An Intro to TOTA
A quick description of TOTA, its mission, and its vision of community.
What is TOTA?
TOTA stands for Traditions of the Ancestors. Our mission is to share the wisdom, history, traditions, achievements, and stories of people around the world, including yours!
TOTA.world is designed to stimulate curiosity and learning across cultures, miles, and generations. We offer free access to a user-friendly, searchable database that features cultural articles, curated historical documents, recipes, and stories shared by people like you. TOTA users can create groups, discuss topics with each other, and connect with others who share their interests. We offer all of these features with a commitment to respect your privacy and data.
This project is a monumental task, and our mission will never be complete without your unique experience and perspective. But you may wonder, what can I add to TOTA? What about my life is special and worth sharing? As you explore your own and others’ cultures, you might find that you have more to say than you first thought.
What is Culture?
There is no single definition of culture. Everything from the words we speak, the foods we eat, the traditions we keep, and the way we treat each other are shaped by our cultural influences.
What exactly is culture? No one quite agrees, so we prefer a flexible definition. Culture, at its simplest, is a way of life preserved by human communities. Ancient survival skills passed down from parent to child slowly grew to become art, faith, philosophy, cuisine, and more. Culture can describe a single family or an entire nation. At all levels, it is an immensely powerful force, able to bring people together or drive them apart.
On a day-to-day basis, most people are part of many cultures. Beyond ethnicity and nationality, you can be a teacher, dancer, beekeeper, videogamer—the possibilities are endless, and the precise combination that makes you ‘you’ is also what makes your perspective unique and valuable.
Who Can Contribute to TOTA?
Anyone! You don’t need to be a scholar, journalist, or gifted writer to add your voice to TOTA. Culture is made by individuals, and history has sometimes forgotten the value of a regular person’s perspective. Your contribution could be as simple as a recipe or a family story. Or you could use TOTA to create an enduring legacy for your family. How do you want to be remembered? What family customs do you want to share with your great-grandchildren, or someone reading from the other side of the world? TOTA is not just a place to learn, but also a space to define your own legacy.
What Kind of Stories are Welcome on TOTA?
Almost anything that inspires you. As difficult as it is to define culture, it’s equally difficult to determine what may be culturally significant. If you think a subject is interesting or important, we encourage you to share it. Share your opinions, recipes, holiday customs, Sasquatch stories, and anything else you find meaningful. All we ask is that you stay respectful and remember that future generations and people from across the world might read your words.
We encourage our members to dig deeper into their traditions and experiences. It can be hard to notice your own cultural influences when you are constantly surrounded by them. If you find yourself struggling for something to say, it might help to imagine yourself as the star of a documentary. Even your favorite breakfast can spark an interesting story. You already know what you do, but why do you do it?
Who Can Create Groups?
Any registered user can join a group, and any casual subscriber can create one.
Groups do not need to represent formal organizations. They can act like family albums, recipe books, or hobby clubs. Anything you think is worth sharing and discussing can become its own group. Are you a gardener, a baker, a genealogist, or a local history buff? Chances are, someone else is interested. And if managing a group sounds like too much work, you can always browse our current public groups to find your niche.
Getting Started With TOTA
We hope this quick introduction has helped you get a feel for TOTA’s mission and how you can become a vital part of our community. We welcome anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to us or visit our Knowledge Base for more information.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
