Tradition?

[CMcG]

<snip> when does something become traditional?

The definition of the word from the Latin is to hand over or pass on but it would be interesting to find out what xmarkers think about kilt tradition.

One could say, for example, that since Irish Pipe bands have been wearing saffron kilt since the beginning of the 1900s or so, that perhaps this could now be regarded as traditional. Yes, I know that not all Irish bands wear saffron, I'm using this as an example.

The Random House dictionary (via dictionary.com) says:
"tra·di·tion   [truh-dish-uhn]
–noun
1. the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, esp. by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by popular tradition.
2. something that is handed down: the traditions of the Eskimos.
3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting: The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.
4. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.
5. a customary or characteristic method or manner: The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition."

In a stricter sense than, something becomes a tradition when it is adopted as a custom and endures long enough to be passed down to future generations.

And in a more open sense, something becomes a tradition as soon as it is adopted as an ongoing pattern.

In either case, the wearing of kilts (particularly solid saffron or green ones) by the Irish could certainly be regarded as traditional. If a generation is approximately 30 years, then the origins of Irish kilt wearing go back at least three generations.

The Irish kilt tradition is not as well established as that of the Scottish tradition from which it is derived, but I argue it is a tradition nonetheless. Especially amongst Irish pipe bands and the Irish diaspora.