An ethnic religion is a belief system profoundly linked to a particular ethnicity and often passed down through heredity, distinguishing it from universal religions like Christianity or Islam. Alternative terms include "folk religion" and "Paganism," though the European Congress of Ethnic Religions deliberately chose "ethnic" in 1998 to better represent their traditions' national roots, avoiding negative connotations associated with "pagan." These religions play a crucial role in maintaining distinct cultural identities, especially for diasporic groups, and surprisingly, even non-ethnic religions can adopt these traits, such as Serbian "Saint-Savianism." Far from being static, ethnic religions actively evolve, addressing contemporary issues like climate change, gender dynamics, and sociopolitical changes. Examples like the enduring Sámi traditions in Fennoscandia and various global rain rituals demonstrate their ongoing adaptation and significance.