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It is a wonderful monday morning. It is nice and sunny. What a difference from yesterday. Today I'll describe few more of birthday customs in different countries. In Nigeria the 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th birthdays are considered special events. On these birthdays they have huge parties which have up to 100 guests or more. On their birthdays they have a feast consisting or an entire roasted cow or goat. They also serve a dish called jollof rice, this is made with rice, tomatoes, red peppers, and onions plus also cassava which is similar to sweet potato. At their birthday parties, children play a game known as Pass the Parcel. Guests pass around the package to music and when the music stops the person holding the package unwraps the parcel then passes it on until the last bit of paper is taken off the prize. At an Israeli child's birthday party, he or she sits in a special chair decorated with fresh flowers and greens. To celebrate the child's age, family and friends gather around the chair, lifting and raising it once for each year of life - plus one more for good luck! “Birthday bumps” are given to Irish children in honor of their birthday. While held upside down, the birthday celebrant is gently bumped on the floor one time for every year of age - plus one extra "bump" for good luck. Danish people fly the country's flag outside their home to signify that someone in the family is having a birthday. And while the birthday child is asleep, gifts are placed around the bed, so presents will be the first thing in view when the child awakes. |
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Hello everyone! As you know my name is Mislav. It is an old Croatian male name. I was named after Croatian ruler from the 9th century. Personal names have different origin...religious, natural, they are reflection of person's character etc. I recently read an article about Japanese female names. They are really nice...Here are just few examples. Au - meeting Chinami - thousands waves Egao - smiling face Etsu - delight Hoshi - star Ine - rice Jin - tenderness Kagami - mirror Kai - forgivness Kame - tortoise, symbol of long life Kawa - river Kinu - silk Koneko - kitten Kuma - bear Matsu - pine tree Miu - beautiful feather Nagisa - seashore One more detail...There are very few names starting with b, d, g, j and z. For Japanese these consonants sound rough and uncivilized. |
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Tanabata, also known as the "star festival", takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year, when, according to a Chinese legend, the two stars Altair and Vega, which are usually separated from each other by the milky way, are able to meet. Because the 7th month of the year roughly coincides with August rather than July according to the formerly used lunar calendar, Tanabata is still celebrated on August 7th in some regions of Japan, while it is celebrated on July 7th in other regions. One popular Tanabata custom is to write one's wishes on a piece of paper, and hang that piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree, in the hope that the wishes become true. Colorful Tanabata festivals are held across Japan in early July and August. Among the biggest and most famous ones are the Tanabata Festivals of Sendai in August and Hiratsuka near Tokyo in July. source: www.japan-guide.com |
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Obon is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. It is believed that each year during obon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives. Traditionally, lanterns are hang in front of houses to guide the ancestors' spirits, obon dances (bon odori) are performed, graves are visited and food offerings are made at house altars and temples. At the end of Obon, floating lanterns are put into rivers, lakes and seas in order to guide the spirits back into their world. The customs followed vary strongly from region to region. Obon is celebrated from the 13th to the 15th day of the 7th month of the year, which is July according to the solar calendar. However, since the 7th month of the year roughly coincides with August rather than July according to the formerly used lunar calendar, Obon is still celebrated in mid August in many regions of Japan, while it is celebrated in mid July in other regions. The Obon week in mid August is one of Japan's three major holiday seasons, accompanied by intensive domestic and international travel activities and increased accommodation rates. In 2005, the peak of the Obon travel season is anticipated to take place between August 12 and 15. |
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The Legend of the Claddagh Ring by Bridget Haggerty According to 16th-century Irish folk lore, a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh was captured by Algerian pirates and the crew was sold into slavery. One of the crew was a young man by the name of Richard Joyce, who was to be married the same week he was captured. Instead, Richard found himself far away from his love and his homeland. He was sold to a wealthy Moorish goldsmith who taught him the trade and, eventually, he became skilled enough to design a ring of special significance: the hands were for friendship, the crown was for loyalty, and the heart was for love. Years went by, but Richard never forgot his sweetheart. Somehow, he managed to escape and make his way home to Ireland. When he arrived back in Claddagh, he discovered that his girl had never married. They were wed immediately, and the ring he gave her was the one he had designed and made while he was a slave. Over the years, the design became extremely popular as a betrothal or wedding ring and took on even more significance. Worn on the right hand with the heart pointing out means that the heart is uncommitted. Worn on the same hand with the heart pointing in means that the heart is taken. Worn on the left hand with the heart pointing in means "Let Love and Friendship reign forever, never to be separated." In the old days, Claddagh rings were worn widely by women on the west coast and off-shore islands of Galway. Often representing the sole major investment of a fishing family, they were handed down from mother to daughter. Now, many couples, even those not of Irish descent, are choosing the Claddagh symbol for their engagement and wedding rings. They are widely available, as are a wide range of other Claddagh accessories from earrings to cuff links. But one word of caution: it is said to be very bad luck for a person to purchase a Claddagh ring for themselves. It must be given or received as a gift. source: www.irishcultureandcustoms.com |