The best laws emerge from customs - abstract. Customs, their origin and meaning

“The best laws are born from customs.”

I agree with the opinion of J. Joubert. With this expression he wanted to say that all laws originated from ancient customs. Over time, the state replaced the clan community, which entailed the transformation of customs into laws. The process of formation of law, state and laws took more than one century. Social relations were regulated by custom, since there was no need for law or law. Labor was collective, property was common, so it made no sense to claim rights to someone else's property.

With the development of mankind, complexity has arisen public life, it became clear that customs would not be able to regulate all aspects of social relations, and the need for laws arose. A “third force” was needed that could resolve conflicts and disputes between the warring parties. This became the reason for the emergence of the state.

You can’t create laws against custom and principles. There is a certain way of life throughout the existence of mankind (customs), and laws should only legitimize, and not cross them out. But at the same time, not all customs are worthy of legalization.

Good customs do not always take root. In a society with bad morals, the same bad customs are born and live. Therefore, some people want to “instill” in other people what seems “good” to others.

Consequently, laws arise from customs, and customs are influenced by morals. Morals are habits, feelings, beliefs, common to a group of people, patterns of behavior that have moral value, which have developed over a long period of time. historical development. Morals preserve not only those patterns of behavior that have enduring significance and are the inalienable power of cultural traditions, but also those that hinder the further development of culture, limit the freedom of moral choice of a person... or social habits form the primary form of law based on tradition, or law of custom. Customs are ingrained actions that have been repeated for a long time in any society. The main way to control behavior in a pre-state society in terms of tribal relations. Customs develop during the life of society. If they receive recognition from the state and are ensured by its coercive force, they become legal. Social norms are rules governing the behavior of people and the activities of organizations in their relationships. Law is a set of rules or norms of behavior that defines relationships between people, organizations, and the state/states. The connection between these terms is obvious, which proves that Joubert is right.

An example is the custom of expelling offenders from the tribe, which became a law on isolating criminals from society. Also, the tribes elected a leader and a council of elders, obeyed them in everything - this passed on to the laws on elections and power.

Each family has its own indescribable atmosphere of love, understanding and warmth. Children born into families adopt this atmosphere. How does it arise? A similar halo in the family is created by 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 a main basis 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: joint holding holidays, themed dinners on weekends, family vacations, reading fairy tales to children before bed or singing lullabies, going to church on Sundays or religious holidays, children writing letters to Santa Claus for the New Year, households baking Easter cakes for Easter, eating together and many others.

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. This 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 relatives Good night before bedtime 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. Such a person family well-being will definitely 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 transferring 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 eating together 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 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. A wonderful tradition among the British is the custom of giving children a good education. It is considered bad manners not to send a child to study at a private boarding school or college.

In France

In France, it is a widespread custom to gather at a common table on Sundays, drink wine and have a meal. Among the holidays, the French like to celebrate Christmas, gathering at their parents' house. On festive banquet Delicacies such as foie gras, salmon, seafood, Iscariot snails and fine cheeses are always present. Traditional drink at Christmas - champagne, and dessert - “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. Divorces and remarriages were previously banned 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.
To 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.

Traditions will be useful family reading before going to bed, singing lullabies, kissing at every meeting, sharing dinners, walking. They define in the child the concept of stability, inviolability family ways, give a feeling of cohesion, 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 objective– getting closer to other family members, building a strong, reliable family, as well as enjoying communication with your loved ones. Be happy!

CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, CONSTITUTIONS.

Custom is a way of behavior inherited from ancestors that is reproduced in society or social group and is familiar and logical for their members. The term “custom” is often identified with the terms “tradition.”

Tradition (from the Latin “tradition”, custom) is a set of ideas, rituals, habits and skills of practical and social activities passed down from generation to generation, serving as one of the regulators of social relations.

Some people combine concepts such as customs and traditions into one whole. However, this is not entirely true. Most often, when it comes to passing on the foundations of social order to their descendants, we are talking about passing on traditions. If we are talking about the transfer of rituals of weddings, funerals, holidays, then we talk about customs.
If we are talking about the generally accepted national clothing of the people, then this is a tradition, since it concerns the entire people as a whole. If some part of the people adds their own decoration to their national clothing, then this is already a custom that concerns this part of the people. Such a custom can turn into a tradition if it is accepted by all the people. Most likely that's the case different customs became a common tradition.

That is, various customs together create generally accepted traditions. Therefore, people equate traditions, customs and rituals into one concept, although this is not so. Tradition is not born immediately. It emerges from established customs. And customs are born from the life and behavior of people themselves.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russian photographer and inventor S.M. Proskudin-Gorsky invented the technique of color photography. He did this autonomously at the same time as the French brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiere, who are considered the official inventors of color photography. Proskudin-Gorsky captured in his photographs precisely people in national clothes, believing that this tradition should be remembered through documentation. Thanks to him, we have an idea of the national clothes of the peoples of Russia.

All nations have traditionally had a high value for a person's word. There were times when there was not even written language. Therefore, the word spoken by a person was not only valued. The word was given a mystical meaning. It was believed, as it is now, that a wish spoken out loud, a statement, an obligation, or even a curse, always has its consequences and is sure to come true. Moreover, this happens regardless of whether the person who spoke out wants it or not. The wishes of health and happiness among ancient people were always perceived as something material. It happened that people asked for their words and wishes to be returned to them if it turned out that these wishes were expressed to the wrong person who deserved it. There have been cases when people who spoke a lie were required to take back their words.
This is where the expression “take back your words” comes from. Some people even today believe that words are material and try not to waste them. Others do not attach any importance to this and their words are worthless in the eyes of other people. And today no one takes seriously the words of talkers and boasters, but the words of worthy people are highly valued. They are listened to. They are referred to.

The value of a word was the higher, the larger the family of the person giving the word. Not keeping your word is the same as disgracing your family as a whole. For example, the Chechens have a concept that clearly defines high price the man's words. They call it "DOSH". That is, if a man declared DOSH, then not only he, but his entire family is responsible for this. Among the Chechens, this concept exists to this day, since they have preserved ancestral teips, each of which unites many people. I believe that such concepts as “DOSH” also existed among other nations, but since the collapse of clan relations, people’s share of clan responsibility has decreased and loyalty to their word remained at the level of personal responsibility of each person individually, and not of the whole clan. And there’s someone who’s into something. Those who are ready to die for their word, and those who lie will be taken inexpensively. The level of personal responsibility is immeasurably lower than the level of responsibility of an entire clan, but clan responsibility is also based on the personal responsibility of each relative. Another thing is that once a disgraced relative is deprived of the right to say “DOSH” to someone.

If a person claims something, he must prove it to those who listen to him. After all, he is interested in having those listening to him believe him. Then, to prove the veracity of his words, he begins to cite as an example the words of authoritative, worthy people. Those words and statements that have been tested by time and no longer need proof of honesty. If these arguments correspond to the words of the speaker, then people begin to believe him. They make sure that the person is not a hypocrite and does not lie.

However, there is another tradition that appeared relatively recently and also relates to the value of the spoken word. Hitler invented this tradition. He argued: if you want your lies to be believed, you don’t need to tell one lie. You need to mix lies with truth and then everyone will believe you.

This is a false tradition, but it also has a certain value. The desire to deceive listening people once again emphasizes how important the value of the human word is for everyone without exception. For both honest people and liars. So, whether we like it or not, our tradition of valuing the word lives with us to this day. Even scammers are trying to take advantage of this tradition.

In addition to the value of words, there is also the value of human action. Actions are different. Significant and not very significant. But they can all be positive or negative. All of humanity works to provide for people's needs. Many people work every day in their jobs and do the things they should do. These actions are not considered unusual, but they are the ones that help provide society with everything it needs. This positive actions. However, some people also commit negative actions. These are crimes. In order to protect itself from crime, society comes up with laws that protect honest and decent people. But there have been times in human history when laws did not protect people. Then people defended themselves. They responded to any crime against friends or relatives with revenge. Revenge is one act, or a series of acts logically interconnected. Revenge on enemies was considered obligatory. Refusal to take revenge had to have strong justifications, otherwise it became a shame.

In one of his stories, a writer writing under the pseudonym “Kont,” a former Afghan warrior, describes an incident that occurred in one of the Afghan villages. A checkpoint was placed next to it Soviet army. It was a small fortress, bristling with machine guns and machine guns. The fighters were constantly expecting Mujahideen attacks from anywhere, but not from the village. In order not to bring trouble to the residents, the Mujahideen did not enter the village and there was an unspoken agreement with the Soviet soldiers on this score. One night the incredible happened. The checkpoint was attacked out of nowhere. From the village side. The attack was met with dagger fire from the checkpoint. When it blossomed, the fighters saw that dead old men and villagers were lying on the ground, armed with whatever they had. Only a few of them had old hunting rifles, useless in battle. Next to the others lay sabers, daggers, and axes. The investigation showed that one of the checkpoint soldiers entered one of the houses at night and first raped and then stabbed 13 year old girl. They saw him, but he managed to escape. None of the old people in the village had any doubts that there were too few of them and they were all aged. They did not see any other development of events for themselves other than revenge. Without waiting for the morning, they rushed into the last attack of their lives. To say that their opportunities for revenge were negligible is to say nothing. They would not have been able to take revenge, but no one could blame them for not taking revenge. As the Russian prince Svyatoslav said: “The dead have no shame.” Only the old people didn’t think that someone would say something. They went out for revenge because that’s how they were raised.

Laws appeared in every country, but revenge still remained among the people. Laws don't always work. Revenge has always been feared more than the law. This is a very ancient custom. Each nation had its own characteristics of manifestation of revenge, but they were all distinguished by cruelty. Cruelty doesn't make anyone better. Cruelty begets other cruelty and then there is no end in sight to evil. In ancient Greek Sparta, revenge had to be fierce by killing all the relatives of the culprit. So that he would suffer from every news of the death of his relatives. The culprit was killed last. It is clear that the latter had no choice but to start a war against his avengers.

When Jesus Christ came to teach people, he called on everyone to forgive each other. It was he who said that if you are hit on your right cheek, turn your left. Thus the Savior laid the foundation for the custom of forgiveness. For many, this custom is incomprehensible, since it contradicts the custom of revenge to which people are accustomed. But revenge does not stop evil, but continues it. Murders can also be random. The ancient Jews, for example, identified several cities in which a murderer could hide from revenge and it was forbidden to pursue him in these cities.

1. Annual customs.

Almost all nations had a HARVEST HOLIDAY. The exception was the peoples who could receive 2-3 harvests per year. For them it was not such a significant event. Then other traditions were invented. The bulk of the Earth's population received a harvest once a year and tried to celebrate this event magnificently. This holiday was a symbol of abundance. After this holiday, it was customary to have weddings, and not only among Christians, Muslims, or representatives of other religions. In the spring there was no longer enough food. This custom came to us from pagan times. Weddings were celebrated by everyone, since immediately after the harvest there was plenty of food, and work stopped due to the end of the harvest. Harvest festival, a natural and logical holiday.

Today, the harvest festival is not celebrated as magnificently as before. Only peasants celebrate it. This happens for several reasons.
- Not the entire population is engaged in harvesting, but only a small part of it. For example, in the USA agriculture Only 3% of the population works. For other people, this means nothing. In the Middle Ages, about 90% of the population worked in agriculture.
- Now that the harvest is over, work on the land does not end and practically continues all year round. New system agricultural technology intensively exploits the soil. Previously, people used one field once every two or three years. That is, the field worked for one year, and rested for two years. Today the fields are not resting. They are actively fertilized mineral fertilizers. Some fields are sown for the winter, but previously this was done quite rarely. In other words, there is no winter downtime in agriculture now.
- Many other magnificent holidays have appeared that did not exist before, including those that are celebrated at the same time as the harvest festival.

Farewell to winter was celebrated very lavishly among the people. In Rus' this holiday is known as Maslenitsa. Surviving the winter was not easy. Central heating the peasants did not. It was necessary to prepare firewood. The huts were small, so that it was easier to warm them with one stove. Food was cooked in the same oven. In winter, the entire population was tied to their homes as sources of heat. Therefore, people celebrated farewell to winter with great joy. This holiday fell during the period spring equinox. During the celebration of Maslenitsa in Rus', it was customary to burn an effigy of winter. In different places of Rus' this custom was celebrated with its own details. Somewhere they were burning an effigy wrapped in pea straw. It burns well. Such a stuffed animal was called the pea jester. In Kostroma, the scarecrow was called “Kostroma”.

In different places, different chants were dedicated to this holiday, but the meaning and time of the holiday always remains the same. This custom also came to our time from pagan times. Orthodox Church Pancake week is celebrated on the eve of the beginning of strict Easter fasting. Throughout Holy Week, people baked pancakes, pies and held folk festivals. On Thursday, it was considered a tradition for mothers-in-law to cook pancakes for their sons-in-law and treat them. Oil Sunday is called Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, all people ask each other for forgiveness. Before the revolution, on Forgiveness Sunday, wall-to-wall fist fights were held. This is a special custom. That is, up to several dozen adult boys and men lined up opposite each other. On command they approached and began to fight. The rules were strict. If a fighter fell, he was out of the fight. It was impossible to hit a prone fighter. The fight was not supposed to be traumatic or unreasonably cruel, but blood from injuries was considered common. The battle continued until complete victory. After the fight, the opponents hugged and asked each other for forgiveness.

Weddings are rightfully considered the most striking customs. Nowadays, this ritual has been preserved and people hold lavish weddings to leave a memory of this event. But not only. A wedding is not just a joyful holiday. This is an event that not only makes many people responsible for the lives and happiness of a young family, but also makes the young family responsible to everyone present for their life together, which they promise to create at the wedding. That is, a wedding is not only a holiday, but also a mutual obligation. How else? The bride and groom and their parents invite everyone they respect to the wedding. This invitation can be seen as a statement that they are not just inviting guests, but are promising to start a family with honesty and dignity. In turn, everyone who is invited to the wedding must further provide all possible assistance to the young family if they turn to him for help. So a wedding is not just a feast. This is not just collecting gifts. This is an important life event.

It is still customary among Muslims, but not everywhere, to pay a ransom - dowry. It is believed that the man who paid the bride price is wealthy enough to support his own family. The size of the bride price is discussed individually, but this custom is not practiced in all Islamic countries. At weddings, it is customary to give only money. This money is given to the parents of the young people. But parents must provide their children with housing, furniture, and everything necessary for life, including clothes and dishes. Accordingly, they bear all the costs of organizing the wedding. Money received at a wedding from guests, as a rule, cannot reimburse parental expenses.

Christians can give anything. Both money and gifts. Everything is given to the young. No bride price is paid, but the bride must bring a dowry with her. The amount of the dowry depends on the wealth of the bride's family. Parents pay for the wedding. But in this sense, the differences between Muslims and Christians are not significant.

Before the wedding, it is customary for Christians to negotiate the wedding. This is called a conspiracy and it ends in engagement, or betrothal. Senior representatives of the groom come to negotiate with the bride's parents. Representatives may not be relatives. Usually these are matchmakers, but the presence of the groom's parents is required.

Matchmakers observe the ritual of the event. The parents of the bride and groom learn about the intentions of the newlyweds and if they are positive, then an agreement is made on the timing of the wedding. The bride and groom are engaged with wedding rings. From now on, they can communicate in public, but they cannot live together until the wedding. Why is this being done?

If one of the young people changes his mind about getting married, then all preparations will be stopped and the wedding will not take place. In this case, the young people are not bound by any circumstances and can find other chosen ones. That is, young people are given time to take a closer look at each other. The rings are returned to the groom because they are purchased by the groom's parents for the engagement.

The agreement may not take place. If the bride does not like the groom, she can immediately refuse him. This event becomes shameful for the groom, so he must be sure that the girl will consent to the marriage.

In Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia and many other nations, it was customary to bring a pumpkin (watermelon) to the unlucky groom. It was a shameful sign of refusal. Why shameful? Because if the groom sees that the girl doesn’t like him, but continues to be persistent, then having received the pumpkin, he no longer has the right to send matchmakers to this girl a second time. That is, the girl has the opportunity to get rid of the annoying groom once and for all.

Muslims also have a similar custom. If a bride hits the groom with a whip at a wedding in front of everyone, the wedding will not take place. However, both the groom and the bride herself are considered disgraced in the eyes of the guests and the whole society.

Today, many young people strive to earn big money and only then get married in order to pay their own expenses. They don't want to depend on their parents. In this case, two problems arise, of which it is difficult to choose the worst. Firstly; this situation may be offensive to parents. Parents, as a rule, are ready to get into any debt in order to fulfill their duty to their children. Secondly; the process of making money can last an unknown number of years. This may deprive a person of the opportunity to start his own family.

Giving a girl away in marriage without matchmaking has always been considered a disgrace. According to the logic of the weddings, it turned out that no one was interested in protecting the interests of the young people. Nobody even knows that it appeared new family. There are no witnesses to the obligations that the groom and his parents undertake. Therefore, it is not customary to give a girl to a husband secretly. And it doesn’t matter whether a bride price is paid for her, or she gets married in an Orthodox church, the meaning is always the same. Family commitments should be public and frank.

In difficult times, when guests were unable to give gifts and parents were unable to prepare a rich feast, they still tried to hold a wedding. Often this was done through joint efforts, but the wedding still became a memorable, joyful event. Even the most modest gifts were made, but weddings were made.

Any speculation in this regard does not promise anything good. Previously, parents often themselves decided who to marry their daughters to and who to marry their sons to. Many acted on the principle of material interest. That is, they tried to become related to a rich groom or a rich bride. Often young brides married older grooms and vice versa.

This situation gave rise to another custom. This is bride kidnapping. The act is radical, but it solves all problems at once, including the costs of the wedding. The logic of the kidnapping is simple. Kidnapping unmarried girl the groom puts her in the category of either disgraced or married women. But the kidnapper can immediately abandon her and leave her in disgrace. The bride's parents, who were unable to prevent the abduction, look impartial among people and are ready to give their daughter to the kidnapper, just to comply with all the necessary rituals and enlist the support of relatives and witnesses. Even if before that they publicly refused this groom. At the same time, they are trying to do everything to keep the kidnapping a secret. If the parents fundamentally do not recognize the kidnapping groom, then the bride without a wedding becomes his wife. This is understandable. Not a single groom, after the abduction, will woo her.

However, there were also frequent cases of a preliminary conspiracy to kidnap the groom and the bride, the groom and his parents, the groom and his parents and the bride in order to avoid the costs associated with holding a big wedding. The logic here is very simple. If a girl is kidnapped but not married, then this is considered a shame. If she was kidnapped, but after numerous trials and clarification of relationships (sometimes turning into fights), a family was created, then the image of the bride even takes on a certain romantic connotation. Therefore, kidnappings are sometimes even staged at rich weddings.

BURIAL.
What could be no less significant than a wedding? Of course, the funeral of a deceased person. The Bible mentions that a person who interred a dead person looks worthy before God, but after the funeral he must cleanse himself. And today there is a custom of washing hands after attending a funeral.

As life shows, not all people get married, but everyone dies. Death makes burial rituals mandatory. Our ancestors buried their dead in the ground so that they would not be desecrated by animals and birds. After all, we were talking about dead relatives. But the attitude towards strangers who died was the same. Subsequently, burial rituals in coffins were invented. The coffin symbolizes the boat in which the deceased goes to another world. Among believers, it is customary to attach special meaning to funerals. After all, this last way person to another world. It is customary for Orthodox Christians to bury people in the ground. In India, Japan and other countries, dead people are cremated. They burn it. Materialists follow the general religious traditions and cremation of the dead.

It is customary for Christians to keep the dead at home for one to two days. This is done so that those who are far away and cannot quickly come to the funeral can say goodbye to the deceased. On the day of the funeral of the deceased, it is customary to have a funeral service in church or at home. It is customary to carry the coffin from home along the street where the deceased lived. A farewell ceremony takes place at the cemetery, when relatives kiss the deceased on the forehead. Those who wish can speak out loud about the deceased, but it is customary to speak about the dead either well or nothing. After lowering the coffin into the grave, each person present throws three pinches of earth into the grave as a sign of farewell. After the funeral, people go to the wake. Behind funeral table It is not customary to knock glasses. The feast is short-lived. The buried person is remembered, and deceased relatives are also remembered. Alcohol is not consumed at the funerals of deceased children.

Then relatives gather to remember the deceased after 7 days. The deceased is commemorated more magnificently on the fortieth day. It is believed that for 40 days the soul of a deceased person still wanders, and on the 40th day it finds itself where it should be. On the day of the funeral, a cross is placed on the grave, and a year later, on the anniversary of the death, it is customary to erect a monument. But all this is in abundance.

Among Muslims, funerals are usually completed before sunset on the day the person dies. They are not waiting for anyone. The mullah performs his prayers and rituals. Only men carry the deceased to the cemetery. Women don't go to the cemetery. The deceased is commemorated for seven days in a row. These commemorations are not so much table-based as they are thoughtful. Every day people talk about life, death, God, faith, etc. They try not to leave the family of the deceased unattended so that it is easier for them to get used to the loss. Muslims celebrate the 40th day just like an anniversary.

Funeral customs and rituals are quite diverse and can only be described in specialized work on a very large scale. All of them are logically determined. Only the most general rules are described here. People learn it by participating in the funerals of dead people. Comes to the funerals of the most famous and respected people a large number of of people. But the number of people at a funeral does not indicate what a person was like during his lifetime. It is important with what thoughts people come to a funeral and how they later remember the deceased. Good or bad.

COMMON CUSTOMS.

There are many such customs. They are inherent in every nation, since they are logically determined under the same circumstances. Let's take a simple case involving a young man giving up his seat on a vehicle. This is not just an element of good manners. This is a generally accepted custom that has changed, but its essence remains the same. Public transport It wasn’t yet, but it was customary among every nation for the younger ones not only to give up their seats, but to stand up when the older ones approached them. Moreover, the age difference did not matter. And today it is customary to stand up if a person comes up to you and starts a conversation with you. And even if he is the same age as you. It is simply considered impolite if you sit down and talk to the person standing in front of you.

IN ancient Sparta it was allowed not to stand in front of the oldest person if he did not have children. The explanation was simple. His children will stand before no one.

It was not customary to sit and talk to women. This was considered a rule of bad taste and a well-mannered woman would not continue a conversation with the interlocutor sitting in front of her, unless, of course, he was disabled. Today, in many nations, it is customary to give up a seat to those standing in public transport not only to elderly people or pregnant women, but simply to older people. This is not perceived as help in a difficult situation, but as a tribute.
Before the revolution, all men showed such respect to women, but with the development of feminism, people began to perceive the politeness of men towards women in transport as harassment.

It is interesting that before the revolution, aristocrats and townspeople had a custom when meeting a pregnant woman to take off their hat. A tribute to motherhood.

INTERESTING TRADITIONS OF SOME PEOPLES.
I find some Japanese customs interesting. Every year they celebrate boys' day and girls' day separately. These days are dedicated specifically to children under 6-7 years old. These days they always dress up in their best beautiful clothes and they can do anything.

Japanese schools traditionally have a food lesson. Every day, two students serve school lunch for their class. Thus, students study Japanese table traditions of serving, eating, and behavior at the table.

In Italy, on New Year's Eve, it is customary to throw old things out of windows onto the street. It is believed that they will remain in the old year, and the family will acquire new ones in the new year.

In Finland and Norway it is not customary to praise a person in public. This is considered rude flattery and can even hurt the person you are praising.

In China, it is not customary to give anything related to the number 4. This number symbolizes death. There it is not even customary to designate floors with the number 4. They go like this: 1,2,3,5,6,

In India, it is not customary to say thank you for a gift. This is considered a rule of bad manners. You can praise the gifted item.

In the USA, it is not customary to pay for a woman in a taxi, open the door for her, carry things for her... because she may take this for sexual harassment and contact the authorities with a complaint.

In Greece, it is not customary to praise the hosts’ utensils or paintings when visiting. According to customs, the owner will have to give it to you.

In Georgia, it is not customary to leave guests' glasses empty. The guest may or may not drink, but his glass will always be full.

Words of greeting from different nations different. When meeting a Chinese, he asks: “have you eaten?”, an Iranian will say: “be cheerful,” a Zulu will warn: “I see you.”

Customs and traditions: the most hard examples

What are customs and traditions? Customs are historically established certain actions and practices that have long become the habit of the entire people. By traditions we “decipher” a certain “ cultural code”, which is passed on by people from generation to generation.

Traditions and customs are very similar in meaning. Sociologists even highlight e. They are closely connected not only with history, but also with religious views. It was with the advent of beliefs that the beginning of customs and traditions was laid.

We all follow some traditions and customs, but not each of us truly knows their purpose and their history. I believe that people should pay special attention to history, because all traditions and customs are an interesting part of the culture of the people, the history of generations and religion, and are also one of the components of a person’s upbringing and his worldview.

The history of the emergence of customs and traditions

Initially, customs and traditions arose out of the need for survival. This is how the so-called hunting magic was born. We must understand that people in ancient times were much more dependent on nature than you and I. The hunt could be successful - or unsuccessful. Therefore, rituals arose that were believed to bring good luck to the side of the hunters. The elders had knowledge of such rituals, so in ancient times old people were treated with due respect, not like now.

The ancients had other customs and traditions: not to wake up a sleeping person (his soul may not have time to return from the world of dreams), not to mate during a hunt - this is fraught with uncontrolled birth control, etc. By the way, it is within the framework of hunting magic that arises rock painting: people wanted to attract the animal spirit to their side.

Life was accompanied by such customs and traditions ancient man. They have become so ingrained in our culture that we don’t even notice or track them! For example, look at a teenager at a bus stop. He smoked, spat, and wiped his food on the asphalt with his foot. What is this? This is a genetic memory: in fact, he destroyed the trace of himself. After all, people used to believe that through saliva, hair and other remains of a person they could bring trouble to him. Don't believe me? Read the textbook "History" primitive society"for universities!

Wedding traditions- in general, complete antiquity: White color(dress, veil) is a symbol of transition to another state. We ritually wear white three times in our lives: when we are born, when we get married, and when we die. Did you even know about all this? Write in the comments!

Customs related to food. Come to new job- you need to “sign up”, you go on vacation - similar. A wedding table, parties - in short, a lot is connected precisely with eating food. Why? It turns out that in ancient times there was a custom of potlatch, when the leader of the tribe fed all his community members. This meant that he did them good - he must respond in kind! And today: I went on vacation, and we work? We're stressed! We need to eat! And a “problem” arises. Have you graduated from school and received a certificate? Are you stressed? School prom and graduation are again associated with food. Didn't notice

Interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world

Peoples all over the world have many traditions and customs, and they are different for all nations. For example, Russians have a tradition of celebrating the New Year, a holiday that connects the past and the future. This holiday carries bright feelings and many miracles, but, like most other traditions, New Year goes back to ancient times.

An integral part of the New Year is a Christmas tree with funny and winding toys, bright and glossy balls and flashing different colors, garlands. Do you know why everyone decorates the Christmas tree so quickly before this holiday? Because according to customs, people believed that by decorating a Christmas tree, they make the evil forces that surround them good. Currently, many have forgotten about these forces, but the decorated Christmas tree still remains a symbol New Year's holiday. This magical holiday described in many Russian fairy tales and poems, the authors of which are well-known A. S. Pushkin, S. A. Yesenin and others.

The Russian people also have interesting customs, which are incomprehensible to foreign residents. For example, on the eve of Great Easter - a bright holiday that appeared in Rus' at the end of the tenth century, in honor of the resurrection of Christ, we paint chicken eggs. And many people paint them with onion peels, because it gives a burgundy-red hue, this shade symbolizes the blood of Christ crucified on the cross. A egg in turn, a symbol of the birth of a new life.

But not only the Russian people are famous for their traditions and customs. Abroad, there is the well-known All Hallows Eve, or, as we call it, Halloween. The holiday became a tradition several centuries ago and, as we know from the book “Scarlett”, authored by Alexandra Ripley, this holiday had roots in Ireland. An attribute of this tradition is a pumpkin, which simultaneously symbolizes the harvest, evil forces and the fire that scares them away.

There are no less interesting traditions in the countries of the East. For example, polygamy. Polygamy also came into life from our ancestors and persists in the countries of the East to this day. For example, the Book of Mormon can tell us a lot about such a tradition. From the book it is known that in ancient times, when nomadic way life required considerable care for numerous herds of horses or camels, so the owner was forced to have several women who could provide care for mares or camels. Camel fur made it possible to have warm and light blankets, and camel milk was highly valued. All this could only be done by a woman; men had no time to do housework, they were breadwinners. Currently, in Eastern countries, polygamy determines the prestige of a man, which is no less important for residents of the East.

Moving away from the stories of polygamy traditions Eastern countries, one cannot help but recall the monogamy of the Caucasus. No matter how sad it may sound, wars always occur in countries, as a result of which the number of men sharply decreases. As a rule, more girls are born than boys, and in the future many adult girls will not have enough husbands, and as a result, families and children.

In general, if you remember, there have been cases in history when only one survivor from the male population of the village returned to the village from the front. However, after some time the population returned to its previous level.

So during Caucasian War nineteenth century leader Caucasian highlanders Imam Shamil eased the lot of widows and single women. They were allowed to choose a husband at their own discretion, which actually legitimized the existing relationship. As S. Essadze wrote: “The named man, single or married, was obliged to marry the one who chose him.”

I propose to remember the customs and traditions of the inhabitants of such interesting country like Thailand. Thailand is famous for its exotic customs. Throughout the calendar year, indigenous Thais have many customs and traditions that delight tourists. Ceremonial holidays celebrated by the entire kingdom of Thailand. In general, some of the most interesting rituals can be observed in “backward” cultures, whose carriers live in.

An example of this is one of the most beautiful holidays Thailand - Loy Krathong, dedicated to the spirits of water. This day falls at the beginning of November on the day full moon. The Thais float their boats along the rivers - krathongs, in which candles burn brightly and contain fresh flowers, coins, and various incense. Thais firmly believe that with the help of these boats, on this night, the water spirits will wash away all the sins of the previous year.

Each country in our vast world has its own special customs and traditions that determine the way of life and culture of people. How often do we hear about the customs and traditions of China? One of the most special traditions in China is greeting. In the old days, the Chinese greeted each other by bowing with their hands folded across their chests. It was believed that the lower the bow, the more people shows respect. Modern Chinese today simply bow their heads a little. However, if they want to show respect, they can bow lower.

The customs and traditions of all the peoples of the world inhabiting the Earth are very extensive and multifaceted. They are directly related to factors that are rooted in the very depths of history, and to religion, which helps a person to realize and perceive the world, believing in the supernatural. You need to respect and honor not only the customs and traditions of your country, your people, but also other countries and its inhabitants.

Interesting article? Like it and write what you think about all this in the comments. .

Editing by Andrey Puchkov

Every people inhabiting our planet does not appear out of nowhere. The roots of any nation in the world, the echoes of past history make up a unique fabric into which the destinies of people are woven. Unique customs, established traditions and even the most incredible and exotic rituals constitute the invisible, but highly individual cultural baggage of each nationality. Customs and rituals are an integral part of life. Some of them came to us from religions, others - from a huge variety of superstitions, legends, beliefs and superstitions. Let's get to know the essence and deep meaning some traditions of the inhabitants of Russia.

Wedding: a touching sacrament

Paganism, as the first religion of the Slavs, gave us Maslenitsa, magnificent and festive fortune-telling. Traditionally, Russian weddings took place in the fall or winter, in the intervals between long fasts. The so-called “wedding party” was especially popular - the period from Christmas to Maslenitsa.

On Forgiveness Sunday - the last day of the festivities - everyone asked each other for forgiveness, freed themselves from accumulated grievances, and gave gifts to their relatives. The culmination of the holiday is the burning of an effigy as a symbol of the end of a long winter. “For a rich harvest,” the ashes were scattered over the fields. They burned bonfires of straw and unnecessary old things to free themselves from everything superfluous. In the evening, pancakes were used to remember deceased relatives.

Christian Easter

Christianity has given us the wonderful holiday of Easter. The customs of peoples are diverse different countries in celebrating this day. Let's not stop at the Orthodox church rituals. They are majestic and beautiful. Let's consider traditionally household customs. An example of ritual actions most common in Russia is baking Easter cakes and the coloring of eggs, symbols of the immortal body of Christ, which are consecrated in churches. These rituals are so common that even atheists do not avoid them.

In the morning after all-night vigils and passing religious processions Celebrations of the miraculous resurrection of Christ begin around the churches. People congratulate each other with the words “Christ is risen!”, receiving the answer “Truly he is risen!” and exchanging blessed Easter cakes and eggs. The name of this custom is Christening. These traditional rituals are so widespread that not only believers, but also atheists exchange Easter treats.

There are many rituals in the world. The customs, an example of which is given in the article, are the most common in Russia.