Keeping Traditions Alive

Whilst reflecting this morning, Gerry was thinking about the importance of keeping traditions alive. Having been brought up on a farm in Selous, Zimbabwe, he learnt about his ancestry & was taught & shown many family traditions in which includes biltong making, farm life & experiencing the great outdoors. 

Keeping traditions alive is important for teaching the next generation about a particular or shared past. Traditions are beliefs or behaviours that are passed down from one generation to the next within a certain group or society. Often, traditions are related to one’s nationality or religion. Some traditions are secular and celebrated amongst a wide range of diverse populations.

Why is it important to Gerry to carry on his family’s traditions? 

• Traditions contribute a sense of comfort and belonging. It brings families together and enables people to reconnect with friends.
• Tradition reinforces values including family values.
• Tradition provides a forum to showcase role models and celebrate everything that matters in life. 
• Tradition offers a chance to say “thank you” for the contribution that someone has made in your life.
• Tradition serves as an avenue for creating lasting memories for our families and friends. 
• Tradition offers an excellent context for meaningful pause and reflection.

Growing up in Africa is indescribable and what Gerry is so proud of is the fact he had a childhood where he was able to watch his father run a beautiful farm in Africa that had been passed down through the generations and whilst Gerry & his brother would have been next in line, the chance was heartbreakingly and unexpectedly taken away.

Billies & Tong is not just a business to Gerry, it is his chance to carry on his families traditions, make his family proud & continue to keep his ancestry alive. By sharing his passion with you all, he’s reconnected with old friends, created new ones & built a business in a new country based on all he has been taught. He is so grateful for this, proud of his heritage and the fact he now gets to share this with you all!