MUSINGS

As ‘reported’ awhile ago, we at The Study have over the years established a tradition of celebrating certain British doings which especially appeal to us as we endeavor to keep alive the special relationship between our family and our other Mother Country, if you will.


Such has been the case with the weddings of Charles and Diana; Kate and William; the Golden Jubilee and the most recent Diamond Jubilee, an American version of which was held here a weekend ago.

We invited 15 or so folks over for fellowship, food, drinks, and ceremony: British memorabilia; trivia game and prizes; croquet; tales of visits to the UK; and finally our version of the Jubilee Beacon.

We shared an American household’s version of what was going on ‘across the Pond’.
We observed a few traditions.

And so it was especially gratifying to read in my alumni magazine this quarter an essay regarding the importance of traditions by the current Headmaster of my old school.

I excerpt and paraphrase some of his comments below:

In every culture there are moments that are marked by specific rituals or actions because these moments are defining moments either for an individual in the community or for the community itself. We surround these moments with ceremony and we embellish the moments with music or costumes or pageantry….


Tradition is not what we leave behind. Tradition is what we pass on. Celebrating the histories…is also celebrating our future. The promises made to earlier generations are made again, renewed and enriched by our shared experiences and inspired by the opportunity to shape a vision for the future linked by our common journey.

What splendid stuff!!

And so it is that we celebrate our family and our national traditions as we can, aware of the value of doing so.

Such are the musings of an old history teacher.