As the Mesopotamian civilization developed so did their culture. They developed a variety of festivals, ceremonies, traditions, and much more, which became an important part in the lives of many. Many of the rituals and ceremonies were based around certain rites of passage, such as birth and marriage, and these events were usually celebrated with a banquet that sometimes included music, dancing and food, though the food available was determined by the social status of the family. For music, though instruments have been found, it is unknown what kind of music they played.
In their daily lives, the men would go out and work, usually a specialized job, examples being a builder or musician, while the women stayed at home and took care of the house and raised children. The average number of children in each household was usually around 3 or 4 children, though these are only those who survived to be a certain age. Infant mortality was high, as was miscarriage. To protect an unborn child the mother would usually wear protective amulets, with the symbol of the demon Pazuzu to chase away deities who would wish to cause harm to the unborn child, as well as perform rituals after the child's birth so certain deities or demons would not steal their child.
Children were raised according to their gender roles. Boys were raised learning skills they could use to work and girls were raised to be wives and mothers. Once a child was of marrying age, families would arrange a marriage. At the marriage ceremony it is believed that the husband would pour perfume onto the head of his new bride. After becoming a wife, a woman's role was to cook, clean, and raise children. If a woman had a job it was usually related to one of her household tasks. They could become midwives, or sell any surplus of beer or goods that they made for their families.
Burial customs in ancient Mesopotamia varied. One method was placing the body in a ceramic jar then covering the top with more ceramic. Since the jars usually found in excavations are small, possibly household ceramics, it is believed this was a burial custom for infants or small children, though larger vessels have been found that were used for adult burials. Other means of burial included using carpets and mats to wrap the body.