Cultural concepts that may be different to you

Posted by Jeff on Jan 2, 2015 @ 8:34 am in Hiking News | 0 comments | Last modified: January 2, 2015

From the end of October through the New Year and onto Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to forget that the holidays we celebrate are simply cultural constructs that we can choose to engage in — or not. The concepts and ideas we celebrate — like our spiritual beliefs and daily habits — are a choice, though sometimes it feels like we “have” to celebrate them, even if we don’t feel like it. Culture is ours to do with as we choose, and that means that we can add, subtract, or edit celebrations or holidays as we see fit.

If you want to add a new and different perspective to your life, there are plenty of other ways to recognize joy and beauty outside your own traditions. From Scandinavia to Japan, India and Germany, different concepts may strike a nerve with you and inspire your own personal or familial celebration or, sound like an acknowledgement of something you have long felt, but didn’t have a word for.

For example, in Norway friluftsliv translates directly as “free air life,” which doesn’t quite do it justice. Coined relatively recently, in 1859, it is the concept that being outside is good for human beings’ mind and spirit. “It is a term in Norway that is used often to describe a way of life that is spent exploring and appreciating nature,” says Anna Stoltenberg, culture coordinator for Sons of Norway, a U.S.-based Norwegian heritage group. Other than that, it’s not a strict definition: it can include sleeping outside, hiking, taking photographs or meditating, playing or dancing outside, for adults or kids. It doesn’t require any special equipment, includes all four seasons, and needn’t cost much money. Practicing friluftsliv could be as simple as making a commitment to walking in a natural area five days a week, or doing a day-long hike once a month.

Learn more about cultures…