Five friends, Benoit, Hubert, Miel, Marcel, and Jacky, who live near De Hommelbeek, have been playing cards together every Monday afternoon as 1968. Originally starting as a post-work activity in teh evenings, their card games now occur in the afternoons, with each taking turns to host at their kitchen table. After intense gameplay, they enjoy a snack together.
At their card games, there are both losers and winners. The winners contribute their earnings to a communal pot,which is shared among the group and their partners at the end of the season. Despite playing for just a few Eurocents per game, the pot accumulates to around 3 euros, which is enough for a portion of mayonnaise with their dinner. Miel jokes that the small stakes ensure there are discussions if someone makes a mistake, but they emphasize that cheating is not tolerated, although occasional mistakes are normal among the group of eighties.
An Interview on Reviving and Creating Traditions During the Pandemic
Table of Contents
Editor: How did you and your group keep traditional activities alive during the challenging times of the pandemic?
guest: Initially, it was quite challenging. As folklorists, we’re always intrigued by the concept of tradition and its evolution.During the pandemic, the term “tradition” took on new meaning. We found that continuing traditional activities, like card games in our case, was a way to maintain not just the tradition but also our sense of community. In daily usage, a tradition might seem vague, but it’s about the practices, like traditional music, arts, and performances, that bind us together.
Editor: Coudl you elaborate on how these card games became a symbolic act during the pandemic? How did you balance old traditions with new safety measures?
Guest: Absolutely. Anthropologist Edward Shils mentioned that the continuity of tradition lies in its ability to be continuously reinterpreted. We adapted old ways to new times by rotating meetings among our homes, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance. These modifications allowed us to create a new context for an old tradition.every weekend, we gathered in small groups, alternating between kitchens, to play our traditional card games. The games themselves haven’t changed, but how we gather and participate has.
Editor: How did these activities help in preserving and adapting cultural values,especially when new guidelines and restrictions are constantly evolving?
Guest: We incorporated and adapted traditional values into our new context by emphasizing camaraderie and community support.For instance, winners contributed their earnings to a communal pot, which was shared among the group at the end of the season. This act of sharing ensured not only financial support but also brought a sense of inclusiveness and shared duty. Schools are also integrating traditional values into curriculums to help new generations understand cultural preservation.
-health and the communal pot
Editor: What role did the communal pot play in reinforcing this tradition?
Guest: The communal pot acted as a symbol of unity and shared joy. Despite playing for just a few Eurocents per game, the pot accumulated to around 3 euros, which was enough for a portion of mayonnaise with our dinner. This small financial goal brought a sense of accomplishment and collective joy. Miel jokes that the small stakes ensure there are discussions if someone makes a mistake, but we emphasize that cheating is not tolerated, although occasional mistakes, like those in our group of eighties, are normal.
Conclusion
Guest: Reviving and creating traditions during the pandemic taught us the importance of adaptability and continuity in cultural practices. By reinterpretation and adaptation, we could keep the essence of our traditions alive, fostering a deeper understanding and recognition for them. It’s not just about the tradition itself but the community and values it engenders. These experiences showed us that traditions aren’t static but living, evolving practices that can thrive in new contexts, as stated by anthropologists like Edward Shils.
