The invention of traditions

Abstract

Nothing seems more ancient and linked to the immemorial past than the pomp that surrounds the British monarchy in its public ceremonial acts. However, as established in a chapter of this book, in its current version it is the product of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Traditions that seem or pretend to be ancient are often relatively recent in their origin and are sometimes a product of invention. Anyone who is familiar with the colleges (higher education institutions) of the old British universities may consider the institutional nature of these traditions according to local parameters, although some of them -such as the Annual Festival of the Nine Lessons and Christmas Carols in the Chapel of the King's College of Cambridge, on Christmas Eve can become widespread through the current mass media radio. This observation marked the starting point of a conference organized by the historical magazine "Past & Present", which in turn forms the basis of this book.