Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Goa’s Unique Monsoon Festival of Joy and Faith
Monday, June 23, 2025
A Journey of Faith and Devotion
Saturday, June 21, 2025
The Cool Cousin of Ice Cream
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Where canines are worshipped
Friday, May 2, 2025
The fire-walking ritual of Shirgao Jatra
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Strings that speak
Monday, April 28, 2025
A moment of pride
Friday, April 11, 2025
Where culture drapes itself in beauty
Friday, March 14, 2025
A colourful celebration
Sunday, February 16, 2025
May there be plentiful of rice
It’s fascinating how rice appears in everything from birth ceremonies (Annaprashan, the first feeding of rice) to wedding rituals and even funerary rites. The connection between rice and life itself shows how essential it is—not just physically but spiritually.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Strange grief ritual
Monday, January 20, 2025
Pole used for communication
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Why they matter
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
Christmas Symbols
Christmas has its traditional symbols-Santa, presents, a decorated tree and carols. Some countries, however, have different symbols. Here are some of them:
Sweden: The Yule Goat has been a Swedish Christmas symbol, dating back to ancient pagan festivals. However, in 1966, the tradition got a whole new life after someone came up with the idea to make a giant straw goat, now referred to as the Gävle Goat. According to the official website, the goat is more than 42 feet high, 23 feet wide, and weighs 3.6 tons. Each year, the massive goat is constructed in the same spot. Fans can even watch a livestream from the first Sunday of Advent until after the New Year when it is taken down.
Iceland: For 13 days, each night before Christmas, Icelandic children are visited by the 13 Yule Lads. Children place their shoes by the window. In the morning, they'll either have received candy (if they're good) or be greeted with shoes full of rotten potatoes if they're bad!
Norway: Their Christmas season, called "julebord", begins on December 3. Norwegians celebrate in bars and restaurants throughout the month. December 23 is called Little Christmas, and rituals include making a gingerbread house, and eating risengrynsgrøt (hot rice pudding).
Holland: Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas, the man recognized by children for his long white beard, red cape, and red miter. Children put a shoe by the back door and wake up on Christmas morning to find treats like gingerbread men, marzipan, and chocolate letters.
Austria: The alpine country has a legend that a devil-like creature called Krampus joins their St. Nicholas festivities on December 6. Children are asked for a list of their good and bad deeds: Children who have been good over the year are rewarded with sweets, apples, and nuts, while children considered bad could get a rude surprise from Krampus on Christmas morning.
Monday, December 16, 2024
DO YOU KNOW
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