Traditions vs trend? How’s the younger generation reshaping religious celebrations?
From Christmas to Eid, younger generations are redefining religious celebrations, blending traditions with modern culture with social life.
‘It’s more of an excuse to have a gathering with people for food.’
For Alexander Haswell, 23, this shift reflects a wider change in how younger generations approach religious celebrations, placing less emphasis on faith and more on family, culture, and shared experiences.
He describes himself as “either an agnostic or an atheist,” growing up between different religious influences. “Half of my family are Sikh, and I went to a Church of England school,” he says, experiencing all religious celebrations.
Across celebrations like Christmas, Eid, and Diwali, a knowing shift is emerging. Instead of being religious, these events are less centrally focused on understanding. Alex says ‘I think specifically with younger generations…religion in general is taken less seriously. Not in a jokey way, but there’s less emphasis put on religion.’
This isn’t necessarily a sign of rejection of religion. I remember when I was quite a young kid, we went to the temple first, and then we did the celebrations. But now it’s more of an excuse to have a gathering of people for food.
Social media has also played a performative role in transformation. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have shown the reshaping aspects of the younger generations of religious traditions. This is through it being more visible and shareable, which has now shifted the understanding more onto the social aspect of these occasions.
‘I think that’s one of the benefits of social media and the internet in general, that it’s led to a more connected web of people.’
The mixing of traditions has been increased by globalization, and the rise of social media and religious celebrations has been reinterpreted across communities. ‘I think with the internet, with social media, it kind of removes the borders,’ he explains
(Credit: Alexander Haswell – Alexander Haswell 16, celebrating christmas)
However, other celebrations like Christmas still carry a deep religious importance. Many who grew up with a rooted more in-depth version of their religious traditions.
The National Secular Society surveyed three multi-faith areas, Hillingdon, Newham, and Bradford, where only 17% only had ‘very good knowledge’ of the meaning of their celebrations and why they are celebrated.
However, Luke Ashworth, 26, and catholic has described growing up with a younger brother, Jake Ashworth, 16 ‘different’ as he’s not religious. ‘As religion keeps people in check,’ Luke says.
The reshaping of religious celebrations for today’s generation is becoming many different things, but slowly losing the meaning of religion. Luke explains religion is ‘no longer religious and has no meaning.’
As he’s less likely to show up for church on Sunday or for a celebration like easter or Christmas. Unlike when he was 16, and that was the first thing to do at an event like this.
Growing up, Luke believes it’s ‘harder for people to understand religion because of tech’ as this is a way for the younger generation to be more influenced by their decision.
The influence of a different environment and social media has impacted traditions and celebrations, reshaping and losing their meaning. As there’s a border change between the older and younger generations.
As the younger generation starts to find new meanings and shifts the beliefs of what the religious meaning really is.
Lexi Gardner, a strong Christian, believes that the younger generation does not feel as connected as they want to be with religion, as ‘ they haven’t had the time to feel as connected to religion as time has adapted.’ explaining that the pressure of the older generation has wanted and tried a lot harder to grow more connected with faith.
Vanrun, 24, who used to live in India but now lives in the UK, has described the difference as the ‘explanation…More time spent… whereas now it’s just for the dressing up and going out.’
As there’s been a shift in lifestyle, and that’s what really impacted his life, and being able to stay connected to the really rooted reason of religious festivals.
He explained that even now, including himself, he has pushed morals and understanding aside and focused on new aspects like drinking and partying, which lose all the meaning of a religious event. The emphasis can shadow the engagement and original significance of religions.
Different religions have been able to keep their traditions together and able to keep them rooted, which is through a Sikh tradition called Vaisakhi. Which is seen more through what the Gurdwara does more than the people.
Vaisakhi, being a tradition that marks the beginning of Sikhi, the Gurdwara is able to gather all the community and walk all together, passing all the different gurdwaras in the areas.
With every stop including an activity on how Sikhi came to be, about the story of the fighting and the sacrifices that were made for the religion. This allows the younger generation to have a strong connection to the meanings of faith and what is important.
(Credit : Ria Kaur- outisde of a Gurdwara)
Joseph Addy, 22 has experienced only recently feeling closer to god due to losing everything and being able to have faith and connect more. he explained ‘ i used to spend my time partying and drinking.’ and now realising he wants to change to save himself.
Losing everything, his family and being in a place of nothing, Joe has realised he should have stayed a lot more connected with his religion to be able to get where he is today.
As a result, religious celebrations are increasingly creating a space between faith and culture, and as generations go on, differences and changes will be made. Due to lifestyle, technology, and social life.
For some, faith remains central, for others these occasions are seen as more than that, but a time to bring families together and create a day to remember.
What is clear is that faiths are not disappearing but evolving and reflecting the values that are being passed down.
