Culture: The shared way of life of a group: language, food, clothing, beliefs, art and customs Custom: A way of acting that a group has followed for a long time Tradition: A custom passed from one generation to the next Heritage: Traditions and history inherited from the past Ethnic group: People who share a common culture, language or ancestry Language: A system of words used to communicate Dialect: A regional or social form of a language Bilingual: Able to speak two languages Cuisine: A style of cooking Folktale: A traditional story passed down by telling Folk music: Traditional music of a people Folk dance: Traditional dance of a region Festival: A celebration with special events Ceremony: A formal event marking something important Rite of passage: A ritual that marks moving to a new stage of life Namaste: A greeting in India, with hands pressed together Bowing: A common greeting in Japan and Korea Handshake: A common greeting in many Western countries Kiss on the cheek: A common greeting among friends in many European and Latin American countries Hongi: A traditional Maori greeting of pressing noses Salaam: Arabic greeting meaning peace Sushi: Japanese dish of rice with fish or vegetables Pasta: Italian staple made from wheat dough Tortilla: Flatbread of corn or wheat used in Mexican food Injera: Spongy flatbread of Ethiopia and Eritrea Curry: Spiced dish common in South Asia Dim sum: Small Chinese dishes served with tea Baguette: Long French bread Paella: Spanish rice dish Kimchi: Korean fermented cabbage dish Tagine: North African stew cooked in a clay pot Pho: Vietnamese noodle soup Falafel: Fried chickpea balls from the Middle East Jollof rice: West African rice dish Kimono: Traditional Japanese robe Sari: Long cloth draped as a dress in India and South Asia Kilt: Traditional Scottish knee-length garment Poncho: Cloth garment worn in the Andes and Latin America Dashiki: Colorful West African shirt Hanbok: Traditional Korean clothing Sombrero: Wide-brimmed Mexican hat Turban: Wrapped headcloth worn in several cultures Hijab: Head covering worn by some Muslim women Kippah (yarmulke): Skullcap worn by many Jewish men Totem pole: Carved pole from Native peoples of the Northwest coast Mask: Face covering used in ceremonies in many cultures Didgeridoo: Wind instrument of Aboriginal Australians Sitar: Stringed instrument of India Bagpipes: Wind instrument associated with Scotland Samba: Lively music and dance style from Brazil Flamenco: Spanish music and dance with guitars and clapping Kabuki: Japanese theater with elaborate costumes Taiko drums: Large Japanese drums Steel drum: Instrument from Trinidad and Tobago Origami: Japanese art of paper folding Calligraphy: Art of beautiful writing, important in East Asia and the Middle East Batik: Cloth dyed with wax patterns, from Indonesia Mosaic: Pictures made from small pieces of tile or glass Henna: Plant dye used for body art in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa Tea ceremony: Formal serving of tea in Japan Chopsticks: Eating tools used in East Asia Eating with hands: Common in many places, such as India and Ethiopia; use the right hand Removing shoes: Common in homes in Japan, Korea and many other countries Siesta: Midday rest in Spain and Latin America Fika: Swedish coffee break with a pastry Hospitality: Welcoming guests; very important in many cultures Elders: Older people, often respected for wisdom Extended family: Family including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins Cultural diffusion: Spread of customs, ideas or goods from one culture to another Assimilation: Adopting the culture of a new place Multicultural: Having many cultures present Stereotype: An oversimplified belief about a group; it is often wrong Respect for differences: Learning about other cultures helps us understand and appreciate each other Cultural landmark: A place of cultural importance, like the Taj Mahal Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/cultures-and-customs