Family Traditions Gone Wild: People Share the Strangest and Most Hilarious!
Disclaimer: When you buy from links on our site, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more
Families are full of unique quirks and traditions that make them special. Amongst these traditions, there are often some that stand out as particularly strange. In this exploration of family customs, we explore the question: “What is the strangest tradition your family has?” Get ready to uncover the wonderfully weird and charmingly odd rituals that add color and laughter to family life. From quirky holiday practices to peculiar birthday celebrations, these traditions showcase the richness and uniqueness of each family’s story. Let’s unravel the fascinating tapestry of family life and discover the strangest traditions that make our families unique.
Unique Holiday Rituals
To start, a Redditor commented, “I honestly don’t know how it all started, but every time we cooked up a turkey for a holiday, my grandfather would always give it a slap on its way into the oven. He passed several years ago, but we still slap the turkey on his behalf.”
A second Redditor replied, “IDk if it’s the strangest, but certainly the whitest thing I do. Every year on easter after church, we go to the front lawn in our Sundays best and play croquet.”
Bizarre Mealtime Customs
A user replied, “Whenever we eat buns/cupcakes, you have to ask for them by pretending your arm is an elephant’s trunk and asking in a gruff voice, “Please, can I have a bun?”
Unconventional Gift-Giving Practices
One Redditor wrote, “My wife’s maiden name is “Moos” (pronounced like “moose”), so for years, Christmas gifts in her family were moose-themed. As people joined the family, and not everyone had animal homonym names, they would get assigned animals. I thought it was weird when I celebrated my first Thanksgiving with them, and people asked what my favorite animal was. I answered, “Um, I like bears, I guess.” I now own bear towels, salt and pepper shakers, t-shirts, and even boxer shorts. There could be worse things. At least Christmas is fun and personal. My sister-in-law’s girlfriend got assigned “sheep.”
Quirky Vacation Traditions
One user wrote, “Anytime we went on a trip, my mother insisted on emptying an entire can of Lysol in the hotel room upon our arrival. Then, any socks worn on the hotel carpet were placed in a separate dirty clothes bag and given their own load of laundry when we got home.”
Strange Superstitions
A Redditor shared, “On August 15, we must always have spaghetti. None of us remembers when or why this tradition started. But on Aug. 15, BY GOD, spaghetti will be for dinner. Always.”
Unusual Methods of Saying Hello/Good-Bye
One user replied, “Whenever someone at a family gathering is leaving to head back home, we do the usual hugs, kisses, etc., inside. We then all file out to the driveway and get ready. As soon as that person starts pulling out, we all start screaming GOODBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYE as loud as we can. The person/family leaving then responds by yelling GOODBYYYYYYYYYYYYYE out the windows of the car. This continues back and forth until we can’t hear each other anymore.”
Offbeat Family Competitions or Games
A comment was, “I don’t know if it is a ‘tradition’ per se, but my whole life, my family has always sprinted through parking lots. The moment the car goes into park, my parents have already bolted, and we’re scrambling to keep up. They always said parking lots were too boring to waste time on.”
Eccentric Family Rules
One user replied, “If one person is sick from school, everyone else gets to stay home too.”
A second user added, “We have a whistle when we come into my parents’ house. So, someone in the family walks through the door, and we let out this specific whistle, almost like how you whistle to call a dog. You hear it, and you know someone has come in. We don’t do this in our house, but it’s automatic when we visit my parents.”
Weird Household Chores or Responsibilities
A Redditor commented, “In my family, one person washes the dishes, one person dries them, and one person saves them.”
Uncommon Ways of Celebrating Birthdays
One Redditor wrote, “When someone in the family turns 16, they have to sign underneath my grandmother’s kitchen table. It has to be something witty/funny/personal and then their name and the date. Of course, those who “join” the family late (by marriage/long-term relationship or even just very good friends who have been to a family function or two) sign whenever they’re inducted.”
Another Redditor 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.”
Surprising Family Holiday Traditions
A fun comment read, “My family goes to the zoo on Thanksgiving because it’s usually empty, but still a nice day. It’s great.”
A second comment was, “Every Easter, my family does a pinata. I have no idea why considering were 100% Irish.”
Strangely Specific Family Rituals
A user replied, “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.”
A second user added, “Turn 18 older siblings take you to a s**** shop and embarrass the hell out of you. Also, you must blindly pick a DVD from the discount bin to be watched and added to the family collection of cheap horrible p***. I got “Wow, what a ri****b,” and my sister got “fat beach patrol 6”. Ya…fun?”
Odd Family Heirlooms or Traditions Related to Objects
One comment was, “My wife and I got married on New Year’s Eve. Every NYE, we get one of those tacky little candles with the red glass and the white plastic net on the outside and go to Taco Bell for our anniversary dinner.”
Unique Ways of Commemorating Milestones
One Redditor replied, “Every wedding, we force the DJ to play the remix to Ignition, and every single member of the family meets on the dance floor, and we all do a choreographed dance. 10 years strong.”
A second Redditor added, “When someone in my family loses a baby tooth, we have to chuck it onto the roof after reciting a chant. Something to the effect of “take this rotten tooth and bestow me with a healthy one,” but in Portuguese. I don’t understand it myself. Cultural superstitions, I suppose.”
Unusual Family Outings or Adventures
One fun comment was, “We have a couple, but my favorite is “ice cream runs.” On a school night, my mom would tuck me into bed, turn out the lights and pretend to go to bed too. Then, ten minutes later she’d come barreling into my room, flick the lights and scream “ice cream run!” The whole house would get up and go for sundaes in our pajamas. I’m definitely going to keep this up when I have kids!”
The captivating tales of unconventional family traditions shared by Redditors have left us in awe of the diversity and quirkiness of our own households. From pancake races to competitive sock matching, the unique traditions showcased here remind us that family bonds are forged through the shared experiences that make us laugh, scratch our heads, and ultimately bring us closer together.
14 “Poor People” Dishes You’ll Always Love No Matter Your Wealth
14 “Poor People” Dishes You’ll Always Love No Matter Your Wealth One thing that won’t ever change is your tastebuds – you just can’t control what you crave.
10 Incredibly Irritating Things The Boomer Generation Says All The Time
10 Incredibly Irritating Things The Boomer Generation Says All The Time – What is something annoying the boomer generation always says to the younger generation?
10 Places Women Always Want To Avoid When Going On a Date
10 Places Women Always Want To Avoid When Going On a Date – These are the top-voted destinations to avoid.
15 Things That Will Die With The Boomer Generation
15 Things That Will Die With The Boomer Generation Boomers are something. The younger generations find them selfish and full of useless advice and tips.
16 Things We Need To Stop Teaching Children Immediately
16 Things We Need To Stop Teaching Children Immediately That said, not everything taught to children is either done with the best intentions.
10 Things Boomers Passionately Dislike About Modern Society
10 Things Boomers Passionately Dislike About Modern Society – The list could probably go on forever. You might agree with some.
Mind the Gender Gap: 24 Expenses That Men Bear Alone in a World of Unequal Spending
Mind the Gender Gap: 24 Expenses That Men Bear Alone in a World of Unequal Spending – Men are often expected to pay for a lot of things when it comes to relationships.
Silly Things Boomers Say Daily
10 Annoying Things The Boomer Generation Says Daily Millennials and Gen Z often want them just to SHUT UP! So, What is something annoying the boomer generation always says to the younger generation?
10 Surprising Phrases Your Partner Is Using to Gaslight You
The word “gaslighting” is thrown around a lot these days. The purpose of gaslighting is to make someone believe they are crazy when in reality, they are not. – 10 Surprising Phrases Your Partner Is Using to Gaslight You
New Shows Streaming On Netflix in May
Coming Soon: New Netflix Series Premiering in May – Cuddle up, get cozy and get ready to watch these great new shows releasing on Netflix this month.