Custom

The hijab is a veil worn by some Muslim women in Muslim countries where the main religion is Islam, but also in the Muslim diaspora, countries where Muslim people are minority populations. Wearing or not wearing a hijab is part religion, part culture, part political statement, even part fashion, and most of the time it is a personal choice made by a woman based on the intersection of all four.

If you’ve ever been to Israel or spotted a Kabbalah-loving celebrity, chances are you’ve seen the ever-popular red thread or kabbalah bracelet. Dangling from a stroller or tied around the wrist, adorned with charms or simply plain, the red string has many origin points and mysterious meanings. 

The concept of ancestor worship is not a new one for many Pagans today. Ancient cultures often venerated those who came before them, and even now, in our contemporary society, it’s not uncommon at all to find celebrations that honor the ancestors in a variety of different ways.

In Jewish custom, handwashing is more than good hygienic practice. Required before eating a meal at which bread is served, handwashing is a mainstay in the religious Jewish world beyond the dining room table. 

As the sheep is to Christianity, the cow is to Hinduism. Lord Krishna was a cowherd, and the bull is depicted as the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Today the cow has almost become a symbol of Hinduism.

The term hadith (pronounced ha-DEETH) refers to any of the various collected accountings of the words, actions, and habits of the Prophet Mohammad during his lifetime. In the Arabic language, the term means "report," "account" or "narrative;" the plural is ahadith.

Hindu wedding rituals may vary in detail depending on which part of India the bride and the groom come from. Notwithstanding regional variations and diversity of languages, culture, and customs, the basic tenets of a Hindu marriage are common throughout the Indian subcontinent. 

The laws about shaving in Judaism are diverse and detailed and different communities observe different customs. But are Jewish men required to have beards?

One of the things "everybody knows" about Japanese history is that the famous samurai warriors were "into" Zen. But is that true, or false?

The bindi is arguably the most visually fascinating of all forms of body decoration. 

If you've ever been to a Jewish simcha (celebration) of any kind, you've probably noticed certain traditions or interesting quirks that seem a bit hokey.

The four hymns of Laav are performed during the four nuptial rounds of the Sikh wedding ceremony. Each Laav describes a different spiritual stage of married life, ending with the soul-bride and divine groom realizing their ultimate destiny as one soul.

Candles have deep symbolic meaning in Judaism and are used on a wide variety of religious occasions.

The Hindu God known variously as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha or Skanda

Where ten  famous Buddhas came from; What they represent?

Program Guide for Anand Karaj, the Sikh Wedding Ceremony

All About Sikhism Customs and Ceremonies

The hamsa, or hamsa hand, is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. In its most common form, the amulet is shaped like a hand with three extended fingers in the middle and a curved thumb or pinky finger on either side. It is thought to protect against the “evil eye." 

Vesak is the most sacred holy day of Theravada Buddhism. Also called Visakha Puja or Wesak, Vesak is an observation of the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of the historical Buddha.

The Laws of Manu (Manusmriti) is considered to be one of the standard religious texts for Hindus. Also called the Manava Dharma Shastra, it is regarded as a supplemental text to the Vedas and is an authoritative source of guidance for the norms of domestic and religious living for ancient Hindus. 

During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslim faithful greet one another by saying, "Ramadan Mubarak." This greeting, which means "Blessed Ramadan," is just one traditional way that people welcome friends and passersby alike during this holy time. 

Judaism views marriage as the ideal human state. Both the Torah and the Talmud view a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, as incomplete. 

Kirtan is a tradition established by First Guru Nanak and his minstrel companion Bhai Mardana. Traditional instruments used to perform Kirtan are an integral aspect of the Sikh worship service which is musical in nature.

During the centuries in which Buddhism was establishing itself in the east of India, the older Brahmanism in the west was undergoing the changes which resulted in the Hinduism which is now the prevailing religion of India. 

Hindu wedding rituals may vary in detail depending on which part of India the bride and the groom come from. 13 Steps of a Vedic Marriage Ceremony

The River Ganges, running for more than 1500 miles across some of the most densely populated areas in Asia, is perhaps the most religiously significant body of water in the world. The river is considered to be sacred and spiritually pure, though it is also one of the most polluted rivers on earth.

The Hindu marriage ceremony, a rite known as samskara, has many components. It is quite beautiful, highly specific, and it is filled with chanting, Sanskrit blessings, and ritual that is thousands of years old. In India, a Hindu wedding can last weeks or days. In the West, a Hindu wedding typically is at least two hours long.

Central to ceremonial forms of Taoist practice is the Taoist altar—the external representation of both Taoist cosmology and of the Internal Alchemical processes the practitioner undergoes on the path to Immortality. 

Vesak is the most sacred holy day of Theravada Buddhism. Also called Visakha Puja or Wesak, Vesak is an observation of the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of the historical Buddha.

Its a girl! When do you name her? When should you throw the party? After eight days, two weeks, a month? As opposed to a brit, circumcision, of a boy on the eighth day, there are no explicit rituals for a girl. Instead, there are customs for a Simchat Bat, celebration of a birth of a daughter.