How often do you have family reunions in your khandaan? Does the whole idea of a ‘family reunion’ even exist?
How well do you get along with people in your family outside of your immediate family? I mean actual friendships with relatives, not just salam dua with relatives.
If you were to have a family reunion, how would you arrange one? What would be your ideal setting? What if the vast majority disliked each other and said bad things about you and your immediate family? Would you still go to it?
a long time ago, usually on eid, everyone from my dad's side of the family would gather at my dadi's house. that would be our reunion. we would take pictures in the garden, and play cricket and such stuff.
now, the reunions happen at weddings really. my last big one was at my cousin's wedding. had an opputunity to see my cousins and mamoons that i hadn't seen in years. it was good. that's why now we've decided that if we are going to go to pakistan, we would go only when there's a wedding. that's an excuse for everyone to get together, and that way we don't have to go to every one's house individually.
if it were to me...i would have one every 3 years. every year is too much. especially if a lot of people live in different cities and countries. i would prefer to have it at home...either mine or the other family's. since cooking for such a huge bunch would be too much...the idea of either getting a daig or eating out doesn't sound too bad to me.
We have one every year. Both my family and in my in-laws family. Every year, we plan to meet up at one relatives place and spend a few days together. Last 2 years, we have been to Minnesota, Arizona and Atlanta. The whole family does an outing, picnic and bbq etc.
Usually around eid or x-mass time, i hate them, everyone is in your business, my cousins and I usually leave end up at a bar have some quality time together and then drive everyone home.
Family reunions usually take place when there is a wedding, as that is the time everyone decides to gather at a place.
Other than that, we have family dinners where we invite a few families every month or so. I prefer smaller family dinners. That way you get to invite people who get along with each other and they're far more manageable.
If left to me, I don't know how often I'd want to have family reunions. As any other typical desi khandan, I know enough people who have things for each other. Plus I'm not a big fan of conniving people. In my opinion, it beats the purpose. If you don't like others then might as well keep a distance. However, if it's just a family reunion dinner where everyone gathers and leaves after the dinner, then I don't think it's a bad idea. It would give everyone enough chance to catch up with the latest and go home after. It wouldn't leave much room for problems to arise.
i love family reunions.
my dad’s side of the family is all here, so we’ll meet up like every couple of months or so. it’s the best have a gazillion kids running around, yummy food to eat..what else do ya need?
danial - i agree, everyone’s in your business, but if family ain’t gonna do it, then who will?
We have family reunions with my mum and dads sisters/brothers. My dads two sisters who live out of town always come and stay during the holidays, and if they can't make it then they always send their kids. Birthdays are another time when we all get together. Its great to just have the whole family piled into the house chatting and laughing histerically at my aunt usually, whilst the kids turn the house upside down.
Whilst other members of the extended family we do not get on with at all. Such as my grandmothers brother, haven't talked to him in about 10 years and yet decided to send us an invitation to his sons wedding last week. Never attended.
all of my extended family, from my dad side lives in europe and we're in Canada... so its quite impossible to have family reunions unless if theres a wedding in pakistan..... and that too happens once after 6-8 years....
We only have family reunions when we want to, meaning we have one when we visit them. Either the family is too far away or incase they arent, they dont really like meeting up for several different reasons. I hope that me and my siblings can change that with our families InshaAllah.
have a gazillion kids running around, yummy food to eat..what else do ya need?