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Customs and celebrations

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Customs and celebrations The country celebrates Republic Day (Jan. 26), Independence Day (Aug. 15) and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (Oct. 2). There are also a number of Hindu festival that are celebrated, including Diwali, a five- day festival known as the festival of lights and marks a time of home- based family celebrations. — Kim Ann Zimmermann, LiveScience Contributor Customs and celebrations The largest festival — also called the Spring Festival — marks the beginning of the lunar new year. It falls between mid-January and mid-February and is a time to honor ancestors. During the 15-day celebration, children receive money in red envelopes for good luck and people thoroughly clean their homes to signify a fresh beginning. The holiday is marked fireworks and parades with dancers dress

Food Like other aspects of Chinese life, cuisine is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. Among the main styles of Chinese cooking are Cantonese, which features stir-fried dishes, and Sezchuan, which relies heavily on use of peanuts, sesame paste and ginger and is known for its spiciness. The Chinese word for rice is fan , which also means meal, and it is a staple of their diet, as are bean sprouts, cabbage and scallions. Because they do not consume a lot of meat — occasionally pork or chicken — tofu is a main source of protein for the Chinese. www.arxiv.uz

Chinese calligraphy. Chinese writing is based on symbols. Credit: ariadna de raadt | Shutterstock View full size image Tea is the beverage of choice. www.arxiv.uz

Chinese folklores, Zhong Kui is a god who exorcises ghosts and evil spirits. As legend has it, he lived in Zhongnan Mountain in the early Tang Dynasty. He was born with a panther-like head, ring-like eyes, an iron face and curly whiskers. Though very ugly, he was a profoundly learned and talented figure. As a man of integrity, he always upheld justice and feared no evil or mischievous being. In 712 when Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne, Zhong Kui went to Chang'an to take the imperial civil examination. Impressed by Zhong's five poems entitled Holding Banquets in Yingzhou, the chief examiner praised him as a prodigy and enrolled him top of all examinees. During the palace examination, however, a treacherous minister named Lu Qi judged Zhong Kui by the appeara

Photo Gallery Artistic Images of Zhong Kui1 Artistic Images of Zhong Kui2 Artistic Images of Zhong Kui3 www.arxiv.uz

Artistic Images of Zhong Kui4 Artistic Images of Zhong Kui5 Artistic Images of Zhong Kui6 www.arxiv.uz

Spring Festival The first day of the first lunar month is regarded as the New Year of the Chinese - the Spring... Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival takes place in May 5 in the lunar calendar. It is a folk festival widely... www.arxiv.uz

King Yama In Chinese folk beliefs, King Yama is the judge of the dead, who presides over the hell and is... Door Gods In former times, door gods of China were divinities Taoists and common people believed to guard... www.arxiv.uz

Taotie The Taotie is a mysterious monster in ancient Chinese mythology. It is said that the monster was... Big-Mouthed... Travellers to Yunnan and Sichuan in southwest China are impressed by the colourfully painted wood... The Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year as it is sometimes called, is a 15-day festival in traditional custom. It can be generally divided into three periods, the days preceding the festival, the festival days and the days after the New Year Day. There are different customs related to each period: www.arxiv.uz

Preceding Days Cleaning and Purchasing Cleaning before the New Year is a tradition in Chinese culture. The grounds, the walls, and every corner of the house need to be cleaned. In Chinese, “Dust” is a homophone for the word “old” (Chen), thus cleaning means to drive the bad luck or the old things away from the house to get ready for a new start. After cleaning people will go shopping and buy new clothes for the festival. Chinese people believe that since this is a year anew they should buy a lot of new things. Purchasing new items symbolizes welcoming new things and getting ready for a new year. Couplets Chinese couplets are typically pasted on doorways as a part of the New Year’s celebration. The custom of pasting couplets can be traced back over one thousand years to the Later Shu Sta

Pasting the “Fu” The Chinese character “Fu”, meaning good fortune or happiness, is used to express people’s good wishes and yearning for the future, so people usually paste it gates or some furniture in the house during the Spring Festival. Pasting the “Fu” upside down, meaning the arrival of happiness or good fortune, is a widely accepted and popular custom among Chinese people. Other auspicious characters and patterns are added to express good wishes. In the ancient time, this character and the couplets were written by hand, but now, people can buy printed ones in shopping malls or supermarkets. Some shops even present these printed works to customers who buy something in their shops. Paper-Cuts Auspicious words or pictures are cut on red paper and pasted on windows to express good wis

New Year Pictures New Year pictures originate in Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) with simple patterns to drive away evil. Now they are a kind of decoration for the festival. New meanings and patterns such as conventions, women and babies have been added to the old pictures. Different places in China have different styles of pictures. Chinese Cards The Cards are prepared before the festival. In the past, some people sent cards to their friends, parents, teachers and other relatives during the happy event especially when they were not going to be with them on New Year’s Eve. Words of blessing are written on the cards similar to Christmas cards. Now, with the advance of technology, the form of cards has changed, the custom of sending cards continues. Chinese Knot www.arxiv.uz

Send Free New Year Cards to your friends! The Gate Gods In Taoism and folk-custom, the Gods of the Gate, one of the most popular gods, guard houses. Ancient people pasted their pictures on the door to drive away evil and keep their houses safe. Now their pictures are pasted on the doors during the Spring Festival. Chinese Knots Chinese knots are prepared to decorate houses during the festival. They were first used to string jade pendants on clothes as decorations and these knots were widely used in different places such as flute, Xiao (a vertical bamboo flute), curtain and so on as decorations. Now these knots are used as gifts containing the blessing for other people or decorations. New Year’s Eve & Day Having reunion dinners, eating dumplings, staying up all night, setting off fire

Eating Dumplings The most important food during spring festival is the dumpling (jiaozi). Made with flour and stuffed with different fillings, dumplings are usually eaten on the Eve of the Spring Festival. Because their shape resembles the Chinese Yuanbao (a kind of money used in ancient times), dumplings are eaten to bring wealth in the coming year. People wrap coins, candy, peanuts, or chestnuts in some of the dumplings to express different blessing for example a coin for wealth, candy for sweet life, peanuts for health and longevity, and chestnuts for vigor. It is also a custom in many parts of China to eat dumplings on Jan. 1st and Jan. 15th of lunar calendar. Learn to Make Dumplings Dumplings www.arxiv.uz

Staying Up: The custom of staying up all night dates back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-289). In ancient times, after the reunion dinner, families members chatted around the stove while waiting for the arrival of the new year. Now they watch CCTV New Year’s Gala. CCTV New Year’s Gala: This is a comprehensive art and performance event on the eve of Spring Festival. Since it was first broadcasted in 1983, it has become a beloved performance for most Chinese people. Performances include basic elements such as skits, cross talk (Xiangsheng), acrobatics, songs and dances. Recently more and more foreign artists are appearing which provides Chinese people a window into western cultures. The performance always ends with the song “Cannot Forget Tonight”. www.arxiv.uz

Firecrackers and Fireworks: Firecrackers are always set off at midnight. In some places, people also set off firecrackers on the morning of the first day. The use of firecrackers can be traced to 2,000 years ago, when people threw bamboo into the fire to drive away a monster called “Nian”. After gunpowder was invented, firecrackers replaced the bamboo. Because fires can be easily started by the firecrackers, many places ban firecrackers except in designated areas. Fireworks are also set off in the evening of Lantern Festival Fireworks during New Year www.arxiv.uz

Lucky Money (Red Envelope): Lucky money is prepared for children by adults and the elderly and given after the reunion dinner. In folk culture, the children will live safe and sound for the whole year if they get lucky money. This custom still remains and the amount of money is increasing. Children use their money to buy books or other school supplies. Some families also save the money for future use or use it to help cultivate in their children the habit of saving. Following Days Paying New Year ’ s Visits A special way for people to express good wishes to each other and an important activity in a new year is to visit their friends and relatives. In ancient times younger people had to salute the elderly by kowtowing; today they salute them by offering good wishes. In response, the older

Temple Fairs Temple fairs are another tradition of the Spring Festival, especially in Beijing. Although they originally were a form of worship connected with temples, now they are more like carnivals and are sometimes held in parks. Traditional cultural performances such as playing diabolo, Chinese traditional magic, puppet shows and so on can be seen. Besides, people can buy all kinds of daily using things at very low prices. During and after Spring Festival, Beijing has temple fairs almost every day in different places such as Wangfujing, Altar of the Earth and Dragon Pool Park. Yangko on Lantern Fesitval Xian City Wall Lantern Show www.arxiv.uz

Enjoying Colorful Festive Lanterns The Lantern Festival marks the end of the 15-day Spring Festival. Festive lanterns in different shapes are displayed on the evening of Jan. 15th of lunar month. In ancient times, these lanterns were made of paper or silk with candles placed inside. Now the materials have changed and the candles have replaced by bulbs or LEDs. In many cities, organizations or local government decorate the gardens and other places with lanterns so you can enjoy their beauty. Shehuo: Shehuo is often part of the Lantern Festival particularly in Northwestern China. Shehuo is a form of worship consisting of both shows and parades. It includes a variety of performances such as the dragon and lion dances, yangko (a popular rural folk dance), and performers on stilts. The She

Family structure and marriage A bride during a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony in Punjab . For generations, India has had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system. It is a system under which extended members of a family – parents, children, the children's spouses and their offspring, etc. – live together. Usually, the oldest male member is the head in the joint Indian family system. He makes all important decisions and rules, and other family members abide by them. www.arxiv.uz

In a 1966 study, Orenstein and Micklin analysed India's population data and family structure. Their studies suggest that Indian household sizes had remained similar over the 1911 to 1951 period. Thereafter, with urbanisation and economic development, India has witnessed a break up of traditional joint family into more nuclear-like families. Sinha, in his book, after summarising the numerous sociological studies done on Indian family, notes that over the last 60 years, the cultural trend in most parts of India has been an accelerated change from joint family to nuclear families, much like population trends in other parts of the world. The traditional large joint family in India, in the 1990s, accounted for a small percent of Indian households, and on average had lower per capita househ

Arranged marriage A bride in India. For centuries, arranged marriages have been the tradition in Indian society. Even today, the majority of Indians have their marriages planned by their parents and other respected family-members. In the past, the age of marriage was young. The average age of marriage for women in India has increased to 21 years, according to 2011 Census of India. In 2009, about 7% of women got married before the age of 18. In most marriages the bride's family provide a dowry to the bridegroom. Traditionally, the dowry was considered a woman's share of the family wealth, since a daughter had no legal claim on her natal family's real estate. It also typically included portable valuables such as jewellery and household goods that a bride could control through

In India, the divorce rate is low — 1% compared with about 40% in the United States. These statistics do not reflect a complete picture, though. There is a dearth of scientific surveys or studies on Indian marriages where the perspectives of both husbands and wives were solicited in-depth. Sample surveys suggest the issues with marriages in India are similar to trends observed elsewhere in the world. The divorce rates are rising in India. Urban divorce rates are much higher. Women initiate about 80 percent of divorces in India. "Opinion is divided over what the phenomenon means: for traditionalists the rising numbers portend the breakdown of society while, for some modernists, they speak of a healthy new empowerment for women." Recent studies suggest that Indian culture is trendin

Wedding rituals A Hindu wedding ritual in progress. The bride and the groom are seated together, receiving instructions from the priest. The sacred square fire container ( yajna kund ) is behind the priest. Weddings are festive occasions in India with extensive decorations, colors, music, dance, costumes and rituals that depend on the religion of the bride and the groom, as well as their preferences. The nation celebrates about 10 million weddings per year, of which over 80% are Hindu weddings . While there are many festival-related rituals in Hinduism, vivaha (wedding) is the most extensive personal ritual an adult Hindu undertakes in his or her life. Typical Hindu families spend significant effort and financial resources to prepare and celebrate weddings. The rituals and process of

After the seventh step and vows of Saptapadi , the couple is legally husband and wife. Sikhs get married through a ceremony called Anand Karaj. The couple walk around the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib four times. Indian Muslims celebrate a traditional Islamic wedding following customs similar to those practiced in the Middle East. The rituals include Nikah , payment of financial dower called Mahr by the groom to the bride, signing of marriage contract, and a reception. Indian Christian weddings follow customs similar to those practiced in the Christian countries in the West. Greetings www.arxiv.uz

Pressing hands together with a smile to greet Namaste - a common cultural practice in India. Namaste (Hindi) , Juhar/Namaskar in Odia , Namaskar, Swagatam (Marathi) or Namaskara ( Kannada ) or Namaskaram ( Telugu , Malayalam ), Vanhakkam ( Tamil ), Nomoshkaar ( Bengali ), Nomoskar ( Assamese ) is a common spoken greeting or salutation when people meet or a form of farewell when they depart. Namaskar is considered a slightly more formal version than Namaste but both express deep respect. It is commonly used in India and Nepal by Hindus , Jains and Buddhists, and many continue to use this outside the ( Indian subcontinent ). In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. However, the same hands folded gesture may be made w

Other greetings include "Jai Jagannath" in Oriya Language, "Ami Aschi" (in Bengali ), "Jai Shri Krishna" , "Ram Ram" , and Sat Shri Akal ( Punjabi , used by followers of Sikhism ), Jai Jinendra , a common greeting used across the Jain community , "Jai Bhim" used by Buddhist Converts in Maharashtra after B. R. Ambedkar and "Nama Shivaya" , "Jai ambe", "Jai Sri Ram" etc. These traditional forms of greeting may be absent in the world of business and in India's urban environment. The handshake is another common form of greeting. Festivals www.arxiv.uz

With India's cultural diversity, the country has more festivals than there are days in a year. With little lamps and lot of care, Karthigai festival celebrates the bond between sisters and brothers in south India. In other parts of India, Bhaiya-Dhuj and Raakhi is celebrated. Sisters wish their brothers happiness and feed them sweets, while brothers give gifts and promise to protect their sisters. Above children enjoying Holi , the "festival of colours". It is a major Indian festival celebrated every spring. In autumn, one of the major festivals is Diwali , the festival of lights. A tug of war , at Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan www.arxiv.uz

India, being a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various religions. The three national holidays in India , the Independence Day , the Republic Day and the Gandhi Jayanti , are celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm across India. In addition, many Indian states and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular religious festivals include the Hindu festivals of Navratri , Diwali , Maha Shivratri , Ganesh Chaturthi , Durga puja , Holi , Ratha-Yatra , Ugadi , Rakshabandhan , and Dussehra . Several harvest festivals such as Sankranthi , Pongal and Raja sankaranti swinging festival " Nuakhai " are also fairly popular. Indian New year festival are celebrated in different part

Some of the Indian states have declared regional holiday's for the particular regional popular festivals; such as Arba'een , Jumu'ah-tul-Wida and Shab-e-Qadar . Christianity is India's third largest religion. With over 23 million Christians, of which 17 million are Roman Catholics, India is home to many Christian festivals. The country celebrates Christmas and Good Friday as public holidays. Regional fairs are also common and festive in India. For example, Pushkar fair is one of the world's largest markets and Sonepur mela is the largest livestock fair in Asia. Cuisine www.arxiv.uz

Indian cuisine is diverse, ranging from very spicy to very mild, varying with seasons in each region. These reflect the local agriculture , regional climate , culinary innovations and cultural diversity. Food in India is sometimes served in thali - a plate with rice, bread and a selection of sides. Above are thali samples. Nimmatnama-i Nasiruddin-Shahi (Book of Recipes), written about 1500 C.E, documents the fine art of making Kheer , a milk based dessert of India: Select the cows carefully; to get quality milk, pay attention to what the cows eat; feed them sugar canes; use this milk to make the best Kheer . Kheer is a traditional Indian sweet dish. Food is an integral part of every human culture. Chang notes that the importance of food in understanding human culture lies in its inf

Indian food is as diverse as India. Indian cuisines use numerous ingredients, deploy a wide range of food preparation styles, cooking techniques and culinary presentation. From salads to sauces, from vegetarian to meat, from spices to sensuous, from breads to desserts, Indian cuisine is invariably complex. Harold McGee, a favourite of many Michelin-starred chefs, writes "for sheer inventiveness with milk itself as the primary ingredient, no country on earth can match India." "I travel to India at least three to four times a year. It's always inspirational. There is so much to learn from India because each and every state is a country by itself and each has its own cuisine. There are lots of things to learn about the different cuisines - it just amazes me. I keep my mind ope

— Harold McGee , author of On Food and Cooking Some Indian desserts from hundreds of varieties. In certain parts of India, these are called mithai or sweets. Sugar and desserts have a long history in India: by about 500 BCE, people in India had developed the technology to produce sugar crystals. In the local language, these crystals were called khanda ( खख ख ख ), which is the source of the word candy . According to Sanjeev Kapoor , a member of Singapore Airlines' International Culinary Panel, Indian food has long been an expression of world cuisine. Kapoor claims, "if you looked back in India's history and study the food that our ancestors ate, you will notice how much attention was paid to the planning and cooking of a meal. Great thought was given to the texture and

India is known for its love for food and spices. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the local produce, cultural diversity, and varied demographics of the country. Generally, Indian cuisine can be split into five categories - northern , southern , eastern, western, and north-eastern. The diversity of Indian cuisine is characterised by differing use of many spices and herbs, a wide assortment of recipes and cooking techniques. Though a significant portion of Indian food is vegetarian , many traditional Indian dishes also include chicken, goat, beef, buffalo, lamb, fish, and other meats. Fish-based cuisines are common in eastern states of India, particularly West Bengal . Despite this diversity, some unifying threads emerge. Varied uses of spices are an integral par

There do exist some restaurants serving cuisines from other regions of India, although these are few and far between. Historically, Indian spices and herbs were one of the most sought after trade commodities. The spice trade between India and Europe led to the rise and dominance of Arab traders to such an extent that European explorers, such as Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus , set out to find new trade routes with India leading to the Age of Discovery . The popularity of curry , which originated in India, across Asia has often led to the dish being labeled as the "pan-Asian" dish. Regional Indian cuisine continues to evolve. A fusion of East Asian and Western cooking methods with traditional cuisines, along with regional adaptations of fast food are prominent in maj

American Traditions Every nation has different customs and traditions, its own way of life. In Europe there are people who have lived in the same house and been in the same job for 20, 30 or more years. That’s not the American way of life. The Americans love change, they call it the spirit of adventure, a spirit that they think is more characteristic of America than of Europe. They like to move away, to change houses and jobs. While the Englishman thinks it is ill mannered to ask private questions, the American doesn’t feel that at all. He will tell you all about himself, his wife and family, and ask where you have come from, what your job is, how you like America and how long you are staying. The American prefers sociability. In his home he doesn’t object to being seen by everyone — he ac

Still another American tradition concerns Halloween. Its origin dates back hundreds of years to the Druid festival. The Druid New Year began on November 1, marking the beginning of winter and the reign of the Lord of Death. The custom of telling ghost stories on Halloween comes from the Druids. On this occasion children usually wear ghost costumes or false faces. They also carve out rounded eyes in pumpkins and put burning candles inside them to make them visible from far away. In Texas, where the West begins, the biggest annual festival — the Fat Stock Show — is held. Its rodeo, hold together with the stock show, is the biggest indoor rodeo on the earth. And, of course, no nation can exist without humour. As they themselves say, an American must have one wife, two cars, three children, fo

St. Joseph's Day (Den Svat é ho Josefa), March 19: Similar to the Irish St. Patrick's Day, the Czech St. Joseph's Day is more subdued, and is celebrated around the same time in March each year. One of the most common Czech male names is Joseph and has been the case for many years. The village of Josefovice at one time had to have at least one person named Joseph in every house. There are other male names in modern times which have take over in popularity, but there are over 260,000 Czech men today named Joseph. St. Joseph's Day is celebrated across the country and televised on Czech media each year. The Burning of the Witches, April 30: www.arxiv.uz

This custom takes place on the evening of April 30th as Czechs build bonfires and create an effigy of the legendary witch who perpetuated winter. The old belief was that witches' powers diminished as the weather warmed. Thus, in burning a witch figure, it was believed that the cold weather could be eradicated much more quickly. The process begins with forming a cross by tying two large sticks together. Next, old shirts, pants and socks would be stuffed with straw and a pointed hat would be placed on top. This mass of clothing would be tied to a broomstick set aside. After dark, over a roaring file, people would then roast sausages, play musical instruments and sing folk songs. After nightfall, the effigy would be brought out in the open and thrown on the fire for all to see it bu

In the years before 1989, the celebrations of Easter were limited to merely the welcoming of Spring. The religious meanings behind Easter were suppressed under the Communist regime. Today, modern Czechs are again strongly aware of the Christian meaning behind Easter, although Easter has still not become a serious religious holiday. Instead, Easter is celebrated as a cheerful and fun holiday. Many villages observe their own special set of Easter customs and traditions. Easter is one of the most joyful holidays in the Czech nation. Easter Eggs and Kraslice Kraslice is the Czech name for the hand-painted and decorated Easter eggs that girls create to give to boys on Easter Monday. There are very elaborate egg decorating skills which take much training to acquire. A variety of materials

Pussywillow and Pomlázka Czech traditional belief is that young, live pussywillow twigs are thought to instill youth and health to anyone who is whipped with them. It is common practice to make a pomlázka (from the word pomladit meaning to make younger), which is a braided whip constructed of pussywillow twigs. For centuries, young boys go caroling on Easter Monday and symbolically whip girls on the legs. Even famers' wives would whip livestock and everyone in the house including men and children. The reason behind this ritual is to chase away illness and bad spirits and bring good health and youth to everyone who gets whipped. In the past, boys made their own pomlázka, but now can purchase these ready- made in local stores and vendor stands. Some men take a short cut and just use

wooden rattles which they then carry in groups as they walk through the village streets. They shake these rattles vigorously to create a racket in an effort to chase away Judas. The same ritual occurs again on Good Friday when the boys not only walk the streets, but stop at every house to solicit money which they later split amongst themselves. www.arxiv.uz

May 1, the Time of Love: Karel Hynek Mácha (1810-1836), a famous Czech romantic poet wrote a beautiful love poem about the tragic love of two young people which has become a poetic masterpiece of the Czech romantic period. Each year, on May 1st, couples gather at the Karel Hynek Mácha statue in Petřín Park where they lay bouquets of flowers and spend some time. Petřín Park is very romantic in spring when cherry trees are in bloom. May 1st is now a national holiday. St. Martin's Day, November 11th At 11 AM sharp on November 11th, almost every winery and restaurant in the Czech Republic opens the first wines that are produced that year. These are the young wines. This celebration is very similar to the one in France called the French Beaujolais Noveau. However, the Czech ri

Christmas Eve ( Štědrý den) For many Czechs, Christmas Eve is the most pleasurable day of the Christmas holiday season. Štědrý den literally translates as "generous day" stemming from the abundance of food that is prepared and served on Christmas Day. Even the poorest of families would traditionally make sure that their homes were filled with food on this day. Traditional Czech Christmas ornaments decorate the Christmas trees and preparations are made for the most festive dinner of the year. Christmas Dinner www.arxiv.uz

No person was allowed to sit with their back to the door. Alcohol was forbidden to be consumed on Christmas Eve. Everyone would rise from the table at exactly the same time as it was believed that the first person to leave the table would be the first person to die in the coming year. Everyone was required to eat all food on their plates. Any remaining food on plates would be buried beside trees to ensure they would bear much fruit in the coming year. Table legs would be tied with rope to protect the home from thieves in the new year. Christmas dinner would consist of nine courses, including carp, potato salad, soup, bread and honey. There are over a hundred different recipes to prepare carp. Note about Carp: Carp is raised in manmade ponds and then sold on the streets from large tubs

Christmas Gifts After eating Christmas dinner, Czechs will traditionally sing Christmas carols at the table before moving the party to the Christmas tree where people will begin to open gifts. Gifts are not believed to be brought by Santa Claus, but instead by Baby Jesus who enters the house through the window. Just like Santa, Jesus received wish list letters from Czech children a few weeks prior to Christmas. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve A Christmas Eve midnight mass is held at many churches. Some masses begin as early as 10:00 PM, and earlier masses are held for children in the afternoon. December 25 and 26 Christmas in the Czech Republic stretches over until the end of December 26th. These two days www.arxiv.uz

are referred to as the First and Second Christmas Holidays, or the Christmas Feast and St. Stephen's Day. In the past, St. Stephen's DAy was a day of visiting homes and singing Christmas Carols, but this has ceased. Today, most families stay home or visit homes of relatives. Miscellaneous Customs Czechs enjoy meeting in pubs and sharing Czech beer. These gatherings provide meaningful times with friends and family. Insert istock image #8790846 Czech people enjoy barbeques in summer months. It is considered rude to point at someone using an index finger www.arxiv.uz

It is customary to remove one's shoes before entering someone's home. Guests are offered house slippers called pantofle. Czechs who reside in big cities year round often retreat to their summer houses during warm months. www.arxiv.uz

Village of the Year This is a nationwide competition that aims to draw attention to small municipalities and to encourage people of small communities to take active part in the development of their home. There has been an award given to the village of the year since 1995. This is done to point out the importance of the countryside to the public. This event is organized by the Association for Rural Development of the Czech Republic, the Ministry for Regional Development, the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. Municipalities of village-like character with a total population of up to 6300 residents can participate in the competition. In total, 305 municipalities participated in the 17th Village of the Year compet

9 Does Britain have a National Day? National Days in Britain are not celebrated to the same extent as National Days in countries like France or America. Scotland’s National Day is St. Andrew’s Day (30 November), which has now largely been overshadowed by Burns’ Night. St. Andrew, one of Christ’s twelve apostles, is the patron saint of Scotland. Some of his bones are said to have been brought to what is now St. Andrews in Fife during the 4th century. Since medieval times the X-shaped saltire cross upon which St. Andrew was supposedly crucified has been the Scottish national symbol. St. David’s Day (1 March) is the national day of Wales. St. David (c.520-588), the patron saint of Wales, was the founder and first abbot-bishop of Menevia, now St. David’s in Dyfed, South Wales. The day is comme

“ I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot: Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge Cry ‘God for Harry! England and Saint George!’” Today the red cross of St. George still flies above every English parish church to mark the saint’s day. St. Patrick’s Day (17th March) is an official Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland. The work of St. Patrick (c.389-c.461) was a vital factor in the spread of Christianity in Ireland. Born in Britain, he was carried off by pirates, and spent six years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. The day is marked by the wearing of shamrocks (a clover-like plant), the national badge of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland www.arxiv.uz

10 How do the British celebrate traditional and religious holidays? Christmas Day In Britain, Christmas Day is normally spent at home, with the family, and it is regarded as a celebration of the family and its continuity. Preparations start well in advance, with the sending of Christmas cards and installation of a decorated Christmas tree in a prominent place in the home. Although it is now a firmly established tradition, the Christmas tree was first popularised by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who introduced the custom from his native Germany in 1840. Some houses are decorated with evergreens (plants which do not lose their leaves in winter); a wreath of holly on the front door and garlands of holly, ivy and fir indoors. Bunches of mistletoe are often hung above doorways - any

The excitement begins for children on Christmas Eve, when they hang up their stockings (an old sock or, more ambitiously, pillow cases) around the fireplace or at the foot of the bed for Father Christmas to fill with presents. The English Father Christmas or Santa Claus is first recorded in his traditional red and white outfit in a woodcut of 1653, but the story of Santa arriving in his reindeer-drawn sleigh and descending down the chimney to fill children’s stockings with presents derives from the USA. Practically everyone sits down to a Christmas dinner in the early afternoon of Christmas Day, traditionally roast turkey, but some families prefer goose or roast beef. The turkey is followed by the Christmas pudding, brought to the table flaming hot. Brandy is poured over the pudding, then

New Year New Year is often launched with a party - either at home with family and friends or a gathering in the local pubs and clubs. Merrymaking begins on New Year’s Eve and builds up to midnight. The stroke of midnight is the cue for much cheering, hooting, whistling, kissing and the drinking of toasts. Tradition has it that the first person over the threshold on New Year’s Day will dictate the luck brought to the household in the coming year. This is known as First Footing. At midnight on 31 December, particularly in Scotland and northern England, ‘first footers’ (traditionally a tall, dark, good-looking man) step over the threshold bringing the New Year’s Luck. The first footer usually brings a piece of coal, a loaf and a bottle of whisky. On entering he must place the fuel on the fire

Halloween Halloween (31 October) and its associations with witches and ghosts derives from the Celtic Old Year’s Night - the night of all witches, when spirits were said to walk the earth. Witches and supernatural beings are still remembered all over Britain, when bands of children roam the streets in ghoulish costumes, carrying Halloween lanterns - pumpkins hollowed out with a ghostly face cut into one side, which glows when a candle is placed inside. In recent years the custom of ‘trick or treating’ has gained in popularity. Although we commonly associate this practice with America, the custom originated in England as ‘Mischief Night’ when children declared one ‘lawless night’ of unpunished pranks (usually May Day eve or Halloween). Halloween parties (usually for children) include games

Easter Easter day is named after the Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre, whose feast took place at the spring equinox. Easter is now the spring feast of the Christian church, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. It falls on a Sunday between 22 March and 25 April, according to the church calendar. Traditionally Easter eggs, dyed and decorated or made of chocolate, are given as presents symbolising new life and the coming of spring. Egg rolling competitions take place in northern Britain on Easter Monday; hard- boiled eggs are rolled down a slope, with the winner being - according to local preference - the one which rolls the furthest, survives the most rolls, or is successfully aimed between two pegs! The best publicised event takes place at Avenham Park in Preston, Lancashire. Easter para

In Scotland there are nine public holidays: New Year’s Day, January 2, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily 1 May), Spring and Summer Holidays at the end of May and the beginning of August respectively, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In Northern Ireland there are seven bank holidays: New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day (17 March), Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily 1 May), Spring and Late Summer Holidays at the end of May and August respectively, and Boxing Day. There are also two common law holidays on Good Friday and Christmas Day and a public holiday on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (12 July). There are holidays in lieu of those public holidays which fall at weekends. Shops, museums and other public attractions, such as historic houses and sports centres,

confessions or ‘shrifts’ from which the name ‘Shrove Tuesday’ derives, and took their last opportunity to eat up all the rich foods prohibited during Lent. Thus all eggs, butter and fat remaining in the house were made into pancakes, hence the festival’s usual nickname of Pancake Day. Though the strict observance of Lent is now rare, everyone enjoys eating the customary pancakes and some regions celebrate the day with pancake races. The oldest and most famous is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire. The race is run over 415 yards (about 380 metres) by women over sixteen, wearing a cap and apron. They must ‘toss’ their pancake (flip it over in the frying pan) at least three times during the race. The winner receives a kiss from the Pancake Bell Ringer - church bells were traditionally rung to r

This money is supposedly used as a contribution towards their fireworks. 14 What is the significance of the poppy and when is it worn? The poppy is traditionally worn on Remembrance Day in memory of service personnel who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and subsequent conflicts like the Falklands War and the Gulf War. The red poppies represent the poppies that grew in the cornfields of Flanders in the First World War where many thousands of soldiers lost their lives. The paper poppies that are worn today are made by ex-service personnel and are sold by representatives of the Royal British Legion, an organisation of ex-servicemen and women. Remembrance Day falls on the nearest Sunday to 11 November - the day peace was declared. The day is commemorated by church services a

15 What are Britain’s national flowers? The national flower of England is the rose. The flower has been adopted as England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses - civil wars (1455-1485) between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose). The Yorkist regime ended with the defeat of King Richard III by the future Henry VII at Bosworth on 22 August 1485, and the two roses were united into the Tudor rose (a red rose with a white centre) by Henry VII when he married Elizabeth of York. The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover which is said to have been used by St. Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The Scottish national flower is the t

16 Where can I find out about British folk songs and folk tales? Numerous books have been written about British folk tales, and most libraries in Britain stock a selection of books on both local and national folklore. Alternatively, contact: The English Folk Dance and Song Society have an extensive library, open to the public (please telephone for details). A further valuable source of information is the library of the: Access to the library is by a day pass issued to visitors, or by membership of the Society. Please write for details. 17 What are Britain’s national costumes? England www.arxiv.uz

Although England is a country rich in folklore and traditions, it has no definitive ‘national’ costume. The most well-known folk costumes are those of the Morris dancers. They can be seen in many country villages during the summer months performing folk dances that once held ritualistic and magical meanings associated with the awakening of the earth. The costume varies from team to team, but basically consists of white trousers, a white shirt, a pad of bells worn around the calf of the leg, and a hat made of felt or straw, decorated with ribbons and flowers. The bells and ribbons are said to banish harm and bring fertility. Morris dancing was originally an all-male tradition, but now some teams feature women dancers too. www.arxiv.uz

Scotland Perhaps the most famous national costume in Britain is the Scottish kilt with its distinctive tartan pattern. The kilt is a length of woollen cloth, pleated except for sections at each end. The kilt is worn around the waist, with the pleats at the back and the ends crossed over at the front and secured with a pin. www.arxiv.uz

Wales The national costume of Wales is based on the peasant costume of the 18th and 19th centuries. Because Wales was isolated geographically from the rest of Britain, many of the individual traits of costume and materials were retained in Welsh dress long after they had died out elsewhere. Unlike Scotland, the distinctive folk costume of Wales was worn by the women, consisting of a long gown (betgwn) or skirt, worn with a petticoat (pais - the favoured colour was scarlet) and topped with a shawl folded diagonally to form a triangle and draped around the shoulders, with one corner hanging down and two others pinned in front. Aprons were universally worn, sometimes simple, sometimes decorated with colourful embroidery. The most distinctive part of the costume was the tall black ‘Welsh hat’

Northern Ireland Early Irish dress, based on Gaelic and Norse costumes, consisted of check trews for men, worn with a fringed cloak or mantle, or a short tunic for both men and women, worn with a fringed cloak. This style of dressing was prohibited in the 16th century under sumptuary laws, passed to suppress the distinctive Irish dress and so overcome Irish reluctance to become part of England. In particular, the wearing of the fringed cloak was forbidden, as was the wearing of trews or any saffron-coloured garment (saffron yellow was an important feature of Irish costume). Although a strong tradition of wearing folk costume does not survive in Northen Ireland today, folk music and folk dancing are very important. 18 What is Burns’ Night and how is it celebrated? Commemorating the birthd

The words of ‘Auld lang syne’ which means literally old long since, or ‘long ago’, are: Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min’? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o’ auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne! Roughly, the verses mean: Should old friends be forgotten, and never brought to mind (remembered)? Should old friends be forgotten, and days of long ago. For (the sake of) long ago, my dear, for (the sake of) long ago, We’ll drink a toast for the sake of long ago! www.arxiv.uz

19 What are the most common superstitions in Britain? There are many superstitions in Britain, but one of the most widely-held is that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder - even if it means stepping off the pavement into a busy street! If you must pass under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you’ve seen a dog. Alternatively, you must lick your finger and make a cross on the toe of your shoe, and not look again at the shoe until the mark has dried. Another common superstition is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house - it will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. Anyone opening an umbrella in fine weather is unpopular, as it inevitably brings rain! The number 13 is said to be unlucky for

Customs and traditions Customs and Traditions in Australia Even though fully two thirds of the population lives in the capital cities of the states and territories, the romantic image of the Aussie jackaroo (that's cowboy , to you) persists. That's probably because, despite the isolation of the outback, it still takes up a staggering 99 percent of the nation [source: DFAT ]. This sprawl, and the gigantic cattle and sheep ranches (called stations )-- some as large as the state of Texas -- has allowed Australians to refine their image as rugged stewards of the land [source: DFAT ]. Australians tend to embrace their environment proudly, native or not. Fully one- quarter of the Australian population is foreign-born, an impressive number compared to the United States' 13 perc

ANZAC Day (April 25) in Australia is a more solemn occasion. It commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915. They fought the Turkish for control of the Dardanelles and eventually had to withdraw after heavy losses. Australians use the anniversary as a memorial day for the armed forces in general, and dawn services honor their fallen. Aboriginal and contemporary Australian cultures share an understanding of the importance of plant and animal life to the nation. Australia has about 1 million native species, compared to the United States' measly 21,715 [source: DFAT , Osborne ]. In 1994, a Wollemi Pine was found that is believed to be one of a species that existed at the time of dinosaurs and has been around for 65 mi

The culture of Australia is rich in both Indigenous and European tradition. Australians love to celebrate their heritage, and most major cities hold unique arts festivals with dance, outdoor music, cinema, food, and wine, at various points throughout the year. Generally, these festivals are completely free of charge, and offer an exciting way to experience the culture of Australia. The country also commemorates a set of national Australian holidays, many with their own celebrations. National Australian Holidays One holiday in Australia, observed June 8th to allow a break before winter, is the Queen's Birthday. Generally, schools and government offices will be closed on this day. Another day on which government buildings will likely be closed is January 26, Australia Day. Australia Da

Culture of Australia The modern culture of Australia combines both European tradition and Aboriginal legacy. While the impact of European settlers on the indigenous population of Australia was, for the most part, catastrophic, there are remaining arts and festivals celebrating Aboriginal life and culture. European settlers brought with them many food and lifestyle traditions, and the Australia of today is a combination of these influences, as well as current American influences. Australian holidays tend to reflect this mixture. Festival and Events in Australia There are a myriad of culture and art festivals throughout Australia. Most of these festivals are totally free of charge, and offer an international visitor the chance to experience some of the celebrations that are unique to Austral

One traditional custom in African culture is that of lobola , where the groom pays the father of the bride in order to compensate for the ‘loss’ of the man’s daughter. Traditionally, lobola was paid in cattle, a valued commodity in many African cultures, but today many modern couples pay lobola in cash. Lobola is intended to bring together two families, fostering mutual respect. It also indicates that the groom is financially capable of supporting his wife. The negotiations of lobola can take up to two days. The wedding is held at night when the moon is full..... The wedding is held at night when the moon is full. It is considered bad luck if the wedding takes place when the moon is not bright. The wedding celebrations can last several days but the bride’s parents do not attend because

Circumcision Dance In African culture , a child learns at an early age how to become a good member of his tribe. Each member of the tribe belongs to an age group that has special services within the tribe. Each person is expected to contribute to the tribe by doing his share of the work and obeying its customs. The rite of passage..... The rite of passage is a controversial African custom that varies from tribe to tribe. Circumcision, which is usually performed on males is, in some cultures, performed on females as well. The ritual is usually spread over a period of several months and the one being circumcised is forbidden from screaming or crying because doing so is considered cowardly behaviour. Circumcision.... The African customs of tribal circumcision has often caused mutilation and

Click on the links below for detailed information on these topics relating specifically to Zimbabwe.. Flags National Flag of South Africa since 1994 National Flag of the Union – authorised by the Union Flags and Nationality Act 1927, and introduced in 1928. Renamed the "National Flag of the Republic" in 1961, it was used until 1994. National Flag – the current flag, introduced in 1994. Merchant ensign Red Ensign defaced with the shield of the coat of arms – authorised by the Admiralty in 1910, for use on South African-registered merchant ships, and also used as an unofficial "national flag". From 1912, the shield was placed on a white disc. The ensign was discontinued in 1960. Since 1960, the national flag has been used as the merchant ensign. Civil ensign Blue Ensig

National Anthem • God Save the King (Queen) – used from 1910 to 1957. • Die Stem van Suid-Afrika – used from 1938 to 1957 as joint anthem with God Save the King (Queen) ; from 1957 to 1994 as the sole national anthem; and from 1994 to 1997 as joint anthem with Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika . • Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika – used from 1994 to 1997 as joint anthem with Die Stem . • National Anthem of South Africa – shortened versions of Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem , with altered words, combined into a single anthem, and used since 1997. Natural symbols National flower: King Protea National tree: Real Yellowwood www.arxiv.uz

National animal: Springbok National fish: Galjoen National bird: Blue Crane Historical public holidays South Africa's present calendar of public holidays was introduced in 1994. During the period between Union in 1910, and the establishment of the present republic in 1994, the following were the official public holidays: www.arxiv.uz

Date English Name Period 1 January New Year's Day 1910–present The Friday before Easter Sunday Good Friday 1910–present The Monday following Easter Sunday Easter Monday Family Day 1910–1979 1980–present 6 April Van Riebeeck 's Day Founder's Day 1952–1974 1980–1994 1st Friday in May Workers' Day 1987–1989 1 May Workers' Day 1990–present 40th day after Easter Ascension Day 1910–1993 24 May Victoria Day / Empire Day 1910–1951 31 May Union Day Republic Day 1910–1960 1961–1993 2nd Monday in July Queen's Birthday 1952–1960 10 July Family Day 1961–1974 1st Monday in August King's Birthday 1910–1951 1st Monday in September Settlers' Day 1952–1979 10 October Kruger Day 1952–1993 16 December Dingaan's Day Day of the Covenant Day of the Vow Day of Reconciliation

New Zealand Flag Flag of New Zealand Disclaimer New Zealand Flag Description The flag of New Zealand is blue with the British Union Jack in the upper left corner (the canton), and four red stars making up the Southern Cross. The Union Jack, which is the flag of Great Britain, reflects New Zealand's history as a British colony. The flag of New Zealand is very similar to the flag of Australia. The difference between the Australian flag and the flag of New Zealand is that Australia's flag features six stars that are white rather than four stars that are red. Five of the stars on Australia's flag are seven- pointed, and the sixth is a five-pointed star. The stars on New Zealand's flag are all five-pointed stars. www.arxiv.uz

Food Pavlova , a popular New Zealand dessert, garnished with cream and strawberries. Main article: New Zealand cuisine See also: New Zealand wine Māori cuisine [ edit ] Pre-European Māori cuisine was derived from that of tropical Polynesia , adapted for New Zealand's colder climate. Key ingredients included kūmara (sweet potato), fern root, taro , birds and fish. Food was cooked in hāngi (earth ovens), roasted and, in geothermal areas, boiled or steamed using natural hot springs and pools. Various means of preserving birds and other foods were also employed. Māori were one of the few peoples to have no form of alcoholic beverage . Following the arrival of British settlers, Māori adopted many of their foods, especially pork and potatoes, the latter of which transformed the Māo

Pākehā cuisine The majority of Pākehā are of British descent, and so it is not surprising that Pākehā cuisine is very similar to British cuisine . Nineteenth century British settlers in New Zealand tried as much as possible to reproduce the foods of their homeland. A major difference between British and Pākehā food was that meat was much more readily available to all social classes in New Zealand. A highly carnivorous diet remains a part of Pākehā culture, although red meat consumption has dropped in the last few decades. Like the British, Pākehā have traditionally been very fond of sweet foods, and the best of traditional Pākehā cooking consists of cakes, scones, muffins and desserts. In recent decades Pākehā have discovered 'ethnic' food, and a ' foodie ' culture has e

National public holidays In New Zealand there are two types of national public holidays: those that are 'Mondayised' and those that are not. Christmas and New Year are "Mondayised" holidays, so if these fall on a weekend that employee does not normally work then the holiday is transferred to the following Monday or Tuesday. If the employee would normally work on the particular weekend then it remains a traditional holiday and the employee is entitled to that day off on pay. If they normally work on both days, they are only entitled to the traditional holiday and the Mondayised holiday is treated as a normal work day. Other public holidays are only taken on the day they fall and only employees who would have otherwise worked that day are entitled to a paid day off. All worke

Statutory holidays Statutory holidays are legislated by several Acts of Parliament, particularly the Holidays Act 2003. Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day are always commemorated on the exact date, as they commemorate specific historical events. The other statutory holidays are Mondayised, when they occur on the weekend. For example, if 1 January or 25 December is a Saturday or Sunday, then the following Monday is the statutory holiday for New Year's Day or Christmas Day. If 2 January or 26 December is a Saturday, then the Day after New Year's Day or Boxing Day is celebrated on the next Monday. If either of these days occurs on a Sunday, then the holiday occurs on the following Tuesday, as the Monday will have been used for New Year or Christmas. This situation has been complicated by t

Date Holiday 1 January 1 New Year's Day 2 January 2 Day after New Year's Day 6 February 3 Waitangi Day The Friday before Easter Sunday Good Friday The day after Easter Sunday Easter Monday 25 April 3 Anzac Day The first Monday in June Queen's Birthday The fourth Monday in October Labour Day 25 December 1 Christmas Day 26 December 2 Boxing Day (1) or the following Monday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday (2) or the following Monday if it falls on a Saturday, or the following Tuesday if it falls on a Sunday (3) or the following Monday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday from 2015 (Anzac Day) and 2016 (Waitangi Day) www.arxiv.uz

Provincial anniversary days Section 44 of the Holidays Act 2003 specifies as public holidays the anniversary days of each province (or the day locally observed as that day) to celebrate the founding days or landing days of the first colonists of the various colonial provinces. These are only celebrated within each province, not nationwide. Exact dates of the various province's anniversary days are not specifically stated in the act, and are instead determined by historical convention and local custom. The regions covered are set by provincial district (as they stood when abolished in 1876), plus Southland , the Chatham Islands , South Canterbury and Northland . The actual observance days can vary even within each province and is due to local custom, convenience or the proximity

Provincial District includes Actual Day Observance Day Wellington Province Wellington , Manawatu , Wanganui 22 January Monday nearest to the actual day Auckland Province Waikato , King Country , Coromandel , Bay of Plenty , Gisborne / East Coast 29 January Monday nearest to the actual day Northland Whangarei 29 January Monday nearest to the actual day Nelson Nelson , Tasman , Buller and parts of North Canterbury 1 February Monday nearest to the actual day Otago Province Dunedin , Queenstown 23 March Monday nearest to the actual day (this can vary if it would otherwise coincide with Easter Monday) Southland Invercargill , Bluff , Milford Sound , Fiordland 25 March Easter Tuesday Taranaki (New Plymouth) New Plymouth 31 March Second Monday in March — to avoid Easter South Canterbu

Annual leave and non-working days In addition to the above holidays, from 1 April 2007 all workers must be given four weeks annual leave, often taken in the summer Christmas – New Year period. In many industries there is a Christmas – New Year shutdown of business. With only three working days between Christmas and New Year, many workers take this time off, as they can have a ten-day summer break for only three days leave. Many retail outlets also hold sales at this time to stimulate business while others close down due to low demand for services. The days from 25 December to 15 January are not considered to be working days for official government purposes. The public counters of most government departments do open on weekdays during this period, though often only a limited service may be

Proposals for new holidays From time to time, there have been proposals to make Matariki an official holiday. In 2006, Māori Language CommissionerHaami Piripi made such a proposal. Following the death of Sir Edmund Hillary , the Green Party proposed a public holiday in his honour. Proposals for abolition of holidays From the 1950s to the 1970s it was frequently suggested that the Provincial Anniversary holidays be abolished, as the Provinces ceased to exist in 1876. Before Waitangi Day was made a national public holiday it was sometimes suggested that a Waitangi Day holiday should replace the anniversary days, and the Waitangi Day Act 1960 made provision for this. Waitangi Day was eventually made an additional holiday and the provincial holidays lived on, primarily because most

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