How Long to Make a Tradition

[Jock Scot]

Just like a journey starts with the first step,traditions start with the first idea that "something" is worth preserving.

[Cynthia]

Just like a journey starts with the first step,traditions start with the first idea that "something" is worth preserving.

Beautifully put!

[Phil]

I think something only becomes a "tradition" when those celebrating it are too young to remember when and why it started and carry on celebrating whatever it is "because it is traditional". Mother's Day for instance is a fairly recent celebration in Britain, only dating back to the 1940's. Father's Day is an even more recent import dating back to the 1970's in Britain, probably encouraged by the card-making industry. I am sure there are many other similar examples of recently acquired "tradition".

[Expat2011]

I don't know how to truly define tradition in standards of time because it seems to me that tradition, like everything else, is subject to natural forces resulting in its inevitable evolution. In the five minutes of thought that I've given this subject, I can't think of any tradition that has not been affected. It would then seem that to label something as 'traditional' is a fairly subjective assertion.

Take the kilt. New tartans are being registered every year. Various styles are being designed and sold. Entrepreneurs have taken this amazing garment out of the Highlands and made it available to the rest of us in so many different forms that in some cases the only remaining similarity between their products and that of the early Scots is that it remains unbifurcated.

I could accept an argument that declared the tradition of kilt wear originated with clan use in the Highlands. However, I would offer that the guy in a USAKilt drinking a Bud Lite at TGIF is taking part of an evolving tradition every bit as much as a gentleman in his eight yard wool kilt and Prince Charlie Jacket at a Burns supper.

I think I once read that "Today's fad is tomorrow's tradition." I sometimes have difficulty distinguishing the difference between the two.

Bill

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think I once read that "Today's fad is tomorrow's tradition."

Hardly. Fads, due to their very transient nature rarely last long enough to become customs, never mind traditions.

Here are a few examples: raccoon coats; the Nehru jacket; spats; platform shoes for men...

[Expat2011]

Hardly. Fads, due to their very transient nature rarely last long enough to become customs, never mind traditions.

Here are a few examples: raccoon coats; the Nehru jacket; spats; platform shoes for men...

Of course not all fads become a custom or tradition, but many traditions were a fad first.

Bill

[Bugbear]

Just like a journey starts with the first step,traditions start with the first idea that "something" is worth preserving.

I agree, and I'm not worried about the fine details; it's the spirit. I do very much believe that traditions, to be properly passed down, should also be explained and understood. In other words, "because the last ten generations said so," as a reason for continuing the tradition weakens the tradition a little, in my opinion. They need to be understood and explained as they are passed along.

[wyldathart]

Just like a journey starts with the first step,traditions start with the first idea that "something" is worth preserving.

I agree with Jock. Even if it's just one person who thinks something is worth perpetuating and makes it a point to remember that thing. Even if it's wearing a t shirt that says " Have a nice Day"
At the same time though, that person or persons needs to expect that the "tradition" might be called into question by others and takes that with a grain of salt. I mean thats just gonna happen to any tradition.
So do what makes you happy and to hell with anyone who thinks otherwise ( sorry about the cuss word but I couldn't think of anything else that said what I was thinking.

[Jock Scot]

Just like a journey starts with the first step,traditions start with the first idea that "something" is worth preserving.

When does a tradition die? I suppose, when the last person that thinks that the "something" is worth preserving dies,or,ceases to matter to anyone ,any more.

[Pleater]

Something which traditions do is alter - earlier in this thread it was stated that mother's day in Britain was a recent thing - but 'Mothering Sunday' goes back some time further, and was the Sunday when indentured servants had time off to return home to attend a service at their mother church.

Naturally they would, if possible take a gift, and maybe gather some Spring flowers along the way to give to their mother, but it was not 'mother's day' in the same way as now.

I am involved in English folk dance, and I sing a bit too, and it does seem to be that once there is an attempt to keep something exactly the same year on year, that is when it begins to die and people don't bother to turn up - maybe because they know exactly what is going to happen so why bother?

There are 'traditions' such as the Punch and Judy show, where the script and characters could be varied to reflect both national and local goings on, sometimes most cruelly, sometimes playing on the patriotic, other times railing against some unpopular law or politician - or even someone royal!!

It is as though there is the safe part - Punch always has a squeeky voice and is unruley, the policemen always is foiled - and then there are the surprises, just to keep it interesting.

Anne the Pleater