Social Customs, Traditions, and Folklore

Traditions are used by societies all over the world to pass on cultural knowledge. They can be oral traditions and stories, social manners and etiquette, ceremonies and holidays, or material traditions.

Sub-headings:

Etiquette, Dress, and Social Customs

Common cultural practices and socially accepted behavior.

Festivals, Holidays, and Games

Gatherings and group activities that have traditional meaning in a culture.

Folklore

Cultural knowledge that is spread through societies by means of oral traditions such as stories, songs, jokes, or sayings. Originally passed on through the spoken word, many of these traditions have now been collected and written down.

Material Traditions

Material traditions and arts preserve cultural knowledge and are passed down through many generations. Examples include architecture, textiles, folk art, food, and other handmade goods.

Resources in this category:

American Folk
http://www.americanfolk.com/

Resource devoted to the topic of American pop culture. Searchable site includes features, a directory of related sites, and an online catalog of books.

American Folklife Resources
http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48474

This guide is for those who want to find out about American Folklife Studies. It defines what American Folklife is and then provides print and network resources that give a basis from which lesson plans, syllabi or research can be prepared on specific topics.

Brooklyn Expedition: Latin America
http://www.brooklynexpedition.org/latin/

This fun, colorful site from the Brooklyn Children’s Museum introduces children (and adults!) to Latin American culture and history. You can choose from topics as diverse as holidays, animals, ancient beliefs and rituals, and many more. Also features interactive pictures, maps, and feedback from kids. Good for a quick introduction to the region, or just to browse!

Buber's Basque Page: Folklore and Traditions
http://www.buber.net/Basque/Folklore/

This website describes many of the traditional elements of Basque culture, including folklore, mythology, dance, holidays, religion, games, architecture, and symbols.

City Lore
http://www.citylore.org/

Explore the rich cultural heritage of New York City. Here you’ll find articles, online exhibitions, and resources about the diverse folk traditions in the Big Apple.

Commemorative Motifs, Mourning Images, and Memento Mori
http://members.aol.com/TombView/symbol.html

"Commemorative Motifs, Mourning Images, and Memento Mori," from the "Tomb With a View" newsletter, explains funerary symbolism. It includes a list of symbols seen on tombstones and graves, and their significance.

Folklife Online Exhibitions
http://www.folklife.si.edu/explore/online_exhibitions.html

Online exhibits based on the cultural research of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Exhibits include pictures and descriptions from various traditions and cultures.

National Congress of American Indians
http://www.ncai.org/

The National Congress of American Indians was founded in 1944 and is the oldest and largest tribal government organization in the United States. Users can find information on tribal self-government, treaty rights, and a broad range of federal policy issues affecting tribal governments.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy
http://www.bartleby.com/59/

"The manifestation of one of the most influential modern educational theories, the 6,900 entries in this major new reference work form the touchstone of what it means to be not only just a literate American but an active citizen in our multicultural democracy."

Powys: A Day in the Life
http://a-day-in-the-life.powys.org.uk/eng/eindex.html

This website organizes a digital history project in Powys, Wales, comparing life in Powys in 1891 to contemporary times. The Powys information and material was gathered from collections throughout the county. The contemporary information came from diaries kept on September 24, 2002. The site looks at such issues as communications, community and civic life, culture and entertainment, education, health care, home life, law and order, social conditions, transport and work. The project is funded jointly by New Opportunities Fund and Powys County Council.

SYMBOLS.com -- Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms
http://www.symbols.com/

"The world's largest on-line encyclopedia of graphic symbols. SYMBOLS.com contains more than 2,500 Western signs, arranged into 54 groups according to their graphic characteristics. In 1,600 articles their histories, uses, and meanings are thoroughly discussed. The signs range from ideograms carved in mammoth teeth by Cro-Magnon men, to hobo signs and subway graffiti. Use the Graphic Index to search for the meaning or history of a sign. If you want to see an ideogram with a certain meaning, use the Word Index. You may search for both meanings and names of signs."