Blog of the World of Cultures

The traditions of Europe - by Roxanne

In order to make you travel around the world and discover at the same time the origins of our international artists, a member of the Mondial team will propose you every week the route he would choose to visit the different regions of the world, and discover their traditions.

Today, Roxanne introduces you to the traditions of Europe.

"I will introduce you to the traditions of different European countries.

In Spain . On the last Wednesday of August, in the town of Buñol, located near Valencia 30 km from the Mediterranean, a crowd of young Spaniards embarks on a tomato fight! Yes yes tomatoes ... There are nearly 150,000 tomatoes (more than 40 tons) that are poured into the street!

In France . In the town of Haux and other villages of France, a group of French celebrates the future holidays in a very special way: they cook a giant omelette of more than 4,500 eggs per 1,000 people. For the little anecdote: this tradition would come from the time of Napoleon, when during a displacement of the army, the Emperor would have stopped in a small town in the south of France and would have asked the local of prepare an omelette. He would have liked the omelette so much that he would have ordered the locals to bring all their eggs the next day and make a giant omelette for himself and his army.

In Ireland . Celebrated on December 26, Wren's Day is a tradition of hunting a fake Wren, a small bird, before putting it on top of a decorated post. There is a crowd of boys dressed in masks, straw suits and colorful clothes, accompanied by groups marching through towns and villages to the sound of traditional Ceilí music.

UK. In Scotland, you can meet Scottish people who practice throwing trunks. It is a traditional Scottish sports event. The main objective is to throw the tree trunk a certain way so that it turns, far in front of the launcher.

In Moldova. There is a Christmas carol that implies that its singers are disguised as bears. This tradition, called Ursul (Bear Dance), is observed in Moldavia during New Year's Eve. It aims to purify and fertilize the soil for the following year.

In the Nederlands. In Scheveningen, the main seaside resort in the Netherlands, the winter swimming festival known as Nieuwjaarsduik, which means "Polar Bear Dive", is held every year. Nearly 10,000 people come to the beach to swim in the cold sea at only 8 ° C.

I invite you to read the article on the visit of Europe to learn more! "

The traditions of Africa - by Pascale

Today, Pascale tells us about African traditions.

"I learned that the family is the base of African society. There, people live in communities in clans and castes (it is a hierarchical social group, endogamous and hereditary) who obey strict rules. Traditions are ubiquitous in their daily lives.

Cultural activities are a big part of life for Africans. The Sahara is a natural barrier between North Africa and the rest of the continent for a long time. Nevertheless, that did not prevent artistic exchanges between these two peoples who inspired each other. In Africa, artistic traditions take different forms such as statues, masks, objects, weaving or jewelry. African art is very rich and reflects the richness, history and different beliefs and religions of this magnificent continent.

Dance and music are an integral part of African culture. You will very often see Africans clapping their hands while singing. For example, in some cultures it is a way to keep the rhythm of a hymn, especially if there are no musical instruments while in other cultures, clapping hands in a religious context can be considered shocking.

To learn more about these particular cultures, I invite you to travel in African lands: it's the best way to soak up! "

The traditions of Asia - by Isabelle Courchesne

Today, Isabelle tells us about Asian traditions.

The Asian continent has always fascinated me. I want to talk about India and its traditions in particular.

You should know that southern India is different from the north of the country which presents an exceptional architectural landscape with palaces and citadels Rajputs . The green and mountainous landscapes are impressive.

I will tell you about Indian traditions through different themes.

Indian culture

The language of colors. In India, each color has its own tradition and meaning. For example, red is the color of marriage and love; orange, the color of the earth; yellow, the color of spring; the blue, the color of indigo, and also that of Krishna, the young divine shepherd.

India and the 7th art. I think it's no longer a secret but India is the world's largest producer of films (nearly 800 films each year). Scenarios highlight traditional Indian virtues such as kindness, family loyalty or chastity. But a "New Indian Wave" seeks to change the image of Indian cinema.

Indian gastronomy

In reality, there is not an Indian food but the kitchens are very varied. It varies by region, community, religion or family. The food is very tasty and consists of many spices often ground and mixed in assortments called Masala.

What is surprising is that spices and methods change from one region to another: tastes will differentiate, smells blend, colors will not have the same colors.

Customs and respect in India

When visiting different countries, you should know that each of them has their own customs and traditions. Some tips to help you better know the Indian customs and respect them:

The right hand is considered pure and is used especially to greet, give something or eat. The left hand is therefore used for what is considered impure including the toilet.

Indian women usually wear saree or chudidar .It's a loose tunic or pants. These traditional clothes are different depending on the region.

In sacred places, in a house and sometimes even in some shops you have to take off your shoes.I give you a little advice: before going back somewhere, watch if shoes are on the landing, you will quickly understand what you need to do.

Indians have a real sense of hospitality. You will be welcomed by families who have nothing but who will give you everything they can. To thank them, do not necessarily try to give them a present.It is better to see what their needs are, such as fruit, school supplies, clothes, etc.

Attention for smokers! In India, it is now forbidden to smoke in the street.Of course, you will meet people smoking without any fear but if the police surprise them, they will easily come to see them.

If you travel to India and are homestayed or invited to a family, men who are not part of the family are not allowed to enter the kitchen.

This is the privileged place of women and you can only return if you are invited.

And now, this little article gives you a glimpse of what you can discover in India. It is a fantastic country that deserves to be visited!

The traditions of South America - by Claude

Today, Claude presents the traditions and customs of South America.

You must know that the countries of South America each have their own specialties and customs.

In Argentina, religion occupies an important place in the traditions. If you visit this country, do not be surprised by the impressive number of altars in the country.

The kitchen . When you dine in an Argentinian restaurant, no one will serve you the rare meat. Here, it is considered unfit for consumption and very bad for health. For suppers, know that the evening meal usually starts very late, around 9 pm or 10 pm ... This is not an hour we usually eat, we Quebecers. The Argentineans love to meet around a mate to discuss. A mate it does not tell you anything? It is a bitter herbal drink that is close to strong tea and is drunk with a bombillaand a straw. You probably do not know that mate is the most consumed drink after water in Argentina. This drink is very appreciated for its extraordinary effects on the health of its consumers. The maté is more a ritual than a custom, for example when we receive someone or we want to take a break, we take a mate together.

The sport. In Colombia, you can try tejo . This is the traditional Colombian game. In fact, it brings a lot to the game of petanque. This game is named after the metal disc to throw. As for national sports, in the hearts of Colombians football is king! In addition to their passion for the ball, there is that for Formula 1 since the advent of Juan Pablo Montoya and that of cycling with the world performances of Santiago Botero.

Holidays and holidays. Colombians love to party and organize as soon as possible. Generally, they are related to the events of the Christian calendar but not only! Around the country, every year, nearly 200 festivals are organized! For example, Holy Week in Popayán or Mompox (March-April), the Baranquilla Carnival (February-March), the Medellín Flower Festival (August) and many local festivals.

Start the new year. Finally, I can tell you about some crazy traditions. For example, in Mexico, to start the year off right, you have to wash the entrance to your house. To guarantee luck in the new year, some people place lenses in their pockets, others hang Chinese pieces on a red ribbon or slip money directly into their shoes. In Colombia, potatoes are available under his bed on December 31st.

I invite you to read the article on South America to learn more about the beautiful places to visit!