicious and juicy watermelon even in winter. It’s not so strange, more unusual, but I’m glad we have such a tradition because who doesn’t like sweet watermelons.”
Thanksgiving Traditions
One person commented, “My family goes to the zoo on Thanksgiving because it’s usually empty, but still a nice day. It’s great.”
Easter Traditions
One funny comment was, “Every Easter, my family does a pinata. I have no idea why considering we are 100% Irish.”
Another comment was, “So many egg-related puns over the Easter period it’s unsettling.”
Angry Traditions
One user said, “Not speak to each other after Dad died.”
A second user added, “Extreme passive aggressiveness. If we get food with my brother’s family, they’ll actually sit at a separate table and still have my dad pay.”
In-Law Traditions
A person shared, “I don’t know if my fiancée’s family are the weird ones or my family, but I grew up in a family where my parents called their mother/father-in-law by their first names. My fiancées family calls them mom and dad, something I’m still unsure how to feel about.“
Religious Traditions
A comment was, “My family still uses the same pre-meal prayer that I learned in like… kindergarten. It’s really basic and childish. “Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus, for our food, for our food. Thank you for our mommies, thank you for our daddies, we love you, we love you, amen, bless us off” I think the “off” at the end is supposed to be “all,” but as a kid, I guess I heard it as “off,” and it stuck. But regardless, I still feel awkward singing it when they insist we pray before eating.”
Another comment was, “Hiding the Jesus. When we moved into our current house, we found a sketch of white Jesus, the type you’d expect to see framed in an old lady’s living room. We started hiding it in random places to mess with each other. Wife’s underwear drawer, inside the medicine cabinet, the fridge at night to catch midnight snackers… you never know where you’ll find Jesus. Currently, he’s lost, though. Someone must have hidden him really well.”
Family Hatred Traditions
An angry user replied, “We get together only during holidays and talk bull, and everyone acts like mean people and are super rude. Then we eat. Then we don’t see each other till the next holiday…my family sucks, and everyone hates everyone. Fun tradition.”
Christmas Eve Traditions
One user shared, “We make s’mores on Christmas Eve in the fireplace. No clue where it started – s’mores are a decidedly summertime snack. But we’ve done it for years and years.”
Sewing Traditions
A reply was, “In our family, we were always sewing kitchen aprons by ourselves. They usually look bad but are made with love. I’m living far away from my mom now, but she is still wearing the apron which I sewed myself for her. :)”
Game Day Traditions
Finally, someone shared, “I think it’d definitely have to be a game day during football season. There are certain things that have to be in certain places. Certain people have to be wearing certain things, people have assigned seats, assigned snacks, etc. It’s pretty funny, honestly.”
Source: Reddit
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