> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nationalism.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nationalism.io/cultural-nationalism/national-culture.md). # National culture There are a huge number of things that are relevant to national culture. It will be useful to list out the huge range of things that are relevant to culture. This list is not exhaustive but it can help with highlighting some of the different cultural aspects that the wider population might want to preserve and protect. ## **Core beliefs and values** Any underlying ideas that shape how people in a nation think and behave. * Shared values * Moral norms * Belief systems * Religious traditions * Ideas about right and wrong * Views on individualism vs collectivism * Attitudes toward authority, fairness and justice * Attitudes toward freedom, equality, duty and responsibility * Attitudes toward time, change and tradition * Attitudes toward risk, success, competition and meritocracy ## **Identity and collective meaning** Things that give people a sense of belonging to the nation. * National identity * Shared history * Collective memory * Mythologies, rituals, taboos and afterlife beliefs * National narratives * Patriotism * Symbols of belonging * Ideas about “who we are” as a people * Founding figures, national heroes and martyrs * National achievements, shared victories and traumas * Monuments and memorials * National mottos * Historical anniversaries * Stereotypes about the national character * “Golden age” narratives * Stories of survival, sacrifice or resistance * Public remembrance practices ## **Social organisation and everyday life** These shape daily behaviour and social relationships. * Family structures * Kinship patterns * Gender roles * Class and social hierarchy * Community expectations and obligations * Social etiquette * Manners * Hospitality norms * Friendship and relationship patterns * Child-rearing practices * Expectations around aging and elder respect * Marriage expectations * Dating norms * Household division of labor * Expectations of parents, children and siblings * Role of extended family * Neighbour relations * Social distance and personal space * Gift-giving customs * Visiting customs * Rules around punctuality ## **Language and communication** Culture can be strongly expressed through communication. * National language or languages * Regional dialects * Minority languages * Communication styles * Greeting styles * Gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, touch and personal space * Formal vs informal speech * Nonverbal communication * Storytelling traditions * Humor * Proverbs and sayings * Ways of expressing emotion or disagreement * Slang * Idioms ## **Traditions, customs, and ritual life** These are repeated practices that express cultural meaning. * Customs * Rituals * Ceremonies * Life-cycle events such as birth, marriage and funerals * Religious observances * Seasonal traditions * National holidays * Festivals * Commemorations * Everyday routines with symbolic importance * New year rituals * Seasonal feasts * National day celebrations * Ritual clothing ## **Arts and symbolic expression** These reflect how a nation expresses beauty, meaning and identity. * Literature * Poetry * Music * Dance * Theater * Film * Visual arts * Sculpture * Crafts * Folk art * Fashion and traditional dress * Architecture * Design styles ## **Food and material culture** These include physical objects and practical cultural expression. * Cuisine * Eating habits * Food taboos * Meal structure * Cooking methods * Traditional dishes * Shared dining practices * Clothing * Housing styles * Tools and technologies * Interior decoration * Everyday objects with cultural significance ## **Institutions and public life** National culture is also shaped by formal structures. * Education systems * Political culture * Legal traditions * Civic values * Government institutions * Military traditions * Public ceremonies * Media institutions * Religious institutions * Economic culture * Work ethic * Business norms * Volunteerism and civic participation ## **Historical and geographic influences** Culture develops in relation to place and past experience. * Geography * Climate * Relationship to land and environment * Migration history * Colonial history * Wars and conflicts * Trade and outside influences * Urban vs rural life * Regional variation * Historical turning points ## **Popular and contemporary culture** These include modern and changing forms of shared culture. * Popular music * Television * Film and streaming culture * Social media behaviour * Internet culture * Celebrity culture * Sports * Youth culture * Fashion trends * Consumer habits * Contemporary public debates ## **Diversity within national culture** National culture is rarely uniform. * Regional subcultures * Ethnic and linguistic communities * Indigenous cultures * Religious minorities * Immigrant influences * Generational differences * Urban-rural differences * Class differences