The word "custom" is a loanword from the Arabic language which means habit. This term itself gives a rather broad meaning in the situation of a form of action or behaviour and the way of thinking of humans that has existed and been practiced for so long that it is considered a tradition. From another aspect, custom is also defined as a rule and way of life that reflects daily, seasonal behaviour whether based on months or years.
Custom is also considered a rule of life encompassing cultural ideas consisting of cultural values, norms, habits, institutions and customary laws that are commonly practiced in a place. Custom can be continued with information passed down from generation to generation, either written or oral. A community also lives its life based on the practices of their ancestors as a perfecting or implementing it as a rule. These rules become practices of natural human nature and habits which over time have become a habit or a necessity that is followed from generation to generation to maintain the traditions of a certain people.
JWN takes proactive steps in preserving heritage, especially custom details through research, development programs, recognition, documentation and publication. Details of customs that have been recognized and declared based on section 67. (2) under the National Heritage Act 2005 [Act 645] until 2018 are as follows:-
| NUMBER | DETAILS |
YEAR OF DECLARATION |
|
1. |
Adat Mandi Anak Iban |
2012 |
|
2. |
Adat Perpatih |
2012 |
|
3. |
Adat Pijak Tanah |
2012 |
|
4. |
Adat Temenggung |
2012 |
|
5. |
Berkhatan / Bersunat Anak Anak Melayu |
2012 |
|
6. |
Buka Tanah Baru (Iban Sarawak) |
2012 |
|
7. |
Cukur Jambul / Naik Buai (Kaum Melayu) |
2012 |
|
8. |
Magavau |
2012 |
|
9. |
Melenggang Perut (Kaum Melayu) |
2012 |
|
10. |
Adat Berpantang Selepas Bersalin Masyarakat Melayu |
2015 |
|
11. |
Adat Istiadat Pertabalan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong |
2015 |
|
12. |
Adat Perkahwinan Melayu |
2015 |
|
13. |
Adat Bersawah Tradisional Masyarakat Melayu |
2018 |
|
14. |
Adat Bertindik Masyarakat Melayu |
2018 |
|
15. |
Adat Merasi Masyarakat Melayu |
2018 |
|
16. |
Adat Naik Rumah Tradisional / Adat Meletak Kerja (Masyarakat Melayu) |
2018 |
|
17. |
Adat Istiadat Perkahwinan Masyarakat Adat Perpatih Naning Melaka |
2018 |
|
18. |
Adat Istiadat Pertabalan Kesultanan Melayu Semenanjung |
2018 |
|
19. |
Adat Pengurniaan Darjah dan Bintang Kebesaran Negeri-Negeri |
2018 |
|
20. |
Upacara Monolob Gunung Kinabalu |
2018 |
|
21. |
Upacara Wangkang |
2018 |
1. Adat Mandi Anak Iban
Bathing a child or baby is a must for the Iban community because this can prevent their child from being beset by unwanted incidents while in the river area one day. This ceremony is held as soon as the child is given a name as (1) a symbolic of the life of the Iban community who believe that the god of all rivers and water called Sera Gindi will protect the child. It is also said to be a pact with water creatures to save the child from accidents in the river such as sinking, drowning, and so on.
2. Adat Pijak Tanah
This custom is also called the custom of following the ground or going down to the ground. It is to celebrate a child who has just learned to walk. Pijak tanah means that a small child is released to step on the ground as a symbol of continuing his life. This custom is carried out differently from one place to another both in terms of the method and the items used.
3. Adat Perkahwinan Melayu
Wedding customs for the Malay community are usually carried out in stages, starting with the customs of merisik, meminang, kangal and then wedding customs. The uniqueness of customs and culture in the Malay community is filled with order and rules before a wedding ceremony is held. In wedding ceremonies, it usually involves the involvement of family members and the local community and indirectly fosters a spirit of cooperation in a community.
4. Adat Istiadat Masyarakat Adat Perpatih Naning Melaka
The custom of the Naning Melaka Perpatih community has several differences compared to the marriage customs in the Malay community in general. The Naning Perpatih custom is said to be complete with all the rules and customary laws as if it were a constitution for the community that practices this custom. The region where many practice Naning custom is located in northern Melaka, covering an area of approximately 250 square kilometers. This region has 25 mukim, 22 of which are in the Alor Gajah district and 3 more in the Jasin district. Typically, they live in tribes which also mean family because the Naning Custom system of Melaka and Negeri Sembilan comes from the same root, namely from Minangkabau. The wedding ceremony for the Naning Perpatih community in Melaka usually takes a long time and requires a fairly large expense.
5. Upacara Monolob Gunung Kinabalu
The Mount Kinabalu Monolob ceremony is a heritage custom that is almost no longer practiced by local residents around Mount Kinabalu. This ceremony can be seen from 2 different variations through the beliefs and ritual materials performed by the performers from the Bundu Tuhan community and the Kiau community who are located near Mount Kinabalu. The ceremony is performed before the journey or climb to the top of Mount Kinabalu begins. This ceremony aims to ask for blessings or permission and a guarantee of safety throughout the climb. According to belief, this ceremony must be held to ensure that climbers or pilgrims are not mistaken for the spirits of the dead which will cause them to get lost on the journey or experience misfortune.