Knowing the culture of this exotic archipelago can not only ensure a more pleasant travel experience, but also enrich your understanding of the world. From religion to social habits, I'll show you something about Indonesian culture.
1. For example, living with relatives.
No matter how old or independent, Indonesians tend to maintain close relations with their families. For many young Indonesians, even with a stable income, it is not easy to move out of their parents' house. Many people choose to live under the roof of their parents unless they have to (many Indonesians leave their hometown to look for jobs in the city). This is not necessarily a manifestation of dependence, but only reflects the values and principles of the country in the family.
Some families even consist of extended families-grandparents, aunts, uncles and nieces live together or in the same block, just to be close to each other.
2. Religious commitment comes first.
In Indonesia, you will see Balinese people show their products first thing in the morning, or employees will put everything down during prayer time. No matter what religion they believe in, Indonesians are usually very energetic. They attach great importance to their religious customs, which are reflected in their daily rituals, ceremonies and even the grandeur of their places of worship.
There are six religions in Indonesia.
Indonesia is notorious for its huge Muslim population. Although it is a secular country in law, it is still the largest country in the world. But Islam is only one of the six official religions recognized by the state-Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. For example, in Bali, the dominant religion is Hinduism, and there are more Christians than Muslims in some places.
4. Hundreds of traditional belief systems
Indonesia's diversity also extends to various belief systems. Many communities still live according to traditions and stick to the religions and customs of their ancestors, which are usually unique to the local area. But for classification, many belief systems come from animism, vitality and totem. In some communities, these beliefs interact with tradition or are influenced by another mainstream religion, resulting in countless unique customs.
5. Indonesians are collective
Indonesians have been a group since its earliest history. Farmers jointly cultivate land and manage resources, villages maintain close community ties and take care of each other, and cultural values promote the principle of collectivism. Indonesians are tolerant and friendly even in modern environments such as offices, workplaces and modern communities.
6. Indonesians like spicy and delicious food.
These islands are rich in herbs and spices, and traditional cooking methods use these rich ingredients. In fact, many Indonesian dishes may be very popular with tourists. According to the main crops in this area, the recipes really vary from region to region. For example, Javanese tend to like sweeter foods because they are rich in sugar cane and palm sugar. But many other places, such as Patong, Manado and Bali, will definitely not keep their peppers and spices.
7. Every place has a legend
It is interesting to understand the geological processes that form mountains, hills and rivers. But Indonesians transcend tectonic plates and erosion to explain how natural landmarks are formed. In most places, you can talk with local people and dig up stories that help to form gods, elves, royalty or hermits in a specific place, such as natural landscapes, temples or other cultural landmarks.
8. Indonesians celebrate everything
From the first step of a child to the months of pregnancy, many cultures in Indonesia have special ceremonies, even the smallest milestone. Many cultures also make extensive use of life events such as weddings and funerals and combine them with fascinating traditional customs and celebrations. There are also public celebrations, such as countless different harvest or Thanksgiving ceremonies, and special dates related to legends or history.
9. Indonesians are very traditional
Many Indonesians living in the modern environment still try their best to integrate their traditional and cultural values into the modern lifestyle. Some companies still refer to traditional calendars or spiritual elders to determine the good days for doing business, and many young professionals still hold traditional ceremonies for their weddings, whether out of family requirements or their own wishes, but the tradition still exists.
10. Indonesians love making and performing arts.
Indonesia's rich culture has nurtured many inspiring works of art-painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama and so on. From ancient times to modern times, Indonesian artists constantly draw inspiration from the islands' culture, values and nature, ensuring that the art world remains dynamic and progressive.