"Craft" vs. "Tradition"

[greymalkin]

I've recently been discussing a question with some of the local Elders, and have received some very interesting and divergent opinions. I am curious to learn what the membership of this group might have to say on the matter. What is the distinction (if any) between a 'craft' and a 'tradition,' and what is the relationship between the two?

Comments

[pierceheart]

In my opinion, craft means _any_ practice (in this context, a practice of witches).

Tradition means a practice that is consistent between more than one individual, that has been passed on.

In a more specific definition, I consider a practice to be a tradition if it has three generations, that is, the person who first did it taught it to some students, and those students taught it to more people.

YMMV.

[tryst_inn]

Indeed. Furthermore, for some/many, a Tradition must pass the longevity test by surviving the death of its founder.

[onyxtwilight]

*grin* We've been going for 38 years, and no one who can claim the label "founder" has been involved for 20 of those. Generational lineage chart shows at least seven generations worth of initiates in some chains, spanning several dozen groups over the years. But neither Frank nor Tzipora are dead yet. Do we count? >;-P

[rimrunner]

I also agree with this. I am in the process of formulating a craft with some others, but we have no intention of calling it a tradition until and unless it has grandkids.

[mageoflamancha]

Ditto with the idea of C/craft being the set of skills, Tradition being how a group uses or performs the skills over time- a minimum of three generations without serious changes seems fair.