Tradition, a Latin-based word which, like its meaning, has been passed down for centuries, generation to generation. An encrypted part of our lives, we all have traditions. Celebrating holidays, religious practices and birthdays are major traditions. There are cultural traditions depending on where we grow up. The value we place on traditions are important and rightfully so. They bring families together and connect us to people with similar values.

In recent years, tradition has come to mean more than just the passing on of rituals. Just the other day for example, my sister was talking about how excited she was for the upcoming haunted house in fall. She was explaining to the group how it has become a tradition during Halloween time these past two years for her and my dad to go to this terrifying place; and also a tradition for my dad to never actually go through it with her.

They’ve only been going for a few years, yet they and everyone else, agreed it was now a tradition for them. So, what really is a ‘tradition’ and how long does it take for something to become one?

Traditions and how we perceive them have changed. The definition from dictionary.com states traditions as “the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice.” But if we’re following the modern day usage of tradition, we certainly have a lot of them. The after-game restaurant or pre-performance meal would be considered a tradition. Along with the yearly vacation to the cabin, grandma’s homemade cookies, the after school meet-up spot, our go-to ice cream joint, the family annual get togethers. Occurrences we come to expect would be defined as traditions. Traditions are kind of like glorified routines. Something we plan out and are ready for.

Traditions involve set ways or questioning. It’s just, how things are or how things are done. But just because something is a tradition, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be changed. Gender roles have been around for centuries, and though there has been some progress made in not always stereotyping roles, we all think of the women for the home and the man out to work. In the famous musical, Fiddler on the Roof, the song ‘Tradition’ highlights these stereotypes. Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew is all about a man gaining control over his wife, who never wanted to marry him.

For centuries this tradition has been around and not until now have we seen an attempt at changing it . Who defines what is a tradition and why can’t they change more often? I don’t believe we need to change all of our traditions, but I do believe we should all be open to change. Sometimes change can be for the better. If we never try anything different or ask questions, we won’t know whether our tradition is justifiable. Why can’t a women be a successful CEO or president? Or what is holding a man back from staying home to care for his kids?

It’s not easy to change our habits, the routine we’ve grown to love. But expanding our minds to consider an alternative is a first step.

Traditions run deep. While some traditions we start ourselves and others have been around for centuries, every one of them seems to deeply form our beliefs and values. I believe in the importance of traditions, but I also believe the importance of an open mind and willingness for change.