An Example of Syncretism

Syncretism is when a culture adopts certain aspects of a foriegn culture, and incorporates it or changes it according to their own culture. This assimilation can take many and varried forms, from religion to education, from agriculture to industry.
Perhaps the best known example, as far as anthropology is concerned, of syncretism is the Trobian Islanders form of Cricket. Initially, the game of Cricket was introduce to the Trobian Islanders in 1903, by Christian missionary William Gilmore, who was attempting to curtail tribal warfare and conflict. The competitive nature of the game appealed to the natives, and the soon took to the matches with increasing fervor and determination.
Not long after, they had formed their own specialized and unique version of the sport. The Trobriands cast aside traditional British aspects of the game, and incorporated their own unique twists. Such changes included a new war-like aspect, ritualistic clothing and dances, a permanent home field advantage (the home team always wins) and scoring and equipment differences.
Trobrian Cricket is now a highly valued part of Trobrian culture, but not, exactly, as the British and the good Christian minister intended.
This is an example of Syncretism, perhaps at it's most basic form, but also, in it's most understandable.