Culture in South Africa

South Africa is a kaleidoscope of culture; a big warm colorful melting pot of culture that is full of exotic ingredients and tasty surprises, and has since then evolved and developed its rich flavors over the centuries. Get a taste of the South African rainbow of culture right from Zulu to archeology, and with a dollop of Kwaito, Quagga, Jukskei, and Corné to go!

Perhaps one of the most spectacular features about the culture in South Africa would be that there isn’t just one single culture, but instead a whole cornucopia of different cultures that represent every level of an extremely stratified community. There are of course many hybrid mixtures of these varied cultures, making this nation one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.

Culture cant get more diverse than it is in South Africa. This is a multiracial community and defining certain distinct subgroups by skin color alone will land you into a great deal of trouble. Those of British and Afrikaner descent most certainly wont be too happy to be mistaken as one another, and there are many different major and minor groupings that come under the traditional black African cultures.

The melding and mingling in the urban areas of South Africa, together with the intense suppression if the age-old traditional cultures during the years of apartheid, means that the older, more pleasant ways of life are all beginning to fade, but the traditional black cultures are still going strong in many parts of the countryside. Across the different tribes and groups, taboos and marriage customs tend to differ, but one common point that you will notice amongst most of the African traditional cultures is that they are all based on beliefs in ancestral spirits, masculine deities, and supernatural forces. On the whole, polygamy is acceptable and a dowry is generally paid. Cattle also play a very big role in most South African cultures as sacrificial animals and are looked upon as symbols of wealth and riches.

Looking at the art that has come out of the aboriginal populations of South Africa is probably the only way that we can connect with many of its lost cultures. Cave paintings and rock paintings by the San that back to nearly 26,000 years ago are just a small example of the art that has come out of this diverse cultural melting pot that is known to us as South Africa. There are many other cases, like the intricately ‘coded’ beadwork made by the Zulus, which is another good example of the traditional African art that have been created and adapted to survive in different conditions. The Zulu is probably one of the only strongest black cultures that survive till date and the Zulu songs along with their massed singing demonstrations are a very powerful reflection of this ancient culture. The Xhosa tribe also has a very strong presence in the cultural stage of South Africa and they are also known as the red people because of the red clothing worn by the adults.

The distinct culture of the Afrikaner’s has been developed throughout the years in a very deliberate isolation that saw them wandering around with their cows and a Bible in their hands while the rest of Europe experimented with liberalism and democracy. The rural communities of today still revolve around the conservative churches.

Apart from the Afrikaners, most of the white South Africans are of British descent. The British tend to be a lot more urbanized and dominate most of the financial and business sectors today. There is quite a large and extremely influential Jewish population as well, and a very significant Indian minority.

The British can be blamed for the large part of the food that is dished out in South Africa, although it isn’t as bad as it may seem, the situation is indeed improving dramatically. Boerewors sausages or steak, over boiled veggies (bland to say the least) and chips are the staple diet, and when you encounter food that seems to be a little more adventurous than the norm, then its probably going to turn out to be scary to say the least. Vegetarians will certainly not have a good time here. Traditional African dishes are generally not served in restaurants, but you’ll probably come across places that serve stew belly-fillers and cheap rice in most towns. Brandy and beer are the most popular beverages, and the excellent wines that come out of the South African vineyards are becoming increasingly popular.

Even though South Africa is home to many different cultures, most of these were suppressed during the years of apartheid, when all the daily practices of traditional as well as the contemporary cultures were ignored, destroyed or trivialized. In a society where a person could be imprisoned for just owning a politically incorrect piece of art like a painting, all the serious works of art were forced underground and the galleries and theaters were chock full bland works of art.

One of the best prospects of South Africa is that this country is always in the process of reinventing itself, and with such a large amount of the population that is marginalized from the economic mainstream; this is taking place without much input from any of those professional image makers. Music is another part of the culture that exemplifies the diversity and range of the culture in South Africa. Classical music, even though it is European in nature, is enjoyed occasionally at concerts throughout the country. Jazz is also a favorite in the larger townships and has diversified and developed into three very distinctive genres, namely: Black jazz, township jazz and Marabi. Kwaito is also very popular. Pop and rock are also favorites and many South African musicians have even created sounds that cannot really be confined to any particular genre, but are distinctly South African in nature.

So, come and enjoy the beauty of South Africa’s culture.

Native American Culture

Perhaps there is no other group in the world that has quite the diverse and richly storied culture as that of the Native Americans. With their gilded histories that are rich in strife, struggle and triumph, the Native American culture is indeed very colorful. So many features and aspects of our modern day living have been adapted from the old Native American cultures and traditions that were practiced centuries ago.

Much of the cultural customs and diversity of our world is fast disappearing. In South America, not only are the native traditions and customs in danger of disappearing entirely but some of the native Indians are also in danger of becoming extinct. The Yanomamo is a popular Indian tribe that is fast losing many of its tribe members because of the destructive powers of the Western world. Many of the tribes’ members, traditions and culture are lost by the literal assimilation of these individuals as slave labor by the South American gold miners.

But, the Yanomamo is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many hundreds of lesser-known tribes who are still struggling to survive culturally as well as literally. A case I’d like to point out is the Assurini tribe that is a group living in the Amazonian forests of Brazil. This tribe is also known for its finely crafted pottery work, and its numbers are now seriously depleted to just 57 members. Most of these Native American tribes have their own languages, which are always found in a spoken form and very rarely in the written form. If the Native American culture and art is not recorded and protected, it will soon disappear forever.

Many symbols that we are familiar with today and have taken for granted were actually originated by the Native Americans. The totem pole, teepee, moccasins and the peace pipe are a few popular examples, but each one of these symbols were originally tiny little pieces of a much larger picture that once upon a time wove together the tapestry of the Native American way of living.

Everything from the native animals and plants to the housing and weather were all once a very strong part of the Native American culture. The animals were considered to be spirits and were revered, and even though they were hunted down and killed, their hides and skins were used for drums and for clothing purposes, their meat would never be wasted, and their spirits would always live on in the minds of the tribe members. Plants were cultivated and then harvested, and then used for a variety of purposes, such as dyes. The sun and the rain were considered to be powerful Gods, hinting at the change in seasons. They believed that in the entire universe there exists only one Great Spirit or a spiritual force that is the source for all things living. The Great Spirit is not depicted as a man in the Sky but is thought to be formless and exists throughout the universe. And the sun in turn was considered to be the ultimate manifestation of power of this Great Spirit.

Totem poles were a very important part of the Native American culture. They believed that each tribe member (or individual at that) possessed within him (or her) the spirit of a particular animal, and that this spirit would then be absorbed back by the concerned animal upon his death. The totem pole was a tall, wooden pole like structure with carvings of different animals on it, each animal representing a family member of a tribe member who has passed away.

These days, you’ll probably find dream catchers hanging from rearview mirrors of cars, but very few people really know about their significance. The dream catcher theory is based on a legend that was told by the Lakota tribe. It symbolizes all the good things and life and holding onto them, while the holes act as filters for filtering out all the bad feelings and thoughts. Smoke signals are another very interesting aspect of their culture. Smoke signals were used by each tribe member to communicate to another over a long distance and are till date symbols of the proud heritage of the Native Americans. Now that you know almost everything there is to know about the Native American symbols, lets move on to the other aspects of their culture.

Musical Expression
Singing is of course the most dominant form of musical expression in all cultures all over the world, and this is also the case with the Native Americans. Singing coupled with instrumental music that served mainly as a kind of rhythmic accompaniment played a big role in the Native American culture. Native American love songs are still played on the flute. The principal instruments used were the drums, rattles, whistles and flutes.

Music style however, changed from place to place and region to region. For example, the music in California was produced by a relaxed throat while that in the Great Plains was tense, forceful and pulsating.

Native American Art
Just like music was a very important part of the Native American culture, art also held a very special place in the lives of these people. Art has been used as a form of expression by the Native Americans for hundreds and hundreds of years. Most art forms were created as a symbol of something, like a bear, eagle, walrus or even people.

The materials used ranged from rocks and clay to cloth, fabric and feathers. Basket weaving was also a very popular form of expression that served many purposes as well. Cornhusks and reeds were woven together to form intricate baskets. The material would then be dyed to make colorful tribal patterns, resulting in the creation of a beautiful work of art that was also very useful as it could be used to transport vegetables and fruits.

Blanket weaving was very common practice amongst the Native Americans. The women would spend hours on end weaving these threads together to make unbelievably beautiful blankets of various designs and patterns. The Navajo tribe in particular is very famous for its hand woven blankets.

In the colder areas, Native Americans dutifully enjoyed creating art in order to pay homage to their animal friends. Walruses were carved out of whales’ teeth, and bears and eagles were made out of rock. Statues and pendants were made to symbolize the respect that these tribes had for their animals. Weapons and instruments were also considered to be a form of art, as these instruments were made with equal care and patience as the other forms of art.

Spain: Culture

The Spanish culture is rich, colorful and mysterious. Yes, the Spanish culture and lifestyle differs tremendously from that of the other European countries, and UK. There are so many different attitude and character traits that might even seem a little offensive and blunt to people from other cultures, especially the Brits. But, this is who they are and this is exactly how they are. This is the beauty of Spain!

As a result of its ideal geographical location, the culture in Spain is greatly influenced by people of all cultures, ranging from the Greeks and Romans to the Muslims, North Africans and Phoenicians. With their barging and touching and not standing in queues, the Spaniards are just as colorful as their culture, and if you are looking for an exciting, eventful holiday – Spain is the place to go! And, you don’t even have to know the main languages of Castellano and Valencia!

Spain is more or less a Christian nation wherein around 77 percent of the population is part of the Catholic Church, while only 1 percent belongs to the Protestant Church. However, there is a good mix of other religions like Islam as well.

Bullfighting is probably the most popular of all the Spanish traditions and culture, reflecting the great influence that other cultures and races had on this beautiful country. Brought into the Iberian Peninsula by the Greeks and Phoenicians, bullfighting is a sport that has evolved over the centuries and has since then adapted well with the Spanish culture. Originally, the sport involved men riding horses and fighting raging bulls, but it eventually changed to men, or matadors, fighting bulls off without the aid of horses. Bullfighting is seen more as a ritualistic event today than a sport.

Apart from bullfighting, there are many other aspects to the Spanish lifestyle and culture, which will all be briefly covered in this article.

Dancing the Flamenco way
The Spanish culture is also closely linked to the famous Flamenco style. This passionate form of dance first originated in Andalusia and was originally considered to be a gypsy dance. It is a flamboyant dance that is accompanied by the soulful tunes of the guitar and a song (cante), which is the soul of the whole art of doing the dancing the Flamenco. At its best, it is one of the only and true classical cultural contributions that Spain has to offer. Like bullfighting, Flamenco has also been referred to by many as the Soul of Spain and is a large part of the country’s traditions and culture.

Its songs of lament, bitter romance and oppressions have a chilling effect on most people. Artists that have greatly impacted this beautiful form of dance include, Diego Velasquez, El Greco, Salvador Dali and even Pablo Picasso.

The Spanish tourism industry has used this beautiful art to its advantage and you can now see Flamenco being performed in many of the commercial tourist shows that are greatly advertised as being ‘original Flamenco fests’, but are in fact a weak imitation of the real form. Real and true Flamenco is said to evoke the qualities of the demon or spirits that possess the performers, containing a sort of ecstatic yet primitive allure that welcomes all listeners.

However, the real thing can be experienced in smaller specialist bards and some of the members-only clubs, where ignorant and unappreciative tourists and foreigners are rarely welcomed or invited. The best chance of experiencing the real, authentic thing is probably at any one of the summer festivals that are held yearly in Granada, Cadiz, Malaga, Jerez and Seville, or even during the fiestas and festivals in the small villages that are off the tourist’s maps.

Fiestas & Festivals
Fiestas and festivals are also a very important part of the culture in Spain and play a big role in the social life of the locals. There are more than 3,000 festivals and fiestas celebrated every year. The Spaniards are fun loving people and are accustomed to these fests, and almost every town and village has its very own annual fair that lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Village festivals involve the locals going on a pilgrimage to a certain shrine either in horse drawn wagons or on horseback. Foreigners are always welcomed to join in the fun and laughter.

The first national celebration in the month of February is the Martes de Carnaval (the Mardi Gras of Span). Holy Week is another famous festival and attracts tourists from all over the world. Other famous festivals include the Corpus Christi, the Feast Day of Spain’s patron saint, the Assumption of the Virgin (la Asunción). There are many local fiestas for safe return from the sea, deliverance from the Moors, and harvests – the Spaniards use any excuse to Party!

From costumes and processions to music and dancing and feasting, you can see now why Spain’s culture is considered to be the most colorful. Larger festivals include flamenco, bullfights, circuses, funfair's, fireworks, concerts, fairs, music competitions and recitals.

The most famous however would have to be the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, which takes place during the Fiesta de San Fermin.

Culinary Offerings
Food and cuisine in Spain is a heavenly mixture of chicken, mixed vegetable and meats, along with fish and a variety of different spices. Although it may come as a surprise to you, the Spanish cuisine is relatively non-spicy, but this does not mean it is bland and tasteless! Spanish food offers some of the most mouth wateringly delicious dishes ever to be set upon a dinner table.

Some of the more popular Spanish dishes include paella, which is a rice dish that features a variety of ingredients. Then you have the mariscos or shellfish and the potajes and pimientos rellenos. Hot chocolate and churros is a very popular dessert throughout Spain.

Spain is also famous for its aromatic wines and the drinking age in the country is 18. Other alcoholic beverages are sangria, Cava and authentic Spanish beer.

Other Cultural Delights of Spain
For those of you who are into operas and the theater, you should know that the majority of theaters in Spain are located in Barcelona and Madrid, although a huge program has been established to build more theaters throughout the country.

Spain has more than 800 museums and important collectors items, especially in Barcelona and Madrid, and over the years there has been a tremendous explosion in the number of art galleries in the country, especially galleries related to contemporary art.

Soccer or football is the national sport of the country and is easily one of the most important event or sport when it comes to spectatorship and participation. These football fans are amongst the most fervent and dedicated in all of Europe and can only be matched in their fanaticism by probably the Italians.

The long yet leisurely walks on green terraces, the energy of bullfighting, the hypnotic beauty of the flamenco are just a few of the cultural experiences you can enjoy when visiting Spain. The country is indeed overwhelming. With its spectacularly diverse culture and traditions, it is a quaint mix between the Old World charm and the New World flamboyance.

A country brimming over with cultural contributions, Spain has a rich and diverse heritage of folklore and stories. So, whether this your first trip to the country or even your tenth trip, the country will never fail to impress you.

Mexican Culture

Mexico's history has led to a wondrous blending of cultures. Find out what makes Mexican culture unique. You have to visit Mexico once to witness the colorful culture that makes the country such a vivacious place to live in. The Mexican spirit is exemplified by the culture of the charro, or Mexican cowboy. It is a rich legacy of tradition and valor, of war and peace.

Once in Mexico, you can glimpse an intriguing blend of Native American traditions and Spanish colonial influences in Mexican culture. Mexicans have for centuries been known for their distinguished ceramics, music, painting, sculpture, textiles and poetry, but after the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, Mexican art and culture saw an amalgamation of Native American arts with the European way of life. This led to the evolution of a unique Mexican culture. Interestingly, the growth of Mexican culture is not limited to Spanish colonization, greatly developed cultures, including those of the Olmecs, Mayas, Toltecs, and Aztecs, existed long before the Spanish conquest.

The colonial rule of the Spaniards, which lasted for nearly 300 years, saw the construction of many churches, which are a blending of Spanish architectural designs with the handiwork of Native American workers who built and decorated the buildings. These Christian churches were supposed to replace the pagan structures. Not just churches, even the basic design of most of Mexico's towns, are influenced by the design of many of the older cities in Spain. The indigenous arts were regarded as an important part of the national revival after the revolution. Renowned artists like Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente Orozco, were commissioned to decorate important public buildings with large, vivid murals on social and historical themes. Many of these buildings exist to this day as thriving communities with magnificent cultural heritages. Mexico City is the country’s cultural epicenter of fine arts, museums, and music, but spectacular cultural treasures can be found throughout the country. Present day Mexico is bursting with murals and littered with galleries of contemporary and historic art, which are a highlight of the country for many tourists. Mexico City and Oaxaca are particularly considered to be booming in contemporary arts scenes. The country's vibrant folk-art tradition has also contributed to Mexican culture in a big way.

There is diversity of customs, language, dress and food in culturally vibrant Mexico. Spanish language is the national language of Mexico. But Mexican Spanish differs from Castilian Spanish, the literary and official language of Spain, in two aspects: in Mexico, the Castilian lisp has more or less disappeared, and numerous indigenous words have been adopted. Around 50 indigenous languages are spoken by about 7 million people in Mexico. A majority of the Mexican population have faith in Catholicism. Christianity was introduced to the residents by the colonial masters. As far as dressing goes, the people of Mexico who live in small villages though normally wear trousers, sombreros, cotton shirts and ponchos, in cities people generally wear fashion borrowed from Europe and the US. Clothing is Mexico changes according to the season. However, one of the hallmarks of Mexican clothing is woven fabrics. Woven clothing is worn by many people in Mexico.

People of Mexico are generally very warm and gracious and believe strongly in their family unit system and religion. Exchanging proper greetings in considered very important among Mexican social milieu. Though Mexican people are hard-working, they are not very rich. They believe in enjoying a reasonable quiet life, taking pleasure in their siestas.

Real Mexican food is quite unlike the dishes found in most Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in other countries. Tortillas, beans and chili peppers are staple food of Mexican people. Tortillas are thin round patties made of pressed corn or wheat-flour dough cooked on griddles. Beans (frijoles) are beans of different varieties and are most commonly boiled and then fried. They can be a main ingredient in a meal or served almost as a garnish. Jugos, which is a kind of fruit juices is a popular drink and is available everywhere. Mexico is also famous for its alcoholic beverages - mezcal and tequila in particular.

Today, Mexican society is slowly evolving from a socialistic government setup to a more democratic society. The government has taken steps toward improving literacy and education in the past few years- an indicator of progress.

Culture of Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is an exotic country situated in the Caribbean. It is indeed a remarkable place to visit. Read to know about its rich culture.

The Dominican Republic is the second-largest nation, after Cuba, in the West Indies. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the island. The Spanish and the French then occupied it. The Taino Indians (Arawaks) group and a small settlement of Caribs around the Bahia de Samana were the island’s indigenous inhabitants. There were around 1 million Indians when the Europeans first made contact with them. They were almost decimated by disease, warfare, and the effects of forced labor by the 1550s. In 1503, African slaves stated arriving. The population was around 150,000 by the nineteenth century. There were about 40,000 African slaves around. Another 40,000 were of Spanish descent. The remaining were mulattoes (mixed white and black) or freed blacks. By the 1980s 11% of the population was black, 16% white and the remaining were mulattoes.

Dominican Food, Language, Religion and Sports

The Dominican Republic today is the result of many different influences over the centuries. The national beer is Presidente and the national drink is rum. The country has a rich art heritage like the Museo de Arto Moderno in Santo Domingo. The dominant language is Spanish and came about due to Spanish colonialism. English is becoming prevalent because of continued emigration to the United States. The Catholic Church is the majority religion here. Other religious groups are the Evangelical Christians and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About 1% of the nation's inhabitants practice pure spiritism. The Taino culture has influenced many foods and medicines. The Tainos generally cook their meat and fish over barbacoas, outdoor charcoal-fueled grills. The African slave trade had a significant influence on the Dominican Republic. The national sport is baseball, which is played with passion. United States marines introduced the sport there. It gradually gained popularity until the 1960s, when Juan Marichal, the Alou Brothers (Felipe, Mateo, and Jesus), and other Dominicans became prominent major league players. All Dominicans speak Spanish, but some who live near the border with Haiti speak Creole English.

Dominican Arts and Literature

Many Dominican painters, including Ramón Oviedo, José Rincón Mora, and Leopoldo Navarro, have produced canvases ranging from exuberant Haitian-style paintings to abstract and Impressionistic works. The tourist trade has led to a renewed interest in Dominican handicrafts, such as ceramics, textiles, wood carvings, jewelry, dolls, and baskets. During the 19th-century Haitian occupation, a nationalist spirit began to develop in Dominican literature, expressed in the poetry of Félix Maria del Monte. Manuel de Jesus Galván continued the trend with his fictional epic Enriquillo: leyenda histórica dominicana (meaning The Cross and the Sword), which depicted Spanish settlers’ brutality toward Taino Indians. In the early 20th century, writers such as Américo Lugo and Gastón Fernando Deligne were more influenced by modernism. Nationalist expressions arose again in 1916 - 1924, during the American (USA) occupation of the country. In the late 20th century, social protest became a major theme, notably in the short stories of the leftist politician Juan Bosch, who wrote largely from exile. Contemporary writers have focused on daily life in the Dominican Republic. Their national dance is called 'merengue'.

Dominican Social Life

Dominican people are amicable and warm-hearted. It is common for them to invite you into their home to share in a meal. They like to smile and laugh and have a jovial spirit. You will often see a group having a lighthearted chat, slapping each other on the back, and generally enjoying life. You will frequently be greeted with a friendly 'Como Estas?', which translates to ‘How are you?’ One thing you will notice when you first arrive is the characteristic ‘manana’ attitude. ‘Manana’ means ‘tomorrow’ in Spanish, but is commonly used by people who don’t want to put a specific time and date on it. Many things do take longer here. People here have a very relaxed attitude. The thing to keep in mind is not to get annoyed too quickly. Openly showing your displeasure to a waiter or anyone else in a service industry is likely to get you less-than-satisfactory service. You’ll get a much better treatment if you smile, keep friendly and use as much Spanish as you can.

Ancient Egyptian Culture

Ancient Egyptian civilization is considered as one of the oldest civilization in the history of mankind. Ancient Egyptian culture is known for their pyramids which are still considered as the wonders in 21st century. Scientist and Architects of the modern world are not able to answer the simple question: " How did they build it?"

The treasure discovered from the pyramids and other monuments put more light on the ancient Egyptian culture. The greatness of this civilization is that it has three thousand years of continuous history.

As the result of the political unification of the major Nile Valley civilizations, the Ancient Egyptian civilization began around 3150BC. After passing through many golden ages and powerful kingdoms of Pharaohs, the era of Ancient Egyptian civilization was ended with the death of legendary queen Cleopatra.

Few points about this great culture are:

• Clothing: Ancient Egyptian people usually wore white linen tunics, drapes and loin clothes. The clothing style was different for different classes of society. Pharaohs and priests used high quality material. The people from high society used to possess gold jewelery to maintain their status.
• Farming: The life of the ancient Egypt was dependent on Nile river. Nile was as equal to the life for them. The farmers of that age are known for the invention of the first irrigation system. Some scientists also believe that Egyptian farmers were the first farmers to use a plough.
• Language: Ancient Egyptian language was at one point the longest surviving and used language. It was used from 3000BC to 11th century. Their writing system was made up of pictures of the real things like birds, tools, etc. These pictures are known as hieroglyph. This language was made up of more than 500 hieroglyphs and is known as hieroglyphics. On the stone monuments or tombs many forms of artistic hieroglyphics can be found.
• Legal System: Pharaohs were the rulers of ancient Egypt. The laws were made and maintained by the Pharaohs. The laws of the ancient time were based on common-sense view of right and wrong. The punishments were decided considering the severity of the crime. Tomb robbery was considered as serious crime and tomb robbers were punished by execution. Sometimes criminals' families were also punished.
• Religion: The ancient Egyptian religion was followed for more than ten thousand years until the establishment of Christianity and Islam. Egyptians believed that spiritual part is the integral part of the human body. The beliefs and rituals developed, changed and merged with time depending on the ruling families. Ancient Egyptians were polytheist. Egyptians worshiped vast array of gods with many different powers. The gods were worshiped mainly for protections. Pharaohs were considered as the connections between material and spiritual realms. Priests worshipped gods on behalf of the Pharaohs. Though Egyptians built the temples, they were not open to the public The systems of oracles was used to communicate with gods.
• Leisure Activities: A variety of games, music and other leisure activities such as hunting and boating were enjoyed by ancient Egyptians. The board games were played for the entertainment. Senet and Mehen were the popular games in ancient Egypt. Music was played and dances were performed during the feasts and festivals. Harps, drums, flutes were quiet popular. Special kind of musical instruments were played during religious ceremonies.

Vietnamese New Year

The more popular name for the Vietnamese New Year is Tet, where as the formal name is Nguyen-dan. Tet is a very important festival because it provides one of the few breaks in the agricultural year, as it falls between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the new crops.

The Vietnamese prepare well in advance for the New Year by cleaning their houses, polishing their copper and silverware and paying off all their debts.

They observe the custom of the kitchen god tao for a week before the New Year, they believe there are three gods represented by the three legs of the cooking equipment used in the kitchen. The middle god is a woman the other two are her husbands. It was once customary to provide the gods with a carp on which to travel. The carp represents the second last stage in the process by which animals are gradually transformed into dragons. They buy the carp from the market, bring it home and place it in a bucket of water to place at the altar of the house before it is later set free.

A special rice pudding is eaten at New Year which must be prepared beforehand. The rice pudding is known as banh Chung or banh Tet. The pudding contains mung beans and pork. New Year foods such as preserved sweets, beef, chicken, fish, oranges, coconuts, grapefruits and other seasonal fruits, especially watermelon. Watermelon is considered lucky because the flesh is red, so the choice of the melon must be taken carefully so as to find one rich in color. The seeds are often dyed red also and served as delicacies.

The last day of the year a plant such as the bamboo tree is planted in the courtyard of their homes. They decorate the tree with bells, flowers, and red streamers. The decorations are not for decorative purposes but are to guard the family against evil spirits.

During the middle of the day an offering is placed on the altar of the household for the ancestor's of the family. This is done every day throughout the New Year Festival and along with that incense is burnt at the altar.

They believed in the custom of the first person through the door in the New Year will reflect the family's future luck and wealth.

On the first day of the New Year they visit all their closest friends, teachers and their parents. The second day they visit their in-laws and other friends who are not as close. Third day they visit the family of their teacher and their more distant relatives.

On the fourth day the spirits return to heaven and business returns to normal.

They also visit their local temple and they bring back flowers or greenery as a gift from the celestial spirits. This gift will be kept in the house all year.

Taiwanese New Year

New Year's Eve is spent bidding farewell to the old year and thanking one's ancestors and the gods for their blessing and protection. Children who have left their homes return on this day to share New Year's Eve Dinner with their families, and for those unable to make the journey, a table setting is placed to symbolize their presence in spirit if not in body. At the end of dinner, the parents and older generation give New Year's money to the children, who have been waiting with growing anticipation for this moment to arrive. Finally, to watch the old year out and bring in the New Year, families stay up until the early hours of New Year's Day.

With the arrival of New Year's Day, life is renewed and the New Year begins to unfold amidst the noise of firecrackers. The Taiwanese begin the day by worshipping their ancestors, following which the streets become filled with people making New Year's visits to friends and relatives and with the lively display of dragon dancing, lion dancing, and other folk activities.

To insure the arrival of luck and wealth in the New Year, several taboos must be heeded. Floors may not be swept and garbage may not be disposed for fear of casting riches out the door, cussing and quarreling is to be avoided at all costs, and anyone who breaks a dish on this day must quickly say Peace for all time, to avoid incurring misfortune.

On the second day of the New Year, married women return to their parents home to visit family, on the fourth day, the gods return to the world of the living, and on the fifth day, many new stores and old businesses open their doors for the first time due to the auspiciousness of the day. The festive air of celebration continues in this manner all the way up to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the New Year before slowly ebbing back to normal life again.

Lantern Festival, also known as Shang Yuan Festival, takes place on the fifteenth day of the first moon. Last in a series of springtime celebrations, this second New Year is widely celebrated by families all around Taiwan.

On the night of the festival, decorative lanterns depicting birds, beasts, historical figures, and any one of a number of different themes are carried by children or adorn temples. To highlight these glowing works of art, competitions are held.

The night sky on Lantern Festival is also illuminated by the Tainan Yanshui Fireworks Display and Taipei Pinghsi Sky Lanterns known together as Fireworks in the Sout

Greek New Year

January 1st is an important date in Greece because it is not only the first day of the New Year but it is also St. Basil's Day. St Basil was one the forefathers of the Greek Orthodox Church. He is remembered for his kindness and generosity to the poor. He is thought to have died on this date so this is how they honor him.

New Year is perhaps even more festive and important then Christmas as it is the main day for gift-giving and for stories of St Basil's kindness to children and the stories of how he would come in the night and leave gifts for the children in their shoes.

Greeks have a Christian name that is the name of a religious figure or a saint. On the religious calendar each day has a different feast and people celebrate their name-day accordingly. January 1 is St Basil's Day which is the day for those named Vassilios and Vassiliki. On name-days and St Basil's day people visit their friends and relatives and exchange gifts, not just for those whose name-day it was but also for those whose name day it isn't. On these visits they have a big feast of food, drinks and music.

There are many special dishes that are prepared at New Year but the most important dish is Vassilopitta or St Basil's cake, inside the cake is placed a silver or gold coin.

The cake is distributed in accordance to a strict order. First piece is for St Basil, the second for the house, the next for the most senior member of the household down to the youngest member and also including absent members. There may also be a piece of cake for the cattle and a large piece for the poor. Whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will be lucky for the next year.

As well as the St Basil's cake there is usually an abundance of food on the table including Kourabiedes Shortbread and thiples, there is always honey on the table and olive-branches, nuts, fresh fruit and other symbols of happiness and wealth.

On New Year’s Eve the children sing carols and also on New Years Day. The first person across the threshold of the house on New Year's Day is said to bring the family good luck throughout the coming year. The father, son or a lucky child was meant to be the first person across the threshold. A lucky child was someone who has both parents still alive.

Greek New Year's Day too many is still September 1 for it is this date that they start of the Greek sowing season, a time of hope and promise.

To start the New Year off right farmers' families take plates of seeds to church for the priest to bless.

In Kos people make first-of-the-year wreaths of pomegranates, grapes, quinces, garlic bulbs, and plane-tree leaves. Just before dawn on September 1 the children carry their households' wreaths down to the shore, the old year's wreaths and the new ones, and they throw the old ones out to sea and immerse the New Year wreaths for good luck. Then they carry seawater and pebbles home in a jar, to serve with the wreaths as protective devices. Tradition calls for exactly 40 pebbles and water collected from the tops of exactly 40 waves.

In Rhodes the first-of-the-year wreaths are made of walnuts, onions, garlic, grapes, tufts of cotton, and cloth bags full of grain from the fields. The year's sowing, it is said, can begin only after the wreath has been hung up.

Girls in Greece once ate something salty before going to bed. They did this because they believed it would help them to dream about their future husband.

The New Year Cake came from the story about Saint Basil who it is said told how he helped the poor people to pay their taxes. The story goes that he took some jewelry from each person and gave it to the Governor. The Governor was sorry for the poor people and so he gave the jewelry back, they only problem was Basil did not know who owned each piece of jewelry. This is when it is told the miracle occurred. He baked each piece inside a loaf and when the loaves were given out, everyone had their own jewelery in the piece of loaf.

Chinese New Yea

The Chinese New Year "Yuan Tan" takes place between January 21 and February 20. The exact date is fixed by the lunar calendar, in which a new moon marks the beginning of each new month.

For many families, it is a time for feasting, visiting relatives and friends, but in the city a spectacular procession takes place. The celebrations are based on bringing luck, health, happiness, and wealth till the next year. They clean their houses to rid them of lasts year's bad luck before the celebrations begin.

There are street parades where thousands of people line the streets to watch the procession of floats in the New Year parade. Dancing dragons and lions weave their way through the crowded streets. The dragon is associated with longevity and wealth. Inside the costumes are 50 dancers, twisting and turning the dragon's long silk body and blinking eyes.

Chinese people believe that evil spirits dislike loud noises so they decorate their houses with plastic firecrackers. The loud noises are intended to frighten away evil spirits and bad luck that the spirits might bring.

They also go to the markets to buy plants and flowers that will bring them good luck for the New Year. The Kumquat tree is considered to be the luckiest because its name is a play on the word lucky.

The peach blossom is also considered to be lucky and the markets are decorated with the delicate blossoms wrapped in tissue paper that stops them getting damaged.

The Tangerine is lucky because of its bright color, but, odd numbers are unlucky, so the tangerines are always given in pairs.

The people in Hong Kong are not allowed to set of real firecrackers so instead they use plastic firecrackers as decorations. Red is the color for clothes and all decorations because it is associated with joy and happiness.

Lucky money is given out in red envelopes with the family name and good-luck message written on them in gold. They are given on New Year by relatives, but, only to the unmarried as well as the children of the family.

The feast on New Year is always big for the first day of the year. If the New Year falls on the year of any particular animal the Chinese try not to eat that animal’s meat.

The first thing people do on Chinese New Year is offering ritual homage to one's ancestors. It is then paid to the gods, followed by younger family members paying their respects to their living relatives.

New clothes are worn, and visits are made to friends, neighbors, and relatives to exchange good wishes of kung-hsi fa-tsai, which means "congratulations and prosperity." As an occasion for reconciliation, it's a time when old grudges are cast aside amidst an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.

One of the most spectacular sights during the Chinese New Year Festival is the dragon and lion dance. The heads of these fearsome beasts are supposed to ward off evil, and the nimble movements of the dancers provide a grand spectacle enjoyable to everyone.

The second day of the Festival is the day that married daughters return to their parents' home. If she is a newlywed, her husband must accompany her and bring gifts for her family.

The third day of the lunar New Year is the day when mice marry off their daughters. Thus, on that night, people are supposed to go to bed early so that the mice can perform their wedding ceremonies.

On the fourth day, the fervor begins to ebb. In the afternoon, people prepare offerings of food to welcome the return of the Kitchen God and his retinue from their trip to the Jade Emperor's court. The Kitchen God's return signifies the end of freedom from spiritual surveillance, "It's never too early to send off the gods, and never too late to invite them back."

Day five almost brings the Chinese New Year festivities to a close. All offerings are removed from the altars and life returns to normal.

Finally, on the ninth day, numerous offerings are set out in the forecourt or central courtyard of temples to celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor, who was believed to have been born immediately after midnight on the ninth day.

Belgian New Year

In Belgium New Year's Eve is called Sint Sylvester Vooranvond or Saint Sylvester Eve. The réveillon or New Year's Eve family parties are thrown. At midnight everyone kisses, exchanges good luck greetings, and drinks toasts to absent relatives and friends. The cities, cafés, and restaurants are crowded with people who bid farewell to the Old Year.

New Year's Day is called Nieuwjaarsdag at this time of the year the children save money to buy decorated paper for writing holiday greetings to parents and god parents. Motifs are golden cherubs and angels, colored roses, and ribbon tied garlands. On New Year's morning the children read what they have written to their parents and god parents.

Belgium farmers wish their animals a Happy New Year for blessings.

Babylonian New Year - Mesopotamia

The people of Mesopotamia celebrate the New Year festival known as Akitu in the springtime. At this time they celebrate the arrival of the spring rains and the renewal of nature, as well as the renewal of the community.

At the festival the story of the creation is read out to remind people of the order of the universe and how it had risen out of the struggle between Marduck the god of heaven and Tiamut goddess of the powers of chaos.

On day three the king is put through the ritual of humiliation. All of his powers are removed and he is hit in the face by a priest, who tells him he must go and pray for forgiveness of his sins. Three days later he reappears and is absolved. His royal insignia is restored, ceremonies are performed to ensure that nature will support him during the coming year and then he takes part in a procession. After the procession the next three days are full of chaotic activities of all sorts.

On the very last day, that is the tenth day of the festival, a banquet was held to celebrate the restoration of order to the society or the community.

Austrian New Year

In Austria 1691 Pope Innocent XII declared January 1 to be New Year's Day.

In Austria, New Year's Eve is called Sylvesterabend which is the Eve of Saint Sylvester. They make a punch made of cinnamon, sugar, and red wine in honor of him. Taverns and inns are decorated with evergreen wreaths. Confetti, streamers, and champagne are also part of New Year's Eve. Evil spirits of the old year are chased away by the firing of mortars called böller. Midnight mass is attended and trumpets are blown from church towers at midnight. People exchange kisses.

There are fireworks in larger cities. In Vienna, the Straus operetta Die Fledermaus is performed every New Year's Day and New Year's Eve at the Vienna State Opera, and an all Strauss concert is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic.

Dinner in Austria is a big occasion on New Year's Day. This is the day they eat suckling pig. The pig symbolizes good luck. Often the table is decorated with little miniature pigs made of marzipan, maple sugar, fudge, cookie dough or chocolate. The four leaf clover is also another symbol used. Sometimes green peppermint ice cream is served in the shape of a four leaf clover after the roast pig course.

New Year's Eve begins with the Carnival season called Fasching that lasts until Lent. Balls and parties are thrown. On New Year's morning mass is attended and children sing carols door to door. They pour molten lead into a bucket of water. Soothsayers read the lead shapes, bleigiessen, and make predictions. It is a bad omen to see an old woman.

Pork and carp are the favorite foods for celebrations. They are considered good luck. Faschingkrapfen which are Carnival jelly donuts are eaten. Good luck symbols called Glücksbringer are exchanged. Glucjsbringer's are chocolate and marzipan candies shaped like pigs, gold coins, chimney sweeps, four-leaf clovers, and horseshoes.

Australian New Year

In Australia they celebrate the New Year on January 1. This day is a public holiday and many people have picnics and camp out on the beach.

They have parties that start on December 31 and at midnight they start to make noise with whistles and rattles, car horns and church bells. To ring in the New Year.

In Australia New Year is a day for outdoor activities such as rodeos, picnic races and surf carnivals.

Armenian New Year

The ancient Armenians had been celebrating the coming of the New Year on the 21st of March. That date is not only the first day of the spring, but also the birthday of the mythical God Vahangn, in whom believed the pagan Armenians about 10 thousand years ago. On this day the Armenians prepared huge feasts to welcome and celebrate the zenith of the nature.

During the 18th Century, January 1st was accepted as a beginning of the New Year. In spite of this change, Armenians in many regions of the country, like Suni, Artzah and Udik, continued to celebrate New Year on Navasard. Gradually at the end of the 20th century all Armenians adopted the 1st of January as the official first day of the New Year.

In Armenia it was a custom that on New Year's Eve, children gathered in-groups and went around their village, singing songs and greeting the New Year by singing to their neighbors. They usually received lots of fruit as present. Decorating a New Year's tree was not one of the customs in the past.

Within the family, it was a custom for the family members to exchange presents, but, a wife never received a present from her husband, as this was considered a disgrace. Children in the family, the youngest ones following the elderly, would go to their father, who had the presents hidden in his coat, and after kissing their father's hand everyone would receive their present.

Parts of the traditional New Year's meal like various dried fruits, raisins, different kinds of nuts, gahin and others would have been previously prepared, but the pastries, cakes and harisan would have been prepared on the 30th of December.

The most important among the pastries was the Darin, which was presenting the New Year. Darin is a big flat bread, which has a coin hidden in it. The person who found the piece with the coin in it was considered the 'lucky' member of the family for the New Year. But the most remarkable meal is the dolma, which is prepared with rice and grape leaves.

Armenian women cook Darin for their family. The bread is kneaded with luck and good wishes pressed into the dough before it is cooked.

And there was no New Year celebrated without Kata, which is made of wheat flour, butter, milk and sugar. As well as the Anush Abur which is a sweet soup which is made of wheat, kernels and dried fruits.

New Year Traditions

How New Year is said around the world

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo means "Good Parties and Happy New Year"
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan

Pakistani wedding Traditions!

Four Day Wedding Ritual of Pakistan

Traditional Pakistani marriage celebrations lasts for four days.

First Day of the Celebration

On the first day, the bride and groom's families each dress in yellow, and celebrate the upcoming nuptials separately. The betrothed couple will not see each other from this day until the ceremony.

Second Day of the Celebration

The second day is reserved for a big celebration called Mendi that includes dancing and singing ancient songs.


On this day, the groom's family delivers the wedding dress to the bride's family, and then her family takes the groom's wedding attire to his family.

The bride's family string hundreds of colored lights over and around their home, creating an ostentatious announcement of their daughter's forthcoming marriage. dries overnight.

Here, the bride-to-be receives a traditional henna staining of her hands and feet. This traditional Muslim art form invokes intricately designs to create beautiful symbolic patterns. The bride-to-be is waited on by her family while the henna stain

of her hands and feet. This traditional Muslim art form invokes intricately designs to create beautiful symbolic patterns. The bride-to-be is waited on by her family while the henna stain dries overnight.

Third Day is the Marriage Ceremony

The wedding rites and ceremony in Pakistan take places on the third day. The Pakistani bride and groom who continue their traditions wear garments of red. The bride's gown is very elaborate, as are her veil and jewelry. Men wear a distinctive traditional turban. After wedding vows are exchanged, the Holy Koran is held over the new bride's head as she joins her husband's family. The official paperwork is signed in the presence of an Islamic priest and the guests.

Fourth and Final Day of Wedding Program in Pakistan

On the fourth day, the couple hosts their first dinner as husband and wife. The groom's family invites all .

Persian Wedding Traditions!

Iran old name was Persian

An Iranian wedding custom began when the country was still called Persia.



The groom would purchase the ceremonial wedding dress for his bride-to-be. This gown consisted of ten feet of sheeting that he would wrap around his intended wife.



During wedding ceremony, it is an Iranian custom for a happily married woman to hold a translucent shawl over the couple's heads.



After the newlyweds have exchanged their wedding vows, crumbs from two decorated sugar cones are shaved over their heads for good luck.

Indonesian Wedding Traditions!

Customary Engagement Etiquette in Indonesia

An Indonesian engagement could easily last for many years. During this time, ceremonial gift giving takes place between the bride and groom's families to strengthen their familiarity.

Indonesian Wedding Ceremony

An Indonesian wedding program is a very important event. Everyone that is even slightly acquainted with the bride and groom may be invited, and this could mean thousands of guests.


The majority of invited guests do not attend the actual ceremony, but it is considered rude to be invited to the wedding reception, to share in the joy of the newlyweds, and to not attend.

Wedding Reception Celebration

There is often an elaborate processional into the reception site, which consists of a long chain of flowers. Professional dancers perform traditional Indonesian dances, while family and guests await the arrival of the newlyweds.

It is customary for the traditional Indonesian bride and groom to greet each guest in a long receiving line, before the reception festivities can begin.

Turkish Wedding Traditions!

The Turkish marriage celebration continues after the wedding ceremony for several days.




The newlywed bride may return home the morning after her wedding vows to see her family and friends, who then might perform a henna ritual on her.


A Muslim wedding program in Turkey lasts from four to seven days, starting with separate celebrations of the bride and groom's families.




From this day on, the couple getting married cannot see each other until their wedding ceremony.


A Turkish bride might wear a beautifully embroidered silk wedding dress with a red velvet cape.