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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

tradition

What's the difference between heritage and tradition?

Could you give me some examples?

Is thankgiving dinner a heritage or tradition?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

, while "tradition" is a set of practices/beliefs/etc. that has become established over a long period of time through frequent use or repetition ("a tradition" being one such practice or belief). The long-time observance of traditions is one part of the heritage of a culture, so in that sense there's an overlap.

— Mr Wordy

  • , while "tradition" is a set of practices/beliefs/etc.
  • that has become established over a long period of time through frequent use or repetition ("a tradition" being one such practice or belief).
  • The long-time observance of traditions is one part of the heritage of a culture, so in that sense there's an overlap.
  • The country's maritime heritage is preserved in the museum.
  • All these great authors are part of our literary heritage.
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7 Answers
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To me, "heritage" is the accumulation of historical achievements/artefacts/practices/etc., while "tradition" is a set of practices/beliefs/etc. that has become established over a long period of time through frequent use or repetition ("a tradition" being one such practice or belief). The long-time observance of traditions is one part of the heritage of a culture, so in that sense there's an overla
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How about the times when one spends time with his/her grandfather and he tells stories of your roots and how the ancestors led their lives? Is that passing down heritage or traditions?
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It's debatable. It could be either really. If his stories were something like "When I was a lad, on the first of May each year all the villagers would ... blah blah ... , and then every Christmas we used to ... blah blah ..." then I'd be inclined to say he was passing down traditions. But if they were of a more general nature then "heritage" might be more appropriate.
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Mr WordyBut if they were of a more general nature
Thanks, Mr. Wordy for the examples for tradition. It's quite clear. Could you give an example of heritage? I still don't quite understand it.
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heritage: roots, origins

tradition: things established by historical repetition
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New2grammarCould you give an example of heritage?
Let's say he said:

"This is a book of verse, written hundreds of years ago, that explains where our people came from and how they came to settle here. I'm going to read parts of it to you, and tell you all about what it means."

This, to me, is more passing down "heritage". Maybe some traditions
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Thanks, MH and Mr.Wordy. I think I get a better picture now.
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