“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ~ Gustav Mahler

Tradition is one of the core values of Proper Patriot. We believe all Proper Patriots should appreciate and embody ”Family, Tradition, and Self-Reliance.” 

In our rapidly changing world, many of the traditions that make America great are in decline or almost lost entirely. Here are 5 traditions all patriots need to restore:

Getting Married and Creating Families

It's no secret that fewer people are getting married and having children these days than in previous generations. In fact, the U.S. marriage rate reached a historic low in 2018, according to federal data spanning more than a century.

There are many factors driving this decline, such as economic constraints, hedonistic lifestyles, social isolation, and more. This downward trend in marriages and families brings with it a loss of mental and emotional well-being.

Although it is objectively more difficult to start a family on just one income source now, we must not lose the priority and importance of establishing them. The family is the building block of our neighborhoods, communities, and the country as a whole. Proper Patriots are loving husbands and wives, caring fathers and mothers!

Generational Teaching

Generational teaching is the passing down of useful skills and knowledge to our children. It is the bestowing of traditions and wisdom from generations past to the future. It used to be common for fathers and grandfathers to teach the younger men in the family about mechanical maintenance, carpentry skills, hunting and fishing, and general wisdom about responsibility. Mothers and grandmothers would teach young women about home economics, cooking, sewing, gardening, caretaking, and more. Without generational sharing, the wisdom and life skills that served and enriched our ancestors is lost to the detriment of future descendants.

Serving Our Neighbors and Community

Selfish indulgence in technology has largely separated us from the connections to our community this country once had. We often pay more attention to our phones than the people in our lives. Let’s bring back the virtue and love of serving our community.

One way you can do this is by volunteering or working as a First Responder in your town, helping those in need from medical or environmental crises. Also, you can simply get to know your neighbors and help them as you are able. Just a small conversation of introducing yourself and offering your assistance whenever needed can go a long way toward creating a cohesive community. 

Self-Reliance and Homesteading

We have previously written about why you should start a Victory Garden with us this year. It was very common for our ancestors to grow their own food and fix their own things. Since we’ve lost these self-reliant skills and habits, we are much more fragile and subject to the instability of our economy and supply chains. 

How many Americans would make it through a month if the power lines went down and the grocery stores no longer had food? It is an ominous scenario to consider. Proper Patriots are prepared for the worst and able to help their countrymen if disasters were to strike. Let’s strive to be as self-sufficient as possible, capable of helping our family and neighbors when needed.

Love for America

There has been a rampant movement in the last few years, although started decades ago, to demonize our American heritage in the name of “social justice”. For many people, this has caused a feeling of shame and guilt towards America and our national ancestors. Obviously, our country’s history isn’t flawless, however, no country has ever been or will be perfect.

If we say that America is an evil country whose heritage must be destroyed (toppling statues, erasing historical names, labeling all white people as racist), we’re essentially throwing out the baby with the bathwater. America is our home, it is our countrymen, it is our inheritance. To love America isn’t to justify all things that have happened in its history. Love for America is to fight against the corruption occurring in our government and economy today. Love for America is to know and help our neighbors as previously mentioned, not judging them strictly by race.

Love for America brings us together. United we stand, divided we fall.

We hope you’ll try out some of the brand new coffee launched by Proper Patriot, and let us know what you think!