Tradition

![CDATA[‘Tradition’ is a term used in everyday communication, one which people use with ease and assumed understanding. The definition of the term is not difficult to come by; ‘tradition’ derives from the Latin (Old French) word tradere, meaning to transmit; ‘something handed over’. However, closer scrutiny of the term reveals both complexity, and, at times, ambiguity when debating and determining the meaning of tradition. In its broadest sense, the term ‘tradition’ refers to practices and beliefs that encapsulate the usual, the established; everyday values and principles; and customary patterns of thought, action, and behaviour/s. Such practices have usually been conducted for generations, ranging from everyday etiquette determining proper table manners to marriage celebration, the citing of sacred texts, and performances of annual and seasonal rituals. Such beliefs and practices are often driven and guided by oral or written sayings, stories and legends, or sacred texts, the sources of which might at times be undetermined, but which serve the role of relating the present to the past, providing moral guidance for the members of the group, and offering explanations for the group’s origin. Tradition is thus a form of transmission of knowledge and information, even a map for everyday conduct, which contributes to social cohesion and social order. As such, tradition can be understood as a force of cultural continuity, ensuring the maintenance of cultural customs and social institutions, informing members about modes and styles of acting, about how to navigate their way through everyday life, and much more.]]