If you should drop into church at 10:30 Sunday in Taft, the Lord willing, you might hear the strains of Tevye, the Orthodox Russian Jew, singing "Tradition". In one of the verses he sings,
Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the Holy Books?
The Mama, the Mama, Tradition!
The Mama, the Mama, Tradition.
As you know the story of this musical you remember traditions were in for a momentous change. The Tsar was being dethroned and Communism was coming to Tevye's small Jewish village. They would be hauled away to another life.
Many of our family traditions center around "The Mama"! She is often the tradition maker by how she decorates the house, or cooks, or remembers birthdays and even deaths.
We probably had more traditions growing up than I remember. I know we had them. The primary "tradition" was attending all the happenings at church. We all went every Sunday. We would have our meal of the week after church on Sunday. Often the Preacher would be there. The table would be covered after finishing the meal. The cloth would be removed at suppertime. There were no microwaves for warm-ups. I guess that's why I like cold food today.
We cut our own Christmas tree each year. Because of what was available it was always a cedar tree. My Dad would make a wooden stand for the tree each year. The same old baubles and lights would decorate the tree. It would have icicles and big balls of red and blue. There would be some kind of "rope" strung around the tree. For years we had lighted "candles" that bubbled. Tradition!
Killing a hog was traditional. It came after the first cold norther. A black pot would have water boiling hot. Usually several men were involved. It was not a fun thing or sport. It was for meat that would last all year. Salt was the great preservative.Tradition!
Our family traditions were wonderful and wholesome, each in it's own way. Others have not been so blessed. Hank Williams Jr. wrote and sings these words:
"Hank, why do you drink?
Why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Over and over everybody made my prediction,
So if I get stoned and sing all night long
It's a family tradition."
His father, a brilliant country music song writer and singer, died at twenty-nine of a heart attack. He was battling alcoholism when he died.
Some traditions are great to keep. Some are better broken. Joyous Mother's Day!
