if the British can't respect their own traditions how can they respect the traditions of others

Is there any tradition in Morris dancing these days?

Quick quiz:

1. How long's this been going on?

a) What do you mean, how long? People have always done this here.
b) Ages. I don't know, really. The Secretary might be able to tell you.
c) Two or three years solidly, nine or ten off and on. Depends when people are available.
d) People have always done this, but if you mean this specific group, seven years and five months as of next Monday.

2. Will you be doing it next year?

a) Of course. Somebody has to.
b) I certainly hope so. It's good to put on a bit of a show.
c) I hope so, but as I say it depends on people's availability.
d) Why yes, the practice will go on and on, as it always has. As to this specific group, well, fingers crossed.

3. Can you put on a quick show for us next Pancake Day?

a) What do you mean? I don't think we could do that.
b) Not sure, I'll have to run it past the Committee.
c) Yeah, why not. I'll give you my number.
d) I think Pancake Day is a fine example of the old English high days and holidays which would traditionally be graced by our practice, so yes, why not. I'll give you my number.

4. Why do you do it?

a) [silence, puzzled expression]
b) Well, it's good to keep a thing like this going, isn't it? And it makes a nice show. The kids love it.
c) It's a bit of a laugh really.
d) We are honoured to maintain the unbroken tradition of our practice, and we go to the pub afterwards.

If you answered

a) it's a Tradition
b) it's Folk Art (cf. Rose Queens, fluffy Morris, Preston Guild, etc)
c) it's a Hobby
d) it's a Revival

I think there's an awful lot of Hobby music & dance out there now - from a variety of different cultures - and a fair bit of Folk Art. I don't think there's very much Tradition.

(As for Revivalists, the problem with them is that they tend to think they're Traditionalists, although really they've got more in common with Hobbyists and Folk Artists.)