Nature and Tradition
Dean DeCrease on Jun 27th 2008
“Children should come to the table clean and in a merry mood; they should not rest their hands on their trenchers, nor drink more than two or three times during the meal (most drank wine diluted with water or thin beer); and they should wipe their lips with a napkin after each drink, especially if a common drinking-cup is used.”
- Erasmus (Treatise on Manners, 1530)
Tradition is a wonderful teacher. Before the development of medical and nutritional science, healthy living – in fact, survival – depended upon the passing of wisdom from generation to generation. Over time, smart lifestyle behaviors were developed and embraced as rituals and “manners” that kept people healthy.
In traditional societies, people are fairly tuned into Nature’s ways, because they have to be. Nature – and tradition built on Nature – tells them what is best to eat, when to plant their crops, how to watch the leaves on the trees to check for a storm coming, etc. It is the species “man” behaving normally in its natural ecosystem.
- Read Michael Balick and Paul Alan Cox: Plants, People, and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany, W.H. Freeman & Company; 1st edition (1997), Chapter 3 on diet, genetics and tradition
As societies develop, they allow technology to meet more and more of their basic needs. Gradually, they may lose touch with nature. This is particularly the case in 21st century America. Founded on a revolution which broke its ties to the old world, America is less tradition-bound than most countries. This makes Americans trend setters, innovators, and versatile in business. But Americans are paying a price for their break with tradition… with Nature.
On the other extreme, the societies of Japan and France maintain an unusually strong bond to the past. They also have some of the healthiest people on the planet! Is there anything that we can learn from their traditions?
Also take a look at the sub pages.
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