Here's a report on a research review of the health benefits of family rituals, with a discussion at the end about family holiday rituals. Note the distinction between family routines and family rituals.

Behavior: How Rituals Enhance Well-Being
By JOHN O'NEIL
The New York Times

Family routines and rituals can be good for both physical and mental well-being, a study being published today in The Journal of Family Psychology concludes.

While the study looked at routines and rituals in general, the study's author, Dr. Barbara H. Fiese of Syracuse University, said its findings had some specific relevance to holidays.

"Holiday routines and rituals are often portrayed as something to dread," Dr. Fiese said. "But if you look at how they are practiced, there are all kinds of positive outcomes."

In the article, she and her colleagues reviewed 50 years of relevant studies. The authors defined routines as settled patterns of activity or communication and rituals as events or acts that evoked emotions or conferred meaning.

"If you don't think about it after it's over or wouldn't miss it, it's a routine," Dr. Fiese said, drawing a distinction between picking up cards or wrapping paper and "all piling in the car to go cut the Christmas tree."

Routines appear to have benefits in terms of physical health or well-being, according to the studies reviewed. In families with predictable routines, children had fewer respiratory illnesses and better overall health, and they performed better in elementary school.

Rituals have a greater effect on emotional health, Dr. Fiese said. Adolescents in families with strong rituals reported a stronger sense of self, couples reported happier marriages, and children had greater interaction with their grandparents.

Dr. Fiese noted that trying to pack too many rituals into the holiday season could add to stress instead of relieving it. "Sit down as a family and try to figure out three things everybody looks forward to, and try to preserve them," she said. "And you can also talk about what things make people feel stressed and try to avoid them."

Posted by Bill at 12/17/2002 08:43:17 PM | Link