Tradition

Tradition is often synonymous with pride, embodying a long history of things considered culturally important. Tradition is often seen as respect for our ancestors and, ultimately, as a strict code. Some traditions have their roots in long-standing routine or habit; others in practicality. But neither is immutable. Dress-code has changed considerably over the centuries; true, we still see evolved remnants at big occasions, and even in the office certain rules still apply. But some rules are adhered to as if engraved in stone while their application was actually one of necessity for the era; leading and mounting a horse from the left are perfect examples of this. But other traditions prevail too; traditions that are not simple behavioural codes, but ones that can actually be physically and mentally destructive. The irony is that these traditions are often so ingrained that they are often not considered in any assessment of health or well-being. We forget similarities with parts of our own culture that we condemn, as we also do when criticising the traditions of other cultures – rightly or wrongly – without reflecting on our own aberrations.