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.

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

[morrison]

Tradition, it seems to me, is started where it's beneficial to people. The carrying on of the benefit sometimes is long lived and sadly sometimes short lived. woof