Lessons 18 · 1 lessons · Z. Islomov, D. Rahimjonov, J. Najmiddinov, N. Ismatova. History of world religions, Grade 11, 1st edition. Yangiyul Poligraph Service, Tashkent, 2018
18
Tradition, custom and ritual
Textbook: pp. 83–86
GoalDistinguish and link the concepts of tradition, custom and ritual; explain the transformation of national and religious rituals with examples; neutrally list rituals linked with life stages in different religions.
A tradition is socio-cultural experience passed from generation to generation; a custom is a rule of behaviour that has become part of people’s way of life, is repeated and is accepted by most; a ritual is an event held in a generally accepted order, with community participation, on the occasion of an important event in life (birth, marriage, farewell). These three concepts are linked: a tradition may include customs, and a custom may include rituals. According to the textbook, religious rituals may in time become national customs, a process called transformation; for example Christmas has taken on the character of a national holiday among Christian peoples, and Holi among Hindus. Rituals tied to life stages and to yearly festivals exist in different religions: in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity the “seven sacraments” (baptism, chrismation/confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, ordination, marriage); in Islam the aqiqa, marriage, funeral prayer, and the Fitr and Adha festivals; in Judaism the Sabbath and rites of birth, coming of age, marriage and burial. A traditional festival such as Navruz is tied mainly to the people’s calendar and farming life and is celebrated today by people of different religions and of none (in some traditions, such as Zoroastrianism, it also has religious significance). A scholar of religion does not judge rituals but describes their function (uniting the community, marking life stages) and historical development.
Worked examples
Navruz is a folk festival linked with the spring equinox; Abu Rayhan Biruni described it in his “Chronology of Ancient Nations”. In 2009 Navruz was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and in 2010 the UN General Assembly declared 21 March the International Day of Nowruz.
In the 20th century new secular rituals appeared: presenting a birth certificate, receiving a first passport, awarding diplomas to graduates; in time they became traditional events.
Class activity
Table: under the columns “tradition”, “custom”, “ritual” sort three family or community events from your people’s life (a festival, a wedding, a graduation evening, etc.) and explain which of the three concepts fits each; you need not write anything about personal belief.
Practice
1
How do tradition, custom and ritual differ from one another?
A tradition is experience passed down the generations; a custom is a repeated rule of behaviour; a ritual is an event held in a generally accepted order on the occasion of an important event.
2
Give two examples of the process of “transformation”.
Christmas among Christian peoples and Holi among Hindus have taken on the character of national festivals; here a religious ritual becomes a national custom.
3
Why is Navruz called a traditional folk festival rather than a religious one in Uzbekistan?
Because it is a folk festival linked with the spring equinox and the farming calendar, not an obligatory rite of any one religion, and celebrated by people of different religions (though in Zoroastrianism it also has religious significance).
4
Why does a scholar of religion analyse the function of a ritual rather than judging it “right” or “wrong”?
Because the task of religious studies is to describe and explain; judging belief would break scholarly impartiality.