Quote Originally Posted by DWFII View Post
That's where the definition of "Tradition" breaks down...how can social changes, occurring in the here and now, affect people and ideas long gone?

Tradition is, for those who understand and hold them in some regard, immune to the shifting values of the moment. That's very nearly a definition of "tradition."

To even consider that traditions can be so ephemeral and so amorphous is to misunderstand the whole concept of traditions...which brings us back around to my original thesis--namely that many folks are "are confusing "tradition" with fashion or fad or just conventions (or any ol' thing) that has been around longer than they have..."

Would that my labor union forum discuss and debate with such civility as this one rather than breaking out into an expletive-ridden brawl. Then again, perhaps they are simply following tradition.

Tradition, like history, is not bound by definition or decree that one may read in a book. While I am aware that a definition(s) exist for the word itself, no dictionary can convey the wide range of human experiences that shape it, experiences that lift the sterile description from the page and invest it with meaning and purpose.

To be quite honest I think many confuse "tradition" and "historical tradition."

In the US we celebrate Thanksgiving. In the historical tradition families would gather together in semi-formal dress and feast on turkey, stuffing, corn, sweet potatoes, and other traditional autumn fare. The meal was invariably prepared by women and, in antiquity, by slaves. After the blessing, the "man of the house" would carve the turkey. When the meal was over cleaning the kitchen fell to the women while the men would retire to another part of the home with pipes and cigars.

Today we observe that the holiday doesn't seem to have quite the religious significance as before. In many households it has become a sporting event centered around televised American Football. In other homes we find men and women sharing in the preparation and cleanup. Semi-formal dress for the day has all but been abandoned. Even the menu is changing.

I find the differences between Thanksgiving today and the holiday celebrated by my forefathers to be largely superficial. Those most important aspects of the day - giving thanks and fellowship with friends and family - are alive and well. The tradition continues. Only the trappings have changed.

Rigid traditionalists may condemn modern Thanksgiving as an abomination - just another example heralding the collapse of order - but if these same traditionalists were to enact laws governing its practice they would be the only ones celebrating it.

And while my UKs are certainly not historically traditional Highland attire they are undoubtedly similar in form and fashion. They are descendants of the Highlands, and while not connecting me to a particular clan they do to my wider Scottish heritage. Thus they remain part of the tradition.

Bill