The Invention of Tradition (book)

"The Invention of Tradition" is a book edited by Eric Hobsbawm and Terence Ranger that explores how many customs, rituals, and traditions we consider ancient or natural are often modern creations or adaptations. It argues that these traditions are frequently invented or reinvented to serve political, social, or cultural purposes, shaping identities or consolidating power. The book emphasizes that many traditions are not as old or authentic as they seem, highlighting the ways in which societies construct and manipulate rituals to establish continuity, authority, or social cohesion.