13 Traditions Virginia Gen Xers Are Letting Die, and It’s Bothering Boomers
You know how every generation does things their own way? Well, it’s kind of wild how much stuff Gen X is quietly letting go of, and many boomers are not loving it.
Virginia’s Gen Xers (those folks born between the mid-60s and early 80s) grew up with a lot of the same traditions as their parents, but now they’re just… not doing them.
Boomers see it as letting go of important things. Gen X sees it as adapting.
Either way, feelings are getting stirred up.
Greeting Cards Are Kinda Over
Boomers are all about greeting cards.
Birthday? Send a card.
Someone sneezed too hard? Card.
It was their way of showing they cared, and they’d spend forever in the card aisle finding the “perfect” one.
Gen X? Eh, not so much.
A quick text, a funny meme, maybe a Facebook message—that’s more their speed. Cards are nice and all, but spending $6 on one that’s gonna end up in the trash feels like a waste.
Boomers see skipping the card as being rude or lazy.
But Gen X is like, “I sent you a message that made you laugh—same idea, right?”
It’s not that they don’t care. They just show it differently now.
Formal Dining Rooms Are Becoming Extinct
Remember those fancy dining rooms that were basically off-limits except on holidays?
Boomers kept them pristine. You didn’t dare eat fast food in there. It was all polished wood and matching everything.
Gen X is turning those rooms into home offices or workout spaces.
Some just let the kids take them over with toys. Eating at the kitchen counter while watching Netflix is the new normal.
Boomers don’t love this. To them, that dining room was a big deal—it meant tradition and family gatherings.
Gen X just sees it as wasted square footage that could be used for something, you know, useful.
Random Phone Calls? Hard Pass
Boomers will call just to chat. No reason, no warning.
Just, “Hey, what’s up?” And they can talk for hours about nothing at all.
Gen X isn’t really into that.
If the phone rings unexpectedly, it’s almost stressful. Like, “What’s wrong?”
They’d rather text or maybe leave a voice note if they’re feeling fancy.
This bugs boomers. They think it means people don’t want to connect anymore.
Gen X feels like they are staying connected—they just like doing it on their own time, without a surprise phone ambush.
Hobbies That Took Up Half the Garage
Boomers love a good hobby. Model trains, woodworking, quilting, coin collecting—you name it.
And they went all in.
We’re talking full setups, bins of supplies, and entire corners of the house turned into hobby zones. It wasn’t just something to pass the time—it was a passion.
Gen X doesn’t really do that in the same way. They might have hobbies, sure, but they’re usually more low-key.
Maybe it’s digital art on a tablet, a quick workout app, or learning guitar via YouTube for 15 minutes a week. They like hobbies that don’t require building a shed or taking up half the garage.
Boomers get a little bummed about this.
They loved sharing their hobbies with others and putting in the time. But Gen X? They just don’t have the same kind of hours—or space.
Life’s busy, and if a hobby takes over the house, it’s probably not happening.
Paper Everything
Boomers kept everything in paper form. Receipts, recipes, bank statements, user manuals, warranties—all neatly filed away in drawers or folders.
You needed a document from 1992? They had it. In triplicate.
Gen X is not about that life. They’ve gone digital.
Recipes live on Pinterest. Bills come by email. And if they can’t find a user manual? They’ll Google it.
Filing cabinets are getting replaced by cloud storage and password managers.
Boomers don’t really trust it. They like having the hard copy—just in case.
Gen X, though, figures if the internet’s still up, they’re good.
And if it’s not? Well, there are probably bigger problems than finding the blender manual.
No One Wants the China Set
Boomers had those china cabinets with the fancy dishes and crystal glasses. A lot of them only got used on holidays—or not at all.
But they were prized possessions, often wedding gifts or family heirlooms.
Gen X inherited some of that stuff and kind of went, “Cool, but… where do I put this?”
It’s just not their style.
Plus, who wants to hand-wash dishes after hosting people? No thanks.
Boomers take it personally. That china meant something.
But Gen X is more about everyday stuff they actually use. If it’s just collecting dust, it’s probably headed to a yard sale.
Writing Checks? What Year Is It?
Boomers are champs at writing checks. They used to pay for everything with them—groceries, bills, haircuts.
And they always balanced their checkbooks like pros.
Gen X has mostly tapped out on checks. Why write one when you can Venmo or just pay online in two seconds?
Some younger Gen Xers probably don’t even know where their checkbook is.
Boomers get nervous about this. They think digital payments aren’t as secure or reliable.
Gen X gets that, but they’d rather just tap a card or send money with an app and move on with life.
Holiday Newsletters Are Basically Dead
Boomers used to write these long, detailed holiday letters. You’d get them in the mail—sometimes with photos—and they’d fill you in on everything the family had been up to that year.
Gen X is more like, “If you follow me on Instagram, you already know.”
Maybe they’ll post a cute family pic or send a holiday meme, but the full-on newsletter? Nope.
Boomers miss those letters. They felt more personal.
Gen X just thinks social media covers it all. Why write a whole recap when everyone saw the beach trip in real time?
Fancy Dinners at Home? Not Really a Thing
Boomers threw real dinner parties. We’re talking table settings, cloth napkins, candles—the whole deal. Everyone dressed up a bit and brought wine.
On the other hand, Gen X prefers casual hangs.
They’ll order takeout, toss some snacks on the counter, and let people serve themselves. If they host, they want it chill, not a big performance.
Boomers might see that as cutting corners or lacking effort.
Gen X just thinks relaxing together is what matters—not whether the table has a centerpiece made of gourds.
Weddings Without All the Fuss
Boomers went big on weddings. Church ceremonies, massive guest lists, sit-down dinners, and lots of formal traditions—cutting the cake, tossing the bouquet, the whole shebang.
It was a big day, and it looked like a big day.
Gen X? They’re not always into all that.
A lot are going for backyard weddings, eloping, or doing super small ceremonies with just close family and friends.
Some skip the traditional stuff altogether—no cake, no matching dresses, no rice-throwing.
Boomers sometimes feel like Gen X is skipping the “real” experience.
But Gen X sees it as making it personal—and affordable. Spending $30k for one day sounds kind of nuts to them, especially if it means starting a marriage in debt.
Ironing Clothes… Why Though?
Boomers ironed everything. Shirts, pants, maybe even bedsheets.
Wrinkles were the enemy. Looking sharp was a big deal.
Gen X is more “toss it in the dryer for a minute and hope for the best.”
If they own an iron, it’s collecting dust somewhere. Or they’ve got a steamer for emergencies.
But mostly? They don’t care.
Boomers might see this as looking sloppy. Gen X just doesn’t want to spend 20 minutes ironing a shirt they’re going to wear for two hours.
Comfort over crispness, always.
Watching TV Together Used to Be a Thing
Back in the day, families would sit down together to watch whatever was on. You had to be there at a certain time, or you missed it. Commercials and all.
Gen X started off doing that, but now it’s all about streaming.
Everyone in the house might be watching different stuff on different screens, and that’s totally normal.
Boomers miss those shared moments.
Gen X? They love the freedom.
No more fighting over what to watch or waiting a whole week for the next episode. Binge it all, baby.
Dressing Up Isn’t Mandatory Anymore
Boomers got dressed up for everything—church, weddings, even dinner out. You had your “nice” clothes and wore them often.
Looking polished was a sign of respect.
Gen X? They’ll dress up when they have to, but most of the time it’s jeans and a decent shirt. Comfort wins.
Church might mean sneakers. A wedding might mean a sundress or slacks.
But ties and heels? Only if the invite says “fancy.”
Boomers sometimes think that looks lazy. Gen X just wants to enjoy the moment without worrying about blisters or starch.
Different priorities, that’s all.
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