"Tradition is just peer pressure by dead people" ?

No. It''s rubbish. Tradition is carried on, mostly willingly, by living people.

Lawdy, I don’t suffer peer pressure from living people let alone the dead!

For an awful long time I’ve been doing things because they’re a good idea (for me) or simply because I want to! I’ve dropped loads of stuff/ways of doing things over the years if they weren’t working for me - why wouldn’t you?

No.
Tradition gives a sense of continuity.

Both as a country and as families we inherit traditions and as a country and as families we make new traditions. So a bit of both I feel.

I think we accept a lot of things because they have always been so without giving it a great deal of thought.

It’s a snappy sound bite but no.

My husband's family had a tradition of giving all children born to the family their surname

I broke that tradition

Not sure they ever really forgave me

So that was a tradition with very alive people involved

Speaking generally lots of traditions have disappeared over time.

But some still exist and we can follow them or not. It's up to the individual

I meant to say that the children had their surname as a middle name. Makes a big difference to context! I need to proof read before I post

Couldn't agree more Mamissimo. And usually, those dead people are actually dead, white men. (Please note I said usually, NOT ALL, before readers start posting in apoplectic rage.)

? for one of the most ridiculous posts I have ever seen on GN goes to Gagajo

I am sure that there are a multitude of set in stone traditions amongst Indians, definitely Thais, all African nations, Inuits. Red Indians just to name a few of the top of my head ?

henetha

No. It''s rubbish. Tradition is carried on, mostly willingly, by living people.

Shall we continue this discussion with each person rubbishing the argument they don't want to be true while offering no reasoning?

Sounds a bit like bullying to me; it's certainly shows a gross lack of manners - obviously a tradition you don't uphold.

GrannyGravy13

? for one of the most ridiculous posts I have ever seen on GN goes to Gagajo

I am sure that there are a multitude of set in stone traditions amongst Indians, definitely Thais, all African nations, Inuits. Red Indians just to name a few of the top of my head ?

And another one who doesn't think putting your point of view would, traditionally, be treated with respect.

I do not agree with gagajo post. Traditions are evident all over the world.

However I think GG13 post was rude.

PippaZ I actually think rubbishing ethnic traditions by assuming that the majority of handed down traditions come from White Males is an extremely disrespectful assertion made by Gagajo

Yes in hindsight awarding Gagajo a ? was wrong and I apologise.

Her post is still in my opinion bordering on racism, which is not acceptable.

Well GG13, if you want to talk about respect, they haven't been called the offensive phrase you used r*d In***n for about 40 years. The ethnic group you are referring to are native Americans.

And OBVIOUSLY I am talking about British culture. The history we follow, the historical texts we read and that our culture is based on IS mostly about dead white, mostly upper class men. We live in a patriarchy. History has been written by those in the ruling classes. They create the traditions.

Your first rule REALLY ought to be, try not to be racist on a public forum.

GrannyGravy13

Yes in hindsight awarding Gagajo a ? was wrong and I apologise.

Her post is still in my opinion bordering on racism, which is not acceptable.

In what way is it boarding on racism GrannyGravy13? Perhaps you would like to explain that to GNHQ - do let me know; I'm happy to report the post for you. On the other hand if you can support what you have said then, of course, it would not be acceptable.

And let us be clear. White people are the dominant social group, world wide. Racism is a form of discrimination, based on skin colour. You cannot be racist against a dominant, powerful group.

It is possible to discriminate against white people. But that isn't racism.

Overall I don't agree with Mamissimo or GagaJo. For the most part I think traditions are kept because they bring a sense of continuity and comfort. Of course some traditions should be abandoned or quietly left to fade, and doesn't every family create their own new traditions? For example we took parts from my husband's Christmas traditions and blended them with my family traditions and then added in a few of our own over the years.
I assume you're referring to traditions in the UK GagaJo when you mention dead white men, as I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have had much influence in countries like China and Japan, where I think tradition may be even more rigid than here.

By the way, good thread, Mamissimo.

Sorry it has derailed already.

Traditions are evident all over the world.

And I think are something to be treasured and not lost or trampled over.

We lose so much of value if we lose traditions, including old languages, traditional medicines, race memories.

GagaJo

Well GG13, if you want to talk about respect, they haven't been called the offensive phrase you used r*d In***n for about 40 years. The ethnic group you are referring to are native Americans.

And OBVIOUSLY I am talking about British culture. The history we follow, the historical texts we read and that our culture is based on IS mostly about dead white, mostly upper class men. We live in a patriarchy. History has been written by those in the ruling classes. They create the traditions.

Your first rule REALLY ought to be, try not to be racist on a public forum.

As the vast majority of British people were white then it is unsurprising the traditions were set by white men, women at the time being second class citizens.

Things have now, thankfully, changed, women and other cultures are now creating new things which will become traditions. Everyone is free to follow, or not, any tradition they chose.

Traditions are frequently used as an excuse to keep things as they are for a variety of sometimes nefarious purposes. FGM is a tradition which is rooted in men wanting to control women’s sexual behaviour by removing the possibility of sexual pleasure. But pace eggs and simnel cakes are a tradition. I think the word is to broad really to have a proper discussion about.

GrannyGravy13

PippaZ I actually think rubbishing ethnic traditions by assuming that the majority of handed down traditions come from White Males is an extremely disrespectful assertion made by Gagajo

Why do your twist what people say? I didn't mention ethnic traditions; I don't think they had been mention at all when I posted.

Obviously, distortion of what other people's say is a tradition on these boards - passed on through families presumably when members can't have their own way. It's dysfunctional and stops it being a discussion that can actually make any progress. I expect that's the point of trashing the argument in the first place. It's all about "I can't have my way so I will silence you".