As times change, so do our traditions and hobbies. Activities boomers used to incorporate into their everyday lives are quickly starting to vanish thanks to the growth in technology and people changing. Here are 17 traditions that will vanish when boomers are no longer around.
Sunday Family Dinners
Sunday dinners are a famous family tradition in the US and the UK, but they’re becoming less popular and will likely disappear when boomers retire. Sadly, Deseret News found that 50% of Americans rarely eat dinner together, not just on Sundays.
Letter Writing
Due to the continued expansion of technology, letters are becoming less popular. The younger generation has not experienced the joy of receiving a handwritten letter, something that boomers were once used to. Instead, they will always opt for instant messaging, which is set to wipe out the tradition of writing letters forever.
Neighborhood Block Parties
Neighborhood block parties were a great opportunity to socialize and build connections with those living close to you. Celebrating traditions brought communities together, but now, with the younger generations, they have less of a desire to interact and spend time with those they live close to. It’s a real shame to see.
BBQs
BBQs are a fun summer activity, bringing everyone together for al fresco food and games. They’re still very popular, especially among boomers, but when was the last time you were invited to a BBQ organized by Gen Z? It’s not that they don’t enjoy them, but that community spirit is sadly dying away.
Phone Calls
Boomers usually prefer phone calls over messaging on their phones. Bank of Florida explains that this is because phone calls were their primary means of long-distance communication for decades, so they have naturally carried this habit into the digital age. However, once they’re gone, phone calls will likely become a rarity.
Formal Dinner Parties
A common social event for boomers was formal dinner parties, but for some time now, this has become less popular. Times have changed, and younger generations prefer more casual catch-ups over sit-down meals. With the current cost of living, younger generations don’t want to spend the money it costs for formal dinner parties.
Drive-In Movies
Drive-in movie theaters were popular during the boomer generation, but they’re rare these days. This is sad, as they were a fun activity for date nights and enhanced the experience of regular movie theaters. You can still find them, but we’d be surprised if they still existed in 20 years.
Handwritten Thank-You Notes
Handwritten thank-you notes were a heartfelt method of communication, providing genuine gratitude with a personal touch. They were always received with warmth as they showed that someone had gone to great lengths to express their thanks, but these days, you’re sadly far more likely to receive a message on your phone.
Bingo Nights
Bingo nights are social events that give you the chance to go home with more money than you came with. They’re a fun activity among boomers, and the BBC reports that providers are trying to appeal to younger audiences around the globe, but the traditional experience is quickly disappearing.
Annual Family Reunions
As children leave the nest and family members relocate to other parts of the world, family reunions present an opportunity to share stories about what everyone has been up to and reconnect. However, these are becoming less popular because families stay connected through social media these days.
Local Farmers Markets
Farmer’s markets provided many benefits for boomer families, allowing them to purchase fresh produce whilst supporting local farmers. Buying produce from a local farmer gave you a truer understanding of where your food had come from, but sadly, Gen Z just doesn’t seem to understand how important this is.
Formal Dress Codes
Fashion is an ever-changing industry, with items frequently going in and out of fashion. For boomers, dressing smart for important occasions showed respect and was admired, but you rarely see this with the younger generation. They’ll dress up formally for weddings and funerals, but that’s about it.
Canning and Preserving
Passing down recipes from generations used to be popular; boomers would often make their own jams and pickles from recipes that have been in their family for years. However, this tradition sadly seems to be less popular with young people, who consider it old-fashioned and instead buy products from stores.
Yard Sales
Yard sales are a great way to get rid of unwanted items and make a bit of money while also helping someone else to make good use of them. However, platforms such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace have made the secondhand market far wider, which has led to the decreasing popularity of yard sales.
Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking used to be a popular way to record memories with your own personal touch. It’s common for boomers to reminisce through them, but sadly, this is an experience that younger generations won’t have. However, it’s likely that they’ll instead scroll through their old social media posts for nostalgia.
Reading Newspapers in Print
According to Pew Research, boomers continue to read newspapers at higher rates than younger age groups. Sitting down with a newspaper in the morning is still common among boomers, although admittedly, even most boomers now use their phones for this morning routine.
Visiting Public Libraries
Finally, visiting a public library is becoming increasingly uncommon, even among boomers. Despite their quiet environment and useful resources, most people choose to rent their books online these days. It’s sad to say this, but we expect public libraries will eventually die out after the boomers are gone.
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