<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Trad-ing them in</h2>

There is outrage in the press. The BBC has just announced that it will remove both Land of Hope and Glory and Rule, Britannia from its famous Last Night of the PromsAn eight-week season of daily orchestral concerts held in London every summer. . After a furious outcry, it is forced to backtrack, and the tunes are reinstated.

Is this 2024? 2020? No - it is 1969, and the musicians are simply a little bored of playing them over and over again. But a sense of traditionA custom or event that has been taking place for many years, often passed down from generation to generation. wins out.

Today, we are once again having the same conversation. This time it is musician Sheku Kanneh-Mason who says the song "makes people feel uncomfortable" because of its associations with colonialismThis refers not only to the material realities of colonial rule, but also to the mindset of the colonising powers and their ways of justifying empire. Most Europeans believed that empire was a moral good, because it imparted 'civilisation' to 'primitive' cultures and so helped them to develop. and slaveryWhen people are owned by others, and often forced to work without pay. .¹

Defenders say it is traditional to play the tune. But as the story from 1969 shows, "tradition" can be a tricky thing to pin down.

Back then, lovers of Rule, Britannia likewise argued it was traditional to play the song. But in reality the programme for the Last Night had been fixed just 16 years earlier, in 1953 - hardly an age-old practice.²

Many historians think that most traditions have not actually been around for very long. For example, we tend to think that judoA modern Japanese martial art. has been part of Japanese martial artsSports that emerged as a form of fighting or defending yourself, often in Japan, China or Korea. for centuries. In truth, it was only invented in 1882.³

But are traditions good for us? Some argue that societies are always changing. A tradition that was suitable for a society of the past might be unsuitable for the present.

That is why for them, a song written to celebrate Britain's imperialRelating to an empire. hopes divides people when so much of Britain is now made up of the descendantsPeople who are all descended from a certain ancestor or group. E.g. your children and grandchildren would be your descendants. of those whom it colonised or enslaved.

But for others, British history belongs to all of us, and keeping its traditions should bring people together.

Should traditions be preserved?

Yes: Traditions are what bind us together as a nation. They give people a sense of place and identity, and remind them of our common purpose. To sacrifice them is to deny our history.

No: Times change and we change with the times. Britain is a multiculturalIncluding many different cultures or nationalities. society and its traditions need to be updated to reflect this fact. And most traditions are not so old anyway.

Or... The truth is that traditions are always appearing, changing, disappearing, reappearing. Perhaps the only true tradition is altering our traditions.

Last Night of the Proms - An eight-week season of daily orchestral concerts held in London every summer.

Tradition - A custom or event that has been taking place for many years, often passed down from generation to generation.

Colonialism - This refers not only to the material realities of colonial rule, but also to the mindset of the colonising powers and their ways of justifying empire. Most Europeans believed that empire was a moral good, because it imparted 'civilisation' to 'primitive' cultures and so helped them to develop.

Slavery - When people are owned by others, and often forced to work without pay.

Judo - A modern Japanese martial art.

Martial arts - Sports that emerged as a form of fighting or defending yourself, often in Japan, China or Korea.

Imperial - Relating to an empire.

Descendants - People who are all descended from a certain ancestor or group. E.g. your children and grandchildren would be your descendants.

Multicultural - Including many different cultures or nationalities.