Tradition is a family ritual, and attached to those traditions lies old family stories, history, culture, and family legacy. It's very important to pass these traditions and family rituals down, so the newer generations can learn what you were taught when you were a child and so forth. When I lived in Korea the two most important celebration is when you turn 1 years old and New Years Day. There was no such thing as Thanksgiving, and people really didn't celebrate Christmas, which Koreans called X-Mas. Both these celebrations involved lots of prep work, all the woman in my family would gather to cook traditional food such as rice cakes, rice, different types of kimchi, marinated meat, Asian fruits, and many different types of vegetable side dishes. When it came down to the celebration, everybody was dressed in traditional clothing called, "hanbok" which are ONLY worn during these traditions besides getting married. Both tradition are celebrated hoping to bring good health, prosperity, good fortune, success, happiness, and honor to the family, to our ancestors, and to God.
Nowadays my family and I have embraced the American tradition such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, Mother/Father's day, Fourth of July, and Anniversaries, but still continuing our old family tradition. For example, for Thanksgiving we do the American traditional feast such as a turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, string green beans, but we also add and Asian flare of marinated beef (kalbe, bulgogi), kimbap (korean veggie roll) sashimi, sushi, different types of kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), korean veggie side dishes, rice, fruit salad, 7 layer jello squares, and of course pumpkin, apple, berry pie & cheesecake. And this literally involves families from all over Hawaii, Oregon, Boston, Japan, Korea and ect. Christmas, birthdays, parent's day tend to be a little more personal just involving my family, and we continue the old traditional rituals for New Year's day, which still involves wearing "hanbok". Did I mention that you also have to do a ceremony bow to anybody that's older then you, and then they make a comment like, "do well in school" and then your given money.
I think food will always be part of traditions, and rituals regardless what you believe, cultural background, and where your from. I know food is a central part of keeping our tradition alive and a reason to gather with love ones and celebrating together. My family tradition might be different then the traditional American way, but regardless we all have two things in common... sharing with love ones, & food!
