What is the difference between a ritual and a custom?

Answer 1

Rituals are those customs that have a performance associated with them.

Going nude would be the custom of many equatorial cultures simply because it is practical, while the polar bear swim is a ritual as it involved, in addition to being nude, swimming in the near freezing water.

Answer 2

A ritual is a formalized ceremony or set of actions performed in a specific way for a specific purpose or belief, often with symbolic meaning. A custom, on the other hand, is a traditional practice or behavior that is commonly accepted and followed within a particular culture or society. While rituals are often associated with religious or spiritual significance, customs can be more broad and include social norms or everyday practices.