customs are actions taken as social rules from the repetitive process of their practices. Thus, as they are carried out for a long time, they become obligations from the point of view of a certain society.
In short, customs are habitual acts that, over time, end up becoming a common practice rooted in social culture.
Customs vary according to different societies and cultures, and can be intrinsically related to the particular traditions and rituals of each people.
To try to understand the origin of a certain custom, for example, a sociological and anthropological study of the social group that practices the custom in question is necessary.
See also: the meaning of Tradition.
As stated, customs can vary according to culture. You indigenous customs, for example, are different from African customs or of the european customs.
Beliefs and moral and ethical ideals differ, causing different peoples to have different customs in response to similar situations.
According to the delimitation of the concept of customs, these have two main elements: o Corpus it's the animus.
O Corpus refers to the material character, that is, the widespread and constant repetition of social practice. already the animus represents the psychological, when individuals from a certain group perceive social practice (uniform, generalized and constant) as an obligation, necessary and indispensable for the functioning of society.
Customs in Law
In the scope of Law, customs are the rational and contemporary social orders, which serve as a source for the creation of some laws that govern the conduct of society.
However, unlike written laws, customs are the direct result of the people, without interference from the Public Power. In this case, when a certain social practice presents itself as uniform, constant and mandatory, it ends up being absorbed in the development and application of the Law.
The call customary law it is one that is constituted from customs. But, even though customs are closely linked to Law, this is not guided only by social practices, but also by written, organized and codified laws.
Values and customs
Social values are responsible for creating, developing and consolidating the typical customs of a given society or group.
Values are usually based on beliefs held by peoples, which are developed over time based on events experienced by them. Social values also shape the concept of morality in force in a given society.
Learn more about meaning of Values.