Sunday Dinner: An Old Tradition Worth Keeping

Our lifestyles are constantly evolving. We move away from home for work and educational opportunities. Our kids are involved with so many after-school activities we must keep a calendar on the fridge. The competitive nature of our society drives us to be the biggest, the loudest, and the best. We’re constantly moving, trying to obtain the American dream. To make things worse, the current economic conditions are turning the American dream into a nightmare. The competitive nature of our lifestyles has prevented us from pushing the pause button to enjoy the simple pleasure of the company of family and friends on a regular.

There was a time when that pause button was sanctioned by law. These laws were known as the blue laws. Blue laws were generally regulated at the state level to create a day of rest for the betterment of society. These laws stopped everyone in their tracks on Sunday. There was no commerce, no liquor sales, and no gambling. It was a day of rest. Even the slaves had Sundays off. As late as the 1960s, the constitutionality of the blue laws was challenged because of allegations that legislation preferred one religion over another. The US Supreme Court consistently ruled in favor of the state’s blue laws. By the 1970s, many states began to repeal many of the blue laws for commerce. However, even today, some states prohibit the sale of vehicles and restrict the sale of liquor on Sundays. 

Repealing most of the blue laws gave us an extra day to do whatever we wanted. Given the choice, fewer families chose the traditional Sunday dinner. Many factors attributed to the reduced interest in Sunday dinner, such as the decline in church attendance, a more educated and mobile society, more women entering the workforce, economic conditions, a higher divorce rate, and complex family structures. Our society no longer promotes a sense of community. In contrast, our society has become driven by self-accomplishment, professional, and financial success. 

In 2019, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey and found that 64% of the US citizens surveyed believed their family ties weakened over the last 20 years. There’s no doubt that technology helps us stay somewhat connected. We’re just a text message or video chat away. Somehow, it’s not the same. Creating a time to focus on family and friends shows that you value and respect them. Breaking bread together fosters open communication, deeper connections, and a sense of belonging. Sunday dinner allows adults to bond, but children benefit in ways one would never imagine. Children tend to have better academics, higher self-esteem, lower risks of depression, tend to make better food choices, and have better communication skills.

Sometimes, logistics do not allow us to attend Sunday dinner in our hometown. Home is wherever you make it. Have Sunday dinner with those you can chill with. Sharing meals brings people together, builds community, and creates a sense of belonging. A study by the University of Oxford found that the more often people ate with others, the more likely they were to feel happy and satisfied with their lives.

Join More Than Three Fifth and non-profit organization, Community Living Entwined Around the Neighborhoods (CLEAN), in celebrating the heartwarming tradition of Sunday dinner with family and friends!