Custom - what is it? Examples of legal, national, folk customs and business practices. Customs - what they are, their functions, types and examples of customs. What are family traditions and examples?

Customs and traditions: the harshest 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” that 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 about such rituals, so in ancient times old people were treated with due respect, not like now.

The ancients also 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 was within the framework of hunting magic that rock art arose: people wanted attract the spirit of the animal to your side.

Such customs and traditions accompanied the life of 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 a 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 of Primitive Society” for universities!

Wedding traditions are completely ancient: 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. When you come to a new job, you have to sign up, when you go on vacation, it’s the same. 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 brings bright feelings and many miracles, but, like most other traditions, the New Year has roots in ancient times.

An integral part of the New Year is a Christmas tree with funny and winding toys, bright and glossy balls and garlands flashing in different colors. 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, and the decorated Christmas tree still remains a symbol of the New Year holiday. This magical holiday is 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 that 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 skins, because it gives a burgundy-red hue, this shade symbolizes the blood of Christ crucified on the cross. And a chicken egg, in turn, is 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 Eastern countries. 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. It is known from the book that in ancient times, the nomadic lifestyle required considerable care for numerous herds of horses or camels, so the owner forced several women to provide care for the 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 in 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 the Caucasian War of the nineteenth century, the leader of the 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 an interesting country as Thailand. Thailand is famous for its exotic customs. Throughout the calendar year, indigenous Thais have many customs and traditions that delight tourists. Solemn holidays are celebrated throughout the 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 in Thailand - Loy Krathong, dedicated to the spirits of water. This day falls in early November on the day of the 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 respect the person showed. 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 understand and perceive the world around him by 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. .

©Sokolova E. A.

Editing by Andrey Puchkov

Valeria Protasova


Reading time: 5 minutes

A A

Each family has its own large and small traditions that unite all members of the household not necessarily, but exclusively - according to the desire of the soul. For one family, this tradition is watching new comedies together on weekends while crunching popcorn, for another it is making New Year's toys before the holiday, for a third it is traveling to new, unexplored places during the holidays. What traditions can bring all family members closer together and create that very atmosphere of happiness and family unity in the house?

  1. Family outing.
    A simple but pleasant family tradition is to go once a month (or better yet on weekends) to the cinema to see a promising new release, to McDonald’s for a “belly festival”, out of town for a boat or horse ride, etc. It doesn’t really matter – you will Whether you are collecting red leaves in the park or taking pictures of the “beauties” from the Ferris wheel, the main thing is to spend time with your family and recharge yourself with fresh impressions and positivity.

  2. Shopping together.
    Family trips to supermarkets and other city stores are a great way to cheer yourself up. And at the same time, counting, choosing the right things and healthy products.
  3. Picnics in nature – combining business with pleasure.
    Regular family recreation in nature can be anything, in accordance with desires and the time of year - swimming and juicy barbecue, fishing with the whole family, night gatherings by the fire with a guitar and tea in a pot, traveling through Mother Nature’s storerooms for mushrooms and berries, or even picking medicinal herbs for a home medicine cabinet.

  4. Sea, seagulls, beach, cocktails on the shore.
    Of course, following this tradition every weekend will be too expensive (what can I say - few people can afford it), but at least once a year is simply a must. And to prevent your vacation from being boring (only with books in the sun loungers), you need to use all the opportunities to diversify it. That is, teach your kids how to float on the water, go diving, go on interesting excursions, take the most amazing photographs and have a lot of fun so that they have something to remember later.
  5. New Year's and Christmas.
    As a rule, it turns out that all preparations for the New Year's fairy tale begin at the last moment - gifts, a Christmas tree, and decorations. Why not start a wonderful tradition - get the whole family ready for this magical holiday? So that later grown-up children will remember with joy and warm smiles how you and your whole family decorated the house, decorated the Christmas tree, made funny toys and Christmas tree compositions with candles. How they wrote notes with wishes, saying goodbye to the old year, and burned them as the chimes struck. How they laid out boxes with gifts and pasted funny pictures with names on them. In general, New Year and Christmas is the most significant reason for creating a family tradition - being close to each other.

  6. We involve the whole family in gifts.
    Another holiday is coming? This means it’s time to start a tradition of preparing a gift together. And it doesn’t matter for whom it is intended - everyone should participate (except for the person being congratulated, of course). Moreover, we are talking not only about beautiful packaging and a colorful postcard created by ourselves, but also about the ceremonial decoration of the house, a jointly prepared festive dinner, a special congratulation from the whole family and, of course, a surprise (a concert ticket, a live tropical butterfly, a “box in a box”, etc.).
  7. A family album is a memory for future generations.
    Such albums can be created not only by simply stuffing photographs into “categories” - they can be accompanied by interesting, funny comments from each family member, diluted with children’s drawings, memorial napkins, dried leaves/flowers, etc.

  8. Evening with the family.
    It’s a great tradition to forget about your business at least once a week and have fun gatherings on the couch with the whole family. It doesn’t matter - a chess tournament, a competition for assembling puzzles, a competition “who can quickly make a mummy out of a brother (dad) using toilet paper”, building a tent out of blankets in the middle of the room followed by an evening of scary stories by the light of a flashlight - as long as everyone has fun and interesting and delicious! Adults can dive briefly into childhood, and children can finally remember what their parents look like if they are taken away from work. See what you can do for interesting leisure time.
  9. Let's go to the dacha!
    Family trips to the country are also a tradition. It is usually accompanied by a division of interesting responsibilities between all family members - the younger ones water the future strawberries, the older ones do more difficult work. But after this (so that going to the dacha does not turn into hard labor, but is a holiday that everyone is waiting for) - a mandatory rest. The whole family can come up with an interesting, original dinner in advance. Let it be salmon on coals, and not the usual kebabs. And after dinner - a game with the whole family (in accordance with the tastes of the household) near the fireplace with the rain drumming on the roof. Or a joint trip to pick mushrooms with baskets and baskets.

  10. Let's start a tradition of being healthy.
    The basis of the basics is a healthy lifestyle. Your kids should be accustomed to it as soon as they no longer fit across the bench. This could be family “five-minute exercises” with music, categorical protests to fast foods, Coca-Cola and chips, drawn on funny posters, joint cycling, volleyball and even forays into the mountains with tents (sometimes). If only, as they say, for your health.

Valeria Protasova

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. Thanks to them, a feeling of reliability of family relationships is created, 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 for the New Year, family baking Easter cakes, sharing meals 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, set the festive table, give gifts to the birthday person and certainly 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 family good night before going to bed at night and good morning when you wake 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 attending church together on Orthodox holidays or every Sunday, celebrating Christmas and Easter, fasting, baptizing children, reading the Bible, praying before bed, and 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 feeling 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 transferring valuable things from generation to generation and naming a child in honor of one of the respected ancestors.

In modern Russia, the importance of family customs has been 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 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. The custom of giving children a good education must be called a wonderful tradition among the British. 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. 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.
  • 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.

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 wonderful when young families make their own, relying on the experience of their parents’ family life, adding their own personal moments to them. 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!

Every family should have its own individual atmosphere of love, mutual understanding and spiritual comfort. Children born into such families adopt this favorable atmosphere on a subconscious level.

How does it arise, how to create it and pass it on to the child? This is where we come to a topic that reveals family traditions, the cultivation of family values, customs, and laws of family leisure.

As a rule, basically, family cultural traditions, values, customs, and leisure laws take their roots from the family foundations of previous generations. Thanks to them, a feeling of belonging and reliability of family relationships is created, a strong bond arises between family members, close trusting relationships are maintained, and children feel the safety and stability of the family.

What are family traditions: examples for children

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:

  1. holding holidays together,
  2. themed lunches on weekends,
  3. holiday trips with the whole family,
  4. reading fairy tales to children before bed or singing lullabies,
  5. attending church on Sundays or religious holidays,
  6. children writing letters to Santa Claus for the New Year,
  7. household baking Easter cakes,
  8. eating together,
  9. other.

What are family traditions and holidays?

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, set the festive table, give gifts to the birthday person and certainly blow out the candles on the birthday cake, making a wish. Family holidays include weddings, births of children, baptisms and more.

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 it is traditionally celebrated World Workers' Day- 1st of May. 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.

Evening discussion of the past day

Eating together

This tradition should be called the most important, because there is nothing more pleasant than sharing meals with family and friends. This family custom is practiced by many. During family breakfasts there is a great opportunity to discuss plans for the day and recharge with positivity.

Celebrating significant events

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.

Walking 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.

Kissing tradition

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 when you wake 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 attending church together on Orthodox holidays or every Sunday, celebrating Christmas and Easter, fasting, baptizing children, reading the Bible, praying before bed, and regularly visiting deceased relatives.

What values ​​underlie family traditions?

Family traditions generate and instill in people important values:

  1. love for family,
  2. respect for your family,
  3. caring for loved ones,
  4. 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 feeling 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 transferring valuable things from generation to generation and naming a child in honor of one of the respected ancestors.

In modern Russia, the importance of family customs has been 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:

  1. It is customary to treat your home with the utmost care, carefully cleaning it and making it beautiful;
  2. 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;
  3. parents in old age do not live with their children - they are looked after by nurses or they live in special boarding houses;
  4. At Christmas, it is customary for the whole family to gather at the parental home;
  5. 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.

The custom of giving children a good education must be called a wonderful tradition among the British. 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. 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:

  1. Show respect to your spouse.
  2. Don't change.
  3. Provide for the family.
  4. Teach children a craft.
  5. Select a suitable pair for children.

A woman should:

  1. Respect your husband.
  2. To raise children.
  3. Carry out all household duties.
  4. Don't cheat on your husband.
  5. 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.

Family reading tradition

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:

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

Poems about family and traditions:

Family and home are like light and bread.
The native hearth is earth and sky.
Given to you for salvation,
No matter what worries you have.
Let life run hastily,
Wherever the road leads,
In your changing fate
There is no more beautiful gift from God.
They always keep you
No matter how much you travel around the world,
Like a guiding star
And there is no holy shrine to this.
Your family is warm and light
This is the best joy for the soul.
There is no other happiness in the world,
There is no need for any other happiness.

Family traditions are one of the most important aspects of every person’s life, so it is important to cultivate and support them in every possible way.

Family life without traditions would be boring.

It’s wonderful when young families make their own, relying on the experience of their parents’ family life, adding their own personal moments to them.

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!

Video

Video channel “Loving Mothers”.

Family traditions and customs are an integral attribute of family happiness and well-being. It is very important to instill them in children from a very early age, because common traditions not only strengthen family ties, but also create unforgettable childhood memories.

In today's video, we have collected for you 5 ideas for family unifying traditions that can become the basis for your own.

Family Traditions and Values ​​of our ancestors and modernity

On the video channel “Tales of the Russian Land”. Vitaly Sundakov talks about the family traditions and values ​​of our ancestors:

  • Attraction to each other from the mind - leads to respect!
  • Attraction to each other from the Soul leads to friendship!
  • Attraction to each other from bodies leads to passion!
  • And only all three types of attraction together lead to Love!

Source of publication: video on the topic and article from the site http://svadbavo.ru/journal/podgotovka-k-svadbe/traditsii/semeinye

Unlike manners and etiquette, customs are inherent to the broad masses of people. A custom is a spontaneously formed, habitual, stereotypical way of behavior of people. Custom - traditionally established order of behavior. It is based on habit and refers to collective forms of action. Customs are mass patterns of actions approved by society that are recommended to be performed. Informal sanctions are applied to violators - disapproval, isolation, censure. The Slavs had such collective actions as the custom of giving birth to the first child in the parental home, the custom of feeding the father of the newborn at the christening dinner with a mixture of porridge, pepper, salt, vodka, and sometimes vinegar, the custom of “sealing the grave,” etc.

Inset

M. Kupriyanova English etiquette

Most people associate the word “etiquette” with something like a white starched tablecloth, which is pulled out on holidays. Meanwhile, using the rules of etiquette every day, you get additional pleasure from communicating with others. A few words about specific rules of good manners. Who should go through the door first - a man or a woman? There are two legends about this. Our ancestors, to check whether the cave was inhabited, launched a woman first. If she returned, the husbands boldly took over the shelter; if not, they looked for another. In the Middle Ages, a woman walked in front of a man and thereby seemed to protect him - the cult of the Beautiful Lady was so strong that it was unthinkable to attack not only the woman, but also her companion. Today, a man should go ahead of a woman when he can protect her from possible danger, say, when entering a restaurant or an elevator. In other cases, he walks behind.

Approaching the door, a woman expects a man to open it. She can count on the same service when leaving the car. ^Which side should a man walk from a woman - to the right or to the left? Since he is obliged to hold you with his right, his strongest hand,

Hey, we need to move to the right. But there are two exceptions to this rule: if your companion is a military man and if you are moving along the street, then you need to choose the least dangerous or dirty side. Who greets whom first? French military regulations say that the most polite person greets first. But according to etiquette, a young man should greet an older man, a man should greet a woman. But the hand is offered to shake -



in reverse order: woman to man, elder to younger.

In general, a handshake is not a very desirable form of greeting for a woman. When she extends her hand, she often doesn’t know whether they will shake her fingers or kiss her. Therefore, it is better for a woman to offer her hand in a relaxed and vague way, so that the man has a choice. Adapted and abridged from: Moskovsky Komsomol member. 1994. April 7.

Tsivyan T.V. On some issues of constructing the language of etiquette // Proceedings on sign systems. "artu, 1965. T. 2. P. 144.

Custom regulates the behavior of group members, strengthens group cohesion, and introduces the individual to the social and cultural experience of the group. Examples of customs are New Year celebrations, weddings, visiting, etc. Compliance with customary norms is ensured by the strength of the group's public opinion.

A custom that is preserved and passed on from generation to generation is called tradition (from lat. traditional- transmission, legend). Tradition is everything that is inherited from predecessors. Tradition is represented by values, norms, patterns of behavior, ideas, social institutions, tastes, and views. Meetings of former classmates, fellow soldiers, and the raising of the national or ship’s flag can become traditional. Some traditions are performed in a casual setting, while others are performed in a festive, upbeat setting. They belong to the cultural heritage, are surrounded by honor and respect, and serve as a unifying principle.

Tradition is a method of reproduction, the process of transmission (transmission) from one generation to another of the basic content of culture - values ​​and norms. Traditions preserve all that is most valuable in culture.

The mechanism of such transfer is:

♦ folklore, i.e. oral tradition;

♦ imitation, repetition of a pattern of behavior. Adequacy is achieved through repeated repetition of actions, and rituals play a great role in this.

In pre-industrial societies, most, and in pre-literate societies, the entire content of culture was transmitted through traditions.

The importance of traditions for the life of society is difficult to overestimate. They play a role similar to heredity in a living organism. And just as disturbances in the apparatus of heredity can lead to the death of an organism, so cultural destruction and loss can lead to the degradation of society.

Traditions do not allow the “connections of times” to disintegrate; they accumulate the cultural experience of previous generations and pass it on to their descendants, which allows them to build their lives not from scratch, but from the place where their ancestors left off. The interruption of a cultural tradition (as a result of natural disasters, wars) leads society to decline. The loss of traditions means the loss of socio-historical memory (public amnesia), as a result, the people cease to feel that they are subjects of history, just as a person who has lost his memory ceases to feel that he is a person. Such people (and society) are easy to manipulate, like a child.

Therefore, sometimes a cultural tradition is interrupted not only by force, but artificially. Some forces, in arrogant impatience, are trying to “drive the nag of history” by making a “great leap.” The main way of this is to break the connection between generations, pitting “progressive” children against “backward” fathers: the Hitler Youth in Germany, the Red Guards in China. The sad consequences of this are well known. In general, the desire to renounce the old world, to destroy everything to the ground, to throw Pushkin off the ship of modernity is a manifestation of extreme lack of culture, sociological illiteracy and national unconsciousness.

The implementation of sociocultural norms is often expressed in rites and rituals - a strictly defined sequence of symbolic actions embodying certain social ideas.

Rituals accompany the most important moments in a person’s life - birth (baptism, naming), growing up (initiation), creating a family (wedding, wedding), death (funeral service, burial, wake). The social meaning of the ritual is to promote better assimilation by the individual of group values ​​and norms. The power of the ritual lies in its emotional and psychological impact. The aesthetic side of the ritual is aimed at this - music, songs, dances, expressive gestures, etc.

Often ritualism is associated only with religion. In fact, ceremonial (ritual) actions are common in all spheres of social reality: the military oath, initiation into students, opening of a monument, inauguration of the president, etc. Even in prison there are rituals. For example, the ritual of “registration”, i.e. welcoming a newcomer into the prison community; ritual of “lowering” - transfer to a low-status group, lower “caste”.

Rituals associated with birth, wedding, death are called family; agricultural and other rituals - calendar ones.

In medieval England there was such a custom. When an apprentice, engaged in unskilled dirty work, was transferred to master printers, who were engaged in clean, highly skilled work, the comrades finally arranged a wash in reverse. The young man was immersed in a vat of waste. It could have been yogurt stored in advance, into which colleagues spat, urinated, and did whatever came to mind for several days. Through the rite of passage, i.e. Literally everyone went through the rite of passage from one job to another. It survived in England until recent days, but in a purely symbolic form.

Many ancient rituals are associated with bread. Twinning is the sharing of a cake between named brothers, a wedding ceremony is the ritual of sharing bread between husband and wife. “Bread and salt” - this greeting is a symbol of cordiality and hospitality. In the religious rite of communion, believers “eat the flesh” of God in the form of bread.

Ceremony and ritual

They exist not only in the sphere of religion, as one might think. Symbolic actions permeate all areas of human culture.

Ceremony- a sequence of actions that have symbolic meaning and are dedicated to marking (celebrating) any events or dates. The function of these actions is to emphasize the special value of the events being celebrated for the society or group. A coronation is a prime example of a ceremony that is important to society.

Ritual- a highly stylized and carefully planned set of gestures and words, performed by persons specially selected and trained for this purpose. The ritual is endowed with symbolic meaning. It is intended to dramatize this event and evoke awe in those present. An example of a ritual is making a sacrifice to a pagan god.

Most rituals break down into their component parts and elements. Thus, an obligatory part of the aircraft takeoff ritual is waiting for the command “Takeoff is cleared.”

The farewell ritual includes the following: sit on the path, hug, cry, wish a safe journey, do not sweep the floor for three days, etc. The ritual of submitting a scientific dissertation is a complex set of elements.

The history of many rituals goes back to ancient times. For example, no one knows where and when the ritual of “fire dancing” first arose (only written mentions of it, made in the 1st century BC, remain). People can walk on fire and even dance barefoot on all continents. This is done, in particular, by the North American Indians of the Navajo tribe, the peasants of Sri Lanka and Muslims in India, the inhabitants of Landagas (Greece), the shamans of the Chinese Lolo tribe, and the Bulgarians. In Rus', people did not walk on hot coals, but during the celebration of the arrival of spring, young peasants jumped through the high flames of a large fire.

According to K. Lorenz, the ritual has a cultural origin and fulfills three Features: prohibition of fighting between group members; keeping them in a closed community; delimitation of this community from other groups. The ritual deters aggression and unites the group. The accumulation of aggression is all the more dangerous the better the members of a given group know each other, the more they understand and love each other. Sometimes we respond to minor gestures from our best friend, whether he coughs or blows his nose, as if we had been hit by a drunken hooligan. Human culture is entirely based on ritual. Non-ritualized actions such as picking, scratching, sneezing, spitting, etc. there is very little left in it. They are called uncivil actions.

The rigidity of traditional ritual and the persistence with which we adhere to it are necessary for society. But every person needs them too. After all, adherence to rituals and cultural patterns requires control on the part of our consciousness and will, and insistent control over our behavior further develops the sphere of morality and morality.

Manners and prohibitions

Morals are a type of custom. Manners- these are especially significant and highly respected customs for the group that have moral significance.

Mores reflect the moral values ​​of society; violation of them is punished more severely than violation of traditions. From the word “mores” comes “morality” - ethical standards, spiritual principles that determine the most important aspects of the life of society. Latin moralis means "moral". Mores are customs that have moral significance. This category includes those forms of human behavior that exist in a given society and can be subjected to moral assessment. In ancient Rome, this concept meant “the most respected and sanctified customs.” In many societies, it is considered immoral to walk the streets naked (although it is allowed to do this at home), insult elders, beat a woman, offend the weak, mock the disabled, etc.

A special form of morals are special prohibitions, which are called taboo. This Polynesian word denotes a system of prohibitions on performing certain actions (using any objects, pronouncing words), the violation of which in primitive society was punishable by supernatural forces.

Taboo- an absolute prohibition imposed on any action, word, object. It regulated the most important aspects of human life: it ensured compliance with marriage norms, protected from dangers associated

in particular, with touching a corpse. Taboo(the process of imposing taboos) was widespread in archaic societies, but taboos have not disappeared in modern cultures.

Taboos served as the basis for many later social and religious norms. In modern society, certain aspects are subject to taboo: consanguineous relationships - the ban on incest (incest); food process - a ban on cannibalism, a ban on eating pork among Jews and Muslims. Desecration of graves or insulting feelings of patriotism are taboo. Taboo is the strongest type of social prohibition existing in human society, the violation of which is punished especially harshly.

Fashion and hobbies

A person learns traditions and customs regardless of his will and desires. There is no freedom of choice here. On the contrary, such elements of culture as tastes, hobbies and fashion indicate a person’s free choice.

Taste- an inclination or predilection for something, most often a feeling or understanding of the graceful. Taste in clothing shapes individual style,

Inset

Prohibitions on food and drink

They exist in different religions. In Orthodoxy, the principle of Christian freedom is observed in matters of food intake. Christ freed people from the obligation to observe the requirements of the Mosaic Law, set out in the Old Testament, in food and drink.

And yet some prohibitions exist: you cannot eat strangled animals and blood (i.e. meat containing blood), for “blood is the soul.” You cannot indulge in excesses in food and drunkenness, for “drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Orthodox Christians have a special diet during fasting. God-obedient Jews eat kosher food, i.e. ritual, prepared according to special rules. It is divided into several categories - vegetable, fish and meat. However, fish food is not considered kosher if the fish does not have scales. Meat food is considered kosher if the animal has no wounds. Devout Jews do not eat meat with blood. In addition, Jews can only eat animals with cloven hooves and regurgitation. They do not eat meat food after dairy food for six hours, but they can eat dairy food after meat food, but after rinsing their mouth first. The most detailed rules regarding food are developed in Islam. In addition to direct prohibitions, there are also indirect ones, meaning censure or disapproval. Eating pork is absolutely prohibited. Such a ban existed in Ancient Egypt, among the Jews, and then among the early Christians. The reason is that pork spoils faster in hot climates and

There are more chances to be poisoned by this meat than by lamb or beef. Islam strictly prohibits the consumption of alcohol. Even being present at a drunken feast is considered a sin for a Muslim. The appearance of the ban on alcohol is not accidental. Drunkenness interfered with the fulfillment of religious orders. For a devout Muslim it is considered

It is a sin to miss at least one of the five obligatory daily prayers. It is condemned, although not prohibited, to eat mule meat. Historians explain this relaxation by the fact that the Turkic peoples, whose menu traditionally included horse meat, joined Islam. It is allowed to eat fish. Sharia - the Muslim code of laws and rules - separately stipulates which parts of the body of animals cannot be eaten: blood, genitals, uterus, tonsils, spinal cord, gall bladder, etc. Finally, the meat of even “edible” animals becomes forbidden if the animal is not slaughtered according to Sharia rules. Abridged by source: AiF. 1994. No. 9.

manner of dressing. Taste is individual, so it shows how much a person has deviated from generally accepted norms, average standards.

Enthusiasm- short-term emotional addiction. Each generation has its own hobbies: tight trousers, jazz music, wide ties, etc.

Fashion- a change in hobbies that have taken hold of large groups.

fashion also understood as the quickly passing popularity of something or someone. Usually these are some minor standards - in clothing, nutrition, behavior, etc. If a person’s taste can remain throughout his life, then hobbies are constantly changing. When hobbies take hold of the masses, they develop into fashion. A taste for twists, short skirts or flying saucers can be called both fashion and hobby. Unlike fads, fashion expresses social symbols. Having fashionable slacks is considered prestigious not because they are beautiful, but because slacks are a symbol of popular culture. Fashionable items are more expensive than ordinary clothes, and their purchase is regarded as success. Fashion trends are more characteristic of an urban environment, where a person’s status and prestige depend not so much on hard work or character, but on lifestyle, level of well-being, and manner of dressing.

If customs and mores are stable and long-term social norms, then fashion and hobbies are among the unstable and short-term patterns of behavior. Fashion - periodic changes in patterns of mass behavior: in clothing, musical tastes, architecture, art, speech behavior. Custom is oriented toward tradition, while fashion is oriented toward modernity, renewal, and innovation.

Fashion is not characteristic of primitive societies, but becomes common in complex, industrial societies. It could not be found in a caste society. In a class society, fashion was limited to a circle of aristocrats; in a class society, it subjugated the masses of people. The so-called mass, or flow, production, when standardized and cheap products are manufactured, is such because it satisfies

Inset

Versailles fashion

From the middle XVII V. The French court of King Louis XIV became the trendsetter. This was the heyday of the absolute monarchy in France. Its manifestation in fashion was the fashion of the nobility and royalty, a continuation of Spanish fashion, adapted to the tastes of the French. Strict geometry was replaced by bright tones and colors, complex cut. From that time on, French taste and fashion conquered all of Europe and did not cease to dominate it for centuries. Baroque fashion introduced new materials and decorations; silk and lace replaced velvet. The clothes became very picturesque. The freely flowing dress embodied fantasy, and with it the desire for eccentricity and luxury. The nobles wore camisoles made of brocade and decorated with gold

ribbons, vests, tight knee-length trousers, silk stockings. Near 1640 wigs with curled curls appeared. The king was the trendsetter. Louis XIV loved extravagant clothes, wore shoes decorated with 40 cm wide ribbons. The king's favorites were allowed to wear a blue cloak with a red lining, embroidered with gold.

meets the needs of the broad mass of consumers. With mass production, mass art and its element, fashion, came to modern society.

Fashion has the ability to come quickly and disappear quickly. The cycle of changing people's tastes and preferences is very short - several years. Often, at a new stage, something that once existed returns. The cycle of returning the old lasts 20-30 years. For example, in the 1980s. among young people, torn jeans and scarves on the forehead were in fashion; This is how hippies dressed back in the 1960s. Twist, neck, tight trousers, sleeveless dresses, fire-in-the-jungle ties, walks near bodies of water and cultural conversations (about nature, weather, music, books) became fashionable among teenagers. The culture of the 1960s and 1970s has returned to everyday life, i.e. the clothes, manners, music and spirit of their parents' generation. Teenagers of the “new wave” began to be called fans of their parents’ childhood (hipsters).

Not all segments of human behavior are subject to fashion and hobbies. Religious activities, political activities, and family life are regulated to a greater extent by customs and traditions and to a lesser extent by fashion and hobbies.

Flavors determined by the climatic and geographical conditions in which the people live. Thus, among the landlocked Zulus and Mongols, fish has never been a fashionable delicacy, and in Oceania they rarely eat meat. The main product (mass fashion) here is fish, but the residents lack protein and even eat insects.

However, with all the diversity of human tastes, there is one product that is consumed by all peoples - bread. Until the Middle Ages, most of the civilized world used unleavened flatbread as bread. It was only at the very beginning of the Middle Ages that flatbreads in Europe were replaced by bread made from fermented dough. Yeast appeared in Egypt 3.5 thousand years ago, but at first yeast bread was available only to a select few. The experience of his baking was borrowed from Egypt in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, where the baker was elevated above other artisans. When people mastered the technology of baking cheap bread, it became a fashionable product available to the general public.

Values

Culture, like society, rests on a value system. Values- socially approved and shared by most people ideas about what goodness, justice, patriotism, romantic love, friendship, etc. are. Values ​​are not questioned; they serve as a standard and ideal for all people. If fidelity is considered a value, then deviation from it is condemned as betrayal. If cleanliness is a value, then sloppiness and uncleanliness are condemned as indecent behavior.

No society can survive without values. Individuals can choose whether to share these or other values. Some are committed to the values ​​of collectivism, while others are committed to the values ​​of individualism. For some, the highest value may be money, for others - moral integrity, for others - a political career. To describe what values ​​people are guided by, sociologists introduced the term "value orientations". They describe individual attitudes or the choice of specific values ​​as a norm of behavior.

So, values ​​belong to the group or society, value orientations belong to the individual. Values ​​are beliefs shared by many people about goals to strive for.

The honor and dignity of the family has been one of the most important values ​​of the human community since ancient times. By showing concern for his family, a man thereby demonstrates his strength, courage, virtue and everything that is highly valued by others. He chose highly respected values ​​to guide his behavior. They became his cultural norm, and the psychological attitude toward their observance became his value orientation. By studying the value orientations of modern Russians using a survey method, sociologists can find out: a) what specific values ​​they prefer to be guided by at work and at home; b) how the social ideals behind private orientations are understood, correctly or incorrectly.

Even the simplest norms of behavior represent what is valued by a group or society. Cultural norms and values ​​are closely interrelated. The difference between a norm and a value is expressed as follows:

♦ norms - rules of behavior;

♦ values ​​- abstract concepts of what is good and evil, right and wrong, due and improper

The basis of the eastern culture of Japan and China is filial piety(Chinese: xiao). It includes such officially recognized duties as respect for parents, unquestioning obedience to them, and the duty to take care of one’s father and mother throughout one’s life. Compliance with this cultural standard alone has so restructured social relations in society that the Chinese people today are perhaps superior to all others in terms of parts of respect for elders.

Values ​​have a common basis with norms. Even common habits of personal hygiene (washing your face, brushing your teeth, blowing your nose into a handkerchief, ironing your trousers) in a broad sense act as values ​​and are translated by society into the language of regulations.

Prescriptions- is a prohibition or permission to do something, addressed to an individual or group and expressed in any form (oral or written, formal or informal).

Values is what justifies and gives meaning to norms. Human life is a value, and its protection is the norm. A child is a social value, the responsibility of parents to take care of him in every possible way is a social norm. Some norms are obvious, perceived at the level of common sense, and we implement them without thinking. Others require tension and serious moral choices. Giving your seat to older people and saying hello when meeting people you know seems obvious. However, staying with a sick mother or going to fight for the liberation of the Motherland (the hero of one of J.P. Sartre’s plays was faced with such a dilemma) is a choice between two fundamental moral values.

Thus, in a society, some values ​​can come into conflict with others when both are equally recognized as inalienable norms of behavior. Not only norms of the same type come into conflict, but also different types, for example, religious and patriotic: a believer who sacredly observes the norm “thou shalt not kill” is asked to go to the front and kill enemies.

People have learned to resolve value conflicts (in whole or in part, real or illusory) in various ways. For example, the Orthodox

vie and Catholicism do not give hope of salvation to a person who has unjustly acquired wealth: “let no rich man enter the kingdom of God.” To atone for the sin of money-grubbing, Russian merchants donated huge amounts of money for the construction of churches and shelters for the poor. In Western Europe they found a more radical solution - Protestantism justified wealth. True, Protestantism only justifies what it has acquired through tireless personal labor. Therefore, the Protestant ethic has served humanity a great service, ultimately becoming a teaching not justifying wealth, but calling for diligent work.

Rice. 34. To atone for the sin of money-grubbing, Russian merchants donated huge amounts of money

for the construction of temples

Values ​​are generally accepted beliefs about the goals to which a person should strive. They form the basis of moral principles. In Christian morality, the Ten Commandments include the preservation of human life (“thou shalt not kill”), marital fidelity (“thou shalt not commit adultery”), and respect for parents (“honor thy father and thy mother”).

Different cultures may give preference to different values ​​(heroism on the battlefield, material enrichment, asceticism). Each society has the right to determine for itself what is a value and what is not. For example, the traditional values ​​of American culture include personal success, activity and hard work, efficiency and usefulness, progress, things as a sign of well-being, and respect for science. Russian culture has always valued not individualism, but collectivism, which is sometimes respectfully called conciliarity, non-personal success, but the public good, not profit and utilitarianism, but compassion and mercy. At the same time, values ​​such as hard work and respect for science are highly valued not only in American culture, but also in Russian. What other similarities and differences can you find? Ponder this.