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Traditions: The Sociocultural Meaning Essay

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Traditions are said to hold the secrets to human ancestry and personality. Tradition is sometimes described as the transmission of human aspirations from one generation to the next within a group or society (Lord et al., 2019). Whether it be a society, community, or family, tradition offers the framework on which individuals comprehend their sociocultural environment (Dilthey & Rickman, 2020). It functioned as a foundation for ideas, values, and conduct, giving social life meaning and purpose. The concept consists of several interconnected ideas that are bound together by references to practices that were once held, came from them, were passed down through time by learning from one generation to the next, and are now believed (Becker & Thomson, 2019). Tradition has evident restrictions as a notion in that not all things passed down from the past should be regarded as traditions, like many other ideas. For instance, a tradition should express a feeling of continuity between the past and present as well as something old and have some moral authority.

It is vital to distinguish between traditions and customs since the lines between the two notions are hazy, and they are frequently used in conjunction with or instead of one another. A custom is an accepted social practice that has developed over a lengthy period of time via repetition (Becker & Thomson, 2019). A custom does not need to be carried down from one generation to the next, unlike a tradition, although when it is, it becomes one. Things passed down by tradition retain their identity or essence over time.

There is a constant ongoing debate on the timeframe of traditions. Different researchers understood how old the practice had to be to become a tradition in different ways. In this regard, it is crucial to realize that individuals who follow traditions will not be cognizant of change, and even if a tradition goes through significant changes over several generations, it will still be perceived as the same (O’Regan, 2019). Therefore, it has been accepted that for an activity, belief, or practice to be regarded as traditional, at least two transmissions must occur within three generations (Dilthey & Rickman, 2020). Moreover, traditions that have been passed down within different generations are likely to alter, but their core components will remain the same.

Different behaviors can develop into traditions at various societal levels. Essentially, each social group is free to develop its own traditions. Larger practices that are observed by individuals or small groups, such as family customs during the holidays, businesses, such as corporate picnics, or entire societies, such as the observance of public holidays, are referred to as traditions (Becker & Thomson, 2019). Furthermore, traditions can be distinguished according to ethnicity, such as American or Spanish traditions. Thus, there are no certain boundaries of people that need to follow the practice to transform it into tradition.

The Spanish-speaking world is full of diverse traditions that are unique in many ways. However, there is one tradition in particular that I would like to incorporate into my life—flamenco. Perhaps the most well-known Spanish tradition is flamenco, which is also sometimes misinterpreted. Although it incorporates dancing, flamenco is more than just a dance. The guitar, the vocals, and the rhythm are significantly more prominent in this musical style (Lord et al., 2019). It is interesting to note that while authentic flamenco is unplanned, flamenco dancing requires the proper costume, necessitating some planning (Lord et al., 2019). The wonderful sounds of flamenco are now heard everywhere due to the global proliferation of this tradition.

On the other hand, the culture of America is rich in a variety of traditions, some of which I disagree with. This is connected with the tradition of Black Friday shopping. I am perplexed by the fixation with this custom, and I doubt I will ever join the army of shoppers on their way to various retailers. This national weekend shopping holiday is generally started with Black Friday discounts and ends with Cyber Monday, two more recent customs that have experienced a boom in popularity. While most people shop on Black Friday in a polite way, certain hardliners go the extra mile and wake up really early. In rare instances, customers who were eager to get their hands on a certain offer or particular item even triggered riots or tragic stampedes. Since I prefer online ordering or peaceful shopping, this is entirely alien to me.

Tradition has always served as a means of subsistence, as well as the symbols, tales, and memories that define a person’s rank and identity. Thus, it can be claimed that tradition, or whatever the members of that society choose to refer to it as in their own language, has played a significant role in societies that have largely stayed intact from generation to generation. The storehouse of tradition, however, is dynamic. It expands as a result of activity and upkeep, and it is rife with customs that have been developed and are still followed. The fact that they are traditions, that they are robust, and that they represent the people’s strength matter more than whether they are new, modified, or ancient.

References

Becker, K., & Thomson, I. D. (Eds.). (2019). The Cambridge history of philosophy, 1945-2015. Cambridge University Press.

Dilthey, W., & Rickman, H. P. (2020). Pattern & meaning in history: Thoughts on history & society. Routledge.

Lord, G., Rossomando, A., Rubi, J. (2019). Contraseña: Your Password to Foundational Spanish 5.0. W. W. Norton.

O’Regan, C. (2019). The Charred Root of Meaning: Continuity, Transgression, and the Other in the Christian Tradition by Philipp Rosemann. A Speculative Quarterly Review, 83(3), 466–470.

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