EPILOGUE

Human customs and mores change over time. Scientific thinking and continuing research, as well as instant communication and easy travel from one continent to another, have transformed life around the world. As a result our world has become ‘smaller’, and humankind has learnt to think globally, respecting and valuing cultural diversity and multi-culturalism and not merely ‘tolerating’ it, as in the past. 

In most modern technology-progressive societies, the bondages of traditions and ancient ritual heritage are being been cast aside as inappropriate and out-dated, becoming lost in obscurity. The pursuit of a better understanding through improved education has in many cases eradicated deep-rooted prejudices and outmoded beliefs. Societies’ long-held customs and traditions have changed or have been forgotten. However, remnants of our past remain, although not always understood or recognised. 

The numerous chapters of this book have attempted to draw attention to the universality of cultural mores – thereby highlighting an underlying connection and concord of human traditions. The book has aimed to emphasise how, in spite of the accomplishments of modern thinking, vestiges of old-time customs, relics, emblems, and beliefs have survived, albeit some with different meanings, as proof of their endurance. Hopefully, the time when humankind’s cultures cease to be a fascinating study in their wide diversity of ‘strange’ traditions is still a long way off.