What are non-material cultural practices?

Non-material cultural practices are the fun ways people do things that aren’t things you can touch, like how they talk, play, or celebrate.

Imagine your favorite toy is a teddy bear. You have a special way of hugging it every night before bed. That’s a non-material cultural practice, it's not something you can hold in your hand, but it's very important to you and might be something other kids do too.

Think of how your family cooks dinner or tells stories. Maybe your mom always sings a certain song while she stirs the soup. That’s a non-material cultural practice, it's part of what makes your family special, even though you can’t hold the song in your hand like you can hold a spoon.

Some people say “howdy” when they greet each other, and others say “hello.” Those are also non-material cultural practices. They’re ways of doing things that help people feel connected to their group, just like how your teddy bear helps you feel calm before bed.