Our cultures: differences and similarities

DEFINITION OF THE WORD "SYMBOL"
The word symbol is derived from the Greek word symbolon. In ancient Greece it was a custom to break a slate of burned clay into several pieces and distribute them within the group. When the group reunited the pieces were fitted togheter (Greek symbollein). This confirmed the members belonging to the group.

A symbol is something such as an object, picture, written word, sound, or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On maps, crossed sabres may indicate a battlefield. Numerals are symbols for numbers (amounts). Every language consists of symbols. Personal names are symbols representing individuals.

The picute above symbolizes one of very many traditional folk costumes

SEVEN ELEMENTS OF CULTURE

1. Social Organization
Families/Friends/ Religious groups/ Social classes/ Occupation/
Interest groups
- social classes : a way to rank people in order of status
What can social class be based on?
Money/ Occupation/Education/ Race/ Etc.
2. Customs and Traditions
- rules of behavior (written and unwritten)
3. Language
4. Arts and Literature
- teach about a culture’s values
- promote cultural pride and unity
5. Religion
Monotheism : belief in one god
Polytheism : belief in more than one god
Major World Religions
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism
6. Forms of Government
People form governments to provide for their common needs
Types
Democracy : people have supreme power
Republic : people choose leaders to represent them
Dictatorship : a ruler or group holds power by force
7. Economic Systems
Four types
a. Traditional : people produce most of what they need to survive
b. Market : basic economic questions are answered by buying/selling goods and services
c. Command : government controls answers to economic questions
d. Mixed : individuals make some economic decisions, the government makes others

CULTURAL HERITAGE OF CROATIA - via a couple of videos

EASTER IN CROATIA

Croatian Easter bread dolls or primorski uskrsne bebe are made with a slightly sweet yeast dough wrapped around colored hard-cooked eggs. They are usually dyed red, but more vibrant colors are creeping into the tradition. They look charming when laid on the plate at each guest's place setting for Easter dinner. If you don't mind how the finished product looks, get the kids involved. They'll love coloring the eggs, rolling the dough and braiding it.
Makes 12 Croatian Easter Bread Dolls
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 package active dry yeast
2 large beaten eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups all-purpose flour
12 large hard-cooked colored eggs
Preparation:
Scald milk and cool to lukewarm. Add the yeast and set aside.


Meanwhile, in a large bowl or stand mixer, combine eggs, sugar, butter and salt, mixing well. Add the yeast-milk mixture and half the flour, and beat well. Add remaining flour gradually, until a smooth, soft dough forms (you may not use all the flour or may require more).


Place dough in a large greased bowl, turning to coat both sides, and let rise, covered, until doubled. Punch down and turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead 2 minutes.


Divide dough into 36 equal pieces (divide dough into 3 pieces, then each into 3 pieces again, then each into 4 pieces). Cover and allow to rest 5 minutes.


Heat oven to 375 degrees. Using 3 pieces per doll, roll into 3 (12-inch) long ropes. Begin by aligning the 3 pieces side by side. Put an egg near the top of the ropes. Pull the center rope down over the middle of the egg, tucking the end under. Pull the left strip over and down under the right side of the egg, and the right strip over and down under the left side of the egg. It doesn't really matter how you do it, as long as some of the colored egg shows through. Braid the remainder of the rope, below the egg, and pinch the bottom ends together.


Place doll on parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue with remainder of dough balls. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise slightly. Egg wash the dolls with 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. By the way, the hard-cooked egg tastes just fine after being baked. The yolk might have a green sulfur ring around it but that doesn't affect the taste.

Check this movie made by school kids from Bal Bharati Public School on Diwali.

Winter Holidays in Ukraine

Winter is the most festive season in Ukraine. The main winter holidays are St Nicholas Day (December 19), New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas (January 7), Old New Year (January 14) and Epiphany (January 19).There are also other holidays and festivals.

Bridge the Gap
No more strife we want on Earth
It’s enough than one can bear,
We lose a lot to be recovered,
It’s now time to have peace
and hope reign over our planet.
They call us children ignorant!
but they are childish indeed,
fighting over petty things,
as we do for playthings!
For them Earth is a toy to play
See how they distorted it!
Opposite of its former being,
God we thank you for
Making more sensible than
Our ignorant elder beings.
Together shall we march ahead
To perform the undone task
Of bridging the gap prevailing
among us human beings.
A single entity the whole world
will become for us all,
Thus making all humankind,
Global citizens of our world.
Prafful JNV Bhiwani India.

Annual festival BUKOVYNIAN MEETINGS

The goal of the festival is to establish and sustain various contacts among former Bukovinians and their ancestors of different nationalities scattered all over the world. It has become a tradition in Chernivtsi  to hold this festival during City Days – on first Saturday and Sunday in October. Traditional gala-concert gathers all groups in one program; audience observes ancient customs and traditions on a big stage.

ALL MEN ARE ALIKE: IT IS THEIR HABITS WHICH CARRY THEM APART - Confucius

Dear colleagues,
I strongly believe that our joint work really shows the diversity of our cultures and prove how much we have in common....
At the same time each of our cultures is unique, with its own history and traditions. Learning more about each other, sharing our national heritage we help our students realize the real beauty and eternal values of our world.
Thanks a lot for your great contributions.
Natalia Sizova.

Related Projects

Many events in the history of mankind eventually fade into oblivion, but others, leave their indelible marks for the entire world to see. More than 350 years ago, the Croats initiated one such influential occurrence. Although started in the 17th century in a small region on the Adriatic coast, the consequences of this event are still very much evident the world over. 600 million people now wear the ubiquitous symbol of Croatia around their necks, close to their hearts.

Did you know that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie?

In his book, La Grande Histoire de la Cravate (Flamarion, Paris, 1994), François Chaille tells us about the appearance of this article of clothing and how it became fashionable.

"... Around the year 1635, some six thousand soldiers and knights came to Paris to give their support to King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu. Among them were a great number of Croatian mercenaries led by a ban, or Croatian viceroy.

The traditional outfit of these Croats aroused interest on account of the unusual and picturesque scarves distinctively tied about their necks. The scarves were made of various cloths, ranging from coarse material for common soldiers, to fine cotton and silk for officers. This elegant "Croatian style" immediately enamoured the French, who were delighted by the new article of clothing, which had been previously unknown in Europe.

For the gallant French officers in the thirty-year war, the advantage of the Croatian neck scarf was its enviable practicality. In contrast to the lace collar that had to be kept white and carefully starched, the scarf was simply and loosely tied around the neck without need for any additional care. Just as elegant as the stiff, high collars, the new scarves were less awkward, easier to wear and remained visible beneath the soldiers’ thick, long hair.

Around the year 1650, during the reign of Louis XIV, the Croatian scarf was accepted in France, above all in court, where military ornaments were much admired. The fashionable expression, ’a la croate’, soon evolved into a new French word, which still exists today: la cravate. This innovation symbolized the height of culture and elegance. On his return to England from exile, Charles II brought with him this new word in fashion. Over the next ten years, this fashion novelty spread across Europe, as well as across the colonies on the American continent..."

Since that time in the 17th century, derivatives of the word croata have been present in many languages, (i.e., English, German, French, Portuguese, Italian), meaning cravat or tie. It follows then that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie, as France is the mother country of high fashion, Brazil of coffee, Switzerland of cheese and watches, Portugal of port wine etc.

For those who are looking for an authentic Croatian necktie, all roads lead to Zagreb.