Tradicionals

Tradicionals is a plural form that appears in some languages to denote traditional items, practices, or cultural elements in a broad sense. In English-language discussions, it is not a standard or formal term, but it is sometimes used as an anglicized or contextual form to refer to elements that are transmitted through generations as part of a community’s heritage. The concept encompasses a wide range of activities and artifacts rooted in long-standing customs.

In music and performing arts, traditionals refer to traditional songs, dances, melodies, and performance styles that are learned through oral transmission or apprenticeship. These repertoires are often regionally distinct and can reflect historical contacts, migrations, and local innovations, while remaining tied to communal identity.

In crafts and culinary practices, traditionals include artisanal techniques, materials, tools, and recipes that define a locality or group. Such practices may be documented in ethnographic records, preserved in workshops and guilds, or showcased in cultural events and museums.

Preservation and change: Traditionals are not static. They typically evolve as communities adapt to social, economic, and technological forces, seeking to maintain continuity with the past while remaining relevant in contemporary life. Globalization, tourism, and media can influence what is considered traditional, prompting debates about authenticity, appropriation, and commodification.

Intangible cultural heritage: International frameworks, including UNESCO’s designation of intangible cultural heritage, treat traditionals as living practices that communities continue to enact, teach, and transmit to future generations rather than as fixed relics.

See also: Tradition, Folklore, Traditional music, Intangible cultural heritage.