Customs & Rituals
Gebruiken
en rituelen • Bräuche und Rituale
 enerally accepted and followed standards, codes and rules constitute the backbone
of any given culture — a handed-down shared set of ways in which to conduct oneself and the affairs
of one’s family, clan and community, the ways one dresses, creates, works, trades,
socializes, shares, divides and bequeathes, the ways one marks rites
of passage, the ways
one
deals with
deviancy and
many
other
things. In conjunction with shared or at least dominant spiritual beliefs,
these traditions constitute the moral foundation as well as bodies
of lore and law of communities from the smallest village to the largest
country. Although no customs and rituals remain unchanged, their mere
existence as a body provides a sense of consistency, endurance and
identity. It is a virtually inexhaustible fountain of knowledge that
connects us vividly with
our ancestors
and with
the forebears of our adoptive communities. The topic of celebrations
is closely related to that of celebrations.
|
