Culture refers to a way of life that members of an ethnic group have acquired over time. This may include language, values, norms, beliefs, practices or artifacts which shape how individuals perceive themselves and their environment.
Society is the collection of social relationships between individuals who share a culture and institutions such as religion, family, education, work and the law. It’s an intricate web of connections and structures in which individuals form their cultural identity, norms and expectations for behavior.
Symbolism is a fundamental cultural practice. Members of a given culture learn to use colors, shapes, and objects to communicate messages about their group’s beliefs and values. This helps people gain an understanding of the significance behind everything around them.
Examples of symbols are flags, religious emblems, animals, myths, individuals, monuments, companies and many more. All these objects serve to help people connect within a culture and foster community building.
Values are a fundamental aspect of culture, involving judgments about what is right or wrong and desirable or undesirable. For instance, Japanese values place great emphasis on harmony; thus, people rarely engage in interpersonal conflict with one another.
Culture also encompasses a group’s history. While physical evidence may not remain, oral tradition can be passed down through generations and ensure its preservation. UNESCO has created an initiative to protect and preserve this global cultural heritage by identifying monuments, buildings and sites and encouraging their preservation.