13 American Traditions That Need to Go

As we learn and grow as a society, our values shift, which may mean that some long-standing American traditions should fade away. Things that Americans once viewed as a reason to celebrate could be causing harm to the environment or the people around us.

Many of these traditions are exciting ones that’ll bring us together, but some could use reconsideration.

The traditions we should stop celebrating, highlighted here, are either unhealthy, harmful to the environment, confusing, or morally unjust by honoring historical inaccuracies or being offensive to a group. There might be others that you’re surprised aren’t on the list, but these are a few that stand out the most to us.

Tailgating

Sporting events are a fun opportunity for people to get together and cheer for their favorite team, with many Americans participating in tailgating before the game. Many Americans show up to the event hours early and hang out in the parking lot, grilling food, having drinks, and mingling with other tailgaters.

During tailgating, people open the trunk of their car to hold their picnic items. Some set up tables and small canopies, while others go a step further and have TVs, sound equipment, and other extras. While tailgating can be a fun time, it also contributes to air pollution and results in lots of trash.

Black Friday

Instead of being a huge shopping day that comes around once a year, some Black Friday deals begin a week early. Many stores open even on Thanksgiving, and people go out shopping rather than spending time with family. Either way, it is an American tradition we can do without.

Black Friday leads to impulse buying, promotes consumerism, and can sometimes be dangerous. The day after celebrating gratitude and discussing what we’re thankful for shouldn’t be spent this way.

Huge Food Portions

Since the 1970s, American fast-food restaurants began selling larger value sizes to increase their sales. It contributes to obesity and other health issues and would be a tradition best left in the past.

The serving sizes at fast food restaurants in America are larger than in other countries. Ordering a medium size in America will be more like ordering a large in another country.

Materialism During Holidays

Holidays in the United States become intense materialistic experiences, overshadowing what each day is supposed to celebrate. Christmas, Easter, and nearly every other holiday has become a day full of gifts or excess.

Materialism not only diminishes the significance of the holiday but also contributes to other issues. You’ll have more waste, lose site of important 3traditions, and disrupt your well-being.

Thanksgiving Food Waste

Wasted food is never ideal, but during holidays like Thanksgiving, it’s overdone. Americans cook too much food — way more than anyone needs — and much of it goes into the trash.

Avoiding excessive food waste only takes a little brainstorming to find more sustainable options. Then, you can celebrate Thanksgiving without an overwhelming amount of food getting thrown out.

Celebrating Columbus Day

Americans always look for reasons to celebrate, but Columbus Day should no longer be one of them. Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America was once a celebrated event but has changed since the full historical impact of his arrival came to light.

Instead of celebrating Columbus Day, America should honor those who lived in the United States before settlers arrived. Many Americans already want the name changed to Indigenous Peoples’ Day to recognize and represent the true origins of America.

Standardized Testing

Standardized testing doesn’t give an accurate view of each student’s progress in school. Some kids don’t do well with these tests, and many get overly stressed because of them. Plus, preparing for standardized testing limits the chance for critical thinking and creativity in the classroom.

Instead of standardized testing, schools should focus on teaching more of what students need to know to become positive members of society. They would have time to encourage career, life, and emotional skills.

Publicly Shaming People Online

We’ve all made mistakes in life, and we always hope people won’t remember them for long. With the recent American tradition of publicly shaming on social media, that hope dwindles.

Many people take photos of others or tag them while calling them out for a mistake. Sometimes, a person doesn’t even have to make a mistake to appear online. They’ll get posted so others can laugh and make fun of them for something they can’t control.

College Pressure

Americans often get pressured to attend college, no matter their career aspirations. It’s drilled into us that college is the only way to find success, although alternative options can be just as good or even better.

The tradition of pressuring people to go to college can potentially send them on a path they’re not passionate about. Plus, it costs tons of money, sometimes leading to them wracking up a hefty amount of student loan debt. College is perfect for some people, but no one should feel pressured to take that route.

Celebrating Overworking

Many Americans think overworking is something to celebrate, but that’s a tradition that should change immediately. Overworking leads to a lack of work-life balance, causing people to miss out on family time, relaxation, and making memories.

Overworking also disrupts your productivity and creativity. Instead of getting more work accomplished, you might be less productive and come up with fewer ideas.

Imperial Measurement System

The United States uses the imperial measurement system rather than the metric system, which most of the world uses. Americans seem to prefer using miles, feet, ounces, pounds, and gallons.

Many schools teach the metric system, so it’s not like making the switch would be impossible. However, despite past efforts to use the metric system, you’ll still see the imperial system used in most public places.

Going Overboard With Youth Sports

Youth sports in the United States are no longer just for fun. Now, the focus is on winning, overshadowing any enjoyment in just playing the game if they lose.

Americans also go overboard with youth sports, spending many hours on them each week. Kids often have to commit several days a week to one sport, limiting how many they can try or any other activities they’d like to do. It’s almost as if they have to choose the sport they’ll participate in for life before getting a chance to see which one they’re good at.

Driving Everywhere

Vehicles are great options for transportation, and Americans fully take advantage of them, with statistics showing that we drive more than most people worldwide. Many Americans even drive to places that are within walking or bicycling distance.

The tradition of taking a vehicle everywhere is problematic because it contributes to pollution. Driving also leads to more noise pollution.