Category Archives: Customs

Customs, conventions, and traditions of a group

Hispanic Funeral Customs

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 58
Occupation: Retired Federal Officer
Residence: Henderson, Nevada
Language: English

Text: Traditional Mexican funerals are very different that those in the United States. They last anywhere from 2-3 days, and involve lots of food, alcohol, and music. One of the most prominent customs involves the carrying of the the casket to the cemetery site. I can recall numerous funeral services, all in Mexico City, that I would describe as being more fun that sad. This differs from my funeral experience in the United States, which is centered more around the mourning of the deceased.

Context: Informant describes bearing witness to these hispanic funeral traditions many times while attending services in Mexico City. However, they have never witnessed such actions occur in the United States, even at Mexican- American funerals. Informant acknowledges the differences in ideologies between many Americans and Hispanics to be the fundamental reason for this observation. They claim that the people of Mexico do not view death to be the end of ones soul, but the transition into an afterlife. Because of this, their physical loss is met with a celebratory sequence, ackowledging the continuation of their soul.

Analysis:

As someone who has never attended a funeral in general, I was quite shocked to here of the funeral traditions of Hispanic weddings. I was especially surprised to hear about how the coffin is carried throughout the street to the cemetery. At an initial glance, from the perspective of someone born in the United States, I thought it was slightly disrespectful. However, this exposure has helped me understand how many hispanics view with cycle of life and the issue of death. By seeing death as the departure of the soul to an afterlife, rather than the elimination of the soul, these customs become very understandable. The difference in customs between cultures also allowed me to see how customs are a product of people, just as much as people are a product of customs.

Elopement Vows

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 58
Occupation: Retired Federal Officer
Residence: Henderson, Nevada
Language: English

Text: When I decided to get married to my, now, ex-husband we decided to have a small wedding. So small that the only people present were him, the priest, and myself. Although their were no guests, we still prepared our Vows for one- another and spoke then when directed to. It was a beautiful ceremony, all that I had hoped for, and keeping our vows between each other deepened our connection.

Context: Informant describes the decision behind why they decided to have an elopement. Due to clashing cultures, that of a Hispanic woman and of a Kashmiri man, the informant was nervous of the traditions that would have to take place at such a diverse wedding. Because of this, the informant decided the wedding should be held with only a priest present. Informant understands that this choice was rather unorthodox, but discusses her need for traditions of a wedding, such as the exchange of vows, still being present. To the informant, this shows that weddings do not need to follow all customs and traditions that are culturally approved, but the ones a couple sees fit.

Analysis: I think this piece is elegant in its way of explaining how folk- tradition, such as weddings, is an event that can undergo changes based on those who are performing it. It portrays how folk traditions remain resilient through variation. This specific examples does not relay the story of those who reject traditional wedding practices, but adapted them to fit their own personal needs. In doing so, it became clear that folklore is an always changing genre that accommodates the needs of a changing society.

Traditional Guatemalan Funeral

Nationality: United States
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text: “When my grandmother passed away, we held a traditional Guatemalan funeral. The night she died, we stood over her body and prayed the rosary from 5pm to 8am. The next day, we walked her to the cemetery, stopping to pray at four different places: the house doorway, the yard, the entrance to the street, and the first street corner. On the third day, we celebrated her life with a big gathering. All of her neighbors came, bringing food and support. We served Guatemalan hot chocolate, tamales, and tostadas.”

Context: The informant, N, shared this ritual during a conversation surrounding the passing of her grandmother and the traditional Guatemalan funeral that followed. N grew up in a Guatemalan household and explained how these practices have been followed by her family for generations. N described the multi-day ritual, which included an all-night rosary and a massive celebration. To N, these rituals don’t help her just honor her grandma but also help her stay connected to her cultural and spiritual roots.

Analysis: This is an example of a traditional death ritual that reflects deeper cultural beliefs surrounding death and spiritual transition. The rosary allows N’s family to show love for her grandma as each bead represents a prayer for her soul. The four stops along the funeral procession symbolize spiritual check points that allow for her soul to be gradually released from the physical world. The massive gathering on the final day brought the entire community together, turning grief into a beautiful moment of collective remembrance. This ritual shows how Guatemalan funerals combine Indigenous and Catholic practices to create a meaningful service that brings people together in support and remembrance.

Thanksgiving in Chicago

Nationality: United States
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text: “Every Thanksgiving, my family and I celebrate thanksgiving in Chicago. My mom, brother, and I will always travel to celebrate with my Uncle, aunt, and cousins who live in Chicago. We have been celebrating Thanksgiving in Chicago for as long as I can remember. Our family has a typical thanksgiving dinner with traditional foods such as a smoked turkey, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, rolls, etc. As an Indian family we also often have traditional Indian foods as well.”

Context: The informant, D, shared this ritual during a conversation about holiday traditions. D explained that she and her family always celebrate Thanksgiving in Chicago with their extended family. As D is Indian, her family also includes Indian dishes along with traditional Thanksgiving foods. To D, this ritual represents family unity and cultural blending.

Analysis: This is an example of a life-cycle calendar ritual that combines both ethnic and national traditions. Despite Thanksgiving being an American holiday, D’s family adapts it to reflect their own cultural identity by serving traditional Indian foods. This blending shows how traditional holidays can be adapted to specific cultures, allowing families to celebrate their heritage in all settings. The annual trip to Chicago emphasizes the importance of family connection, while the inclusion of Indian food showcases how ritual meals can be adapted to reflect cultural identity across generations. 

Grandma’s Indian Food

Nationality: United States
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text: “Whenever I visit my grandma’s house in Seattle, she always makes a plethora of my favorite Indian foods. She will begin cooking several hours before we even arrive as the dough has to be made by hand. She makes traditional north Indian foods such as aloo sabzi (broken potatoes), raita (yogurt sauce), gulab jamun (syrup dough balls), and pooris (a ball of fried dough used as a vessel for everything else). Despite how she is feeling or when we get there, she always has food waiting.”


Context: This ritual was shared by the informant, D, during a discussion about family and food traditions. D emphasized how her grandmother in Seattle consistently prepares traditional Indian dishes whenever they visit. D shared how even when her grandma isn’t feeling her best, she always cooks, making the experience a meaningful act of love and care. 

Analysis: This is a food-centered ritual that reflects themes of hospitay and cultural continuity. By cooking traditional Indian food, especially labor-intensive dishes like pooris, D’s grandmother is both expressing her love and maintaining the family’s cultural identity. Given that she will prepare the food regardless of circumstances, this ritual turns food into a symbolic gesture of love that further strengthens familial bonds. This example shows how culinary traditions can help both deepen familial relationships and also preserve heritage.