Tradition can be defined as “the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice...” Some believe traditions are vital in keeping a culture alive. Some believe they are necessary in educating our youth. Others feel traditions are a waste of time and energy, that they take more effort than they are worth. Some traditions don’t make sense. Some are outdated. Do we need traditions? What’s the purpose of them? Take for example, this past weekend’s Old Fashioned Ice Harvest in Millers Mills; or the kite festival in Cherry Valley last autumn. A winter carnival is another good example of tradition. What’s the big deal? Some traditions are long-standing, like the 200 year old ice harvest. Others, like the kite festival, or this year’s Lioness Masquerade Ball, are new efforts, created in an attempt to breathe life into a community. It might start off as something fun and different with no plans of creating a tradition, but this is how many begin. While cutting ice from a pond was a necessity 200 years ago, why cut ice from a pond now, when we have ice makers? Why fly kites when we have video games, ATVs, CDs, DVDs, movie theaters and computers? You name it, we’ve got it. So why sit in a field and fly a kite? Take winter carnival for example. Despite unseasonable temperatures threatening to stop this time honored tradition, the diehards determined to not let go of the event find other ways to pull the community together during the cold winter months. For what? Is it a waste of time? Is it a waste of energy? What purpose does honoring traditions have other than giving a community something to do? Especially when it takes such effort to get people to participate. It’s not about cutting out the blocks of ice. It’s not even the ice cream social the ice is used for later in the year. Likewise, it’s not about flying kites, or wearing a mask, or bowling or eating pancakes or chili. It’s about community. It’s about creating memories. It’s about making history. It’s what small town living is all about. It’s a fun and memorable way to teach our offspring who we are, what we do and what our ancestors did. Do we need tradition? Yes, we do. Our grandparents and parents needed tradition, and they had the foresight to understand we would need tradition as well. Our children need tradition; their children will need tradition. Not only does tradition provide a great learning experience, it gives us a glimpse of the past in many cases, and provides a bond that holds communities together. And that is what living in a small town should be about.
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