Traditions of the Future

Okay, so I've been giving a lot of thought to traditions and holidays recently, and I thought today would be a good day to discuss it what with Easter on Sunday and whatnot.

I'm a huge lover of the dystopian genre, and I'm still devouring every dystopian novel I can get my hands on. I've noticed that very few of them make reference to holidays or traditions, and it's caused me to wonder.

When (or If, I suppose some could say) the apocalypse hits, will we abandon those things we hold dear? Will we stop celebrating birthdays or having family traditions that form crucial bonds? It seems to me that when people go through crisis, it's those things that prevail the most, those traditions--those family lines--they cling to the hardest.

I recognize new traditions or ceremonies in dystopian novels (The Reaping in The Hunger Games, for example, or The Matching ceremony in Matched, or the assigning of careers in The Giver).

But what of holidays and traditions we have now? I'd like to think--and hope, perhaps--that even if I functioned under a severely limiting government, that I'd hold my children's birthday celebrations by the light of a candle in the dead of night. That we'd find a way to continue the bonding traditions that build the loyalty and relationships that are needed to endure life in such a society.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic from reading The Little House on the Prairie books with my daughter, where Mary and Laura labor in secret to create Christmas gifts for each other. As part of my childhood, I loved saving and creating simple, secret gifts for my family. And I'd like to think that those kinds of traditions, those kinds of binding events, wouldn't be eradicated in the future, no matter who's in a position of power.

What do you think? Do you see more value in holidays and traditions than simple ceremony?

Celebrate Good Times

Come on! (A little Lionel Richie never hurt anyone, right?)

Today, I'd like to talk about a world-building detail that I think can add depth and believability to futuristic novels.

Celebrations. Holidays. Traditions.

As I sat watching the Boston Pops play their patriotic concert on the Fourth of July (a tradition for my family) I got to thinking about the traditions or holidays in my dystopian society. I realized that the only thing I have is a birthday mention. Nothing big, nothing overtly different than what we do now.

But I think in future novels I write, I'm going to pay a little bit more attention to the holidays, traditions, and celebrations that are prevalent in the new society. I think they can give great insight into the world and how it came to be, provide setting details in a unique and rich way, and give the reader something somewhat familiar that they can grasp onto.

So will there be an Independence Day in my next novel? Will the people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, births, or weddings? Will there be baby showers? Graduation parties? Funerals?

Of course, I'm not sure right now, but I think this aspect of culture is one that should be considered when developing a futuristic society.

What do you think? Have you read a novel with a futuristic society that references the celebratory traditions? If so, let me know -- I'd love to read it to see how it's done.