He studied the Anglo-Saxon 'oral tradition'. [=the stories, beliefs, etc., that a group of people shared by telling stories and talking to each other]
My dad and granddad were both carpenters, and my brother is 'carrying on the tradition'. [=my brother is also a carpenter]
The cheese is made according to 'tradition'. [=made in way that has been used for many years; made in the traditional way]
(..) Meaning...? Yuck! Ewww! I can't marry her. She's my friend. Yeah. It'd be too weird. Well, sorry to bust your bubble, but you two turtle doves have no choice. It's a tradition... ...going back generations. Well when I'm king, that'll be the first thing to go. Not so long as I'm around. (..)1994 The Lion King