Books On Customs And Traditions

Social Customs & Traditions Index

Polish Customs, Traditions and Folklore Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, Mary Anne Knab

Festivals of the World: The Illustrated Guide to Celebrations, Customs, Events and Holidays Book by Elizabeth Breuilly, Joanne O'Brien, Martin Palmer, Martin E. Marty

Family Traditions in Hawaii Book by Joan Namkoong, Michael A. Uno

Celebrating Italy : Tastes & Traditions of Italy as Revealed Through Its Feasts, Festivals & Sumptuous Foods Book by Carol Field

Culture and Customs of Venezuela Book by Mark Dinneen

Culture and Customs of Somalia (Culture and Customs of Africa)
Book by Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi

Culture and Customs of the Congo (Culture and Customs of Africa)
Book by Tshilemalema Mukenge

North American Indian Life: Customs and Traditions of 23 Tribes Book by Elsie Worthingto Clews Parson, Elsie Worthington Clews Parsons.

Polish Weddings Customs & Traditions
Book by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab

Roman Myths, Heroes, and Legends (Cultures, Customs, and Traditions)
Book by Dwayne E. Pickels

The Middle East - Life in Saudi Arabia: Customs, Antics, Traditions, Habits, and Lifestyles of the People That Live, Work, and Play There- A Westerner's Perspective
Book by K. Andrew Pulsifer

Scottish Customs: From The Cradle To The Grave Book by Margaret Bennett

Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries
Book by Yôngho Ch'oe (Editor), Peter H. Lee (Editor), Wm. Theodore de Bary (Editor), Ch', Yôngho oe

Chronicle of Celtic Folk Customs: A Day-to-Day Guide to Celtic Folk Traditions Brian Day

Culture and Customs of Mexico (Culture and Customs of Latin America and the Caribbean) Book by Peter Standish, Steven M. Bell

You Eat What You Are: People, Culture and Food Traditions
Book by Thelma Barer-Stein, Thelma Baer-Stern

Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts : The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt
Book by Jeremy Naydler

The Mead-Hall: The Feasting Tradition in Anglo-Saxon England
Book by Stephen Pollington

The Russian Way, Second Edition: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, and Customs of the Russians Book by Zita Dabars, Lilia Vokhmina

The Customs and Traditions of Wales (Pocket Guide series) Book by Trefor M. Owen

Zululand, Its Traditions, Legends and Customs Book by L. H. Samuelson

Timeless Traditions : A couple's guide to wedding customs around the world
Book by Lisl M. Spangenberg

Empty the Ocean With a Spoon: Growing Up With the Customs, Traditions and Superstitions of a Jewish Home Book by Rosalie Sogolow

Culture And Customs Of Ethiopia Book by Edmund Abaka

Tibetan Sacred Dance: A Journey into the Religious and Folk Traditions Book by Ellen Pearlman

The Jewish holidays, customs and traditions Book by Chaim Gross

Chinese Customs And Traditions Book by Chang

Discovering English Customs and Traditions Book by Margaret Gascoigne

Lithuanian Customs and Traditions /Bilingual Book by Danute Brazyte Bindokigne

Venezuelan folkways: Twentieth-century survivals of folk beliefs, customs, and traditions of Caracas and the Venezuelan countryside Dorothy Allers Kamen-Kaye

The last of free Africa : the account of an expedition into Abyssinia, with observations on the manners, customs and traditions of the Ethiopians with ... political situation that, at present, obtains. Book by Gordon MacCreagh

Discovering Israel: Through its traditions, customs & concepts Book by Ernest Stock

Reviews:

Polish Customs, Traditions and Folklore Book by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, Mary Anne Knab (Illustrator)
According to my knowledge this is the most comprehensive book devoted to Polish customs available for English speaking readers. I recommend it especially for people with Polish ancestors or these who are interested in Polish traditions or anthropology.

Festivals of the World: The Illustrated Guide to Celebrations, Customs, Events and Holidays Book by Elizabeth Breuilly, Joanne O'Brien, Martin Palmer, Martin E. Marty
Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist festivals receive the most coverage, though Sikh, Taoist, Zoroastrian, Shinto, Jain, Baha'i, and Rastafarian festivals.

Family Traditions in Hawaii Book by Joan Namkoong, Michael A. Uno
This valuable introduction to the cultural traditions and customs of Hawai'i includes birthday and holiday celebrations, marriage customs, and funeral traditions and answers questions such as "What are some of the annual ethnic celebrations observed  by families?" "How does each of us participate in and enjoy these events in a manner that shows respect and understanding?" and "What determines the continuation of these family traditions?"

Celebrating Italy : Tastes & Traditions of Italy as Revealed Through Its Feasts, Festivals & Sumptuous Foods Book by Carol Field
In this encyclopedic effort, IACP / Tastemaker Award-winner Field ( The Italian Baker ) takes readers on a fascinating culinary tour: a trip through Italy that in form is part guidebook, part cookbook and "culinary archaeology" at its best.

Culture and Customs of Venezuela Book by Mark Dinneen
Venezuela, one of the least-known countries in Latin America, is brilliantly spotlighted in Culture and Customs of Venezuela. This oil-rich nation sustained a stable democracy until the economic downturn in the 1980s, and changes in the social and political spheres will bring the country under increasing scrutiny from the outside world. Dinneen captures the sharp contrasts and immense variety of modern Venezuela. Students and interested readers will find engaging and authoritative overviews of the land, people, and history; religions; social customs; media; cinema; literature; performing arts; and art and architecture.

Culture and Customs of Somalia (Culture and Customs of Africa)
Book by Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi
Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation, is finally recovering from recent wars and famine. Written Book by a native Somali, Culture and Customs of Somalia gives students and interested readers an in-depth look at the land and people, past and present. It is the only accessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date general reference on this country. Somalia was once colonized Book by Europeans, but Abdullahi's superb survey, with its historical context, evokes a Somaliland from a Somali viewpoint.

Culture and Customs of the Congo (Culture and Customs of Africa)
Book by Tshilemalema Mukenge
The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, continues to struggle with socioeconomic and political development. Culture and Customs of the Congo provides the full context of traditional culture and modern practices against a backdrop of a turbulent history. The volume opens up a land and peoples little known in the United States. Written expressly to meet the needs of students and the general audience, the work will inform about the geography, economy, political history, and history from the slave trade to dictatorship; ancestral religions and inroads of western faiths; ancestral literary heritage and communication; art, architecture, and housing; diet and dress; marriage, family, and women; lifestyles and life events, and traditional and modern music and dance.

North American Indian Life: Customs and Traditions of 23 Tribes Book by Elsie Worthingto Clews Parson, Elsie Worthington Clews Parsons.
Republication of American Indian Life Book by Several of Its Students, Book by B.W. Huebsch, Inc., New York (1922), with color plates converted to black and white for this edition. The work consists of 27 fictionalized essays written by anthropologists, each an authority on the tribe under discussion, and incorporating information on activities, customs, and beliefs. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Fictionalized essays Book by noted anthropologists provide entertaining and insightful reading about religion, customs, government, social psychology and other facets of Indian life.

Polish Weddings Customs & Traditions
Book by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab
Mrs. Knab deftly sorts through centuries of the various matrimonial customs found in Poland's different geographical regions and presents them in a manner which allows the reader to easily appreciate them all.
Especially helpful (if one is planning/ helping to plan a Polish - American wedding) are her "Touch of the Past" chapter endings in which the author recommends ways to make some of the seemingly useless or insignificant "Olde World" customs a part of a contemporary wedding for Americans of Polish (and proud, at that!) descent.

Roman Myths, Heroes, and Legends (Cultures, Customs, and Traditions)
Book by Dwayne E. Pickels
Presents biographical sketches of twenty-five gods and goddesses of Roman mythology, from Apollo to Vesta.

Scottish Customs: From The Cradle To The Grave Book by Margaret Bennett
Reviewer: Andrew Casad (San Diego)
As someone of Scottish descent and a student of Anthropology and History, I really appreciated this text. There are a myriad of books available that purport to tell about Scottish customs, or focus on some narrow aspect of Scottish life, such as clan associations. This book, however, addresses the whole gamet of life of the Scottish folk, from motherhood and child-rearing, through the rites of passage into adulthood, and finally the passage from life into eternal life. Bennett draws upon a wide selection of historical sources, disparite in both locale and time period. She paints a vivid picture of life in Scotland that offers new and insightful ways in which to look at Scottish cultural practices. I highly recommend this lucid, yet academic and well-researched book regarding Scottish customs to anyone wishing to get beyond the surface aspects of the fascinating and vibrant traditional Scottish cultural patterns.

Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries
Book by Yôngho Ch'oe (Editor), Peter H. Lee (Editor), Wm. Theodore de Bary (Editor), Ch', Yôngho oe
"Readers are provided a unique view of Korean history via the eyes and words of the participants and/or witnesses themselves. Official documents, letters, policies and personal opinions written Book by the people who helped make Korea, reveal the Korea that most outsiders would never know." -- Korean Quarterly Journal of Asian Studies.
An invaluable guide for students of Korea in any discipline as well as for scholars and students of East Asia for many years to come.

Chronicle of Celtic Folk Customs: A Day-to-Day Guide to Celtic Folk Traditions Book by Brian Day
Anyone who wants to learn more about such Celtic festivals as Beltane and Lughnasa will find a wealth of detail here, along with information on other traditions of the Irish, Manx, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton Celts.
"...contains details of more than 450 customs of the Irish, Manx, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton Celts. An easy-to-follow day-Book by-day guide...features the celebrations, ceremonies, feasts, dances, games, crafts and superstitions which, together with many other aspects of folklore, constitute Celtic folk culture today....also contains an array of old recipes for different times of the year."--Irish Echo. "Anyone who wants to learn more about such Celtic festivals as Beltane and Lughnasa will find a wealth of detail here, along with information on other traditions of the Irish, Manx, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton Celts.

Culture and Customs of Mexico (Culture and Customs of Latin America and the Caribbean)
Book by Peter Standish, Steven M. Bell
Mexico, with some 90 million people, holds a special place in Latin America. It is a large, complex hybrid, a bridge between North and South America, between the ancient and the modern, and between the developed and the developing worlds. Mexico's importance to the United States cannot be overstated. The two countries share historical, economic, and cultural bonds that continue to evolve. This book offers students and general readers a deeper understanding of Mexico's dynamism: its wealth of history, institutions, religion, cultural output, leisure, and social customs.

You Eat What You Are: People, Culture and Food Traditions
Book by Thelma Barer-Stein, Thelma Baer-Stern
Originally published in Canada in 1979, this newly updated and expanded work will be a valuable addition to any reference collection. Its 55 sections cover approximately 170 different cultural groups, with each section providing a culinary historical overview of a country, information on a particular culture's domestic life with reference to food and cooking, a survey of commonly used ingredients and foods, a section devoted to special occasions and the role food plays in them, and a glossary of unique culinary terms and foods. While it is difficult for a single chapter to capture every nuance of the complex cuisines of some countries, e.g., France or China, the author often adds regional culinary details for larger countries and does a credible job of distilling the basic information. The occasional grouping together of certain countries or regions may seem a bit strange, but an excellent index and good cross-referencing within the book itself should guide readers to the sections they need.

Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts : The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt
Book by Jeremy Naydler
Jeremy Naydler's radical reinterpretation of the Pyramid Texts--the earliest body of religious literature from ancient Egypt--now places these documents into the ritual context in which they belong. It is the shamanic spiritual tradition, argues Naydler, that is the undercurrent of the Pyramid Texts and holds the key to ancient Egyptian mysticism.

The Mead-Hall: The Feasting Tradition in Anglo-Saxon England
Book by Stephen Pollington
This new study looks at the subject of halls and feasting in Anglo-Saxon England. The idea of the communal meal was very important in the period among nobles and yeomen, churchmen and laity, warriors and farmers. One of the main aims of the book is to show that there was not just one 'feast' but two main types: the informal social occasion gebeorscipe and the formal, ritual gathering symbel. Using the evidence of Old English texts - mainly the epic Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, Stephen Pollington shows that the idea of feasting remained central to Anglo-Saxon social traditions long after the physical reality had declined in importance. The words of the poets and saga-writers are supported Book by a wealth of archaeological data dealing with halls, settlement layouts and magnificent feasting gear found in many early Anglo-Saxon graves. Three appendices cover hall-themes in Old English verse; OE and translated texts; and the structure and origin of the warband.

The Russian Way, Second Edition: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, and Customs of the Russians Book by Zita Dabars, Lilia Vokhmina
Fully updated to reflect the rapidly changing cultural climate in today's Russia, The Russian Way is indispensable for understanding the Russian way of life and for communicating with the Russian people. It is not only fascinating but also invaluable to businesspeople, travelers, and students. Organized alphabetically, the book answers questions such as:
How do Russians celebrate holidays?
How do Russians think, do business, and act in their daily lives?
What do Russians enjoy eating?

The Customs and Traditions of Wales (Pocket Guide series) Book by Trefor M. Owen What a great book on all things Welsh. Traditions are explained simply and entertainingly!

Zululand, Its Traditions, Legends and Customs Book by L. H. Samuelson
The author took great pains in making a collection of the best of the stories which she has repeatedly heard related in Zululand. The chief items on their programs generally are their traditions, legends and bits of folklore, which are passed on orally from generation to another.

Timeless Traditions : A couple's guide to wedding customs around the world
Book by Lisl M. Spangenberg
"Whether you are in the process of planning a wedding or are simply satisfying your curiosity about the custom of marriage, you are about to begin a fascinating journey. As you travel through the pages of this wonderful book, you will discover exotic rituals, familiar observances, and even lighthearted folk customs. . . . This is indeed the most comprehensive collection of customs I have seen." --Linda K. Stansbury, Editor-in-Chief, Elegant Bride
"Not content to merely expand on those traditions with which we are all somewhat familiar, Lisl Spangenberg has delved deeply into the treasure chest of world cultures and come up with a dazzling array of riches. . . . Now you have only to feast your eyes and choose those customs that seem most meaningful to you, that speak to your heart as well as your heritage."--from the foreword, Book by Beverly Clark

Empty the Ocean With a Spoon: Growing Up With the Customs, Traditions and Superstitions of a Jewish Home Book by Rosalie Sogolow
A cornucopia of culture, this book is filled with Yiddish expressions and proverbs; traditions of love, marriage,
food, and children; home remedies and cooking; manners and morals; religion; folk tales; and superstitions (bubbe meises). It also includes colorful accounts Book by people from all walks of life, including two rabbis, a cantor who is a seventh - generation Sabra, comedy writers, and
journalists--all recalling their own formative years and the Jewish influence in their lives. Aspects of Jewish life and traditionfrom the observation of the Sabbath and Jewish holidays to folk remedies, proverbs, wit and wisdom, and Jews personal connection to Israel are included in a broad, discursive style and affectionate tone that make the book a loving surrogate grandmother for younger Jews and an ideal discussion-starter for older ones. Highly recommended. Marcia G. Welsh, Guilford Free Lib., CT, Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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