It Was, It Hasn’t Passed
I was fascinated by an interview about the metaverse, a three-dimensional digital world that will soon be as accessible as the internet. Yet, after reading about it, I felt uneasy. The vision that all the pleasures of life — travel, cultural events, even sex — will be available in a virtual version, experienced without leaving the couch, raises the question of whether many of us will spend our entire lives on that couch.
The “dopamine rush,” the pleasure from these illusory experiences, can become addictive and lead to an escape into an artificial world. But the rushing river of civilisation cannot be stopped, and it seems a shame not to step into it. Futurists argue that everyone experiences “lifequakes” from time to time when they must reinvent themselves because the world evolves faster than we do. Every change brings unease.
A form of defence against this unease lies in emotional anchors — the values that stabilise our lives. One of these anchors is tradition. Many people, including the young, believe that tradition connects us most strongly, giving us a sense of security. That’s why, even in the 21st century, we still gather with family, cook traditional dishes, and play board games. Thankfully, not virtual ones.
A step back can be… a step forward
Drawing from the past is not mere sentimentalism. Tradition evolves, providing a sense of security and community. It is a source of strength. In a globalised world, where we watch the same movies and dress the same way, heritage offers a chance for individuality. We come from somewhere; something stands behind us. It’s our “power bank.”
Let me tell you about the final scene of a cult film from where I come from: Teddy Bear by Bareja. The coalman wants to name his daughter “Tradition” and asks what the word means. He gets this answer:
“Tradition is something you cannot name. You cannot impose it with a special decree or establish it by law. Tradition is an oak that has been growing upwards for a thousand years. The tradition of our history is a fortified wall, it is the songs of the people, it is the language of our ancestors, it is our history, which cannot be changed.”
For many, this scene is moving and thought-provoking — perhaps even more so today than in 1981, when the film was made. Tradition seems to be a bond that unites beyond divisions. And the numbers speak to this.
According to one market research “What Unites Us,” family (52%), tradition (45%), and language (41%) are values that build well-being for people who derive from the country of Bareja. Importantly, in recent years, tradition has switched places with language in importance. Does this mean we value it more than we used to?
Polish philosopher Sebastian Kolodziejczyk comments:
“We are more eager to return to the family nest, to friends from the past, to memories that are sunny. Thanks to this, we feel rooted somewhere. Tradition is a space of belonging. It allows us to achieve goals as a group that we could not accomplish alone.”
Like Himalayan climbers. In the mountains, the success of an expedition depends on the “brotherhood of the rope.” We realise that humans cannot exist without community.
We nostalgically return to times, places, and people that make us feel protected from loneliness. When we stand on solid ground, reinforced by tradition, we can move forward.
Good Places
Traditions act like magnets today. Cultural anthropologist L. Trojan explains:
“We are lost in a world of post-pandemic anxiety and chaos. On the other hand, the internet allows us to ‘be’ anywhere in a second.”
The problem is that everything starts to look the same.
We respond to globalisation by returning to our heritage. Today, heritage is a source of originality. We long for our identity and sense of continuity to have something to anchor onto. This also applies to young people, who choose their place of residence differently than their parents’ generation. Many opt to live in small communities because they offer the support of a shared community. This is a social shift.
“We are observing an interesting trend — a fascination with local craftsmanship and aesthetics. Traditional elements of clothing and jewelry are being modernised by designers who create everyday objects. We call this trend ‘ethno-design.’ It resonates with the younger generation because it aligns with the idea of sustainable living. These objects are made using local resources, regional products, and manual labour.” (L.Trojan)
You Decide
Watching Home Alone every Christmas, playing games until late or reading and singing together — what value do these hold? Can they become traditions, and who gets to decide that?
Researchers of heritage refer to the work of cultural historian and herpetologist Prof. Laurajane Smith and her books Uses of Heritage and Emotional Heritage. They present a revolutionary idea: heritage is what we deem important, worth preserving, and essential for feeling connected to the past.
Until recently, decisions about what constitutes heritage worth preserving were primarily made by experts — historians, archaeologists, conservators, and ethnographers. This could create a sense of distance from it. Now, its value is increasingly determined by users. Paraphrasing Jeremy Wells: ‘We are all heritage experts.’ I would add pronouns like my or our, meaning the heritage I identify with, that shapes me, and for which I take responsibility. I strive to protect it but also to develop, co-create, and pass it on.
Take the popular vintage trend. I like it, but for me, it’s particularly interesting in the context of memorabilia — because of its individual and real connections to the past.
Engaging with the past involves activities, such as exploring family traditions, researching roots, building a family tree, and leafing through old family records (including photo albums). This doesn’t just connect us to the past; it can also shape the future.
I know that young people today see value in carrying the tradition forward.
Remember, Don’t Lose
The return to heritage is linked to the need to settle in something other than “great identities”: Perhaps we need something smaller, connected to a specific place, and by extension, to clothing and food. This type of identity is closer to us and less abstract. We can set boundaries, say: “This is how we progress, this is how we create, and it suits me.” This is also a response to the virtualisation of life and the feeling that by working in places like corporations, we are anonymous cogs in the system.
Folklore is also making a comeback in many large cities. It is a reaction to a world that causes anxiety. In tradition, one can find shelter.
Tradition is an escape from anxiety. We treat it as an idyllic image of a certain order, wishing it would last and provide shelter in times of crisis. It is a tool of defence against what attacks us from the outside. And we are being attacked by unpleasant things. We feel threatened by war, epidemics, the fear of losing our lives. We realise that without shelter in tradition, in a world that does not offer a sense of stability, life is harder.
