To think everyone loves traditions/culture unless it is our own? (UK)

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This week has made me wonder about the above. I find so many people appreciate and enjoy tradition and culture when they are travelling overseas, but back in the UK will declare it outdated and embarrassing.

Things such as religion and places of worship are almost romanticised when abroad in certain countries, but back here are considered ridiculous by many. And I can’t help but think if we were watching from afar at a country who had just lost their Queen, the same people who are moaning this week would find it quite beautiful that people were wearing black and events were cancelled.

Is it just me who finds that culture and tradition are appreciated until they are on our doorstep?

That's the Monarchy though.

Which is a very different debate.

I think if you go abroad, you see the people from those countries have similarly abandoned the traditions of their own culture and counties. For instance you don't see many people in Japan wearing Kimonos in day to day life. But I'm sure they love to come over to the UK and watch the trooping of the colour etc.

We have plenty of traditions in this country that are secular and that people still enjoy.

It's not our original religion though, is it? It's a Middle Eastern culture forced down the throats of a people from a very much older one, and used as a tool of erasure of that older culture, of control and oppression, not to mention misogyny.

Stonehenge, Mae's Howe, Scara Brae, mistletoe and the Green Man, May Day and Beltane (whoops, sorry, I mean bonfire night) the Triple Goddess in the Chapter House at York Minster, Yule, well dressing, Morris Dancing...all the old stuff that still endures, as it has for thousands of years. THAT'S who we are, that's our culture, not this recent imposition.

Small wonder it didn't last!

@thefoggiest A much better explanation than mine and captures exactly what I was attempting to explain.

In my experience this applies more to English culture. In Scotland, at least where I am, a lot of Scottish culture still upheld, enjoyed and celebrated with no embarrassment.

@Slushycuppa Very good point. What I’m describing probably happens in all countries.

Slightly different but I also know of people who hope not to be recognised as English when abroad because it’s such an embarrassment. It is usually due to not wanting to be associated with football hooligans or drunks abroad, as though no other country has those.

Agree OP

Morris dancing. Maypole dancing (for fair maidens - obviously cute when it's the primary school kiddiwinkies). Travelling minstrels. Barn dancing in England now usually called ceilidhs (sp?).

Morris dancing.
Other peoples' traditional dances are seen as interesting, a manifestation of their culture. But morris dancing here is seen as an embarrassment. Abroad is "historic", here is "old fashioned".
It may be an English thing. The Welsh are allowed their Eisteddfod and the Scots their Ceilidh but the English are derided for their historic culture.

No I think people uncritically accept traditions in their own culture without considering the meanings behind them. Think India and the caste system and UK celebrating the torture and execution of a catholic every November, the Netherlands and “black Peter”, fgm, honour killings, ….

People are (mostly) ignorant and respectful of traditions and cultures they don’t know so will be less likely to challenge them/appear to be more accepting of them.

I think it’s reasonable for many British people to be uncomfortable with the idea of unquestioning pride in British traditions and institutions. History is complicated and much of it is ugly, particularly when you look at how the behaviour of our ancestors continues to drive global inequalities.
That doesn’t mean we have to throw away all our traditions, but it would be odd not to feel uncomfortable about some of them and question whether they might be inappropriate now.

Any religion should be discussed - and not treated with deference just because it's not Christian.

We do live in a country where Christianity is the State Religion (not many countries have a state religion) so it's reasonable that this should be discussed - especially at a time when more and more people are secular. Yet Christianity still has a massive hold in this country.

Flags is interesting - I know that the French flag is everywhere in France on public buildings. Along with the EU flag as well.

Some of our traditions - especially around Christianity and the State should be discussed. When we have the Coronation, I bet God will feature heavily.

Which is why I can't take it seriously.

I think it's a massive positive that the British can mock Christianity. Look what happens when religion is taken too seriously and deferred to all the time!

People do put effort into keeping more local traditions alive. Those scarecrow things (sorry don't know any detail) in Yorkshire, Summer Solstice etc. Monarchy, cockney pearly king and queen, but these aren't everyday things.

Getting pissed and riotous abroad is a British tradition in a way, albeit an embarrassing one.

I agree OP. People are always sniffy about Morris dancing - and it's dying out. No wonder people don't want to do it! It also annoys me that some people never go to church except for weddings and Christmas but still expect it to be there for them when they want it.

Travelling minstrels? Are they still a thing?

We do have a lot of traditions that still carry on.

Rolling cheese down a hill
Weighing the swans
Gurning

www.oxford-royale.com/articles/eccentric-british-traditions/

Maybe fewer people don't believe in God?

But it's hypocritical to go to church for a wedding if you don't go to church normally

If you were a tourist coming to the UK, what traditions would you like to experience?

A pub?
Afternoon tea?
Fish and chips at the seaside?

I think it’s productive to question and challenge local traditions and cultures if they no longer apply or actually conflict with your own beliefs.

I am referring to people who blindly oppose it for no particular reason at all other than they are embarrassed or it is uncool, or just to be different/difficult. They will proudly declare how silly it is but have no actual argument. Understandable in teenagers but I’m talking about grown adults.

The Americans fought a war to get rid of our "culture and traditions" but still travel here to soak it up. What you are describing is a phenomenon of every country - you simply romanticise meaning that often isn't there into people and places that you are unfamiliar with.

II'm about to generalise massivly but its just an observation. I 've noticed a few times that when English people visit other countries we (often but I'm sure many that dont too!) immerse ourselves in their traditions and ceremonies, yet when some people visit us from abroad they expect to carry out their traditions here instead of partaking in ours. I lived with 2 French girls that refused to eat any English dishes, only French cheese etc. I am friends with an Italian family who insist on Italian traditions at Christmas rather than taking part in their English families meals etc. Almost as if we don't stick up for our traditions and food enough.

Well it’s certainly true on MN where you have to be ashamed/embarrassed to be British (in particular English) and apologise for even existing. As to praising anything about our country including our traditions that’s a big no no; every other country in the world is automatically much better.
Back in the real world not so much. After spending time on MN I am constantly amazed at how many people are willing to risk their lives to get here.

I think it's a massive positive that the British can mock Christianity. Look what happens when religion is taken too seriously and deferred to all the time!

I don’t entirely disagree but I do think that we, as a society, haven’t been very good at neutering an alternative for the more positive parts. People are increasingly isolated within their own communities and less exposed to support systems and just different personalities they wouldn’t necessarily be drawn to independently. I think the loss of traditional pub ‘locals’ is sad for much the same reason. Churches and pubs give people somewhere to go for no particular reason iyswim. I do think it adds to the difficulty some have with finding a sense of nationality or being part of community.

I would want to experience...

Day trip to historic theme park rides. The Grand National at Blackpool.
Sunday lunch.
A festival. Cambridge Folk Festival or Glastonbury.
Hiking in the English lake district or Highlands.
Afternoon tea.
Walking in a historic city. The city walls at York. The Shambles.

Every cookery website says the Greeks call it Horiatiki.

The authentic Greek salad or what Greek call it as ‘Horiatiki’, which means village or peasant salad

organicallyblissful.com/modern-tradition-greek-salad/