Foods Around the World

As this is going to be the last post of the blog, I thought it'd be fun to post something related with food! Every country has its own unique flavor. Not only it's tasty, it also has an aroma which makes the mouth water long before it is consumed! Most of the foods do not have just one flavor, most of the times it is sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter (at times). Let's take a food ride, shall we?

Thai Food
Thai food is synonymous with hot and spicy. Cooked in similar fashion all through the country, Thai food has made its name across frontiers for its tangy taste. Asparagus, rice and various types of curries are main ingredients of Thai food. Cook a few authentic dishes and serve the guests and family Southeast Asia flavor.
Pad Thai- The Pad Thai dish is very popular which has originated from Thailand. It originally is a dish that is comprised stir-fried noodles combined with various other ingredients. Primarily, ingredients such as fish sauce, eggs, shrimp or chicken are used.

Spanish Food
Spain is known for its very diverse culture and this reflects in the Spanish food as well. Spanish food consists of a variety of mouth-watering food items, which lay emphasis on seafood. There are many typical dishes that form a part of Spanish cuisine. Potato dishes, food items that include beans, different types of stews and dishes that include bread are all a common feature out here. Spanish food also varies as per region.
Paella- Paella is one of the major dishes of the Spanish cuisine. It is a delicious rice dish made with vegetables, seafood or both. There are mainly three types of paella viz. Valencian paella, mixed paella and seafood paella.

Mexican Food
Mexican cuisine is popular the world over for its intense flavor and colorful presentation. Mexican food has a tangy flavor to it, which makes it impossible to resist! Traditional Mexican recipes such as tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and barbacoa are consistently explored for options by some of the world's foremost gourmet chefs. Cinnamon, chile powder, epazote, oregano, cumin and cilantro are some of the widely used spices. 
Guacamole- Guacamole is a delicious dip that is thick in its consistency, served with tortilla chips. The basic recipe for preparing guacamole includes finely chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime juice and mashed avocado being the vital ingredient. The main ingredient avocado consists of potassium and is a rich source of Beta - sitosterol which serves to be an antioxidant, very rich in providing nutritional benefits.

German Food
German food is often caricatured as just being made up of sauerkraut, sausages and schnitzel, but German food is much more than just that. The cuisine in the north of the country is generally thought to be healthier with the emphasis being on fish from the North Sea and the Baltic, which includes pickled roll mop herrings as well as fresh herrings, cooked whole, served with potatoes and bacon dip.
Sauerkraut- Sauerkraut in German means 'sour cabbage'. The famous traditional German recipe, sauerkraut is prepared from shredded cabbage which is fermented by lactic acid bacteria. Its sour flavor and long shelf life are a result of the lactic acid that is formed when bacteria ferment sugars inside the cabbage. It is rich in vitamin C and hence very useful in preventing diseases like scurvy.

Moroccan Food
Moroccan cuisines are a mix of African, Middle Eastern, Arab, Mediterranean and Berber influences. Spices such as cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, coriander, cumin and parsley, are widely used all over the region. Chicken or lamb, along with bread, accompanied with cold and hot salads and vegetables are popular all over Morocco. Beef is another common meat consumed in most parts of this region. Green tea with mint is one of the most popular drinks seen in Moroccan cuisine.
Couscous- The Couscous is one of the oldest of dishes that belong to Moroccan cuisine. It consists of specially formed, fine-grained semolina that has been steamed before being served in a mound with vegetables and meat on top. The dish is traditionally cooked all at once in a special kind of steamer pot called a couscoussier, with the couscous in the top and the other ingredients in the bottom.

I hope I'm not making you salivate all over your laptops. 

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.

Slaves in Ancient Greece

Slaves were very important to the ancient Greek way of life. Slaves cleaned and cooked, worked in the fields, factories, shops, in the mines, and on ships. Even the police force in ancient Athens was made up of slaves!  Most slaves’ lives were not that different from a poor Greek citizen's life.

There were things slaves could not do. They could not go to school, or enter politics, or use their own name. They were given a name by the citizen who owned them. They were the property of their owner, not citizens of ancient Greece. 

People became slaves in many ways. Some people became slaves when captured in battle. Some were the children of slaves. Some were Greek infants, abandoned on a hill or at the gates of a town, left to die, or to be rescued by someone passing by. Some children were sold into slavery by poor families, and some children were kidnapped.  

Slaves were so important to the culture of ancient Greece, that some historians believe there were as many slaves as citizens.

The French Culture

France, the second largest country in Europe is today the melting pot of diverse cultures. However, it still retains its own unique appeal when it comes to ethnicity, geography and the French language. France has the English Channel to its north and the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay to its south. The country is hexagonal in shape and is surrounded by Italy, Spain, Belgium, Andorra and Switzerland. France has contributed in the development of cultures of other nations in the areas of fashion, modern art and cinema.

Language
French is the official and most widely spoken language of France. People of France consider French as the most important part of their cultural identity. It also possesses 75 different regional languages like Flemish, Italian, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Occitan dialects, etc. The Constitution of France recognizes all these regional languages and are even taught in schools as a second language, in the areas where they are spoken.

Arts and Literature
France is considered as the hub of arts and literature. The artistic side of the French can be seen in paintings of the ancient as well as modern times. Every century has gifted France with invaluable painters and artists who have contributed tremendously to the artistic culture of France. It is said to be the home of many renowned artists like Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste, etc. The artistic richness of France is exhibited in various museums of France like Louvre, Picasso and Osray Museum.

Architecture
France is renowned for its beautiful and extraordinary monuments. Every age has contributed to the development of exquisite churches and palaces that are a pride of this country. France has monuments influenced by Roman, Gothic and Italian architecture. Some of the monuments that are the main attraction, for tourists who visit France, are the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, etc.

Cuisine
The people of France are known for their love for food and French cheese, and wines are popular all over the world. The dishes and style of cooking are different in different parts of the country. The French love good food, and are very particular about preparation and also about the dining etiquette. Cheese and wine are vital components of French food. Entrées with preplated appeal, inclusive of croissants and fruit yogurt are distinctive to French meals. France produces some of the finest wines in the world. Bordeaux, Champagne and Bourgogne French wines are essential components of French culture. 

Fashion
Paris is the 'Fashion Capital of the World'. The presence of dedicated couturier houses, fashion shows and dedicated media like 'Elle' dominate the fashion industry. France's very own designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Claude Montana, Pierre Cardin, Sonia Rykiel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Paco Rabanne and Christian Lacroix are world renowned fashion designers. 

Malay Traditional Clothes - Baju Kebaya

A Kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress combination worn by women in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Burma, Singapore, southern Thailand. It is sometimes made from sheer material and usually worn with a sarong or batik kain panjang, or other traditional woven garment such as ikat,songket with a colorful motif.The kebaya is the national costume of Indonesia, although it is more accurately endemic to Javanese, Sundanese and Balinese people

Interior Design, Culture of Venice.

It can be argued that Venice produced the most unique and refined Rococo designs. At the time, Venice was in a state of trouble. It had lost most of its maritime power, was lagging behind its rivals in political importance, and society had become decadent, with nobles wasting their money in gambling and partying. But Venice remained Italy's fashion capital, and was a serious contender to Paris in terms of wealth, architecture, luxury, taste, sophistication, trade, decoration, style, and design. Venetian Rococo was well known for being rich and luxurious, with usually very extravagant designs. Unique Venetian furniture, such as the divani da portego, or long Rococo couches and pozzetti, objects meant to be placed against the wall. Venetian bedrooms were usually sumptuous and grand, with rich damask, velvet, and silk drapery and curtains, a beautifully carved Rococo beds with statues of putti, flowers and angels. Venice was especially famous for its beautiful girandole mirrors, which remained among, if not the, finest in Europe. Chandeliers were usually very colourful, using Murano glass to make them look more vibrant and stand out from others, and precious stones and materials from abroad were used, since Venice still held a vast trade empire. Lacquer was very common, and many items of furniture were covered with it, the most famous being lacca povera (poor lacuqer), in which allegories and images of social life were painted. Lacquerwork and Chinoiserie were particularly common in bureau cabinets.

Ireland Fun Facts

                                    See, how beautiful Ireland is!
 
Ireland, an island located to the northwest of Europe, is one of the largest islands in the world. Ireland is one such glorious place that has a rich history and culture along with picturesque beauty and lush green scenery. Ireland has made a large contribution in literature and the very traditional folk music combined with the beautiful steps of the Irish dance all reflect the rich culture of Ireland. Here we go with some fun facts of Ireland!

Interesting Facts about Ireland

1. Ireland is known as the Emerald Island, thanks to its lush greenery.
2. Many castles in Ireland have 'murder hole' in the roof close to the entrance of the castle. This hole was used to dump daggers or hot liquids on enemies.
3. Not a single snake is found in Ireland. On the other hand, the only reptile found is the lizard.
4. The country is home to only three amphibians: the frog, newt and the toad.
5. The Irish Police force, are unarmed, but the detectives always carry firearms.
6. Ireland is also very popular as the home of pop music with Westlife, Celtic Woman, Horslips, Boyzone, Thin Lizzy, Clannad, Boomtown Rats, The Corrs, The Cranberries, Ronan Keating, Gilbert O'Sullivan, etc. as some of the world famous bands.
7. The Blarney Stone, which according to the legend, when kissed, gives the person ability of eloquence. Every year, millions of visitors visit and kiss this legendary stone.
8. Ireland possesses the second longest place name in Europe. The Irish village is called Muckanaghederdauhaulia, meaning 'pig-marsh between two seas'.
9. Titanic, the Unsinkable ship, which sunk in its maiden voyage, was made in Ireland.

Ireland Fun Facts - People

1. The Gaelic is the commonly spoken language in Ireland, next to Irish and English.
2. The Irish believe that on Judgment day, Jesus Christ will be the judge of all people, but St. Patrick will be the judge of the Irish.
3. James Hoban, an Irish, designed the White House in Washington.
4. In Ireland, the number of cell phones is actually more than the number of people. 
5. Irish people greet each other with the expression, "How are you? or "How ye keeping?". By this expression, they mean to be polite and expect a brief "Can't complain now, thanks." in reply. They are not looking for the details of one's medical history.
6. Most of the Irish family names start with 'Mac' or 'O'...", which literally means 'son of ...' and 'grandson of ...' respectively in Gaelic.
7. The Irish census revealed that the most popular boy's name in Ireland is Sean and the most popular girl's name is Emma. 
8. Over 5% of the Irish population are Polish. Moreover, today there are more Polish speakers as compared to the native Irish speakers in the country. There exists around 34 million US residents with Irish ancestry. This is why it's popularly said 'There are more Americans of Irish descent in America than there are Irishmen in Ireland'.
9. Irish people are also known for their sense of humor with respect to death, religion and relationships.
10. The Irish people are hardworking, very honest and known for their friendliness, hospitality, sense of fun and wonderful humour.
    

Cultural Facts

1. In Ireland, men never lifted a finger in the house to help and were never expected to. If a man washed the dishes, he would be called an “auld woman” by other men. 
2. “Nollaig na mBan” or “Little Women’s Christmas” is an old custom that’s still celebrated by women all over Ireland. It happens on January 6th, when women can get a break for a day to go out to relax with each other while men will take over of the housework.
3. According to the Irish birthday traditions, people hold the birthday child upside down and bump the head slightly on the floor. The bumps correspond to the age of the child. It is believed that this tradition brings good luck.
4. The Celtic knot is one of the most famous Irish symbols that stands for continuity of life. Apart from this, the harp, the Shamrock, and the Irish wolfhound are some other famous symbols that belong typically to Ireland.
5. The most identifiable breakfast tradition on the Emerald Isle is the Full Irish Breakfast. It's a huge platter of food consisting of rashers, bangers, black pudding, white pudding, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes and Irish beans. It's usually served with a regional bread such as Irish brown bread or soda bread.
6. Irish wedding gift’s that are traditionally given include items like salt and pepper shakers and tall toasting glasses (flutes) which are considered lucky gifts to receive or a porcelain bell which is given to remind the couple of the bells that rang when they married.
7. Irish people prepare much for Easter Sunday by doing “spring cleaning”. This is usually done before the blessing by the local priest in a religious ceremony which exists hundreds of years ago.
8. The Irish are known for their love for music and dance. The beauty of the Irish dance is such that it can mesmerize even those who have no particular interest in dance, an example of Irish dance is Riverdance.
9. Ireland boasts the finest writers of all times. Some famous Irish sayings reveal the nature and ethos of the Irish people and would possibly help you see the lighter side of life!

"May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.  "

Architecture of Venice

Venice has a rich and diverse architectural style, the most famous of which is the Gothic style. Venetian Gothic architecture is a term given to a Venetian building style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Arab influences. The style originated in 14th-century Venice, where the confluence of Byzantine style from Constantinople met Arab influence from Moorish Spain. Chief examples of the style are the Doge's Palace and the Ca' d'Oro in the city. The city also has several Renaissance and Baroque buildings, including the Ca' Pesaro and the Ca' Rezzonico.

christian new year

New Year traditions create a sense of responsibility and also ties an emotional bond of togetherness, belief and faith. New Year traditions are being followed with immense devotion and joy by the people of Christian community. Tradition of New Year Baby is used as a symbol of rebirth by many Christians. Image of a baby with New Year's banner is displayed at many houses.

New Year festivities are incomplete without singing the traditional Auld Lang Syne song. It means 'the good old days'. People sing this song altogether on the New Year's Eve. Traditionally, it is thought one's fate is determined according to the type of food consumed on the first day of the year. People prepare auspicious meals and celebrate the New Year by eating black-eyed peas. Similar to this, the tradition of first-footing is also practiced very seriously by Christians. The visitor should be a tall and dark-haired man.

One tradition of the season is the making of New Year's resolutions. Many people keep New Year resolutions in the coming year. They even pledge to get their desires fulfilled. Modern New Year resolutions are the promise to lose weight or quit smoking and many more.

Another famous tradition of New Year Parades is attended with excitement by people of all age groups. These parades are preceded by the football game which is the main attraction of the festival. Last but not the least, New Year traditions also include the bursting of crackers and other fireworks to scare off the evil spirits and bring in good fortune.

Malay Traditional Clothes - Baju Kurung

The baju kurung is a traditional Malay costume which loosely translated as "Enclosed Dress". This type of costume is the national dress of Brunei and Malaysia, and can also be found inIndonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

It is said that costumes of the ordinary Malays in the olden days are simple dresses, but as time progresses, the attire evolved and became more sophisticated, while the wearers became more discerning in their fashion tastes. For instance, Chinese chronicles described the attire of the Malays in the 13th century for both male and female as covering only the bottom part of the body, with no cloth to cover the upper body. Later, tunics, which are simple cover-alls that are either short-sleeve or sleeveless, were said to be the main attire of the Malays. And the pants or trousers worn were mostly in the "gunting Aceh" (Aceh cut) fashion, ending just below the knee. The women folks, on the other hand, normally wear sarongs in the "berkemban" style, that is, by wrapping a piece of sarong around the body covering the chest.However, with the growth of trade, and the importance of the Silk Route in China, traders crossed the Malay Archipelago from the Arabian archipelago and India to China by ships to sell their products. And these ships stopped at the ports and villages along the coasts of the Malay Archipelago, that later bloomed into trading posts in south-east Asia. Goods from China, India, Middle East (Arab) and European countries were traded here. And the foreign traders not only brought with them goods for sale and barter, but also their unique dressing and fashion styles. The Malays were therefore influenced and exposed to various fashions and costumes from various countries early in their civilized state, and these foreigners have influenced greatly the evolution of the traditional Malay costumes and dress. And when the Malacca Empire was at its height in the 15th century, with Islam as the main religion, the Malay traditional costume, the Baju Melayu, was born, as clearly described in the "Sejarah Melayu" or "Malay Annals". When they became more civilized with the adoption of Islam as their religion, the Malays slowly covered their bodies according to the tenets and teachings of Islam.The early baju kurung was longer and looser, unsuited to the figure of Malay women. It was popularised in the late 19th century by Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor. It has been reported that the baju kurung has "not only survived, but prospered" in modern Malaysia, pointing to its popularity during the Islamisation of Malaysia in the 1970s and 1980s.

Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region.

The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers.

The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain and spice trade) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history. It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance period. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

The classical Venetian boat is the gondola, although it is now mostly used for tourists, or for weddings, funerals, or other ceremonies. Many gondolas are lushly appointed with crushed velvet seats and Persian rugs. Less well-known is the smaller sandolo. The main transportation means are motorised waterbuses (vaporetti), which ply regular routes along the major canals and between the city's islands, and private boats. The only gondolas still in common use by Venetians are the traghetti, foot passenger ferries crossing the Grand Canal at certain points without bridges.

Irish Mythology

The Leprechaun figures large in Irish folklore. A mischievous fairy type creature in emerald green clothing who when not playing tricks spend all their time busily making shoes, the Leprechaun is said to have a pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow, and if ever captured by a human it has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for release. The stories of Fionn mac Cumhaill and his followers, the Fianna, form the Fenian cycle. Legend has it he built the Giant's Causeway as stepping-stones to Scotland, so as not to get his feet wet; he also once scooped up part of Ireland to fling it at a rival, but it missed and landed in the Irish Sea — the clump became the Isle of Man and the pebble became Rockall, the void became Lough Neagh. The Irish king Brian Boru who ended the domination of the so-called High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, is part of the historical cycle. The Irish princess Iseult is the adulterous lover of Tristan in the Arthurian romance and tragedy Tristan and Iseult.

Halloween is a traditional and much celebrated holiday in Ireland on the night of October 31. The name Halloween is first attested in the 16th century as a Scottish shortening of the fuller All-Hallows-Even, and according to some historians it has its roots in the gaelic festival Samhain, where the Gaels believed the border between this world and the otherworld became thin, and the dead would revisit the mortal world. In Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include; Guising — children disguised in costume going from door to door requesting food or coins — which became practice by the late 19th century, turnips hollowed-out and carved with faces to make lanterns, holding parties where games such as apple bobbing are played. Other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires, and having firework displays. Mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America.

Children in Ancient Greece

Greek Babies: The ancient Greeks considered their children to be "youths" until they reached the age of 30! When a child was born to ancient Greek family, the father carried his child in a ritual dance around the household. Friends and relatives sent gifts. The family decorated the doorway of their home with a wreath of olives for a boy or a wreath of wool for a girl.  

Greek Girls:  In Athens, as in most Greek city-states, with the exception of Sparta, girls stayed at home until they were married. Like their mother, they could attend certain festivals, funerals, and visit neighbours for brief periods of time. Their job was to help their mother, and to help in the fields, if necessary. 

Greek Boys:  In most Greek city-states, when young, the boys stayed at home, helping in the fields, sailing, and fishing. At age 6 or 7, they went to school.

Chinese Traditional Clothes - Changshan

In traditional Chinese dress, a changshan (simplified Chinese: 长衫; traditional Chinese: 長衫; pinyin: Chángshān; literally "long shirt") is the male equivalent of the women's cheongsam (qipao). It is also known as a changpao (chángpáo 长袍) or dagua (大褂 dàguà).The Mandarin word changshan is cognate with the Cantonese term chèuhngsàam, which has been borrowed into English as "cheongsam". Unlike the Mandarin term, however, Cantonese chèuhngsàam can refer to both male and female garments, and in Hong Kong is frequently used for the body-hugging female garment rather than for the male changshan. The Hong Kong usage is reflected in the meaning of "cheongsam" in English, which refers exclusively to the female garment.

Chinese Traditional Clothes - Cheongsam

The cheongsam is a body-hugging (modified in Shanghai) one-piece Chinese dress for women; the male version is the changshan. It is known in Mandarin Chinese as the qípáo (旗袍), and is also known in English as a mandarin gown. The stylish and often tight-fitting cheongsam or qipao (chipao) that is most often associated with today was created in the 1920s in Shanghai and was made fashionable by socialites and upperclass women.

Bullfighting

Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador), in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment. It is often called a blood sport by its detractors but followers of the spectacle regard it as a fine art and not a sport as there are no elements of competition in the proceedings. In Portugal it is illegal to kill a bull in the arena, so it is removed and slaughtered in the pens as fighting bulls can only be used once. A non-lethal variant stemming from Portuguese influence is also practised on the Tanzanian island of Pemba.

The tradition, as it is practised today, involves professional toreros (also called toreadors) who execute various formal moves which can be interpreted and innovated according to the bullfighter's style or school. Toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted through the bull. Such manoeuvres are performed at close range, which places the bullfighter at risk of being gored or trampled. After the bull has been hooked multiple times behind the shoulder by other matadors in the arena the bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust which is called estocada. In Portugal the finale consists of a tradition called the pega, where men (forcados) try to grab and hold the bull by its horns when it runs at them.

Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is a culturally important tradition and a fully developed art form on par with painting, dancing and music, while animal rights advocates hold that it is a blood sport resulting in the suffering of bulls and horses.

hindus new year

Multifarious religions are practiced in India and so are the celebrations of various festivals. Hindu New Year is celebrated with gaiety and pomp all over India. Verve of the festival can be seen mostly among the people of North India and Gujarat. New Year in Southern India also emphasize the Hindu New Year but the date and New Year traditions vary.

• Punjab : New year starts on 13th April.
• Assam : New year starts on 14th or 15th of April.
• Bengal : New year starts on 14th or 15th April.
• Gujarat : New Year starts on Karthik Shukla Pratipada.
• Kerala : New year starts in the month of Medam (on the day when the Sun enters in the constellation Leo).
• Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka : New Year falls on Chaitra Shuddha Prathipade.
• Sikkim : New Year starts on 18th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.
• Maharashtra : New Year starts in the month of Chaitra
• Tamil Nadu : New year starts on 13th or 14th of April.

People light oil lamps and decorate the house with auspicious flowers those with the color like pink, red, purple or yellow. Rangoli design is also an attractive part of New Year decorations. Indians get up early in the morning, take bath and wear new clothes. They bring home deities of Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) and Lord Ganesha. Prayers are offered and prasad is distributed among the family members. At the time of New Year, gifts and sweets are exchangd with each other. People consider this festival to be an auspicious time to begin New Year

The Spanish Culture

Spain is known for its great diversity and cultural heritage. Due to 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. The language spoken by Spaniards i.e. Spanish (Espanol) is known by different names as follows: Castillan, Catalan, Galician, Basque and Aranese.

Spanish Customs and Traditions
Fiestas: The different festivals/fiestas which continue almost 365 days of the year in this country are the highlights of Spanish culture. The 'Tomato Festival' (la Tomatina) is one such popular fiesta. This festival (la Tomatino) is celebrated every year in Bunyol; it takes place in the last week of August. The la Tomatino is kind of a 'tomato battle' played both by locals and tourists. Highlights of festivals celebrated in Spain are the fireworks, dances and music. People wear traditional attire during these festivals.

                                                      la Tomatino

Siesta: The siesta is one of the most famous aspects of Spanish life - that dead period in late afternoon when everything shuts down in Spain, in theory so people can go to sleep. Spain is a hot country, especially mid-afternoon, and the traditional reason for the siesta is for the workers in the fields to shelter from the heat. They would then feel refreshed after their sleep and would work until quite late in the evening, longer than they would have been able to without the siesta. The Spanish take the siesta very seriously, even going so far as to have a Sleeping Competition in its honor. 

Flamenco: In Spain, Flamenco is not just a dance form. It is actually an art form that consists of singing, dancing, guitar, hand-claps, etc. 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 true classical cultural contributions that Spain has to offer.

                                                          Flamenco

After the customs and traditions, let's take a look at some interesting fun facts about Spain and Spanish!

1. In Spain, there are more than 8000 kms of beaches. That explains why the beaches are what attracts a lot of tourists from all around the world to this country.
2. Most of the rain that happens in Spain is in the mountainous regions. The plains hardly receive any rain fall.
3. Soccer in Spain is an important part of life of the people in Spain. It is said that Spanish children learn to walk and play soccer simultaneously. 
4. Spaniards often start the evening with el paseo, a leisurely stroll through the main streets or along the paseo maritimo in the coastal resorts. 
5. In this country, people eat a very late lunch - between 2 pm to 4pm. Dinner is mostly had after ten in the night. Most Spaniards prefer to have breakfast in eateries or small hotels rather than having it at home.
6. The Spanish tradition of tapas is a good way to sample the local food. Tapas are small dishes of snacks which are served anytime especially in small bars. They cover all types of food from seafood to vegetables. Many Spanish make an evening of hopping from bar to bar trying different tapas.
7. The diet in Spain is reported to be one of the most healthy diets in the world. The combination of olives, fresh fruit, seafood and fresh vegetables can help sustain a healthy and long life. 
8. The tap water in Madrid, capital city of Spain is so clean that it can be drunk as it is, without filtering.
9. Spain is famous for its aromatic wines and the drinking age in the country is 18. 
10. Spanish men tend to maintain eye contact with females for longer, although this does not mean anything.
11. The teens date in groups till they turn eighteen. Only after that they go out as a couple.
12. When the Spaniards talk to each other, they stand very close and touch each other every now and then on the shoulder while talking.
13. Spanish people are known to be fun-loving, music lovers, sports crazy, and the country is host to a number of the most-visited tourist spots in the world.
14. Spanish New Year tradition is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one grape for each stroke of the clock, indicating a sign of good luck. 
15. The Spanish celebrate Christmas till the 6 January! They believe that on this day the three kings had visited baby Jesus and presented him with gifts. 

Holidays and Festivals in Ireland

Much of the Irish calendar still today reflects the old pagan customs, with later Christian traditions also having significant influence. Christmas in Ireland has several local traditions, some in no way connected with Christianity. On 26 December (St. Stephen's Day), there is a custom of "Wrenboys" who call door to door with an arrangement of assorted material (which changes in different localities) to represent a dead wren "caught in the furze", as their rhyme goes.

Brigid's Day (1 February, known as Imbolc or Candlemas) also does not have its origins in Christianity, being instead another religious observance superimposed at the beginning of spring. The Brigid's cross made from rushes on this day represents a pre-Christian solar wheel.

Other pre-Christian festivals, whose names survive as Irish month names, are Bealtaine (May), Lúnasa (August) and Samhain (November). The last is still widely observed as Halloween, followed by All Saints' Day, another Christian holiday associated with a traditional one. Important church holidays include Easter, and various Marian observances.

The national holiday in the Republic is Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March and is marked by parades and festivals in cities and towns across the island of Ireland, and by the Irish diaspora around the world. The festival is in remembrance to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, and legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of 'three divine persons in the one God'.

The Twelfth of July, which commemorates William III's victory at the Battle of the Boyne and the beginning of the Protestant Ascendancy, is celebrated by many Protestants throughout the province of Ulster.

Chinese Traditional Music Instrument - Er Hu

Erhu (二胡), also known as Huqin, the full name for Hu. Its early ancestor was known as Xiqin (string instrument of a Mongolian tribe called Xi) in the tenth century. The instrument has two strings and is played with the bow clasped between them. Its two strings are generally tuned a fifth apart and its range can reach 3 or 4 octaves. The sound box is covered by snake skin which gives the instrument its distinctive mellow and bright tone.

Under the influence of the regularly trained musician Liu Tianhua (1895-1932) and the local minstrel Hua Yanjun (known as the blind Man Ah Bing, 1893-1950) during the 1920's, the Erhu developed into a solo instrument. Today the Erhu is one of the most widely used bowed instruments in China, It is appropriate both for deep tragedy and for the momentum of an avalanche. Besides, it also assumes a central position in the modern Chinese orchestra, as well as in the accompaniment of singing and dancing.

Playing techniques are rich for both hands, including, harmonic tones, trills, glissandos, pizzicatos for the left hand and legatos, detaches, martellatos, saltandos, tremolos, flying staccatos for the right hand.

Chinese Traditional Music Instrument - Ruan

Qin pipa was the predecessor of ruan .The head is usually decorated with some traditional Chinese imagery artwork such as the dragon.The body of ruan is an oblate resonance box.Qin indicted the Qin dynasty, and pipa was a kind of stringed musical instrument.In recent years, Chinese people have paid more attention to the ethnic musical instruments.In the Qin dynasty, more than 2,000 years ago, people altered a wobbling drum into a stringed instrument.While performing the solo and chord, it may intensify the rhythm.It is used to perform the cantus and episodes in concert.However, it was not called ruan until the Song dynasty, about 1,000 years ago.There are four tuning gages on the two sides.It is abundant in variations of the rhythm while performing the accompaniment.Ruan is made up of three parts, the head, handle and the body.Ruan is a stringed musical instrument in China.Some musicians have even made renovations to ruan, and developed alt, mediant, tenor and bourdon ruan.

The structural theory, materials and performing skills are quite similar to those of pipa.Later, with references to the zither and other musical instruments, people created “qin pipa”.Around 3 century AD, a musician named Ruan Xian was found to be extremely good at performing qin pipa.While performed in the band, it often incorporates the median ruan, which may strengthen its sound effect.The big ruan is similar to the cello.Due to his skillful performances, he was highly welcomed by the local people.The tone of the mediant ruan is quiet and soft.

Italian Literature

Italian literature began after the founding of Rome in 753 BC. Roman, or Latin literature, was and still is highly influential in the world, with numerous writers, poets, philosophers, and historians, such as Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, Virgil, Horace, Propertius, Ovid and Livy. The Romans were also famous for their oral tradition, poetry, drama and epigrams.

The basis of the modern Italian Literature in the Italian language was shaped by three great writers of the 1300s — Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio. Their language and their works were imitated by Italian writers for hundreds of years. Dante's The Divine Comedy is a masterpiece of world poetry. Boccaccio's Decameron is one of the most popular collections of short stories ever written. Petrarch's love poetry served as a model for centuries.

Italian Renaissance authors produced a number of important works. Among the best known is The Prince, a political science essay written by Niccolò Machiavelli in 1513 and published in 1532. Italian drama developed in the 1600s, especially in the style called commedia dell'arte. These comedies were based on the improvisation of certain characters and became very popular. An outstanding writer of the Baroque period was Metastasio, and Carlo Goldoni was the most prominent playwright of the 18th century.

The time of Italy's rebirth was heralded by the poets Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo, and Giacomo Leopardi. Alessandro Manzoni was the principal Italian novelist of the 19th century, and Francesco de Sanctis the greatest literary critic. Among the Italian literary figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Giosuè Carducci, Giovanni Verga, Gabriele d'Annunzio, Luigi Pirandello, and Grazia Deledda achieved international renown. Leading writers of the postwar era are Ignazio Silone, Alberto Moravia, Italo Calvino, Umberto Eco, Dario Fo, and the poets Salvatore Quasimodo and Eugenio Montale.

Marriages in Ancient Greece

Marriages in ancient Greece were arranged by the parents of the intended bride and groom. A financial arrangement was made between the families in the form of a dowry. Girls married between the ages of fourteen to eighteen, while typically men married in their twenties or even thirties. Spartan men continued to live in the barracks, even after the wedding, until they reached the age of thirty when they could move home with their wives. 

Priests did not direct weddings in ancient Greece. Instead, a set of rituals was followed, after which the couple would live together. The rituals started with baths. The groom then would go to the bride’s house in a chariot or a cart. A feast may be held at the bride’s father’s house, after which the groom would take his bride back to his parents’ house. They were greeted at the door by the groom’s parents and led to the hearth. There they were showered with nuts and fruit. The couple then retired to their bedroom. For the wife to be fully accepted into the groom’s family, a child had to be conceived from their union. 

Divorces were easily arranged. The man would have to pay back, in cash, the remaining dowry money to his wife’s parents. Divorces were granted on many grounds; for example, if the wife could not bear children. When a wife committed adultery, divorce was legally required.

Greek men did not discuss with others their wives or other female relatives. They dared not even give their names outside their close family circle. They did not want to attract unwanted attention from unrelated males.

Visual Art of Italy

The history and development of art in western culture is grounded in hundreds of years of Italian history. No land has made a greater contribution to the visual arts. In Ancient Rome, Italy was the centre for art and architecture. There were many Italian artists during the Gothic and Medieval periods, and the arts flourished during the Italian Renaissance. Later styles in Italy included Mannerism, Baroque and Macchiaioli. Futurism developed in Italy in the 20th century. Florence, Venice and Rome, in particular, are brimming with art treasures in museums, churches, and public buildings.

The Italian Renaissance produced many of the greatest painters and sculptors in art history. They were all influenced by the work of Giotto di Bondone in the late 1200s. One of the most influential artists who ever lived, Giotto changed the course of Western art by painting in a new realistic style.

Florence became the center of early Renaissance art. The great Florentine masters of painting included Masaccio, Fra Angelico, Andrea Mantegna, Sandro Botticelli, and Paolo Uccello. The greatest artist of the 1400s was probably Leonardo da Vinci. His portrait Mona Lisa and his religious scene The Last Supper are among the most famous paintings in history.