so what makes something a "tradition"?

Answer 1

Time, habit, and repetition.

Answer 2

Depends. A family tradition may just be something done over and over. A religious tradition, however, often is based on that religion's holy book(s) and holy men's interpretations of it. Or, it might just be a mixture of both. For example, If it's a tradition in my family to go bowling on a birthday (it's not, just btw), that would just be by repetition. It has no real meaning, just sentimental value. The Jewish custom to wear a Yarmulke (head covering for men) on the other hand, is based on the verse which states that one must be aware of G-d at all times.

Sometimes, however, people get customs mixed up with laws. For example, Baptism isn't a Christian/Catholic custom, it's a law, so to speak, to be saved. Unlike having Turkey on Christmas, which is a complete, un-biblically based custom.

Answer 3

The word tradition comes from the Latin word traditio which means "to hand down" or "to hand over." It is used in a number of ways in the English language:

1 - A meme; beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next, often orally. For example, we can speak of the tradition of sending birth announcements.
2 - A set of customs or practices. For example, we can speak of Christmas traditions.
3 - Broad religious movement made up of religious denominations or church bodies that have a common history, customs, culture, and, to some extent, body of teachings. For example, we can speak of Islam's Sufi tradition or Christianity's Lutheran tradition.

However, on a more basic theoretical level, tradition(s) can be seen as information or composed of information. For that which is brought into the present from the past, in a particular societal context, is information. This is even more fundamental than particular acts or practices even if repeated over a long sequence of time. For such acts or practices, once performed, disappear unless they have been transformed into some manner of communicable information.

Answer 4

A tradition is made when people of the same family or a group of people hold something of personal value dear to them as a token oe momento of which can be passed from one generation to the next knowing that the next to recieve the gift will cherish it as the person before had

Answer 5

Whenever you perfom an act, for no other reason than that's what you've been taught to do.

Let me tell you a story: There was once a lady who would always cut off the end of the meat (roast), before putting it on the pan and in the oven. When asked why by her husband, she responded, "because that's what my mother always did." He then asked his mother in law about it, and she responded, "I never had a pan large enough for the entire piece of meat, and so I had to cut off the end."

There are many believers who do things today, not necessarily because it's scriptural, but rather because that's what they've been taught to do by other people.

People, let's read the Bible!

Answer 6

Somthing the churches have placed. They look so holy,dressing in fancy robes,gazing on sacrements. All is a way to become holy enough through mans efferts to get to God. God says the flesh profits NOTHING. Gazing on sacrements is worthless. Only God's way counts. He wants people that worship Him in Spirit and truth.

Answer 7

The delivery of opinions, doctrines, practices, rites, and customs from generation to generation by oral communication; Statement, opinion, or belief handed down orally from one generation to another; a long-established custom or practice that has the effect of an unwritten law.

Answer 8

Example: Christmas lights around the christams tree ever year.

Answer 9

Undergrounds answer is good, but in addition to time, habit, and repetition, i would include symbolic meaning.

Answer 10

try wikipedia or a dictionary