Come Alive

Traditions have existed since the beginning of human civilisation. Passed down from generation to generation, such customs and rituals help us connect with each other.

By drawing on religious or cultural beliefs, traditions create meaning for our lives. For example, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset as a way of expressing gratitude for what they have.

Many societies around the world place a special emphasis on the start of the new year. Festivals, such as Seollal in Korea and Songkran in Thailand, welcome the new year with food and celebrations. These rituals are meant to usher in good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year.

On the Day of the Dead, Mexican families welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones, whom they honour as guests with mass celebrations. Such traditions help people embrace death as a natural part of life.

Participating in symbolic traditions also signifies belonging to a community. When Jewish boys and girls come of age, they go through a religious ceremony called Bar and Bat Mitzvah, which reaffirms their commitment to the Jewish faith

In Afghanistan, girls are banned from attending high school due to the government’s extreme interpretation of Islam, which regards women as inferior to men. This severely limits their prospects for the future.

Traditions make our lives meaningful, but can also be used to justify harmful practices that should be discontinued.

The question remains on how we can reconcile traditions with modern-day values.