There is an old saying that one’s true characters are shown in times of crisis. This have proven to be true as the most compassionate and brave among us are shining as a global pandemic rages on. Today, we want to look at three communities around the world where kind traditions existed.
-
Greece – Philoxenia
In most western cultures, it is common for the host to be attentive to any guest visiting their household. Like many other things, many believe that the origins of this tradition can be traced back to ancient Greece.
This tradition is known as philoxenia, a combination of the Greek word for love (philo) and stranger (xenia). Ancient Greeks believed that should a host treated strangers with disrespect, they would incur the wrath of Zeus Xenios – the god of strangers.
Should a wary traveller show up to one’s doorsteps, the host was to serve the traveller with food and drinks before asking any questions. This act of hospitality is depicted in almost all Greek works, most famously in Homer’s Odyssey.
-
South Africa – Ubuntu
Although the exact meaning ubuntu is often lost in translation, the essence of the tradition can be captured in the Nguni proverb “A person is a person through other persons”. It is a way of life that emphasizes the commonality between people rather than the differences.
The idea rose to global prominence when Nelson Mandela promoted ubuntu as his ruling philosophy for post-Apartheid South Africa. He spent his presidency amending the burnt bridges that colonial rule left, showing mercy to those who persecuted him.
Former archbishop of South Africa Desmond Tutu was also a man who lived by Ubuntu. Tutu once stated that the most important teaching of ubuntu is that “you can’t exist as a human being in isolation”.
-
Iran – Taarof
Taarof is a tradition that traces back to the ages of the Persian Empire, where acts of kindness were considered the most honorable act. This tradition continues on today in various forms, most notably in the ‘walls of kindness’ movement.
On December 2015, an anonymous citizen of Mashhad – the second largest city in Iran – placed hangars on a wall with a note that read “If you don’t need it, leave it. If you need it, take it.” The community responded by hanging warm clothes that the homeless could wear in the cold seasons.
We hope that these stories restored a bit of hope for humanity in the minds of all our readers. Share with us your thoughts on this story in the comments, and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more articles like this one.
Replaced!