traditional

Traditional is an adjective describing things that are handed down from generation to generation, or that arise from long-established customs, beliefs, or practices. It derives from the concept of tradition, which encompasses the transmission of social norms, knowledge, and cultural forms across time. Traditional can apply to objects, rites, arts, cuisines, dress, language, and social institutions, and it is often used to distinguish older, case-specific practices from newer or modern approaches.

Traditions are maintained and modified through family, community, religious institutions, schools, and media. They contribute to social continuity and group identity by providing shared references and a sense of belonging. However, traditional practices can also resist change, leading to conflict with modern ideas about individual rights, equality, or technological progress. The degree of continuity can vary; some traditions are codified and formal, others are informal and evolving.

Examples include traditional music styles, tribal or regional crafts, culinary dishes passed down through generations, traditional medicine, and ceremonial rituals. In many societies, traditional dress and festivals play central roles in cultural expression and tourism. In critical discourse, the term is used with concern for authenticity, cultural preservation, or potential harm when practices infringe on rights or perpetuate unequal power structures.

In academic contexts, tradition is viewed as dynamic rather than static, a process by which cultures interpret and reorganize their past to meet present needs. The label traditional thus signals a historical rootedness as well as a living source of identity and continuity.