What are some Functions, Elements, and Expressions of Culture

"Culture" can be difficult to define. It's easier to describe a culture in terms of the elements that characterize it, the functions it performs, and the way it is expressed, as these are what represent culture in practical terms.
Elements of culture can be very broad. An element of a culture is simply something, an object or symbol, which exists in the culture and has some importance. For example, in the UK, it is an element of culture that tea is drunk in almost every circumstance; in the US, the equivalent element would be coffee, so this marks a cultural difference. In Victorian culture, flowers had a particular significance and were understood to convey certain meanings, a cultural element which has now been lost. Elements of culture might also include using these objects for ritual purposes; the elements have meaning because they are connected to a culture's particular history and understanding, and might not mean the same thing elsewhere.
The expressions of culture might include the art a culture produces, but also the stories it tells and the ways in which these stories are cast, which rely upon the culture's shared history and understanding. A culture's music, the names it gives to its children, and the ceremonies by which it practices its religion are all cultural expressions.
The function of culture, really, is to give people a sense of belonging and a sense of self. Culture gives us a structure within which to understand ourselves, and a set of social norms by which to live. Culture helps maintain order in society and creates a sense of unity which fosters community feeling.
http://changingminds.org/explanations/culture/elements_of_culture.htm