Cultural Heritage and Symbols

From artifacts like books and buildings to stories, songs and folklore, cultural heritage contains the traits, attributes and items that are handed down to, and preserved for, future generations. Many types of heritage grow into symbols that represent your family or even traditions. Dive into what cultural heritage is and the traditions and symbols associated with different cultures.

The Meaning of Cultural Heritage

Heritage is more than just who your first and second cousins are. It has a multi-faceted and diverse meaning that many times helps to clarify who you are as a person and in your family. It can define your traditions, values, culture and more.

Timeless Traditions

Family traditions aren't one-size-fits-all, they're as diverse as the families who celebrate them. While your family might have unique traditions that are specific to them, there are also cultural traditions that you might celebrate. For example, German family traditions can vary from Greek family traditions. In Scottish tradition, Halloween trick-or-treating is called "guising", as in disguising. Birthday traditions can also be different depending on your family or what part of the world you are from.

Cultivated Culture

Your culture is a big aspect of your traditions. Depending on your culture, you might celebrate different holidays or just celebrate in a different way than another culture might. It isn't just holidays, either. The way you act, your family bonds and even marriage rituals are defined by your culture. For example, Filipino cultural traditions have close knit family bonds and long engagements. Mexican culture is typically full of large extended families with a strong Catholic influence that affects their traditions. While in Japanese culture, formalities are very important.

Family Values

Your heritage is all about your family. And your family values really mold your individual thinking. Check out how Haitian family values define family roles or how Greek family values place importance on large family celebrations. You can even learn about the cultural significance of the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan.

Cultural Symbolism

Several cultures have symbols that relate to their culture and heritage. Find out about the Chinese symbols that represent family and family members. Native American symbols also represent not only the familial relationships but are imbedded into their lifestyle. Explore the different Celtic symbols that represent their heritage like the family crest or the Celtic cross. These symbols have deep meanings that are rooted in tradition.

Learn About Culture and Heritage

Learning more about various cultures and how they function, celebrate and take pride in their heritage can be exciting. Whether you're interested in learning more about family symbols or about how families celebrate birthdays around the world, you're sure to find the topics and quality information you're looking for.