Summaries of Addresses of Presidents of Sections: Tradition in Antropology

Abstract

IN his presidential address before Section H (Anthropology), entitled “What is Tradition?”, Lord Raglan states that tradition is “anything that is handed down orally from age to age”. It includes methods of farming, of craftsmanship, of preparing food, of dealing with property, as well as birth, marriage and death customs, etiquette, superstitions, games, sports, songs and dances, and, lastly, traditional narratives. With the apparent exception of the last item, tradition forms a code of rules which cover every aspect of savage, and most aspects of civilised, life.