History Main / ReviveTheAncientCustom

* A lot of bad-faith litigants attempt versions of this trope in various jurisdictions to produce whatever effects they want, with the Magna Carta being a perennial favourite (despite nearly all of the Magna Carta having long since been repealed in England). One particularly rococo version of this has involved a spate of {{Cloud Cuckoolander}}s trying to employ a provision of the first Magna Carta that allowed the barons to enter a rebellion if King John reneged on his word, with the idea that the UK entering the European Union constituted such a trespass, and pledging allegiance to a specific one of the lords who opposed it (this particular lord did nothing to encourage this, was completely unaware of it, and has apparently been bewildered by the whole thing). They don't dwell on the fact that the "rebellion clause" was abolished ''the year after it was promulgated,'' so not only are they trying to appeal to a more than 800-year-old law, but to a law that's been ''repealed'' for more than 800 years. Needless to say, nothing like this has ever worked in any court. A [[https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2020/2020abqb489/2020abqb489.html Canadian court decision]] dealt thoroughly (and amusingly) with the entire affair, including such lines as "Robinson appears to have sworn herself to be a loyal servant to Lord Craigmyle of Invernesshire. So what?" and "Whatever does that have to do with Canada?"

* A lot of bad-faith litigants attempt versions of this trope in various jurisdictions, with the Magna Carta being a perennial favourite (despite nearly all of the Magna Carta having long since been repealed in England). One particularly rococo version of this has involved a spate of {{Cloud Cuckoolander}}s trying to employ a provision of the first Magna Carta that allowed the barons to enter a rebellion if King John reneged on his word, with the idea that the UK entering the European Union constituted such a trespass, and pledging allegiance to a specific one of the lords who opposed it (this particular lord did nothing to encourage this, was completely unaware of it, and has apparently been bewildered by the whole thing). They don't dwell on the fact that the "rebellion clause" was abolished ''the year after it was promulgated,'' so not only are they trying to appeal to a more than 800-year-old law, but to a law that's been ''repealed'' for more than 800 years. Needless to say, nothing like this has ever worked in any court. A [[https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2020/2020abqb489/2020abqb489.html Canadian court decision]] dealt thoroughly (and amusingly) with the entire affair, including such lines as "Robinson appears to have sworn herself to be a loyal servant to Lord Craigmyle of Invernesshire. So what?" and "Whatever does that have to do with Canada?"

This is also a weapon in the arsenal of the RulesLawyer, who may demand an ancient, forgotten ritual or insist on some kind of ceremonial prerogative that nobody's meant to actually use ("Wait! I invoke the right of ...") to gain some kind of advantage, often simply to stall for time.

This is also a weapon in the arsenal of the RulesLawyer, who may invoke an ancient, forgotten ritual in an ''ad hoc'' manner ("Wait! I invoke the right of ...") to gain some kind of advantage, often simply to stall for time.

Deeply connected to the GoodOldWays, in which the old customs are thought to be better and more virtuous. If these customs do fall under the above, then characters attempting this may be opposed by those who think that GoodIsOldFashioned. It should be mentioned that this can be good, but can also be something attempted by TheFundamentalist and the EvilLuddite. Contrast against OrderReborn, wherein an ancient organization is being revived, whereas this trope only applies to an ancient law/custom.

* {{Discussed}} and PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' when Tony makes a crack about reinstating [[DroitDuSeigneur prima nocte]] if he took over Asgard.

* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Picard has been appointed to oversee the succession of the Klingon High Chancellor. Normally, this would be a quick matter, but Picard wants to draw it out so he has time to investigate the previous chancellor's death. He invokes an old rite whereby the candidates engage in [[BadassBoast Badass Boasting]] about their battle exploits... which takes hours.
* The main plot of the episode "Accession" of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' centers on a poet from Bajor's past arriving the present and claiming the title of Emissary of the Prophets. Sisko finds himself eager to hand the role over, but quickly regrets it when the new Emissary declares that Bajor must return to the FantasticCasteSystem that had been central to their spiritual beliefs in his time. The transition causes significant social tensions and doesn't bode well for the relationship between Bajor and the Federation (which outlaws caste-based discrimination). When a kind and gentle old priest murders his colleague in cold blood on the street (for refusing to retire from the priesthood despite being of a low caste that handles the dead), Sisko realizes he can't sit by any longer and challenges the new Emissary's claim to the role. The matter is ultimately settled by a visit to the Prophets themselves, who declare that the castes (and the poet himself) are part of Bajor's past and not its future.

* After [[UsefulNotes/ThePope Pope]] [[[[UsefulNotes/NotablePopes Paul VI]] changed the liturgy in 1970 to allow vernacular languages to be used at Mass and other ceremonies, replacing the old Tridentine Mass. Some more traditionally minded Catholics objected to the new version of the Mass, which was called the ''Novus Ordo'' Mass. In an attempt to appease such Catholics Pope John Paul II allowed individual Bishops to permit the use of the 1962 Tridentine Mass. Benedict XVI later expanded the rights of Catholic priests and parishes to use the Tridentine Mass before Francis restricted the use of the Tridentine Mass soon after becoming Pope.

* ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'': Thanks to Susato using an old lawbook she finds a long forgotten practice in the court: the closing argument. They eventually concede that the defense has a right to do it, even if it hasn't been done in ages.

* ''VisualNovel/DaiGyakutenSaiban'': Thanks to Susato using an old lawbook she finds a long forgotten practice in the court: the closing argument. They eventually concede that the defense has a right to do it, even if it hasn't been done in ages.

* Neopaganism is about reviving the ancient suppressed European "pagan" pre-Christian religions such as the Greek, Celtic and Slavic paganism. Hovever, information on religions other than the Greek-Roman one is often scarce and biased.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, British authorities arrested a woman who claimed to enable people to speak to their deceased loved ones (often soldiers). They were disgusted by her attempt to make money off of people's grief, but they had [[ThereShouldBeALaw difficulty finding an exact crime]] she'd committed. Eventually, they charged her under an 18th-century witchcraft law. They did decide to simply fine her rather than [[BurnTheWitch burn her at the stake]].

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', [[RebelLeader Ulfric Stormcloak]] invokes a pre-Imperial Nord law to force High King Torygg to a TrialByCombat, feeling that Torygg had ceded too much authority to the Empire (and the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Aldmeri Dominion]] by proxy) after the Great War. Torygg was well aware that [[MortonsFork he had no good options here;]] he was no match for Ulfric in combat, and if he refused it would cause a scandal that would likely lead to him being deposed by Ulfric anyway, so he accepted the duel and was killed by Ulfric as you'd expect. Opinions of this event across Skyrim are mixed, with those supporting the Stormcloaks insisting it was an honorable duel, while those who support the Empire consider it flat-out murder.

* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'': During Season of the Chosen, after her attempts at forging an alliance with the Guardians failed (because she demanded Commander Zavala [[KneelBeforeZod bow to her]]), [[ArcVillain Empress Caiatl]] of [[TheEmpire the Cabal]] started assembling a war council by bringing back the Rite of Proving, allowing Cabal Red Legion leaders to step up to prove their mettle and prowess. The Guardians would then exploit this to kill off those leaders to prevent them joining Caiatl's council, and to prove [[WorthyOpponent they themselves are]] ''[[WorthyOpponent equals]]''. [[spoiler: [[AllThereInTheManual Lore books from the season]] reveal that Caiatl had expected Zavala to reject the offer, but was [[ChainsOfCommanding forced to make it anyway]] or risk losing her authority before the rest of her people.]]

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'': Because they need to rush the process to crown Melia Empress, Yumea suggests reviving an ancient tradition where the soon-to-ruler has to make it through the High Entia Tomb. [[spoiler:However, Yumea actually made the suggestion in order to get Melia killed.]]

The political equivalent is TheRightfulKingReturns.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, British authorities arrested a woman who claimed to enable people to speak to their deceased loved ones (often soldiers). They were disgusted by her attempt to make money off of people's grief, but they had difficulty finding an exact crime. Eventually, they charged her under an 18th-century witchcraft law. They did decide to simply fine her rather than [[BurnTheWitch burn her at the stake]].