Folklore entails the traditional beliefs, practices and the customs of a particular community. The views may include mythical stories of the origin of that group of people. The traditions are usually passed from one generation to another through word of mouth. Other forms of oral traditions are also passed from one individual to another. The traditions may include songs, proverbs, and riddles. Cultural practices are also part of the folklore. Some of the exercises may include; house construction, medical treatments, conflict resolution, and leadership in the community. The practices are usually passed on through demonstrations. Often, the elderly in the community are entrusted with the responsibility of passing these traditions to the younger generation. The folklore plays an essential role in keeping the community together. It acts as the fabric that holds the individual members of a society close to each other. Folklore gives these individuals a common ground on which they can meet. The individuals have a sense of belonging to the specific community. The lore of a particular society is an unwritten book to other people who do not belong to that society. Through the folklore, it is possible to learn all about a community and what they stand for as a community. Learning about the culture and traditional practices of a particular community makes an individual appreciate the diversity that exists in the human race ( Kuper, 2014 Pp.47).
Every society has many parts that work together to keep it united and focused. The theory of functionalism helps to understand this aspect. Functionalism theory states that the purpose of cultural practices is to keep the members of society together. For better understanding, let's draw an analogy of a plant. The plant is made of different parts, but all of these parts work together to ensure the survival of the plant. For instance, the roots work tirelessly to absorb water and mineral salts from the soil. The stem has the vessels that conduct the water and mineral salts to the leaves. The leaves then manufacture food for the plant. Similarly, the various aspects of society work together for a common purpose which is to bond the society together. Some of these elements include religion, governance, and the economic activities. Every society has its religious beliefs. The religion gives the members of that particular society something that is greater than any of them to believe in. Human beings need a higher power than them that they can cling on and the religious aspect of the society provides for this need. Also, it is human nature to require leadership. Co-existence between individuals is vital, and therefore there is the necessity of authority that ensures such unity. The authority is responsible for punishing those that go against a particular set of rules. Economic practices are a significant part of any society. Every culture can relate to a specific economic activity that they practice to meet their economic needs. Just like the parts of a plant, the various parts of the culture of society work together for the greater good of the entire community.
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It is unfortunate that most societies have lost touch with their culture. The cultural practices have become eroded by modernization. The strong moral fabric that used to exist is now becoming weaker each day. Not all cultural practices are decent. Some like Female Genital Mutilation are inhuman and humiliating. However, most of the cultural practices are worth saving and passing them to the coming generations. The cultural artifacts should be preserved and used to educate the future generations.
Work Cited
Kuper, Adam. Anthropology and anthropologists: the modern British school . Routledge, 2014.45-56
