Every individual or community has its own hopes, fears, beliefs and taboos. The way we express them is very complex and often has its roots hidden somewhere far, far in the past.

Some beliefs have its root in the way some words sound. Let's take for example China, Japan and Korea. In all of these languages the word used for four sounds very similar to the one for death. That is why number 4, but also numbers including digit 4 are being avoided whenever possible. In buildings like hotels, offices, apartments or hospitals for example floor numbers including 4 do not exist. If you go to the wedding dinner or any other social occasion you won't find table number 4, 14, 24 etc.

Traditions existing in certain society follow all stages in human life – birth, growing up, marriage, death etc. Bride in Moroccan wedding is being decorated with traditional Henna tattoo. Substance used in this kind of tattoo is extracted from the Henna plant (Lawsonia inermis). The substance is applied on skin through the hollow tip of a syringe.

Religions themselves have numerous traditions. Spain is famous for its processions. They are organized all over the country during Catholic festivities. Especially spectacular are those held in the Holy Week or Santa Semana. Some participants in these processions are the nazarenos. They wear a tunic and conical shaped hood called "capriote". The essential part of the procession is "trono" or throne. It is a platform on which paintings or sculptures with scenes from the Passion are carried. The trono is heavy and is being carried by groups of people from local communities.

Many of the traditional events organized are actually sport competitions held between city quarters for centuries. People of beautiful Italian city of Florence have its Calcio Storico or Calcio Fiorentino. What is it? It is a game of medieval origin. It is a combination of football and rugby. Two teams wearing medieval clothes are fighting to score a „caccia“ or a goal. It is a rough and very passionate game.

There are customs which, when look through the eyes of the outsider, seem to be bizarre, even crazy. People want to have fun. I could go on and on naming them here. Just as an example let's mention the Festival of San Fermin (Fiesta de San Fermin). It is organized in city of Pamplona. Yes, you are right it is in Spain. The event is know „el encierro“ or running of the bulls. During the encierro hundreds of participants run in front of six bulls and six steers down an 825 meters long stretch of narrow streets of old part of Pamplona.

Unfortunately under influence of big corporate business and politics who is always behind it new set of values, new "culture" is being created. Its "values" are simple - more money. To achieve it every individual or in the eyes of big business "cash making machine" has to be stripped off all of her or his values, traditions. New ones have to be created, all in purpose to spend more and more money on products and services they really do not need.

Critics of traditions say that those observing them all old fashioned, lack tolerance for others. I think that it is partly wrong. Traditions make our world richer, more colourful, more exciting. What would the world look like in one colour, in one sound. I would not like to live in such world. And you?

On the other side it true that there are communities who in some of their customs express hatred towards other cultures, religions. Such customs are wrong and certainly should not exist.

From my point of view, future world should be created with actions in two directions. We should preserve our traditions. They make the world so much richer. We should also try to listen to others. And maybe become better persons ourselves.