Indonesia tradition and culture

Culture and customs of the Javanese people in the western parts of East Java receive a lot of influence from the Middle Java, so that this region is known as Mataraman; indicates that the area was once the domain of the Sultanate of Mataram. These areas include the ex-Residency of Madiun (Madiun, Ngawi, Magetan, Ponorogo, Pacitan), ex-Kediri Residency (Kediri, Tulungagung, Blitar, Trenggalek) and partially Bojonegoro. Like in Central Java, wayang kulit and ketoprak quite popular in this area.

Western coastal area of East Java is much influenced by the culture of Islam. This area covers an area of Tuban, Lamongan, and Gresik. Formerly the northern coast of East Java is the entrance area and the center of the development of Islamic religion. Five of the nine members of the Walisongo buried in this area.

Residency in the region of ex-Surabaya (including Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, and Jombang) and Malang, has little cultural influence Mataraman, considering this area quite far from the cultural center of Java: Surakarta and Yogyakarta.

Culture and Customs in the java horseshoe region is heavily influenced by the culture of Madura, given the Madurese the biggest population in this region. Osing is a cultural blend of Java, Madura, and Bali. While Tenggerese culture and customs heavily influenced by Hindu culture.

Villagers in East Java, as well as in Central Java, have a bond based on friendship and territorial. Various ceremonies are held, among others: tingkepan (gestational age ceremony for a child's first seven months), babaran (ceremony before the birth of the baby), sepasaran (the ceremony after the baby was five days), pitonan (the ceremony after the seven-month-old baby), circumcision, fiance.

Population of East Java generally share the marital monogamy. Prior to the application, the men do show nako'ake (asking if the girl already has prospective husband), after it conducted peningsetan (application). Marriage ceremony was preceded by gathering or kepanggih. To pray for people who have died, usually the family doing tell Donga on day one, the 3rd, 7th, 40th, 100th, 1 year and 3 years after death.