ABSTRACT
Family folklore collections also frequently mention customs such as special Sunday breakfasts made by the father. Pancakes and sausage are common ceremonial fare, probably because they allow the man to take on the role of family cook. Mother’s Day, in May, and Father’s Day, in June, have been associated with family customs. It is common to give mothers flowers and take them out to dinner on Mother’s Day, but it is more common to have a barbecue for Father’s Day. The tooth-fairy tradition of leaving money for a child who places a tooth under the pillow is also family folklore because the custom involves a tradition of the amount of payment determined by the parent. Seasonal excursions are often mentioned, too, in folklore collections. Some variations are picking violets and honeysuckle as a family in springtime, wild blackberries and plums in the summertime, and pecans and chestnuts in fall in the mountains of Georgia; going to the Catskill Mountains during the summer to the “bungalow colonies” for New York Hasidim; or going “down the shore” (to the Jersey shore) for beach activities during the summer for many Middle Atlantic families. Of special connection to family folklore is the family reunion or picnic. In the Deep South and Pennsylvania-German regions, for example, family reunions are elaborate affairs including performances of traditional music, ring games for children, sharing of photo albums, oral history taking, and a large communal meal. Many family reunions are arranged, in fact, by family organizations that issue newsletters
and keep track of marriages and births. Another family-oriented event is Decoration Day in many mountain South communities, during which family members customarily attend to family graves and have a communal noontime picnic. Among many immigrant families, “family circles” exist to host special occasions and help the cultural adjustment of newcomers to the United States. Recognizing family traditions and considering their importance helps us better understand what families value and why they matter so much.
