Customs vs Traditions
All cultures and societies around the world possess their own unique customs and traditions, which have evolved over time. Societies create ways to maintain peace and order among their people and to serve as a guide for interaction between members of the society. Many people use the terms customs and traditions interchangeably, as they are often used in the same context and dictionaries treat them as similar words. However, there are subtle differences between traditions and customs, which will be highlighted in this article.
Customs
Customs are practices followed by many people in a society or culture. For example, welcoming tourists from other countries by garlanding them and applying Tilaka or Tika on their foreheads is an Indian custom known worldwide. Similarly, folding both hands and holding them close to one’s chest while greeting a friend or acquaintance is also an Indian custom that is famous worldwide. Marriage is a social institution common all over the world, but different societies and cultures have specific practices unique to those cultures that are performed during marriage ceremonies.
Customs are social practices that are common and followed by most people in a society. There are customs that are individual and family-based. Once a practice indulged by a father is practiced by his son, it qualifies to become a custom. There are also local customs followed over a particular area only.
The most common and universal custom is shaking hands with people when meeting them for the first time.
Traditions
The word tradition comes from a Latin word meaning “to deliver.” This meaning provides a clue as to what a tradition is. It is a custom handed over by a generation to the coming generation and one that has been passed down over successive generations. A religious or social custom passed down over generations becomes a tradition. It seems that customs slowly and gradually take the shape of traditions as they continue to be handed down through the generations.
Key Takeaways
- Traditions and customs are beliefs and practices that have evolved over time, with the main difference between a custom and a tradition being the length of time and observance by a larger section of society.
- A tradition is a practice that has been passed down over generations and observed by most people of a society or culture, while a custom could be short-lived and even observed at a family or individual level.
- While all traditions could qualify as customs, not all customs can be referred to as traditions. There is no clear-cut definition of the word custom, though tradition is certainly a belief or practice that has been passed over generations.
