Chasing the Thrill: Why Some Traditions Never Fade
Have you noticed how some traditions managed to survive for thousands of years? Each of these pulse-pounding traditions pulls us back, year after year, and they feel special.
But the question is, how did they manage to survive for so long? Some of these traditions are deeply embedded in our culture and are passed down from generation to generation, making it unlikely for them to fade away.
Traditions can be found in every culture that has ever existed, and they are designed to bring people together, give them a sense of meaning in life, or, in some cases, focus on spirituality.
They are also very random. We can find anything from horse racing traditions that go back centuries, to festival dances, and even ridiculous ones like jumping real babies on the street (yes, this is a real thing in Spain).
So, why do these traditions happen in the first place, and why do they never fade?
Why We Crave Such Traditions
There is something about these traditions that will make your heart go racing. Imagine a jockey nudging a horse to the finish line or see runners dodge bulls in Pamplona’s narrow streets. It is pure adrenaline, and it is in our human nature to chase it.
Traditions like the Kentucky Derby offer nail-biting action, and although traditions vary all over the world, they are based on the same principles that fill our brains with dopamine, which is that feel-good chemical we get on a rollercoaster or a close-call bet. Many bettors would agree that even going through the horse racing odds is an exciting thing to do.
These moments tap our primal need for controlled danger—safe enough to survive, wild enough to thrill. We live in a digital world where we are locked in on our phones most of the time, and traditions like Rio’s Carnival or Nigeria’s Argungu Fishing Festival bring people physically together.
Cultural Identity
But there is more than just pure adrenaline. After all, the event on its own cannot turn into a tradition just because it is exciting to watch. It must have a deeper meaning, which is why some traditions are like family heirlooms.
You don’t just inherit them, you wear them with pride. Let’s take the Kentucky Derby, for example, where 150,000 fans go to Churchill Downs every year. Do you think that everybody is interested in horse racing? Of course not. But the Kentucky Derby is more than just racing. It is a prestigious event and often a ticket for people from the higher class.
So, if your grandad was going to an event, the stories are passed through generations, and there is a higher chance that the grandchildren will continue the same path.
Social Connection
Sometimes, you go to a certain celebration or an event that can be considered a tradition, and you look around you, not recognizing any of the faces, but somehow you feel connected with all of them.
This is the magic of traditions and cultural events. They bring people together who have similar goals and views, which is why high-fiving a stranger at a festival feels like you’ve known them for years.
So, one of the reasons why these events never fade away is that they bring people together, and that’s a big deal nowadays. Some traditions are not only about celebrations or events. There are plenty of unique wedding and mourning traditions all over the world that are quite important to people.
Escapism
Life nowadays feels like a treadmill. People bounce from work to bills, and constant stress all the time. That’s why traditions like Carnival or the Kentucky Derby offer us a ticket to escape our repetitive lives.
In other words, they are like reality pause, where people are looking for new ways to make their lives more exciting. So, our world wouldn’t be the same without them, that’s for sure.
This has a much deeper meaning for people. Some of these festivals give people a meaning of life, and even though they last for a couple of hours every year, it is enough to spark that flame of life.
Evolution
These traditions have lasted for thousands of years, but even though they appear the same, they’ve evolved a lot throughout the years. But this isn’t a bad thing. Traditions evolve to be more suitable for modern times.
The goal of the festival and the main principles are the same, but the organizers may have changed some of the things over the years.
So, true traditions never fade; they evolve.
Final Words
So, these traditions make our lives more fun. Some have a deeper meaning, and they may be embedded in certain cultures, but in most cases, traditions and celebrations infuse our lives with meaning and purpose.
They give us that feel-good emotions, which is why we crave them so much. Plus, they connect us with strangers, which is something that the world desperately needs nowadays.
