customs
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customs
The entirety of the customs, habits, and rituals passed down within a community and regularly practiced. It is an important part of regional or national culture.
Das Erntedankfest ist ein fester Bestandteil des ländlichen Brauchtums.
Thanksgiving is an established part of rural customs.
The word consists of the noun 'der Brauch' (custom, habit) and the suffix '-tum'. This suffix forms abstract collective terms, so 'Brauchtum' refers to the entirety of all customs of a culture.
In Bayern hat das Brauchtum einen hohen Stellenwert.
In Bavaria, customs have a high status.
'Brauchtum' (customs) is a collective term and is used almost exclusively in the singular. It describes the concept of traditions as a whole, not individual countable customs.
Das Museum dokumentiert das bäuerliche Brauchtum der Region.
The museum documents the rural customs of the region.
In connection with 'Brauchtum' (customs), the verbs 'pflegen' (to maintain/cultivate) and 'erhalten' (to preserve) are often used. They express that people are actively making an effort to continue traditions.
Viele Vereine engagieren sich dafür, das lokale Brauchtum zu pflegen.
Many associations are committed to maintaining local customs.
tradition
Both words refer to cultural practices passed down over time. „Die Tradition“ can refer to a single inherited custom, value, or belief, while „das Brauchtum“ means the entire set of customs and rituals regularly maintained by a community. Use „Tradition“ for one element and „Brauchtum“ for the whole area of customs.
Zum regionalen Brauchtum gehören viele Feste, Rituale und überlieferte Sitten.
The region’s customs include many festivals, rituals, and traditional practices.
Das gemeinsame Backen zu Weihnachten ist eine Tradition in unserer Familie.
Baking together at Christmas is a tradition in our family.
