Tradition…….and traditions

Tradition

Derived from the Latin word traditio (to hand over, or give for safekeeping)

Our Tradition (That which we value and believe is important enough to protect for safekeeping and to share with others in the future.)

  • Provides us with a source of identity
  • Reinforces our values
  • Creates connection with each other, including past and future members the community
  • Provides us with lasting memories
  • Provides comfort and security, especially during times when there is a lot of change happening

For the purpose of this writing, I am making a bit of a distinction between the overarching Tradition and the traditions (specific activities, items, or groups) which help with that transmission to new generations. They amplify and exemplify the Tradition that we value.

Some Examples:

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was this week. The overarching value of this holiday is Thankfulness.  Thankfulness is the tradition.

Traditions of Pilgrims and Indians, turkey and Indian Corn have a very different connotation in modern days. We still give them a nod, but are much more focused on the Thankfulness. That tends to be illustrated by fall leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, parades, football, food, feasts, and family.

Facebook was full of photos of families and friends celebrating this holiday. They were all very different, and yet all focused on the Tradition of Thankfulness.

  • Norman Rockwell-like tables and family gathered around
  • Groups of two or three all the way up to twenty or thirty gathered at buffets, tables at Grandma’s house, or restaurants at the beach.
  • Many families missing the members who were out hunting
  • Tables decorated with pilgrims, pumpkins, and turkeys
  • Some of those tables with full-on Christmas decorations in the background
Christmas

Christmas has an overarching Tradition of Giving.

A celebration of the gift given by God. His very own son. We give gifts to each other as a way of remembering that gift. Even though the holiday is based on the Christian celebration of God’s Gift, it turns out that society in general also wanted to celebrate the Tradition of Giving. Secular images now compete with the religious symbols of this holiday. We tend to mix and match them in our decorating.

Angels, Shepherds, Wise Men, Stars, Baby Jesus in a Manger, Mary and Joseph are joined by Santa Claus, Reindeer, Snowmen, Elves, Gingerbread Houses, Candy Canes, Snowflakes, Trees, Ornaments (even ornaments based on every possible popular culture icon).

And yet, Giving is at the core of it all.

Hmmmm…..Thankfulness leads to Giving. No wonder some families have a hard time separating the two!  🙂

West Virginia Wesleyan College Tradition

Thomas W. Haught wrote an article in the Sundial in 1936 entitled, Some Observations on College Traditions.  It is a good read!

West Virginia Wesleyan has a long heritage, based on tradition.

John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church. These are the things that he believed to be important. These are the things that he passed down to those who would become the founders of WVWC.

When the Methodist Church in West Virginia wanted to pass on Sound Learning and Christian Character to a new generation, they founded the West Virginia Conference Seminary. The Trustees at that time made it clear that they wanted the school to be non-sectarian (in other words welcoming to all students regardless of their faith) and they wanted both male and female students and faculty to be included.  [Welcoming]

Thomas W. Haught enrolled just months later, during the second term of the school’s existence. He learned much from the early faculty, and was educated in this school that valued Sound Learning and Christian Character. That character included many things, among them a dedication to both service and compassion as well as an expectation of personal integrity.  [Christian Character]

As the school was not yet a college level institution, he then went to WVU to earn his undergraduate degree and on to Harvard University. In 1904 the school did grow and adapt into a college level institution. In fact, as the needs of the students and the society have changed, the school has grown and adapted to meet those needs time and time again. [Growth and Adaptation] [Sound Learning]

Returning to WVWC to teach for over 45 years, and to be involved with administration in the offices of Dean and Registrar as well as serving three times as the acting president, Thomas W. Haught continued passing down the values and traditions of the college to new generations. 

Looking at the WVWC of today, we still see them.

Using the Thomas W. Haught list, and adding a few of my own, I have come up with the following categories of values making up WVWC Tradition:

  • Christian Character (Service, Compassion, Personal Integrity)
  • Community
  • Growth and Adaptation
  • Sound Learning
  • Welcoming

Some WVWC Examples

I had planned to choose a few as examples here, but there are just too many. Many of them fit into one of these categories. Many could be considered in multiple categories. Most have something to do with Community. Instead, I will list some (certainly not all!) and you can attempt to see where they fit in and why these represent the values that we want to hand down to future generations for safekeeping.

So many traditions. Some have evolved. Some have disappeared over time. That, in itself, shows the value of Growth and Adaptation.

They are listed in alphabetical order…….(Once A Librarian Always A Librarian)

  • A source of identity
  • Reinforcing our values
  • Creates connection with each other, including past and future members the community
  • Provides us with lasting memories
  • Provides comfort and security, especially during times when there is a lot of change happening

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2 thoughts on “Tradition…….and traditions”

  1. Thank you for your postings. Really enjoying them. So special. Bless you and your family. Appreciate you. Dr.Bill Wilson

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