What makes a tradition?

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

Reading the recent post on traditions got me thinking about some of our family's habits and then thinking about what makes a tradition.

Example:
My cousin's family has a history of naming girls with the middle name Anne. This is true of my cousin, my aunt, the grandma, and every woman as far back as they know to at least great-great grandma. Clearly this has been going on long enough to be a tradition.

However:
My family has a tradition of naming girls with L names and Boys with A names. This only goes back to me and my cousins. (so not my parents or aunts/uncles) Yet, my mom and aunts and everyone who started this tradition are pressuring me and my cousins to continue it. Since its only one generation, is it really a "tradition"?

What is your definition of a naming tradition? And do you feel obligated to stick with it?