WRITERS WRITE: The importance of oral tradition

Let’s go back. How far shall I go? And what area of the world or culture shall I go back to?

Let’s just try our grandparents for a beginning. They tell us and our kids stories of their yesteryears, over and over again. Until finally we hear them tell it so many times we wonder why they keep on repeating these old times. Unconsciously, this is the way our minds work to pass history on. There was a time when writing, reading, books, radio, TV and electronics of today were not present to record and pass information along for the next generation. When people sit around the campfire or kitchen table sharing stories of the past, this is called “oral tradition.” Stories of growing up, life at home, with family, at work, school or in the neighborhood. Just plain talk and sharing the events, not even thinking that these are the words that will be remembered forever in a child’s mind.

Repeated tales told when minds are open to learn and are uncluttered. Those are the days when children listened endlessly to folks sharing incidents of their youth. Forever memories being instilled in the minds of young people so they too could later in life recall and tell them to their children and grandchildren. Can you recall any of this? I can. How could life of the past or ancient times ever be able to survive for centuries without this telling of stories and information to the listening ears of youth?

Just the other day our Uncle Martin, age 94, came to visit with two of his children. As we sat around the kitchen table sharing stories and family remembrances, Uncle Martin’s laughter filled the room. He told stories of tree cutting throughout his life. He recalled several times that he was lucky to have not been hit by the window makers. Each person in the room listened and enjoyed his details and humor. His adult kids had heard many stories before but not all of them. A new slant was revealed on their Dad’s life history.

We all can continue to share stories with our children, telling of those good old days of personal episodes. When we get to sit around the table or campfire and add a mixture of our information to the stories that have been passed down and around.

This is how we know of the Huns of Europe, Vikings of Scandinavia, Orientals of the Eastern World and Native Americans, wherever you study the history of the world and its people. There are stories told and retold of their culture and history through this wonderful human system of oral tradition.

We should not neglect to tell our stories so our life stories can live on to future generations. Don’t think children never hear you and your stories, because they do, even though you may doubt it. Children do listen and want to hear true, sincere, funny and scary tales dug up from the past and then they tell their friends. Did you know what Grandpa told me last night about when he was a kid? So oral tradition goes on and on.

Margo Holzman is a member of the Pauquette Wordcrafters.