Should we always keep traditions? Rule, Britannia has been played at the Last Night of the Proms for years. But is it time for a change?
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'Swap Rule Britannia for British folk music!'
Should we always keep traditions? Rule, Britannia has been played at the Last Night of the Proms for years. But is it time for a change?
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What's happening?
Some people are upset because the BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster. wants to change songs at a big music event called the Last Night of the PromsAn eight-week season of daily orchestral concerts held in London every summer. .
A musician named Sheku Kanneh-Mason wants to stop playing songs like Rule, Britannia at the event. He says it makes people feel uncomfortable because it has connections to bad things that happened in British history, such as slaveryWhen people are owned by others, and often forced to work without pay. .
TraditionsA way of doing something or a set of ideas that has been happening for many years. are things we do the same way for a long time. But what is seen as traditional can change. Even the songs at the event were decided in 1953, not so long ago.
Some people say traditions are good because they have been around a long time and bring people together. But others say societies change, and old traditions might not fit well now.
Find out more
People have been talking about traditions for a long time!
Should we always keep traditions?
Yes! Traditions are what bring us together as people from one country. They give us a sense of who we are as a country. It is important to keep them.
No! Times change and we change with the times. The songs we sing need to make sense with how Britons view the world today. And most traditions are not really that old anyway.
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Keywords
BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster.
Last Night of the Proms - An eight-week season of daily orchestral concerts held in London every summer.
Slavery - When people are owned by others, and often forced to work without pay.
Traditions - A way of doing something or a set of ideas that has been happening for many years.
‘Swap Rule Britannia for British folk music!’
Maestro: Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason won the 2016 BBC Young Musician award. Glossary
BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster.
Last Night of the Proms - An eight-week season of daily orchestral concerts held in London every summer.
Slavery - When people are owned by others, and often forced to work without pay.
Traditions - A way of doing something or a set of ideas that has been happening for many years.