Traditions and Customs

from all over the world by Mislav Popovic

July 2009

Christmas Traditions

Christmas in Africa more or less managed to stay free of commercialism. Local people kept most of true Christmas joy and spirituality.

Christmas in Europe

European Christmas traditions vary from Christmas tree and Nativity scene to, for example, rather peculiar Catalan characters called Caganer. Many traditions combine Christianity and local folkore. Least but not last, Christmas is the time of year when tables are full of different delicacies.

Death Rites

Death anniversary

Remembering those who are no long with us is a common thing in many civilisations. Several Asian nations observe something what is called death anniversary or death day.

Chinese funeral

A long, lit joss stick is carried during the funeral procession. This stick is is a symbol of the soul. Paper figures of cars, ships etc. are sometimes carried as symbols of family wealth.

European death rites

Death is still a big mystery. All over Europe there are numerous death related traditions. They are a combination of religous rituals, folk beliefs and prejudices.

Festivals

Loy Krathong

In November Thai people release tiny Krathong rafts down the river as a sign of gratitude for life. Such a scene is really beautiful.

Diwali

It is known as the “festival of lights”. The festival represents symbolic victory of good over evil. The lamps lit during this festival celebrate humanity and hope.

Lifestyle

Piñata

It has a shape of an animal or a star. There is something hidden inside.

Palio di Asti

The start of the race is at 4.00 pm. Riders compete bareback meaning they ride with no saddle. There are three qualifying races. Seven horses participate in each of them.

Strange Traditions

Life on The Moon

People have always wondered what's up there. Is there someone living on the Moon?

Leprechaun

Leprechaun always has two leather pouches with him. In one of these pouches there is a magical silver coin that returns back after being spent on something. The gold coin in his other pouch is used as bribe to get him out of trouble.

Foot binding

First both feet were soaked in mixture of herbs and animal blood. All toe bones were broken. Toenails were cut to a minimum size to prevent infection.

People

Aborigines

They are the native population of Australia. Their rich culture is based on the Dreamtime.

Maori

Most people know them for their Haka dance. They often decorate their bodies with amazing traditional tatoos. Have you ever tried their delicious hangi?

Wedding Traditions

Wedding ducks

Ducks and wedding. Is there a connection? In Korea they think so.

Jewish wedding traditions

Jewish wedding ceremony is held under the “chupah” (canopy). The chupah represents new home of the happy couple. The fact that the chupah has no walls shows the will of bride and groom to welcome their cousins and friends.

Tamil wedding

The Oonjal is one of many traditions observed during every Tamil wedding. Several married women are holding some rice balls and walk around the couple. They do it three times in clockwise direction and anti-clockwise direction. Then they throw the balls in four directions to scare off the evil spirits.

Sikh wedding

"Juti Chupai" is a funny tradition held during the wedding ceremony. Girls from the bride's family try to steal groom's shoes and hide them. But there is also the other side. Boys from the groom's family try to prevent it.

Food And Drink

Tej

Tej is the traditional Ethiopian honey wine. Its sweetness should not deceive you. Depending on the time of fermentation it has quite high alcohol content.

Sake

When in Japan you'll be certainly offered a cup of sake. Depending on the person who drinks it and the time of year, sake can be served chilled, at room temperature or heated. Sake is drunk from small traditional cups called “choko.”

Kimchi

Kimchi is a low calory Korean dish. It is rich in vitamins and minerals. There are over 100 varieties of kimchi.

Kushari

This cheap dish is available all over Egypt. There are two varieties of kushari. The vegetarian one and the one with some fried liver or shawarma meat as an extra topping.

Colcannon

There is an old Irish tradition of serving colcannon on the Halloween together with some coins hidden in the dish. They suppose to bring good luck to the finder. Colcannon has its place in the traditional Irish music.

Shchi

This cabbage soup has been part of the Russian cuisine for over thousand years. It can also be found in some parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

Fish and chips

Fish and chips are one of the main food symbols of the United Kingdom and Ireland. This dish includes deep-fried fish and deep-fried chipped potatoes. It has been selling since the mid 19th century.

Clothes

Kimono

Name a few words that you associate with Japan. I bet that kimono is one of them.

Kilt

Kilt is usually made of woolen cloth. Scottish kilt has a tartan pattern. There are many different tartan patterns or “setts.”

Djellaba

Colour of the Djellaba can tell you whether a person wearing it is married or not.

Dirndl

There is no real festivity in the Alpine region without the Dirndl.

Deel

Elegance and practicality from Central Asia.

Sarong

Why don't you wear something simple, practical and beautiful?

Chapan

Winters in Central Asia are often very cold. That is why locals wear chapan.

Footwear

Geta

In time of summer heat your feet need something light and natural. Geta may be just perfect for you.

Hairstyle

La Peineta and Mantilla

These fashion accessories are important symbols of traditional Spain. You can see them on every procession or at many weddings.

Perak

Perak includes a leather strap or a piece of dark fabric covered with semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli and turquoise. This stones represents dieties of the local religion. It is believed that these stones can protect from the troubles of this world.

Headgear

Tagelmust

This cotton garment is worn by Tuareg adult men as both a veil and turban. The cloth can be more than 10 metres long. The tagelmust is taken off only in front of members of close family.

Mexican Sombrero

Protect yourself from the strong sunlight by wearing the Mexican Sombrero.

Aso Oke hat

One of the most popular African hats.

Kasa – traditional Japanese hats

Takuhatsugasa hat is made from woven rice straw. It protects the person wearing it from strong sunlight and rain. Its shape also enables kind of protection of your identity as it partly covers your face.

Dastra - Sikh turban

All Amritdhari (baptized) Sikhs must wear a dastra. For the Sikhs a dastra is much more than an ordinary headgear. Dastra is a symbol of faith, honour, courage and self-respect.

Jewellery

Dzi bead

Some beads can protect you or even heal you.

Meenakari

The magic of Indian jewellry.

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Folk Beliefs

A Short guide to witches in Catalonia

Full moon of October and January is time when witches in Catalonia get mark on their buttocks. This "mark of the devil" is a result of strong bite of devil's teeth.

Strange Russian beliefs

Russians believe that if you want to return to a place of your departure you should sit on your luggage for few moments. If you a passing by a cemetery you should touch one of your buttons.

Omamori

It is believed that omamori can bring good luck or help in achieving certain goal in life. It can also be a protection against evil spirits.

Ladybug

In Belgium there is a belief that a single girl who finds a ladybug on her body will be married within a year. In Switzerland kids are told that they were brought to this world by ladybugs.

Güije

Is he a child with big eyes? Some say he has goat legs and a caiman tail.

Nuno sa Punso

He is small and lives in an anthill. Be very careful not to damage his home.

Maneki Neko – Japanese lucky cat

There is a special Japanese cat sculpture with raised one or both paws. It supposes to bring good luck to the person who owns it.

Traditional Medicine

Albularyo

When sick all the help is welcome. In the Philippines you can choose between a doctor and the albularyo.

Bush medicine

Different parts of plants like leaves, bark or seeds are used. Sometimes people use animals too. To heal an ill person Aborigines also use methods like steaming, smoking and heating.

Religion

Dyngus

Girls in Poland have to be very careful on the Easter Monday. They may get soaking wet.

The Rocket War of Chios

In the evening before Orthodox Easter Sunday groups of people, calling themselves "gangs", from Saint Mark and Panagia Erithiani ("Red Madonna") parishes start a fierce battle. Tens of thousands of home made rockets a fired between these two parishes.

Easter egg

In Bulgaria peasants used to bury some red eggs in the soil of their fields to prevent hail. People also used to put some red egg shells on the ceiling and walls of their houses as protection from evil spirits.

Lingam

Lingam represents the most popular form of worshipping the Shiva among Hindu people. The lingam consists of two parts. First there is a stylized phallus. It almost always lays on kind of pedestal called "yoni" which represents female sex organ.

Music and Dance

Traditional drums of Sri Lanka

Drums are used in religious ceremonies and local festivals. In the past some drums, like for example Thammattama, were used as one of local means of communication.

Schuhplattler

In the past it was a way to impress single girls. Perhaps it can still do the trick.

Yangge

It is ancient and very colourful. It includes a donkey figure.

Coming Of Age

Red egg and ginger party

Red eggs and ginger have an important role in the little party Chinese people organize when their baby is 30 days old.

Quccija

Even from an early age many parents imagine what is going to happen with their child. People of Malta have a lovely tradition through which they try to predict the future of the child.

Architecture

Hanok

The Korean Hanok house is in perfect harmony with the environment. Perhaps some solutions for the future are already here.

Trullo

It was built without cement or mortar. Its conical-shaped roof often includes has painted symbols like planets, the evil eye (“malocchio”), a cross, a heart, a star and crescent etc. This traditional building is part of the UNESCO world heritage programme.

Games and Toys

Akabeko

It is a toy for your children and a souvenir that reminds you of a nice trip. It can protect your health too.

Channapatna toys

They are carefully crafted and environmentally friendly. They are one of the Indian less known treasures.

Tò he

These toys are made from glutinous rice. They have shapes of animals, flowers and fairytale characters.

Matryoshka doll

Wooden dolls in the set differ in size. Their size decreases so one doll can be put inside the other one. The smallest doll is a baby.