Examples of famous customs from history. Differences between custom and tradition

Each family has its own indescribable atmosphere of love, understanding and warmth. Children born into families adopt this atmosphere. How does it arise? They create a similar halo in the family family traditions, customs or laws of family leisure. Often such laws take their roots from the family foundations of previous generations - they are strong and unshakable. They create a feeling of reliability family relations, a strong bond arises between family members, close and trusting relationships are maintained, and children feel the stability of the family.

What are family traditions: examples

Family traditions are regularly repeated actions of family members aimed at consolidating intra-family ties and strengthening the family as the main basis of society. Traditions are an indispensable attribute of family happiness and well-being, reflecting the moral position of all family members. Each family is individual and has its own history. Family customs allow all members to feel their importance, devote time and attention to their relatives, and show respect and love to them.

Examples of traditions: spending holidays together, themed dinners on weekends, family vacations, reading stories to children before bed or singing lullabies, going to church on Sundays or religious holidays, children writing letters to Santa Claus on New Year, baking Easter cakes for Easter by household members, eating together and many others. Watch the video about family customs famous people:

What are family traditions and holidays?

  • Carrying out family holidays. This tradition has its roots in the distant past - for centuries it has been customary to spend holidays in the family circle with family and loved ones. The main such holiday should be called birthday. In most families, it is customary on this day to invite guests to the house, cover festive table, give gifts to the birthday boy and be sure to blow out the candles on the birthday cake, making a wish. Family holidays include weddings, births of children, baptisms, etc.

  • Holding national holidays. These include everyone’s favorite holiday – New Year. Most families practice the custom of spending it together at a large table, with the traditional Olivier salad and champagne. Children write letters to Santa Claus asking for the gifts they want. Many families celebrate Easter by baking Easter cakes and lighting them in church. Among the national holidays, World Workers' Day is traditionally celebrated on May 1. On this holiday, most families go on a picnic and cook meat dishes on the grill.

  • Games with children. It is important that both parents take part in raising the child and play with him. During games, a child learns about the world, acquires new skills, and improves his physical and intellectual level. For example, according to custom, a mother teaches her child to play chess every Saturday, and a father plays football with his son on Sundays. Children love stability, so try not to break established customs.

  • Reading fairy tales before bed. This is the most important tradition when raising children, because fairy tales allow a child to develop imagination and understand the world. In addition, daily reading of fairy tales before bedtime develops a certain bedtime routine for the child. Even if the child is too small to understand the meaning of what he read, the calm and measured voice of his mother or father will have a calming effect on him. Such an evening ritual will calm even the most active children, promoting good sound sleep.

  • Walks with the whole family. To develop a child’s physical abilities and maintain their own, it is important to take walks together. During such a walk, you need to communicate and you can look at the sights. In order to instill spiritual values, it is advisable for the whole family to visit cinemas, theaters, museums, and exhibitions. Such trips can broaden your horizons and improve the cultural level of the family as a whole.

  • The tradition of kissing. To create an atmosphere of love, it is important to kiss your family and friends more often. It is advisable to kiss children at least twice a day - in the morning when they wake up, in the evening - before going to bed. More frequent kisses and hugs are welcome, even with an adult child, because with a lack of affection, children grow up callous. It is also important to wish all your family good night before going to bed at night and good morning, waking up.
  • Joint trips on vacation. Do not underestimate this type of leisure, because most psychologists recommend regularly changing the environment to maintain good relationships. The main thing is to visit new cities and countries together, to escape from routine and everyday life, and to expand your horizons.

  • Orthodox traditions. These include going to church together Orthodox holidays or every Sunday, celebrating Christmas and Easter, fasting, baptizing children, reading the Bible, praying before bed, regularly visiting deceased relatives.

What values ​​underlie family traditions?

Family traditions generate and instill in people important values: love for the family, respect for one’s relatives, care for loved ones, a correct understanding of the family and its role in life. Failure to comply with family customs and foundations can lead to a weakening of ties between its members and to the destruction of family ties. Even a unit of society in which love reigns cannot exist without certain important and pleasant customs, for example, joint leisure.

Traditions strengthen children's sense of gratitude towards their parents and grandparents, instilling respect for the older generation. Customs give spouses a sense of inviolability and stability of family relationships. L.N. Tolstoy said: “Happy is he who is happy at home.” A person living in a family that honors traditions will certainly be surrounded by care, love, warmth and tenderness. For such a person, family well-being will certainly be transferred to other areas of life.

Family traditions of different countries and peoples of the world

Each nation has its own special traditions relating to all areas of life, and this is especially true for the family. This is due, first of all, to the fact that each people or country has its own special geography, location, climate, history, unique culture, and adheres to different religions. All these factors influence the formation of cultural and family customs. Family traditions, in turn, shape the worldview and attitude to life. Such family structures have existed for centuries, practically unchanged, passing from older family members to younger ones.

Family cultural traditions in Russia, history and modernity

If we turn to history, it will become obvious that there are many traditions in Rus'. For a long time, the main family custom in Russia was genealogy - in past times it was considered indecent not to know one’s family, and the expression “Ivan, who does not remember kinship” was an insult. An integral part of the family structure was the compilation of a pedigree or family tree. Also known are such traditions of the Russian people as passing on valuable things from generation to generation and naming a child in honor of one of the respected ancestors.

IN modern Russia the significance of family customs was somewhat lost. For example, nowadays you rarely see a family maintaining its own genealogy. Often, the memory of generations comes down to an album with photographs. But such wonderful traditions as sharing meals and holding joint holidays have been preserved. Family customs and traditions in the Kuban still imply Cossack life and raising children in the spirit of the Cossack family.

Traditions in Germany

There is a stereotype that Germans are extremely pedantic. The Germans have the strictest traditions regarding the family:

  • It is customary to treat your home with the utmost care, carefully cleaning it and making it beautiful;
  • It is not customary to leave grandchildren to be raised by their grandparents - for this it is necessary to determine a sum of money for them;
  • parents in old age do not live with their children - they are looked after by nurses or they live in special boarding houses;
  • At Christmas, it is customary for the whole family to gather at the parental home;
  • Germans are prudent and thrifty, so they have a tradition of saving for old age, during which they usually travel a lot around the world.

In England

For the British, traditions are the three pillars on which the Earth rests, so they honor them with special reverence. Who doesn't know about the notorious English custom of drinking tea? Family gatherings and discussions are always held over a cup of real Earl Gray with milk. The British are Catholics, so they especially celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving, gathering with the whole family and preparing traditional dishes. It is necessary to call the custom of giving children a good education a wonderful tradition among the British. It is considered bad form not to send your child to study at a private boarding school or college.

In France

In France, it is a widespread custom to gather together on Sundays. common table, drink wine and have a meal. Among the holidays, the French like to celebrate Christmas, gathering at their parents' house. The festive banquet necessarily includes such delicacies as foie gras, salmon, seafood, Iscariot snails and noble cheeses. The traditional drink at Christmas is champagne, and the dessert is a “Christmas log.”

In India

India is a country of strict family customs and traditions. Indian society is divided into social castes, so they approach the issue of marriage in an extremely unusual way. The father of the family must himself choose the future groom for his daughter; she was given in marriage only to a representative of her social caste. A lavish wedding celebration is more of an obligation than a desire. The bride traditionally had to provide a dowry. Divorce and remarriage were previously prohibited in India.

Indian family life is greatly influenced by Buddhist traditions. According to them, a man must:

  • Show respect to your spouse.
  • Don't change.
  • Provide for the family.
  • Teach children a craft.
  • Select a suitable pair for children.

A woman should:

  • Respect your husband.
  • Raise children.
  • Carry out all household duties.
  • Don't cheat on your husband.
  • Fulfill all the wishes of your spouse.

Tatar traditions

Tatars are Muslims, so family structures are based on Sharia and the Koran. Among the Tatars, starting a family is considered a necessity dictated by religion. It is interesting that after marriage, the husband receives full power over his wife, and the wife is dependent on him - she does not even have the right to leave the house without the consent of her husband. Divorce among Tatars occurs extremely rarely, solely on the initiative of the husband. It is customary for the wife to raise children, but they are obliged to show complete obedience to their father.

What family traditions are important in raising children?

Family customs play a vital role in raising children. It is extremely difficult to instill traditions in an adult, so their transmission from generation to generation from parents to children is a common occurrence. Children perceive the world the way their parents do, therefore, the child’s perception of the family as the main element of his life, as well as determining its place in the value system, depends on pleasant family customs.

The traditions of family reading before bed, singing lullabies, kisses at every meeting, shared dinners, and walks will be useful. They define in the child the concept of stability, the inviolability of family structures, give a feeling of cohesion, and make children more gentle and affectionate. It is also important to instill from childhood the custom of respecting and honoring your ancestors by regularly visiting them on holidays.

Proverbs and poems about family traditions

There are many instructive proverbs about family customs and traditions:

  • “What good is treasure when there is harmony in the family.”
  • “Children are not a burden, but a joy.”
  • “It’s warm in the sun, good in mother’s presence.”
  • “Not the mother who gave birth, but the one who raised.”
  • “A family is strong when there is only one roof over it.”
  • “The whole family is together, and the soul is in the same place.”
  • “A tree is held together by its roots, and a person is held together by its family.”
  • “If I have granddaughters, I know fairy tales.”
  • “Don’t hide your failures from your parents.”
  • “Honor your parents - you will not go astray.”
  • “In a family where they help each other, troubles are not terrible.”

For poems about family and traditions, see the photo below:

Family traditions are one of the most important aspects of everyone’s life, which is why it is so important to cultivate and support them in every possible way. Family life without traditions would be boring. It’s great when young families do it themselves, relying on experience family life their parents, adding their own personal moments. The main goal is to get closer to other family members, build a strong, reliable family, and also enjoy communication with loved ones. Be happy!

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Most families have their own public or unspoken traditions. How important are they for raising happy people?

Traditions and rituals are inherent in every family. Even if you think that there is nothing like this in your family, most likely you are a little mistaken. After all, even the morning: “Hello!” and evening: " Good night! - this is also a kind of tradition. What can we say about Sunday dinners with the whole family or the collective making of Christmas tree decorations.


First, let’s remember what the word “family,” so simple and familiar from childhood, means. Agree, there may be different options on the topic: “mom, dad, me”, and “parents and grandparents”, and “sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, etc.” One of the most popular definitions of this term says: “A family is an association of people based on marriage or consanguinity, connected by a common life, mutual moral responsibility and mutual assistance.” That is, these are not just blood relatives living under the same roof, but also people who help each other and are mutually responsible. Family members in the true sense of the word love each other, support each other, rejoice together on happy occasions and are sad on sad occasions. They seem to be all together, but at the same time they learn to respect each other’s opinions and personal space. And there is something that unites them into one whole, unique to them, in addition to the stamps in the passport.

This “something” is family traditions. Do you remember how you loved to come to your grandmother for the summer as a child? Or celebrate birthdays with a large crowd of relatives? Or decorate the Christmas tree with your mother? These memories are filled with warmth and light.

What are family traditions? Explanatory dictionaries say the following: “Family traditions are the usual norms, behavior patterns, customs and views accepted in the family that are passed on from generation to generation.” Most likely, these are the usual standards of behavior that the child will take with him to his future family and pass on to his children.

What do family traditions give to people? Firstly, they contribute harmonious development child. After all, traditions imply repeated repetition of some actions, and, therefore, stability. For a baby, such predictability is very important; thanks to it, over time he ceases to be afraid of this big, incomprehensible world. Why be afraid if everything is constant, stable, and your parents are nearby? In addition, traditions help children see in their parents not just strict educators, but also friends with whom it is interesting to spend time together.

Secondly, for adults, family traditions give a feeling of unity with their relatives, bring them closer, and strengthen feelings. After all, these are often moments of pleasant time spent together with those closest to you, when you can relax, be yourself and enjoy life.

Thirdly, this is the cultural enrichment of the family. It becomes not just a combination of individual “selves”, but a full-fledged unit of society, bearing and making its contribution to the cultural heritage of the country.

Of course, these are not all the “advantages” of family traditions. But even this is enough to make us think: how do our families live? Perhaps we should add some interesting traditions?


There is a huge variety of family traditions in the world. But still, in general, we can try to roughly divide them into two large groups: general and special.

Common traditions are traditions found in most families in one form or another. These include:

  • Celebrating birthdays and family holidays. This tradition will certainly become one of the first significant events in the baby’s life. Thanks to such customs, both children and adults receive many “bonuses”: anticipation of the holiday, good mood, the joy of communicating with family, the feeling of being needed and important to loved ones. This tradition is one of the warmest and most cheerful.
  • Household duties of all family members, cleaning, putting things in their places. When a child is accustomed to his household duties from an early age, he begins to feel included in the life of the family and learns to care.
  • Joint games with children. Both adults and children take part in such games. By doing something with their children, parents show them an example, teach them different skills, and show their feelings. Then, as the child grows up, it will be easier for him to maintain a trusting relationship with mom and dad.
  • Family lunch. Many families honor the traditions of hospitality, which helps unite families by gathering them around the same table.
  • Family council. This is a “meeting” of all family members at which decisions are made important issues, the situation is discussed, further plans are made, the family budget is considered, etc. It is very important to involve children in the council - this way the child will learn to be responsible, as well as better understand his family.
  • Traditions of “carrot and stick”. Each family has its own rules for what you can (if possible) punish a child for, and how to encourage him. Some people give us extra pocket money, while others give us a trip to the circus together. The main thing for parents is not to overdo it; excessive demands from adults can make the child uninitiated and lethargic or, conversely, envious and angry.
  • Rituals of greeting and farewell. Wishes of good morning and sweet dreams, kisses, hugs, greetings when returning home - all these are signs of attention and care from loved ones.
  • Days of remembrance of deceased relatives and friends.
  • Walking together, going to the theater, cinema, exhibitions, traveling - these traditions enrich the life of the family, making it brighter and more eventful.

Special traditions are special traditions specific to one given family. Perhaps this is the habit of sleeping until lunch on Sundays, or going on a picnic on weekends. Or a home cinema. Or hiking in the mountains. Or…

Also, all family traditions can be divided into those that developed on their own and those that were consciously introduced into the family. About how to create new tradition, we'll talk a little later. Now let’s look at some interesting examples of family traditions. Perhaps you will like some of them and want to introduce them into your family?


How many families - how many examples of traditions can be found in the world. But sometimes they are so interesting and unusual that you immediately begin to think: “Shouldn’t I come up with something like that?”

So, examples of interesting family traditions:

  • Joint fishing until the morning. Dad, mom, children, night and mosquitoes - few people will dare to do this! But a lot of emotions and new impressions are also guaranteed!
  • Family cooking. Mom kneads the dough, dad twists the minced meat, and the child makes dumplings. So what if it’s not quite straight and correct. The main thing is that everyone is cheerful, happy and covered in flour!
  • Birthday quests. Each birthday person - be it a child or a grandfather - is given a card in the morning, using which he looks for clues leading him to the gift.
  • Trips to the sea in winter. Pack your whole family's backpacks and go to the seaside to breathe fresh air, have a picnic or spend the night in a winter tent - all this will give unusual sensations and unite the family.
  • Draw cards for each other. Just like that, without any reason or special artistic talent. Instead of being offended and pouting, write: “I love you! Although you are sometimes unbearable... But I’m not a gift either.”
  • Together with the little ones, bake shortcakes for the feast of St. Nicholas for orphans. Joint selfless good deeds and trips to orphanage will help children become kinder and more sympathetic, and grow up to be caring people.
  • Bedtime story. No, it’s not easy when a mother reads to her baby. And when all the adults read in turn, and everyone listens. Light, kind, eternal.
  • Celebrate the New Year in a new place every time. It doesn’t matter where it will be - in the square of a foreign city, on the top of a mountain or near the Egyptian pyramids, the main thing is not to repeat yourself!
  • Evenings of poems and songs. When the family gets together, everyone sits in a circle, composes poems - each one a line - and immediately comes up with music for them, and sings with a guitar. Great! You can also organize home performances and puppet theaters.
  • “Putting” gifts for neighbors. Remaining unnoticed, the family gives gifts to neighbors and friends. How nice it is to give!
  • Let's talk kind words. Every time before eating everyone talks to each other nice words and compliments. Inspiring, isn't it?
  • Cooking with love. “Did you put down love?” “Yes, of course, I’ll put it in now. Please give it to me, it’s in the locker!”
  • Holiday on the top shelf. It is a custom to celebrate all holidays on the train. Have fun and on the move!


In order to create a new family tradition, you only need two things: your desire and the fundamental consent of your household. The algorithm for creating a tradition can be summarized as follows:

  1. Actually, come up with the tradition itself. Try to involve all family members as much as possible to create a friendly, cohesive atmosphere.
  2. Take the first step. Try your "action". It is very important to saturate it with positive emotions - then everyone will look forward to the next time.
  3. Be moderate in your desires. You shouldn’t immediately introduce many different traditions for every day of the week. It takes time for customs to take hold. And when everything in life is planned down to the smallest detail, it’s also not interesting. Leave room for surprises!
  4. Strengthen the tradition. It is necessary to repeat it several times so that it is remembered and strictly observed. But don’t take the situation to the point of absurdity - if there’s a snowstorm or rainstorm outside, you might want to give up the walk. In other cases, it is better to observe tradition.

When created new family, it often happens that spouses do not have the same concepts about traditions. For example, in the groom’s family it is customary to celebrate all holidays with numerous relatives, but the bride celebrated these events only with her mother and father, and some dates could not be celebrated at all. In this case, the newlyweds may immediately develop a conflict. What to do in case of disagreement? The advice is simple - just a compromise. Discuss the problem and find a solution that suits both of you. Come up with a new tradition - already common - and everything will work out!


In Russia, from time immemorial, family traditions have been honored and protected. They are a very important part of the historical and cultural heritage countries. What kind of family traditions were there in Russia?

Firstly, important rule for each person there was knowledge of his own ancestry, and not at the level of “grandparents,” but much deeper. Each noble family had family tree, a detailed pedigree, stories about the life of their ancestors were carefully preserved and passed on. Over time, when cameras appeared, family albums began to be maintained and stored, and passed on to younger generations. This tradition has survived to this day - many families have old albums with photographs of loved ones and relatives, even those who are no longer with us. It’s always nice to review these “pictures of the past”, to be happy or, conversely, to be sad. Now, with the widespread use of digital photographic equipment, there are more and more frames, but most often they remain electronic files that have not “flowed” onto paper. On the one hand, storing photos this way is much easier and more convenient; they do not take up space on shelves, do not turn yellow over time, and do not get dirty. Yes, and you can shoot much more often. But the trepidation associated with the expectation of a miracle also became less. After all, at the very beginning of the photo era, going to a family photo was a whole event - they carefully prepared for it, dressed smartly, everyone walked joyfully together - why isn’t it a separate beautiful tradition?

Secondly, the primordial Russian family tradition has been and remains to honor the memory of relatives, remember the departed, as well as care and constant care for elderly parents. In this, it is worth noting, the Russian people differ from European countries, where elderly citizens are mainly cared for by special institutions. Whether this is good or bad is not for us to judge, but the fact that such a tradition exists and is alive is a fact.

Thirdly, since ancient times in Russia it has been the custom to pass on family heirlooms from generation to generation - jewelry, dishes, some things of distant relatives. Often young girls got married in their mothers' wedding dresses, who had previously received them from their mothers, etc. Therefore, many families always had special “secrets” where grandfather’s watches, grandmother’s rings, family silver and other valuables were kept.

Fourthly, it was previously very popular to name a newborn child after one of the family members. This is how “family names” appeared, and families where, for example, grandfather Ivan, son Ivan and grandson Ivan.

Fifthly, an important family tradition of the Russian people was and is assigning a patronymic to a child. Thus, already at birth the baby receives part of the clan name. By calling someone by name or patronymic, we express our respect and politeness.

Sixthly, previously very often a child was given a church name in honor of the saint who was honored on the child’s birthday. According to legend, such a name will protect the child from evil forces and help in life. Nowadays, such a tradition is observed infrequently, and mainly among deeply religious people.

Seventh, in Rus' there were professional dynasties - entire generations of bakers, shoemakers, doctors, military men, and priests. Growing up, the son continued his father’s work, then his son continued the same work, and so on. Unfortunately, now such dynasties are very, very rare in Russia.

Eighth, an important family tradition was, and is still being returned to more and more often, the mandatory wedding of newlyweds in church and the baptism of infants.

Yes, there were many interesting family traditions in Russia. Take, for example, a traditional feast. It’s not for nothing that they talk about the “broad Russian soul.” But it’s true that they carefully prepared for the reception of guests, cleaned the house and yard, set the tables with the best tablecloths and towels, served pickles in dishes stored specifically for special occasions. The hostess came out to the threshold with bread and salt, bowed at the waist to the guests, and they bowed to her in return. Then everyone went to the table, ate, sang songs, and talked. Oh, beauty!

Some of these traditions have hopelessly sunk into oblivion. But how interesting it is to notice that many of them are alive, and they are still passed down from generation to generation, from father to son, from mother to daughter... And that means the people have a future!

The cult of family traditions in different countries

In the UK important point In raising a child, the goal is to raise a true Englishman. Children are raised in strictness, taught to restrain their emotions. At first glance, it may seem that the British love their children less than parents in other countries. But this, of course, is a deceptive impression, because they are simply accustomed to showing their love in a different way, not the way, for example, in Russia or Italy.

In Japan, it is very rare to hear a child cry - all the wishes of children under 6 years old are immediately fulfilled. All these years, the mother has been engaged only in raising the baby. But then the child goes to school, where strict discipline and order await him. It is also curious that the entire extended family usually lives under one roof - both old people and babies.

In Germany, there is a tradition of late marriages - rarely does anyone start a family before the age of thirty. It is believed that before this time, future spouses can realize their potential at work, build a career, and are already able to provide for their family.

In Italy, the concept of “family” is comprehensive - it includes all relatives, including the most distant ones. An important family tradition is joint dinners, where everyone communicates, shares their news, and discusses pressing issues. Interestingly, the Italian mother plays a significant role in choosing a son-in-law or daughter-in-law.

In France, women prefer a career to raising children, so after a very short time after the birth of a child, the mother returns to work, and her child goes to kindergarten.

In America, an interesting family tradition is the habit of early childhood accustom children to life in society, supposedly this will help their children in adulthood. Therefore, it is quite natural to see families with small children both in cafes and at parties.

In Mexico the cult of marriage is not so high. Families often live without official registration. But male friendship there is quite strong, the community of men supports each other, helps in solving problems.


As you can see, family traditions are interesting and great. Do not neglect them, because they unite the family and help it become one.

“Love your family, spend time with them and be happy!”
Anna Kutyavina for the website website

In our language there is large number familiar words, the meaning of which cannot always be quickly explained. For example, not everyone can tell you what tradition is, even though all people encounter its varieties every day in one way or another.

Tradition - what is it?

The concept comes from the Latin word traditio, the literal translation of which is “transmission.” Thus, the meaning of what the word tradition means comes down to the transmission of something in a specific environment without belonging to a specific individual. A more complete interpretation of the concept is the historical transmission of socio-cultural heritage from person to person or from generation to generation.

Any intangible values, principles and methods of action in specific situations can be transferred. Traditions allow a person to act in a certain way in a specific situation, without comprehending it and making an independent decision. These include the following components:

  • behavioral habits;
  • views;
  • tastes;
  • rules and regulations;
  • skills and abilities.

The concept of what tradition is includes its various varieties:

  • family;
  • professional;
  • national;
  • cultural;
  • culinary;
  • religious;
  • social.

What are traditions for?

Many traditions become outdated and forgotten over time and the change of eras, while others continue to function in society. That is, they can be progressive, associated with development, and reactionary, which are relics of the past. The main functions of why traditions are needed in modern society come down to the following postulates:

  1. With their help, social relations are streamlined and a certain social stability is ensured. This is achieved through the influence of accepted norms and rules on the spiritual sphere of human life. For example, on New Year’s Day it is customary to decorate a Christmas tree and give gifts to loved ones.
  2. The transfer of certain actions and values ​​from the older generation to the younger ensures continuity of generations. This includes certain actions on religious and secular holidays that are repeated by people for many centuries.

How do traditions differ from customs?

Very closely related to the explanation of what traditions are are customs - these are certain norms, rituals and features of interaction that have a national connection. However, it is not uncommon for both of these concepts to be used as synonyms, the differences of which depend on the interpretation of each. It is believed that customs represent a certain automatic habit, while traditions are a set of customs, a kind of direction of activity. This division is considered conditional, because concepts can affect all spheres of society, from personal and family to universal.

What are family traditions?

The concept of what family traditions are includes norms and rules of behavior accepted in a particular unit of society, general rituals and views passed down from generation to generation. Moreover, these are not always specific actions, but rather the general atmosphere of the family, which can include the daily routine and habits of all members of the house. The concept of family traditions is always emotionally charged. These are usually pleasant memories from childhood that are rooted deep in the subconscious.

By creating a new unit of society, husband and wife bring into it the traditions of their families, which may differ. However, for spouses these are habitual actions and views, organically integrated into their lives from early childhood. During family life, they can change and transform. In addition, it is quite acceptable to generate new customs, which are the spiritual foundation of the family.


Why are family traditions important?

Philosophers and psychologists, describing why family traditions are needed, highlight the following aspects:

  1. They consolidate the sense of family integrity, being its intangible cement.
  2. They allow all members to feel the stability of their way of life, regardless of the changes occurring and the circumstances that have fallen.
  3. They evoke a feeling of security and confidence in the future and the world around us.
  4. They give you the opportunity to be proud of your family and belonging to it.
  5. They leave memories of childhood and a common home, which in the future become the basis psycho-emotional state personality.
  6. Parents tell their children about warm and positive family customs, forming similar memories in them.

What are the family traditions?

Each home may have its own unique or completely typical customs. As an example of what is included in the spiritual traditions of families, we can cite:

  1. Various daily and holiday activities. For example, morning hugs or breakfast together, cooking a certain dish on weekends or going to the movies as a family.
  2. Rituals of preparation for various events, be it a joint gathering of provisions for a hike or recording memories in an album to be read on New Year's Eve.
  3. Preserving the memory of your ancestors and drawing up a family tree.
  4. Passing on certain material assets by inheritance, such as family jewelry, photo albums, or a wedding dress.
  5. Cultivating faith in certain fairy tale characters, be it Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

What are national traditions?

The concept of what folk traditions are combines rules and stereotypes of behavior, forms of communication between people of the same nationality, which have developed over a long period of time in the life of a nation and are rooted in the consciousness of a person belonging to it. Some national traditions can be enshrined at the legislative level. Failure to comply will result in both public censure and administrative or even criminal punishment.

A striking example of what the traditions of a people mean is the celebration of Maslenitsa among the Slavs or the wearing of a special scarf covering a woman’s head among Muslim peoples. Each nationality has its own unique and inimitable traditions. For example, in China it is customary to give a guest that thing in the house that aroused his delight and earned him praise. The greeting handshake is more typical among European peoples.


What are cultural traditions?

What is a cultural tradition includes the sociocultural heritage of generations, reproduced in certain social groups. This concept is similar, but not identical, to national customs, since culture can include the traditions of a particular country, science or style of thinking. All of them are accepted and interpreted by subsequent generations, being the basis for the development of new values.

Vivid examples of what the cultural tradition of a certain people is:

  1. Solemn rituals associated with certain events in life: birth, death, creation of a family, and so on.
  2. Folk games and fun.
  3. Songs, dances, ritual actions.
  4. Fairy tales, legends and legends.
  5. Traditions of cooking and eating.

What are culinary traditions?

Having understood what the concept of tradition means, we can highlight its specific culinary orientation. It is strongly connected with national and cultural values, being a logical continuation of the territorial origin of its carriers, their religion and value systems. This concept is otherwise called the cuisine of the peoples of the world, which includes:

  1. The choice of products for cooking, which differs depending on the climate and geography of the people.
  2. The method of cooking and the use of certain seasonings. Here is an interesting example of the use of an abundance of hot spices in the cuisines of hot countries due to their ability to suppress pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
  3. The principle of serving and serving dishes.
  4. The culture of eating food or drinks. For example, using forks, chopsticks or just your own hands.

What are religious traditions?

A special variety are the religious customs of different faiths. Understanding what such traditions provide, scientists unanimously consider them to be a connecting link between adherents of different faiths, geographically distant from each other. The traditions of Muslims are for the most part the same among adherents of this faith in Russia, the UAE and America. Many beliefs have a standard answer to the constant questions of young people about why they need to honor the traditions of their religion in saving the soul from chaos, fall and ordering of life.


A custom is a historically emerged stereotypical rule of behavior that is reproduced in a social group or society and becomes familiar to its members. A custom is based on a detailed pattern of actions in a specific situation, for example, how to treat family members, how to resolve conflicts, how to build business relationships, etc. Outdated customs are most often replaced over time by new ones that are more in line with modern requirements.

“Custom is older than the law,” says Ushakov’s dictionary. Let's look and try to determine what they are in different spheres of public life.

Does a behavioral pattern always become a custom?

As mentioned above, custom presupposes the existence of a behavioral pattern. But the latter cannot always act as a rule of behavior, since each person has the opportunity to choose one of the possible courses of action depending on his interests, goals or objectives.

And customs are formed only if the conditions of stereotyping and familiarity of a specific pattern of human behavior in the current situation are met. If following a custom is natural and does not require a mechanism of coercion or control over implementation, then it becomes a social norm of behavior.

An example of the emergence of a legal custom

If a custom is an established stereotype of behavior that is sanctioned by state authorities, then it has received legal status.

The formation of legal customs occurs as a result of many years of experience (and in this way they differ markedly from written law). For example, the creation of a system of law among the peoples of the Caucasus (belonging to the Russian Federation) was greatly influenced not only by Russian legislation and Sharia norms, but also by the centuries-old traditions of the mountain people.

These, of course, include reverence for elders in the family (which, by the way, is also associated with the famous phenomenon of longevity of Caucasians). Or, for example, a custom that limits contact in a family between people who have different blood relationships (a daughter-in-law and a father-in-law cannot meet in the house even by chance) - all these norms of customs have acquired legal status, enshrined in legislation.

Having become legal, customs also acquire legal significance: that is, a court or other government agency may refer to them as a source of law.

If they are not supported by government authorities, then they remain at the level of everyday norms of behavior. For example, a custom in the Caucasus, officially prohibited, but actually continuing to exist, or the national custom of the Slavs to “wash” every significant event in the family or at work, which the law has also so far unsuccessfully fought.

What is legal custom: example

By the way, please note that the authorization of a legal custom is carried out in the form of a reference to it, and not to its textual enshrinement in the law. If consolidation has taken place, then the source of law becomes not custom, but the normative act in which it is reproduced.

As an example, we can cite an unwritten procedure that was once developed in representative bodies of power: the right to open the first meeting of the newly elected parliament was given to the oldest deputy. In the new Constitution of the Russian Federation (Part 3 of Article 99), this custom received legal confirmation and, accordingly, the highest legislative force.

Interaction of law and customs

Separately, it is worth considering the relationship between the customs existing in any society. How do statutory rules and folk customs, inherent in individual social groups or strata of society?

Most often, such relationships come down to a few basic options.

  • Customs that are useful for the state and society are supported by legal norms and conditions are created for their implementation (respect for elders, care for children, priorities in property relations, etc.).
  • Legal norms periodically serve to supplant customs harmful to society, such as, for example, excessive consumption of alcohol or, among certain nationalities, bride price, blood feud, bride price and some Sharia norms. There are customs associated with racial or religious intolerance that are naturally cut off by the state.
  • In some cases, legal norms are indifferent to customs, mainly if they relate to interpersonal relationships or everyday behavior.

Examples of legislative consolidation of folk customs

After a custom acquires a legal character and its observance is ensured by a state control mechanism, it acquires a more stable position.

An example is the ancient customs characteristic of the communal system in Russian villages. They are from the beginning of the 20th century. formed the basis of regulatory legal acts of land use and land relations. All disputes that arose during the use of the allotment were resolved at the village meeting, and they went to court only in cases where one of the parties believed that the decision made was unfair.

The principle of resolving in court such issues as grassing of crops, distortion (violation of the boundary during mowing), sowing of a neighboring wedge, etc. was mainly dictated by the customs of compensating for the damage caused by an equal action or determining the price for it: “you sowed my strip , and I will sow yours,” “for the grain harvest collected from an unauthorized wedge - 8 kopecks to the owner, and 8.5 for work.”

The relationship between civil and customary law in Russia

True, in judicial practice Russian Federation in our time, references to are rarely used since a stable legal system has not yet been fully formed and has not existed for a sufficient time, and public consciousness continues to change, which prevents the creation of a system of established customs that can be a source of law.

But in the country the practice of concluding civil contracts based on compliance with ordinary norms is intensively developing, and the formation of corporate codes in a similar way is also practiced. Custom is a source of law that is applicable primarily in the region since there participants in legal relations have a certain freedom of choice.

What are business customs?

As mentioned above, legal custom has become most widespread in civil law. The Civil Code of the Russian Federation determines that business custom is an established rule of conduct, universally applied in one or another area of ​​business activity, not provided for by law and regardless of whether it was recorded in any document or not.

For example, every Monday at enterprises in Russia it is customary to hold planning meetings; travel in a minibus in most cities of the country is paid immediately at the entrance, and in Irkutsk, on the contrary, at the exit or during negotiations taking place in a cafe or restaurant, unless this is specified additionally, ladies don't pay for themselves. Such customs include a handshake, which confirms the outcome of any agreement and the legal force that a receipt certified only by a signature has, etc.

The development of entrepreneurship was the impetus for the emergence of new rules in doing business and business customs. They complement existing legislative acts in cases where the latter cannot fully satisfy the needs of any area of ​​business relations. Thus, it is mentioned, for example, that the fulfillment of obligations must strictly comply with the requirements of the law or legal acts, and in the absence of such, with business customs. Art. has a similar link. 82, contained in the Customs Code of the Russian Federation.

How do multinational customs coexist in Russia?

The peoples inhabiting Russia represent many ethnic groups with different cultures, traditions and customs. Throughout the history of the state, this situation has dictated the need to take into account the national factor in legal regulation.

IN different times The state’s attitude towards the possibility of applying customary norms was different: from following the principle of the free development of national minorities to determining criminal liability for making decisions based on the customs of the indigenous population.

But in Russia, regardless of the official position, traditional legal systems have always existed, creating at times a situation of double regulation. By the way, it has survived to this day, although it has moved to a new level of interaction between positive (state) and traditional law.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the above, custom is a stereotype of behavior that can also be a source of law. Customs are modified: some of them are introduced by social practice, some are imposed by certain strata of society, some become outdated and disappear.

Customs act as norms that complement the law, as well as indicators of what is proper and possible in the life of each member of society; they are created by people, and their application contributes to raising the level of legal culture, as well as the accumulation of experience in relations between citizens of a state striving to establish comprehensive democracy.

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. The human psyche seeks to reduce the instinctive feeling of anxiety associated with the desire to survive.

To do this, people consciously and unconsciously organize a clear, predictable reality around themselves: all our life activities are built on the basis of certain rules and patterns.

As an example: eating a tram ticket, curling your nose at the sight of a black cat, or waving your panties out the window to attract good weather. Returning home for forgotten thing, people look in the mirror. And the empty bottle on the table? Funny? And many believe and practice this, believing that this way life will become better and happier.

Perhaps once upon a time there was a reasonable explanation for all this nonsense, corresponding to the level of mental development of the people who invented them. But time flows, develops, progress moves briskly and, in theory, such customs should leave people’s consciousness. But we continue to adhere to them, forgetting what they are for and where they come from.

The first sign that the custom it's worth saying goodbye– its uselessness, loss of public interest in it. Thus, witnesses disappeared from the marriage registration procedure, although they were once considered almost family members. Girls' Christmas fortune-telling and other familiar rituals have almost disappeared into oblivion.

Why are they needed?

Each country has its own national customs, reflecting the consciousness of the public. Why are they needed? To remain different preserve your culture and history. Russian people are different from others in their originality, speech,...

We are proud of our roots, achievements and exploits of our ancestors. By borrowing behavioral habits from other peoples, we will cease to be who we are: we will forget our past, change our thinking and become part of someone else's society.

Currently, global Americanization is taking place all over the world. Just 20 years ago, Russian people did not know what fast food and a sweatshirt were, but today, instead of the familiar “good,” we say “ok.”

Most of the products we consume from various fields of activity are not ours (food, words, technology, art, etc.). Nobody argues that sharing experience in itself is useful. The main thing is not to cross the line and understand where is yours and where is someone else’s.

Examples of customs of different nations

As stated above, stereotypical behavior becomes automatic and is not subject to logical analysis.

In this regard, many of these behavioral acts have lost the history of their origin.

Let us give examples of customs, and at the same time remember how they appeared:

  1. In male society, it is customary to say hello through handshake. If this happens in the cold season, then gloves should be removed. Nowadays, such a gesture is considered a sign of respect. However, initially, the hands were exposed to demonstrate to the other the absence of weapons and the purity of their intentions. It meant “I come in peace.”
  2. Every year at the end of winter, Russian people celebrate Maslenitsafolk festivals dedicated to seeing off winter and welcoming spring. Burning an effigy symbolizes farewell to the cold season. In the old days, young boys and girls in love jumped over a fire, clasping their hands: if their hands did not open during the jump, then a happy future awaited them. Now such a ritual has been canceled due to its unsafety.
  3. But Thais Every year on one November day, boats with flowers and incense are launched along the river, paying tribute and showing respect to the spirits of the water.
  4. There is a wonderful custom in Kenya: the first month after the wedding, the young husband performs all women's work around the house. This is done so that he later understands that being a housewife is not as easy as it seems, and he never reproaches his wife for not working.
  5. In the Caucasus The custom still lives on. At the legislative level, such actions are prohibited, but servants of the people often turn a blind eye to this and justify those who take revenge under any pretext.
  6. At French train stations forbidden kiss, because once upon a time the perons were very narrow and hugging people created obstacles for others. Now the stations have already been disrupted, but the custom still exists and is supported by law (you can get a fine).
  7. If in Greece you are going to go to someone’s house, then know that there is nothing in it you can't praise. According to their custom, the praised item must be immediately presented to the guest. Can you imagine what will happen if you start praising everything around you? Therefore, the Greeks considered it indecent to praise someone else’s goodness.
  8. In Norwegian schools, teachers never not voiced student evaluations in front of the whole class: this information is considered confidential. This happened for reasons of preserving the honor and dignity of students. A deuce voiced in front of everyone can humiliate a child’s personality and undermine his self-esteem.
  9. In South Korea, the indigenous people are accustomed to eating very spicy food, which brings tears to their eyes. If you find yourself visiting and didn't cry during a meal, the owner of the house may be offended, considering that his treats are not spicy enough for you.
  10. Before matchmaking, Turkish men must buy the girl they like jewelry in the amount of at least 10 thousand US dollars. In this way, the groom demonstrates his material wealth and convinces the parents of his future wife that he can support their daughter with dignity.

Good luck to you! See you soon on the pages of the blog site

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