The theme for 2024 is “Tradition”
Each year, we have a different festival theme which organically emerges from the conversations we have with each other, family, friends, festival goers and what the topical big questions are – its become a “tradition”.
‘What is a Tradition?’ – A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviours (customs) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expression and folklore, examples include holidays or unusual, but meaningful clothes (the Welsh hat), but the idea can also be apply to social norms such as greetings, etc.
Traditions can persist and evolve for thousands of years— the word tradition itself derives from the Latin word tradere literally meaning to transmit, to hand over, to give for safekeeping. While it is reportedly assumed that traditions have an ancient history, many traditions are more recent and have been invented on purpose. They can be for political, as well more common cultural and religious reasons.
Even festivals have become a tradition, sort of a modern day pilgrimage, where you meet old friends, take a break from your regular lifestyle and absorb the transformational experience that a festival can bring. Recently, we have been reading how researchers have proposed that Stonehenge was built as a unifying symbol for the ancient Brythonic tribes of our islands.
“Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can’t even describe, aren’t even aware of”. Ellen Goodman
“Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response” Arthur M. Schlesinger
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The way in which traditions influence our lives and decision making will form the basis of some interesting debate Between The Trees 2025.
Previous years themes have included:
2024 “Gratitude”
2023 “Journey, Pilgrimage and Migration”
2022 “Connections”
2021 “Community”
2020 “Unity – Undod”
