Are Traditional Celebrations Losing Relevance With Today’s Youth?
- Jomanda Heng
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
When you think of traditional celebrations—festivals, religious ceremonies, and cultural rituals—images of colourful lanterns, crowded family feasts, and spiritual practices often come to mind. But in 2025, these once-vibrant cornerstones of community life face a growing challenge: the youth.
While older generations hold firm to customs that embody identity, faith, and continuity, many young people today see them as increasingly irrelevant, costly, or even performative. The result? A widening generational divide over whether traditions are sacred legacies or outdated obligations.
The Generational Divide: Sacred Legacy vs. Burden
For parents and grandparents, festivals like Lunar New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya, and Christmas aren’t just holidays—they’re spiritual anchors. They embody respect for ancestors, the importance of family, and the celebration of shared heritage.
Yet, many Gen Z and millennial voices are expressing different priorities. Economic realities play a huge role:
Rising living costs mean fewer can afford lavish celebrations.
Many youths live away from their hometowns for work or study, making traditional family gatherings logistically difficult.
A shift in worldview leaves some questioning whether traditions rooted in hierarchy, gender roles, or religious dogma still resonate in today’s context.
A 2024 Pew Research study found that younger adults worldwide are significantly less likely than older generations to attend religious or cultural ceremonies regularly. Instead, they lean toward celebrations centred on personal connection, self-expression, and inclusivity.
Nostalgia vs. Practicality
Interestingly, most young people aren’t rejecting traditions outright. Many describe bittersweet nostalgia, recalling the joy of childhood rituals like firecrackers, lantern festivals, or open houses. But when asked whether they’ll carry these practices forward, hesitation arises.
Instead, a wave of modernized traditions is emerging:
Shortened celebrations: Instead of week-long festivities, many prefer one-day, intimate gatherings.
Hybrid celebrations: Blending cultural elements with modern twists—think cheongsams paired with sneakers or Christmas dinners that include vegan menus.
Digital-first customs: Posting festive greetings on Instagram Stories or hosting family Zoom calls when distance prevents physical reunions.
According to the World Economic Forum, cultural traditions adapt fastest when driven by youth innovation, and “digital platforms are now the new temples, markets, and community halls”.
Beyond Decline: An Evolution of Tradition
The narrative that “youth are killing traditions” may be misleading. Historically, traditions have never been static.
For example:
Food rituals: Many families now swap meat-heavy feasts for plant-based or eco-conscious menus, citing climate concerns.
Fashion: Young people reinterpret traditional attire—modern kebayas, fusion hanboks, or minimalist saris.
Community activities: Temple prayers or cultural performances are increasingly livestreamed, reaching global diasporas who otherwise couldn’t attend.
This doesn’t erase tradition—it transforms it. As UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage program notes, traditions thrive when they “adapt to their environment and respond to the needs of their community”.
The challenge lies not in whether traditions will vanish, but in whether they can remain relevant without losing their soul.
If communities insist on rigid preservation, youth may disengage entirely.
If traditions adapt to modern values, they may thrive in new forms that still honour their roots.
Perhaps the truth is this: the youth aren’t abandoning tradition—they’re curating it. Keeping what feels meaningful, discarding what feels outdated, and rewriting the script for a new generation.
The question we must ask isn’t “Are they killing tradition?” but rather “What kind of traditions do we want to pass forward?”
References
Pew Research Center – Religion and Generationshttps://www.pewresearch.org/
UNESCO – Intangible Cultural Heritagehttps://ich.unesco.org/
World Economic Forum – The Future of Cultural Traditionshttps://www.weforum.org/
The Guardian – How Young People Are Changing Holiday Traditionshttps://www.theguardian.com/
South China Morning Post – Gen Z and the New Ways of Celebrating Festivalshttps://www.scmp.com/
The Uncommon Breed
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