Traditions (lat. traditio, to: tradere) are developed and passed on in terms of behavior, ideas and the culture in the history of generations, within a particular community. An old tradition, keeping a tradition, and sticking to a tradition are phrases known to all people (cf. Duden 2015, 1592).
Traditions are bodies of knowledge, skills, customs, beliefs, and their transmission handed down in the historical process. Behaviors and patterns of action that are not innate are perpetuated and passed on. The source of history is tradition and the organ of tradition is language (cf. Paul 2002, 1012). Furthermore, a tradition is found between several persons, within a group or between generations and can be oral and written. Especially through upbringing and role models, traditions are shaped within the family or a community. The social group thus achieves the status of a culture. Language, movement, and skills are important components of tradition (cf. Paul 2002, 1012; cf. Toynbee 1970, 36).
The two interpretations of tradition
Tradition can be understood on the one hand as ‚cultural heritage‘ and on the other hand as ‚transmission‘ (cf. Eisenstadt 1979, 148). Tradition as cultural heritage is understood as the transmission of knowledge, customs, language, and skills of a culture or community. In work and communication processes, rituals, rules and knowledge are passed on from generation to generation and thus become a cultural heritage, e.g. customs on holidays and at weddings. Tradition as transmission, on the other hand, describes the process of transmission itself. Norms, values, language forms, and ideas are handed down and described as a process of tradition (cf. Duden 2015, 1592).
Traditions represent something different for all of us and for each culture and can change over generations. For one person it is tradition to go to church on Christmas Eve, for another to go to the stadium on Saturdays or to visit friends on Fridays. Tradition is versatile, just as versatile as every person and every culture is versatile. Preserving, keeping and passing on traditions are part of our identity.
Literature
Duden (2015): German universal dictionary. 8th ed. Berlin: Duden.
Eisenstadt, S. N. (1979): Tradition, change, and modernity. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp.
Paul, Hermann (2012): German dictionary. History of meaning and structure of our vocabulary. 10th ed. Tübingen: Niemeyer.
Toynbee, Arnold (1970): Tradition and instinct. In: d’Astorg (ed.): On the meaning of tradition. Munich: Beck.