Traditions we have lost?

[Lydara22]

Brought on by family circumstance currently, I remembered that when I was a child, my mother always closed all of the curtains in the house as a respectful sign of mourning.
We don't do that anymore do we?

What other respectful traditions have we lost?

I’m 64. My mum told me about whitsun gatherings (as I said grew up in Australia) but my husband lived there till he was 30 and remembers it in Firth park. My sister is 75 and does too. Mum and dad would still buy new clothes in may in Australia for a good few years in May.

Here’s some pictures, first one looks like 70s. https://www.google.com/search?q=whitsunday+gatherings+in+sheffield+50s+and+60s&sca_esv=c3f7936c6fd1a8dc&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB590GB590&hl=en-GB&udm=2&biw=1080&bih=695&ei=kpS-ZbbfL_aMhbIP3POtqAg&oq=whitsunday+gatherings+in+sheffield+50s+and+60s&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIi53aGl0c3VuZGF5IGdhdGhlcmluZ3MgaW4gc2hlZmZpZWxkIDUwcyBhbmQgNjBzMggQABiABBiiBEjaWFC_GliYUXAAeACQAQCYAWygAaYIqgEEMTIuMbgBA8gBAPgBAeIDBBgBIEGIBgE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#vhid=rEMo_Ttfg1M9sM&vssid=mosaic

There was also a ceremony attached to a saint (Saint Blaise) - the priest would bless your throat and it was supposed to ward off sore throats and throat related illnesses. Google tells me this is the 3rd February.

I'm just back from having that done! And I'll be giving up alcohol and chocolate / sweets for Lent.

Mischief night still a thing in some areas

My village still bless the plough, have a May queen and 'beat the bounds' which is when we mark the parish boundary. I still make my kids write thank you cards!

I also miss button holes at weddings! I also miss a dress code. My dad always puts a jacket on if we eat in a restaurant. I think it's sad hiw scruffy we've all become. And why does no one bother to polish leather shoes anymore?!

Having lost of Mum in the last few months I would say send flowers a month after the death. At the time you get loads of flowers, so many that you don’t know what to do with them, but a month later is when all the support has gone.

DD had a fair bit of cash popped into her pram when she was born. Proud grandad walked her past the pub on the way to the paper shop and she ended up with about a fiver from his mates popping in 50p's.

I had very traditional grandparents and loved their traditions so still do many of the things mentioned - mostly because its good manners or shows respect.

Paige boys at weddings in proper paige outfits not the same as mini usher outfits some boys wear. The only people who seem to do this now are the royal family

I another person who dislikes visible underwear.

Me neither.

@Taytocrisps yes that’s right. Well remembered! (I love tayto crisps btw and they sell them in our church social club!)

I miss 'seeing the bride off' - when a neighbour left for the Church and you would come out to wish them well.

More so, I miss being able to go to the ceremony when someone you knew got married, and you wanted to wish them well. With more and more (most?) people now getting married in hotels or 'Wedding venues' only those close enough to be invited get to see anything of the day. I really appreciated all the people that came to the service when I got married, and now I am of an age where my dcs' friends are getting married (some of whom I've know 20 years or more), I would like to be able to go to the service and support them on their big day.

In west wales it was tradition that women should not attend funerals. The wake would also almost always end up in a pub.

There is also the traditions of the Mari Llwyd horses head and twmpath dances.

Up north they had whit walks where the whole town came out in their respective Sunday schools in a parade. They looked lovely. My dad took part in loads

Our neighbours did this as a mark of respect to my dad on the day of his funeral/ when the cars were arriving. It was quite touching as he was such a traditional and dignified man in so many ways and valued a number of the old ways (yet I'm proud to say he was also very progressive in what he wanted/ hoped for for me as his daughter).

The man walking on the outside of the pavement nearest the traffic - my dad always did this, even when we were adults.

My late DF always did this too.

There are a couple of shops which sell wool where I live - not the UK - and most of it is actual wool, not acrylic.

My partner still insists on walking on the outside when we're by a road. My dad did the same!

I agree. I remember going to a friends eldest sister wedding in my lunch hour once !

Youngsters today would be horrified at that, that you go to a wedding, uninvited (although in throry, everyone was invited).

Yes the loss of casual socialising. Friends dropping round, turning up to weddings/funerals, that sort of thing.

Also, not a tradition as such, but half my childhood memories are going round to parents friends houses of an evening and running amok with their kids while our parents got blind drunk. All my friends remember these ‘parties’ as well 😂

Yep and a tradition we carried on with our families with our circle of friends. Best memory was NYE and playing pissed table tennis in the garden 😂

I remember my mother telling me 'it's bad enough that you smoke - but don't for Gods sake EVER do it while walking anywhere. That's just common '

I gave up years ago.. but never smoked a cigarette standing up. No matter how desperate I was.

Ah, I know Keynsham. I'm a Bristolian. I didn't know Keynsham had mummers too. I'll check it out.

My husband does too.

This has been great to catch up with.

So many fond memories. I try and keep some going - ‘first foot’ especially.

Like PP’s, we too would wander around the neighbourhood on NYE, with our parents, calling in at any house with a light on ( and known to us). Some years we were the house with a light on. None of it planned, just happened.

Those talking about clothes for Whit, we always had a new outfit for Easter Sunday.

Giving a new baby ‘silver’ in the pram, yes when walking with my DC’s the first few times, we would return with lots of silver.

I do live in a place where everyone greets everyone else in passing on the street.

Additionally, others I've remembered - not announcing a pregnancy until at least 12 weeks and as a PP said above, definitely no baby items until the last weeks as it was considered to be tempting fate. (actually one friend did buy me a tiny pair of socks when I was about 15 weeks, I miscarried at 20 - and the tiny pair of socks are the only thing I have - still, tucked away).
I was a little shocked when my DiL announced she was ‘2 days pregnant’ - seemed risky to me.

Maybe we need a mumsnet campaign to resurrect a few traditions and manners! 😆