Maya’s Mysteries: Terrific Traditions
“Ye must shine as stars radiating the light of love toward all mankind.”
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Do you have any family traditions? Each month, my family hikes to the top of the mountain near our house. We bring a picnic and gaze at the stars. Sometimes, we can even see the Milky Way!
Lots of people have traditions for holidays. But a tradition can be anything special you regularly do with your family or community, when you focus on being together. Did you know that traditions can boost unity and happiness? That’s because they can help us feel supported and loved. I feel this way when I go stargazing with my family. We share stories and make each other laugh. If something is stressing me out, my siblings and parents give me advice and cheer me up.
Enjoying nature as part of your family traditions is so cool. You can learn new skills, like finding constellations. Check out these ideas for making family memories!
Make Memories
Invite your family to try these nature activities. They could become new traditions!
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Create a “Jar of Wonders.” Have everyone write down amazing things seen in nature, and put the notes in a jar. Once a week, take turns reading them aloud.
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Camp out in a tent in your backyard (or in the living room, and pretend you’re outside).
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Collect nature items, such as leaves or pine needles, and use them as paintbrushes to create a piece of art that represents your family.
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Collect and paint fallen tree branches for walking sticks.
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Hold an outdoor prayer gathering, decorated with flowers, leaves, and rocks.
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Build a birdhouse and hang it outside. Keep track of the types of birds that visit.
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Plant a garden and share your harvest with neighbors.
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Host a park clean-up party. Whoever collects the most trash wins a prize.
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Celebrate the seasons by taking a family photo in the same spot on the first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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Go on a walk or bike ride and have a nature scavenger hunt.
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Ask an elder family member about a tradition they enjoyed as a kid.
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Add your own ideas.
For a printable version, download a PDF of this page.
Characters466 Maya’s Mysteries94 Maya118 Family119 Families76 Nature161 Activities37 Checklist17 Holidays6 Memories6 Celebrate44