The American Flag

It has become customary to fly The Flag on National Holidays, and many people now fly The Flag daily from their homes. This action demonstrates Patriotism and Loyalty to our Country and Honors the sacrifice of all who have made this Great Nation possible

The Constitution
It has become customary to display replicas of our country's founding documents including The Constitution in libraries and offices at home and at work. This is done in recognition of the important principles that are the basis for the establishment of our form of government. The presence of this document in your home will stimulate conversations and discussion to aid full appreciation of the importance of this founding document to the survival of our great Nation. The Constitution Is Our Rule Of Law The United States Constitution is the framework for our government. It lays out the principles of our republic placing everyone including our rulers under the law. Most recently, U. S. citizens were directly exposed to the importance of our Constitution in defining "The Rule of Law" during The 2000 Presidential Election.

The American Eagle

Displaying the eagle is a traditional practice that celebrates the individual's freedom of choice guaranteed to all citizens of The United States of America. Americans through the years have displayed sculptures of eagles in prominent locations in their homes. Many families have an eagle with spread wings above their hearth or displayed on the external surfaces of their homes above doors, entries or garages. It is often used as an ornament for flagpoles. The eagle represents Freedom. The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of America, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent.

Marriage and Weddings

The United States is "a melting pot" of cultures each with their own unique Marriage Customs and Traditions. There has been a set of Customs and Traditions generally accepted as common to Marriage in The United States unless the marriage is a Common Law Marriage. Dating is the accepted pre-engagement practice between couples. Families generally establish requirements for the details of acceptable activities, time of

day, single or group dating etc. The age, personality and maturity of dating children generally drive the conditions set by parents if the children are still at home. Love between the couples is believed to be a prerequisite to marriage. Proposal of marriage by the man and acceptance by the woman results in an Engagement. Couples enter into marriage with the belief that the relationship is permanent. The engagement is marked by the gift of an Engagement Ring from the man proposing to the woman accepting. A Marriage License is required by all States including a Blood Test and a prescribed waiting period. A Wedding Rehearsal Dinner is usually celebrated between the immediate families of spouses in the late afternoon the day before the wedding. The Groom's Family traditionally provides for this celebration. A Bachelor Party is held for the Groom and usually sponsored by The Best Man the night before the Wedding. A Bridal Shower is usually sponsored by The Bride's Maid. It has become very popular now for The Bride's Maid to also sponsor a Bachelorette Party for the Bride. The Wedding Ceremony is most often performed as part of a religious ceremony each with its own specific customs and traditions. On the day of the wedding the Groom does not see the Bride until the actual ceremony. As Custom would have it from Victorian Times: the Bride wears Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixpence in her shoe. Rings are exchanged to mark the permanent commitment of the new spouses to each other. A Wedding Reception is usually held after the ceremony for all family and friends to celebrate. The Bride's Family usually provides for this celebration. A Honeymoon is taken by the Bride and Groom to a secret place where they go off for their first night together in Marriage. It is thought that the Honeymoon Custom was established to avoid the European Custom Charivari where family and friends banged on pots and pans outside the couple's bedroom their first night of marriage.

The Family Meal

Although modern life seems to have overtaken The Family Meal in many areas, there are still many American Families that practice the Custom of either the

Daily (evening) Family Meal or a Sunday Family Meal. Often, the Sunday Family Meal is a time for gathering children and grandchildren. As hectic as Family schedules can be, sometimes the Family Meal is the only way to get everyone together to talk over the happenings of the day or discuss upcoming family plans or events. This is also a good setting to share Family Values through stories and discussions that inevitably will take place. It is important for parents to seize this opportunity to share values.

The Candle In The Window

The Tradition of placing a Candle in the Window goes back to the Colonial times in the United States and back much further in time for other cultures. It is a Tradition practiced throughout the year. It symbolizes the warmth and security of the Family hearth and signals loyalty to Family members and loved ones who are not present in the home. A Window Candle has been a traditional practice in many cultures. It has a variety of meanings in The United States. The practice starts with the fundamental use of fire by mankind. Throughout the history of man a campfire has represented warmth and security. It is the source of heat to cook food and warm the body and the spirit. It is the barrier between the safe and the unsafe in an untamed and unfriendly wilderness. Over the course of history, as we have moved our campfires into our homes, there, the hearth has represented these very same things. The family hearth has been the center of activity because of its warmth and practical use for food preparation. We love to watch the dancing flames as the fire's warmth flows into the deepest and coldest parts of our bodies. Sitting in front of the hearth on a cold wintry day gives us a feeling of warmth and security. It makes us feel like all is right with the world. In most cultures a Candle in the Window was used to signal a Family's loyalty to a loved one who was away traveling. It let that person know the family awaited their return and the hearth was warm and waiting for them1. In Ireland during times of religious persecution, the Window Candle signaled the location of religious services.