These Once-Celebrated American Traditions Have All But Disappeared

As important aspects of American heritage and culture, traditions have long been celebrated in the United States. While some traditions have withstood the test of time, many of beloved customs have seemingly faded into obscurity. Here, we will take a closer look at traditions that have completely changed as time went on. 

Everybody would be at the drive-in on a Saturday night. The best part? Carbonated beverages, popcorn, and candy could be delivered right to your vehicle. Those were the days…

People wanting to take photos would have to go to the store to buy a roll of film, put the film in the camera, take a series of pictures, and then return the film to the store to have it developed. This process could take days – or weeks, depending on when you actually got around to doing all of that grunt work. 

Before the digital age of streaming services that allowed you to choose your programming on-demand, people only had one chance to watch their shows when they aired at a precise time on cable. While our viewing options these days are far more convenient, there was something rewarding about settling in to watch your favorite TV show at the same time as the rest of the country. 

Commuting to the theater, standing in line, and buying your ticket in person were all part of the thrill. These days, going to the movies has become less appealing, but there was nothing like that age-old tradition of seeing a film on opening night on the silver screen. 

Your childhood next-door neighbors probably knew you on a first-name basis and you could even count on them to water your flowers when you were away on vacation, or bring over a freshly cooked casserole for dinner. While there’s still a good chance that you are friendly with your current neighbors, there was nothing like that old-school feeling of a community coming together.

Greeting cards were especially popular during the holiday season, as family and friends across the country would annually send each other Christmas cards or other holiday well-wishes. Unlike sending a text or hopping on a FaceTime call, greeting cards were physical momentos that could be treasured forever. 

Few people often carry cash these days, as it’s simply easier to swipe a card or scan a barcode at the checkout counter. The pandemic also forced the use of cash out even further into the abyss, because contact-free methods of payment have quickly taken over since 2020. 

From freshly baked bread to homemade chocolate chip cookies, conjuring up sweets from scratch was a tradition that almost everyone once followed. These days, there too are many packaged baking mixes and pre-made desserts, so fewer people are inspired to whip up an All-American apple pie entirely from scratch. 

While coins aren’t viewed as very valuable today, people would often collect enough coins to roll up in paper rollers, which could then be redeemed at the bank. A roll of forty quarters would get you a crisp $10 bill from the bank teller. This practice has largely been eliminated by coin redemption machines that can be found inside most supermarkets.

People would spend all day in the kitchen preparing a large family-sized meal, and everyone couldn’t wait to taste the delicious creations they smelled cooking in the kitchen. Family meal time – especially on Sundays – was the cornerstone of American tradition. 

Whether kids wound up at a friend’s house, at the local park, or just riding their bikes around the block, sending kids outside to play was once a common practice. These days, parents have gotten more cautious due to safety concerns – but we can all revel in the memories of playing with friends without a care in the world.

From the bride wearing white on her wedding day to the groom not seeing his future wife before the big ceremony, there have been plenty of traditional wedding practices that were once considered commonplace. In present times, people can just order a blender for the bride and groom on their online registry instead of gifting them a card with some cash to put toward their starter home. Things seem a lot more impersonal these days, as opposed to the valued wedding traditions that have been followed for centuries. 

Families from far and wide would pack up their suitcases and drive cross-country in their station wagons to their most beloved destinations. Whether you were heading to a tropical oasis or to a kid-friendly theme park, American families always came together once a year to take a break from school and work to enjoy each other’s company.

As a fall holiday, Halloween has always been in October – but nowadays it’s not uncommon to see Halloween candy show up in stores during the summer months. Traditionally, most U.S. stores would close during important holidays, whereas now, certain stores make their employees work during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

People often spent fifty years or more with the same employer – and their decades of loyal service was something to be celebrated. Kids fresh out of high school would get a job at the local diner, shop, or town hall and then slowly work their way up the company ladder. These days, having a very diverse work history on your LinkedIn page is something that most people strive for.