Why is Culture Important

Culture is that invisible bond, which ties the people of a community together. It refers to the pattern of human activity. The art, literature, language and religion of a community represent the community’s culture. Culture manifests itself through the lifestyle of the individuals of a community. The moral values of the people of a community also represent their culture. The importance of culture lies in its close association with the living of the people. The different cultures of the world have brought in diversity in the ways of life of the people inhabiting different parts of the world. You might want to know about the characteristics of culture.

Culture is related to the development of one’s attitude. One’s culture plays an important role in shaping the principles of the individual’s life. The cultural values of an individual have a deep impact on his/her attitude towards life. According to the behaviorist definition of culture, it is the ultimate system of social control where people monitor their own standards and behavior. A community’s culture lays the foundation of the living of its people. The cultural values serve as the founding principles of one’s life. They shape an individual’s thinking and influence his/her mindset.

Why is culture important? It is definitely because it gives an individual a unique identity. The culture of a community gives its people a character of their own. Culture shapes the personality of a community. The language that a community speaks, the art forms it hosts, its staple food, its customs, traditions and festivities comprise the community’s culture. The importance of culture cannot be stressed enough as it is an integral part of living. For those of you interested in exploring the different cultures of the world, here is your guide to world culture and heritage.

What are the Elements of Culture

There are different types of cultures across the world and each culture has its unique essence. While defining the term ‘culture’, there are several elements that together constitute as the culture of a particular region or the culture of particular people. What are the elements of culture? Here is your answer:

    * Language: The various languages are essentially an important part of the culture. Read information about different languages.
    * Norms: Every society or every civilization has a set of norms, which are an inseparable part, and an important element of the culture. This can include the folkways, mores, taboos and rituals in a culture.
    * Values: The social values of a particular civilization are also considered as an element of the culture. The values of a culture often refer to the things to be achieved or the things, which are considered of great worth or value in a particular culture.
    * Religion and Beliefs: The religion and the beliefs of the people in a civilization play an important role in shaping up of the culture as well. Read information about world religions.
    * Social Collectives: Social collectives refer to the social groups, organizations, communities, institutions, classes, and societies, which are considered as symbolic social constructions.
    * Statuses and Roles: A status or a social role is nothing but a slot or position within a group or society, which gives an overall idea of the social structure and hence is an important element of culture. This can also include traditional gender-based or age-based roles.
    * Cultural Integration: This includes the degree of harmony or integration within the various elements of culture. This can include elements like sub-cultures, local cultures and the difference between historical and cultural traditions.

What is Culture

Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when perfect, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future - Albert Camus

Culture is an integral part of every society. It is a learned pattern of behavior and ways in which a person lives his or her life. Culture is essential for the existence of a society, because it binds people together. In the explicit sense of the term, culture constitutes the music, food, arts and literature of a society. However, these are only the products of culture followed by the society and cannot be defined as culture.

According to English Anthropologist Edward B Taylor, culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

Culture is something that a person learns from his family and surroundings, and is not ingrained in him from birth. It does not have any biological connection because even if a person is brought up in a culture different from that in which he was born, he imbibes the culture of the society where he grows up. It is also not a hidden fact that some people feel the need to follow the beliefs and traditions of their own culture, even though they might be not subscribing to certain ideologies within.

Culture is a complex tool which every individual has to learn to survive in a society. It is the means through which people interact with others in the society. It acts in a subconscious way and whatever we see and perceive, seems to be normal and natural. Sometimes, other societies and people seem to be a little odd because they have a different culture from ours. We must remember that every society has a distinct culture that forms the backbone of the society. Culture does not remain stagnant, on the other hand it is evolving constantly and is in fact somewhat influenced by the other cultures and societies.

Every society has a different culture, where people share a specific language, traditions, behaviors, perceptions and beliefs. Culture gives them an identity which makes them unique and different from people of other cultures. When people of different cultures migrate and settle in another society, the culture of that society becomes the dominant culture and those of the immigrants form the subculture of the community. Usually, people who settle in other nations imbibe the new culture, while at the same time strive to preserve their own.

Although every society has a specific culture, there are certain elements of culture that are universal. They are known as cultural universals, in which there are certain behavioral traits and patterns that are shared by all cultures around the world. For instance, classifying relations based on blood relations and marriage, differentiating between good and bad, having some form of art, use of jewelry, classifying people according to gender and age, etc., are common in all cultures of the world.

Some people believe that humans are the only living beings who have a culture. But, there is a group of people who believe in the existence of culture even in animals. It is said that animals have certain social rules which they teach their young ones as a medium for survival.

Culture is necessary to establish an order and discipline in the society. It is not only a means of communication between people, but also creates a feeling of belonging and togetherness among people in the society.

Traditional Jewish Wedding Dance

Last week, I got an opportunity to witness a Jewish wedding. It was simply amazing! The most fascinating thing about the Jewish wedding is that it follows a series of meaningful rituals and traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. These rituals and customs reveal the purpose of marriage and are symbolic of the relationship between husband and wife. The Jewish wedding ceremony is truly worth watching. It starts with a procession, in which the family members of the bride and the groom participate. The wedding ceremony takes place under a special canopy, known as a huppah. Signing the marriage contract, called the Ketubah, is an important ritual of a Jewish wedding ceremony. The agreement states the duties and expectations of the chatan (groom) and the kallah (bride). The wedding ceremony is followed by a joyous celebration, called a wedding reception. The true charm of Jewish wedding lies in various interesting cultural activities that are performed during the wedding reception. The wedding celebration is never complete without music and traditional Jewish dance.

Traditional Jewish Wedding Dances

Music and dance are an integral part of a Jewish culture. Singing and dancing are a perfect way to express pleasure and happiness. Some examples of traditional Jewish dances are horah, mizinke (krenzl), Israeli folk dance, bulgar, broiges dance and yemenite. Jewish dances are performed at various Jewish festivals and celebrations. The Jews have included their traditional dances as a vital part of wedding celebrations. Even in the modern times, Jews perform wedding dances during the marriage ceremony to pay homage to their traditions. The couple usually prefer to hire a Jewish band that is familiar with traditional as well as contemporary Jewish wedding music. By ritual, the wedding couple (bride and groom) are the first to dance and the guests are invited to participate. Following are some of the popular traditional Jewish wedding dances:

    * Horah: It is a popular traditional Jewish dance, performed at special occasions like weddings and festivals in Israel and many other East European countries. Horah is a circle dance, performed to traditional Jewish songs like Hava Nagila and Klezmer. The Horah dance is performed in many variations. During the Horah, the guests lift the bride and the groom (considered as 'the king and the queen of the night') above their shoulders. While sitting on the chairs, the couple holds on to the ends of a handkerchief. The guests form a huge circle around the couple and dance in clockwise and anticlockwise directions. They perform various foot movements like kicks and other grapevine-like steps. This is accompanied by bopping up and down as well as weaving. The circle of dancers come in close to the couple and go out again.
    * Mezinke Tanz (Krenzl): It is another famous Jewish wedding dance, performed particularly at the wedding reception. It is derived from the Krenzl dance. Krenzl is a Jewish custom: the bride's mother is honored by a crown at her last daughter's marriage. The bride's mother sits at the center of a circle. She is crowned with flowers and her daughters and guests dance around her on the rhythm of a lively music band. Mezinke Tanz is performed in honor of both parents, whose last son or daughter is getting married. Both parents sit at the center of a circle and the guests gift them wedding flowers.
    * Gladdening of the Bride: This traditional Jewish wedding dance form is performed at the end of the wedding reception. The bride sits at the center of dance floor and the guests and close family members dance around her. They also sing praises about her.
    * Yemenite: A popular Jewish dance that the Jews perform at weddings and other occasions, the Yemenite involves just three steps with a small pause on the last one. It has non-moving hopping and posturing and hence, can be performed in confined space.

Lively, traditional Jewish wedding dance is a symbol of a rich cultural heritage of the Jews. It gives a ceremonial touch to the atmosphere and makes the wedding and reception ceremony enjoyable and a memorable one.

US Culture of the 1950s

The '50s were an eventful decade in American cultural history.

Arts
African American artists like Romare Bearden and Henry Clay Anderson presented a different view of American life. Abstract expressionism was the first American art movement to gain worldwide influence. Its proponents included Barnett Newman, Franz Kline and Clyfford Still. Figurative art returned.

Literature
Published works included ‘The Wall’ by John Hershey, ‘East of Eden’ by John Steinbeck, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D.Salinger and ‘The Naked Lunch’ by Williams Burroughs. Beatniks and the beat generation reached their peak in the '50s.

Television
Sales of television sets increased dramatically in the '50s. Watching television became a national pastime. It became more popular than radio. Advertising increased manifold. Broadcasts that were earlier in black and white, later moved on to color. TV influenced people on a massive scale. The popular television shows for kids were ‘Mickey Mouse Club’, ‘Walt Disney’, ‘Lassie and ‘Howdy Doody Time’. The popular comedy shows were ‘The Families of the Fifties’, ‘I Love Lucy’ and ‘The Honeymooners’. The popular drama shows were ‘Private Everywhere’, ‘Superman’, ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘The Dragnet’. ‘American Bandstand’ hosted by Dick Clark was one of the popular shows for teenagers. Sitcoms were introduced in the '50s. News broadcasting changed from newsreaders simply reading the news to videos of news events. Live broadcasting became more common. There were Quiz shows like ‘What’s My Line’ and ‘The Price is Right’. There were prominent newscasters like CBS’s Walter Cronkite and NBC’s David Brinkley and Chet Huntley. For the first time the Miss America Pageant was televised.

Films
The first 3-D movie 'Bwana Devil' was released starring Robert Stack. The famous movie stars of the '50s were Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne and Bing Crosby. The movie ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ was extremely popular and well received. The Walt Disney Studios had a widespread success with animated films like ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘Lady and the Tramp’, ‘Peter Pan’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Cinderella. ‘All About Eve’ was released. James Dean, movie star of ‘Rebel without a Cause’ was killed while driving his car at high speed. Classics like ‘Ben-Hur’, ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Hercules’ and ‘The Ten Commandments’ were released. Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ was released. Many movies were released with the Cold war as a backdrop or were based on science fiction.

Music
Rock ‘n' Roll was introduced. It was regarded as a threat to the character of America’s youth. Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed coined the term ‘Rock ‘n' Roll’. Western and Country music were also popular. Popular artists and groups were Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Doris Day and Dean Martin. Some of the popular songs of the '50s were ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, ‘I Saw Mommy Kissin’ Santa Claus’, ‘Mr Sandman’, ‘Its All in the Game’, ‘Kisses Sweeter Than Wine’, ‘Doggie in the Window’ and ‘My Happiness’. Elvis Presley was the musical superstar of the 50’s. It is claimed that Elvis bought the races together with his popularizing of ‘black’ music. With the introduction of new gadgets such as portable tape recorders, music could be heard in any location. Three rock and roll stars ‘Big Bopper’ Richardson, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. Crooners like Perry Como and Dinah shore were popular. The music of the '50s is still played today.

Drama and Theatre
Popular plays were ‘Come Back Little Sheeba’, ‘The King and I’, ‘Waiting for Godot’, ‘The Crucible’ and ‘the Bad Seed’. The ‘Cat on a hot Tin Roof’ won the Pulitzer Prize.
‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ was one of the most emotionally charged plays of the '50s. Alvin Ailey created the American Dance Theatre.

Fashion
The fashion was conservative in the fifties. Ponytails were popular among girls and crew cuts for guys. Bermuda shorts became popular. The Marlon Brando movie ‘The Wild One’ made T-shirts and black leather motorcycle jackets popular. Women’s skirts and hair became shorter. Marilyn Monroe made tight, v-neck sweaters popular. Pantyhose were introduced in the American market.

The '50s saw an emergence of several new trends. It was indeed a novel and exciting time for American culture. Some of its facets still exist in modern society.

Traditional German Clothing

Fashion trends now-a-days are on similar lines all over the world. Germany may not be recognized as an important fashion destination but fashion did have a significant role to play out here. German fashion is known by their classic style of dressing. Germany also boasts of some creative fashion designers as well. Of course, the scene today is quite different from the traditional German clothing. In the olden days, colors also had an important part to play as far as German clothing was concerned. Have you ever wondered what traditional German clothing was really like? Was fashion as liberated as we see it today? Get to know all the know-how about traditional German clothing right here.

Traditional German Clothing:

Dirndl:
A dirndl is a traditional dress, which was worn in the Southern area of Germany. Originally, the dirndl is a simplified version of the folk costume. The dirndl was actually the uniform of the Austrian servants. This was during the 19th century. In the ancient days, every village even had its own particular style of this dress.

The dirndl comprises of many garments that makes up the entire outfit. This has a bodice, which is worn with a blouse, a full skirt and even an apron. The ancient days saw many simplistic designs of the dirndl. Today, one can come across many expensive versions of the same. This traditional German outfit was styled into a heavier design for the winter days. In such cases, materials such as thick cotton or even wool were used for the skirts or even the aprons.

The dirndl is worn today only for traditional events. In the earlier days, the dirndl was often in softer colors as compared to the brightly colored outfits one may see today. The designs available today are also modified to suit the modern trends. A knot on the apron of the dirndl is considered to be a symbol to indicate that the woman is married.

Lederhosen:
The lederhosen mean leather trousers in German. These are knee breeches and were worn by the Germanic men of the Alpine areas and the surrounding locales as well. The lederhosen are made of leather. This traditional style of German clothing was also worn by young German boys till the age of 16. As compared to the traditional Bavarian garment, the lederhosen were less decorated in these cases. It always had features such as the suspenders and the front flaps. The lederhosen were worn in the mountains of South Germany and were preferred by riders or hunters.

Tracht:
Traditional German clothing cannot be complete without the mention of tracht. The style of the traditional tracht has even resulted in the creation of the Landhausmode. Landhausmode sees its influences from the costumes that were worn by the farmers and the peasants. For this outfit, there is major use of linen and loden material.

Gamsbart:
The Gamsbart is also a part of traditional German clothing. The Gamsbart is actually a tuft of hair that is used as a form of a decorative element. This is worn on the trachten hats. Here, the lower end of the hair is set into metal and the upper portion tufts out like a brush. As per the old traditions, these were placed only on hats. Even today, the Gamsbart is used as a part of clothing and is infused in female clothing as well.

It was probably only till the 16th century that people who belonged to the lower strata of society had to wear shades of brown or gray. In fact, clothes in shades of blue were worn only on holidays. When the industrial revolution took place in the middle of the 19th century, factory made outfits started to conquer the markets. Even then, the end of the 19th century saw a revival of these native dresses. This can be seen in the modern styles of dirndls that are found today in the market.

The Culture of Taiwan

Taiwan means 'terraced bay' and this name was given by the Chinese immigrants, who landed on the island 300 years ago. They heard the natives calling out the word 'Taiwan' and assumed the name of the island to be Taiwan. Taiwan is also called 'Formosa' (meaning beautiful island) and this name was given by the Portuguese sailors in the 1600's.

Taiwan is a collection of many islands and is shaped like a tobacco leaf (narrow from both ends). It is situated 120 km of the southeastern coast of mainland China. To its north are Japan and Okinawa, and Philippines to its south.

People

Taiwan has been an island that opened its arms to immigrants of different religions, nationalities and cultures. Today, Taiwan houses a population of almost 23 million people, of which a majority correspond to Han Chinese (descendants of the immigrants from several territories of China). Han Chinese are divided into three types: Taiwanese, Hakka, and Mandarin on the basis of language spoken by them. Besides the Chinese, Taiwan is also dabbled with Dutch, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese. Most of the people in Taiwan reside in the cities, thereby making Taiwan one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Aborigines: According to most anthropologists, the original inhabitants of Taiwan belonged to Malaya-Polynesian ancestry (coming from North Luzon in Philippines). These aborigines influenced the country's culture considerably with their artistically constructed houses and beautifully embroidered clothes. In the 1600s, the Han Chinese (natives of China) migrated in large numbers to Taiwan, and overshadowed the ab original inhabitants by their huge numbers and through intermarriage. Today, about nine aboriginal tribes exist, constituting two percent of Taiwan's population and happen to live in the remote mountainous terrains of Taiwan. The aboriginal people are physically more well built and darker in complexion as compared to the Han Chinese.

Language: The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese which is spoken as the mother tongue by majority of the people. Hakka and Taiwanese Chinese are the other popular languages in the country. English is the most popular foreign language which has been included in the school curriculum.

Cuisine

The integration of different cultures into Taiwan is reflected in its cuisine as well. Compilation of different cuisines of different regions has given birth to the unique culinary culture of Taiwan. Noodles, soups, shrimp rolls, etc are some of the most relished and popular meals in the country. Rice and soy are widely eaten across Taiwan. Rice wine, sesame oil, soy sauce, pickled mustard greens, peanuts, etc are commonly used seasonings in Taiwanese dishes.

Sea food and Meat: Fish and meat play a significant role in Taiwan's cuisine and are common in festive dishes. In the fish category, various crustaceans, fishes (tuna, grouper), cuttlefishes and squids are amongst the most commonly relished. In the meat category, pork is widely eaten, however, beef is not as popular in the country. The Buddhist Taiwanese refrain from beef, since they disapprove the slaughter of animals used for agriculture. However, surprisingly the Taiwanese beef noodle soup is very popular despite this traditional belief.

Tea: Taiwan was introduced to tea by the Chinese immigrants, not just as a beverage but also as an ingredient that possessed medicinal properties. Tea trees of Taiwan are known to produce some of the best teas in the world. Even though the Chinese are responsible for introducing tea to Taiwan, the method of tea preparation for the Chinese and Taiwanese are different. Tea making in Taiwan is considered as an art and the standard of tea prepared is based on the elegance of the aroma, purity of taste and clearness of tea color.

Customs, Etiquettes and Lifestyle

Communication Style: People in Taiwan have high regards for contextual understanding and consider brief, abrupt messages as rude and impolite. They give and expect deep, broad contextual messages to gain better understanding of the core message, blended with gestures and facial expressions. People from countries where context is not given much importance have to be careful in this regard.

Dining Customs: The Taiwanese entertain their guests at home only when they build a relationship with a person. Until then, they entertain their guests at restaurants, etc. Chopsticks are used to eat with and are returned to the chopstick rests after every few bites, while drinking and while speaking. The food is usually served on revolving trays and only after the host starts eating the guests begin. There is no hard and fast rule about finishing the food in the plate. In fact, if one is done with the meal one must leave a little at the bottom to indicate so.

Gifting Etiquettes: Chinese New Year, birthdays, weddings and funerals are occasions when gifts are given. Food baskets, good quality wines, etc are popular gift items, however, items such as scissors, knifes and other cutting devices are not gifted as they symbolize severing of relationships. Further, items such as clocks, handkerchiefs, white flowers and straw sandals are also not given as they correspond to funerals. The gifts are not wrapped in black, white or blue, instead, vibrant colors such as red, yellow and pink are used.

Greeting Etiquettes: Greetings are formal and the oldest person is greeted first. Usually the Taiwanese people look towards the ground while greeting as a sign of respect. Handshakes are used to greet foreigners. The rhetorical question, 'Have you eaten?' is a frequently asked question while greeting.

Religion, Values and Beliefs

Religion: Taiwan is a country which is highly diversified not only in terms of food and people, but also in terms of religion. Since Taiwan respects other faiths, a variety of religions such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Daoism, Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity,etc are practiced of which Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism are most prevalent.

Beliefs: Hell bank note tradition, which is a Chinese tradition is also followed in Taiwan. Hell Bank note is a special form of paper money, which is burnt as an after-life ancestral offering. The living send their dead ancestors money in the form of hell notes to spend in their afterworld. The denominations of these hell notes range from $10,000 to figures as outrageous as $500,000,000. These notes may appear as superstitious items to other people, however, to the Taiwanese these notes are very significant. Hell notes are not given as gift items nor are they given to living people (even if its a practical joke), since hell notes symbolize death.

Values and Ethics: The values and ethics of the people of Taiwan, are based on the teachings of the Chinese thinker and social philosopher, Confucius. Confucianism advocated ancestral worship and the practice of rituals. It also emphasized on the obligations people had towards one another, along with ample stress on loyalty, responsibility, filial piety, respect for elders and etiquette of daily behavior. Since the people of Taiwan follow these principles as guidelines, they are seen to treat people around them with respect and dignity. They are team players and are known to set aside their personal grudges for the benefit of the group.

Festivals

Every country has festivals that it celebrates with exuberance and vigor. Taiwan also has a list of festive occasions it takes pride in, of which music and dance are crucial parts. Informal folk music such as Hoklo, instrumental music, Pop and Rock and Taiwanese operas are quite popular. Group dances are common during rituals and ceremonies. Some of the festivals celebrated are:

Chinese New Year Festival (January / February) : It is the longest and the most important festival celebrated in the country. It's the time when the people of Taiwan are seen to purchase gifts, clothes,etc. All sorts of debts are seen to be cleared during this time. Sumptuous meals and fireworks also accompany this festival.

Lantern Festival (February / March): People are found carrying colorful lanterns with calligraphic inscriptions, across the city. This tradition is followed to ensure good luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Tomb sweeping Day (April / May): Ancestral worship is given prime importance in Taiwan, and Tomb sweeping day is the day set apart for worshiping and honoring the dead. Families visit the graves of their dead relatives, clean the graves and offer sacrifices.

Dragon Boat Festival (May/June): There was a famous Chinese poet (403-221 B.C), whose integrity was nailed by rivals. The king lost trust in him, thus in despair the poet drowned himself. The villagers had high regards for the poet and rushed to his rescue in boats but in vain. Large quantities of rice was dropped into the water with the hopes that the fishes would eat the rice instead of the poet. To commemorate the poet's death, boat races are held and rice dumplings are eaten on this day.

Chinese Valentine's Day (July/August): People in Taiwan go to the temple of the matchmaker and offers prays for their love-life and marriage.

Ghost Festival (August / September): The Ghost festival commences on the first day of the seventh lunar month and is marked by unlocking the tower gate of the 'Old Venerable' temple. It is believed that from this day onwards the spirits of the dead come to the world of the living and stay for an entire month. The Taiwanese set out lavish sacrifices, exotic food offerings, etc to ensure that the dead have a pleasant visit. The month of the festival is considered to be unfavorable to travel and to conduct any marriage or funerals.

Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October): This festival is marked by the presence of a round full-moon which is considered to be a symbol of joy and happiness. Family re-unions are common during this time.

Any time during the year is suitable to visit Taiwan. However, during the Chinese New Year, several shops on the island are closed and accommodation rates doubled. On the contrary, during the Ghost festival month, since traveling is considered a taboo, the cost of moving around is less and is an appropriate time to visit. The weather in October and November is cool and pleasant and is also a swell time to pay a visit.

The Culture of Peru

In one of her quotes, Margaret Mead, who was an American anthropologist, says that understanding other cultures should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate lovingly, our own. Lets understand the culture of Peru. Peruvian culture is a conglomerate of characteristic traits, which depict a particular society or a social group. It was shaped by the relationship between Hispanic and Amerindian cultures.

Peru, located on the western coast of South America, shares its borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. The Pacific Ocean guards it from the West. Lima, its capital, is the largest city in Peru. Peru varies greatly in climate and topography. The arid region along the coast, a region of high mountains in the center, and a large area of forested mountains and lowlands in the east form the three geographical regions of Peru. Geography of a country influences its culture, and this is evident even in Peru. The culture of Peru is one of the most diverse in South America.

Peruvian culture encompasses art, literature, traditions of Peru and also the Peruvian lifestyle. Diversity is at its best in Peru! Culture of Peru is primarily ingrained in Amerindian and Spanish traditions. African, Asian, and European ethnic groups have influenced Peruvian culture.

Art
Peru is known as the heart of Inca Empire. Peruvian artistic traditions can be traced back to Pre-Inca cultures. The Incas kept up these crafts. The construction of Machu Picchu illustrates the architectural achievements made by Incas. Colonial art was dominated by Baroque. Most art focused on religious subjects during this period. Jose Sabogal headed the indigenous school of painting, which dominated the cultural scene in Peru, for ten years after 1932. During the 1960s, Fernando de Szyszlo, a Peruvian artist of international recognition, became the main promoter for abstract painting and helped in modernizing Peruvian art. Peru is proud of one of the largest varieties of arts and crafts in the world. Peruvian art has combined with the art style brought by the Spanish conquistadors resulting into an art form called Naif. Young artists are encouraged by Peru’s economy.

Literature
Peruvian literature has originated from the oral traditions of pre-Columbian civilizations. Spaniards initiated writing in the 16th century. 20th century was witness to writers like Ciro Alegria, Jose Maria Arguedas, and Cesar Vallejo. Mario Vargas Llosa, during the second half of the century, made Peruvian literature popular. Today many Peruvian writers are living in the USA.

Dance and Music of Peru
Marinera is known as the "National Dance of Peru". There are also dances that are associated with the agricultural work, hunting and war. Some dances show an influence of Christians. "Kashua" and the "Wayno" are two representative Andean dances. Kashua is usually danced in groups whereas Wayno is danced in couples. Peru has some dances of war like the Chiriguano and also the Carnival Dances. Dances of ritual character are the Achocallo, the Pinkillada, and the Llamerada. Llama is a South American camelid. Llamerada imitates its walk. The local community of Peru has preserved Peruvian music for thousands of years. It is a blend of Andean and Spanish styles of music. Ancient Peruvian instruments were made out of a wide variety of materials like conch shells, precious metals, horns or mud. The yaravi and the triste of the Andean origin are generally songs with emotional lyrics.

Celebrations in Peru
Peru celebrates about 3,000 festivals every year. Most of them are related to the Christian religion. Apart from Christmas, Corpus Christi or Holy Week, there are other festivals, which attempt to analogize indigenous beliefs with the Christians. "Alasitaswhich" combines a crafts and miniatures fair with dances and meals.

Cuisine in Peru
A variety of foods are eaten in Peru, the main ingredients of the food items being maize, tomatoes and potatoes. Fruits like chirimoya, lucuma and pineapple are consumed by the Peruvians. One of the typical Peruvian dishes is "ceviche", in which fish are marinated in citrus juice. The food of the Peruvians is accompanied by a refreshing drink called "chicha de jora".

People of Peru
In the words of Francis Arinze, an African prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Religion is one dimension of culture, a transcendent element of it. Peru's constitution provides for freedom of religion. Peru is mainly a Catholic country. Roman Catholicism plays a vital role in the culture and civilization of Peru. It is Peru’s official religion. Muslim, Hindu, Buddhism are the other religions found in Peru. Over 50% of Peru's population lives on the coastal areas of Peru, Others live in the mountain areas. Less than 5% of the inhabitants live in the jungle areas of Peru. Around 45% of the people of Peru are indigenous, and around 37% are mestizo. The national language is Spanish. Quechua is also spoken. Cusco is seen as the cultural capital of Peru by many. On an average, 92% of the Peruvian men and about 79% of the Peruvian women are literate.

Modern culture of Peru is a combination of the ancient and the contemporary! In spite of the globalization, Peruvians of today have not forgotten their traditions. They cherish their cultural diversity.

The Culture of Philippines

Philippines is a really beautiful country that sees a mix of diverse cultures. The culture of Philippines has seen various influences in the past. This beautiful country consists of around 7,107 islands with a large settlement of mostly Malay people. The Filipinos, as the people over here are known, are distinctive in many ways and have preserved their rich traditions and culture. Here, we shall take a look at the finer aspects of the culture of Philippines.

The Culture of Philippines: Family and Lifestyle
With over 70 million people, the Republic of Philippines has a mixed crowd that consists of different religions and people from various regions. One can see a mix of Christians and Muslims. The Chinese, Americans and Spanish lot are also spotted and Christianity is widely practiced out here. The Filipinos hold family ties in high regard. Discipline is instilled in the blood of young Filipinos at an early age. Nuclear families are a common factor out here although many Filipinos do stay close to each other. Families are rather conservative in their outlook and it is considered inappropriate when a female visits the house of a male. The people of Philippines are bound together by strong values.

The Culture of Philippines: Cuisine
The cuisine of Philippines is as varied and diverse as the culture in itself! One can see an array of food items being prepared apart from the traditional flavor of Philippines. The Chicharon is a popular snack in the Philippines. This is deep fried pork or chicken dish. Apart from this, the bibingka which is a rice cake and the ensaymada which is a sweet roll is also popular as a snack item. The lechon which is a whole roasted pig is also a popular food dish in the cuisine of Philippines. Filipinos love to gorge on pescado - a fried fish dish, pinakbet – vegetable stew, puto-rice cakes and pan de sal – salted rolls of bread.

The Culture of Philippines: Music and Dance
The various forms of music also are an indication of the different cultures that exist out here. There is a fine blend of native compositions and modern tunes. The music styles seen here have European and American influences. From hip-hop to pop music, it’s all popular out here. The Spanish people have left a distinct mark even in terms of music. With their influence, came the use of guitars and the zarzuela. Filipino rock and Filipino reggae also have a major fan following. The dance of the Filipinos is seen in various forms and styles. The Filipinos also have certain distinct forms of folk dance. Here, bamboo sticks are used in accompaniment with the steps being performed. Such dance forms are known as the tinkling and the skilling. All such folk dances of Philippines are only done in groups. There are many interesting legends associated with these dance forms as well. These dances are mainly visible being performed for religious occasions and weddings.

The Culture of Philippines: Art
Apart from music and dance, traditional forms of paintings are also very much predominant in the culture of Philippines. The painting style that began in the 17th century is continued even today. Other forms of art and craft such as weaving and pottery are also common amongst certain groups of people. A peek into the homes of many Filipinos would reveal the popularity of wooden art that is used for display. History also reveals the association of creative poetry with the people of Philippines. Tanagas are short poems that are typically without any title. Originally, Tanagas were always written in Tagalog, but today, many aspiring poets are using the basics of this form to write creative verses.

These are some of the basics aspects related to the culture of Philippines. It only reflects the wide influences and the wonderful blend that has formed with the traditional culture of Philippines.

The Colorful Culture of Tibet

Tibetan People
The people of Tibet are strong, and adaptable due to the harsh environment in which they live, but they are also extremely warm and hospitable. They are always quick to invite a visitor to Tibet into their home and serve them homemade food, and the famous Tibetan butter tea.

Food
Food, just like Tibetan culture and people has a very distinct character. Tibetan food is not only sustenance, but also helps Tibetan people survive the harsh climates. Their food keeps them warm, gives them energy, helps them with the high altitude, and gives them nutrients essential to the harsh climate. Due to the high altitude of Tibet, water boils at 90 degrees making cooking with water impossible, so Tibetan food has become very specialized. The Tibetan diet consists mostly of meat, milks and other high protein foods.

Tsampa: is a staple found at every Tibetan meal. It is a dough made with roasted barley flour and yak butter. There are two basic ways to prepare and eat Tsampa. One is to make dough with Tibetan buttered tea. The other is to make porridge with beef or mutton, and vegetables. The Tsampa dough served with buttered tea is salty, while the porridge is often served with sugar.

Buttered tea: is another staple of Tibetan cuisine. Tibetans drink butter tea because it warms them up. The buttered tea is quite salty. Some people think it tastes more like soup broth than tea.

Beef and Mutton: Tibetans live on beef, mutton and milk products. Beef and mutton contain high heat energy which is helpful in fighting the cold. Many Tibetans often eat raw meats. Tibetan noodles: are usually served in a simple vegetable or meat broth. Momos: are the favorite foods of most visitors to Tibet. They are dumplings made with either meat or vegetables.

Tibetan Dances
Nearly Every Tibetan can sing and dance. Dancing is an integral part of every Tibetan's life. Tibetan people sing and dance for nearly every event: weddings, funerals, gatherings, and just for fun. There are many different styles of dance. Each area of Tibet has its own distinct style.

The Guoxie (village) dance is a group dance popular in rural Tibet. This dance is usually performed on open ground from sunrise to sunset. It consists of men and women dancing together in a circle.

Guozhuang (singing and dancing) dance is popular in eastern Tibet. It consists of two parts, singing, and dancing. It is an agile and vigorous dance. Men and women stand in two separate circles and sing in rotation while swaying and stamping their feet. The tempo in the beginning is slow and as the song progresses the tempo speeds up. They performers conclude their singing by shouting "Ya!"

Xie dance is accompanied by a stringed instrument. At festivals and outings men and women dance the Xie face to face in two lines. They are usually directed by one person at the head of their formation who plays a stringed instrument. The participants sing to each other to express their feelings. This dance is graceful and natural characterized by slow steps.

Qamo (sorcerer's) dance is a religious dance. It came to Tibet along with the introduction of Buddhism. It is used to subdue evil spirits in monasteries. Originally the Qamo dance was a mime dance where participants wore ceremonial masks. A traditional livestock sacrificing ceremony was held. Since the killing of livestock goes against Buddhist doctrine, livestock are no longer killed. Drawings are now substituted. At the end of the dance the performers take an effigy of Duoma (the leading demon), made of butter and tsampa into the wilderness to burn it, which will drive away evil and bring good fortune in the coming year.

Clothing
Tibetan clothing has a strong connection with the people, and climate of "roof of the world". The Tibetan's clothing reflects the history, beliefs, and character of the local people.

Each area of Tibet has its own distinct style of clothing. The clothes are influenced the by the religion, and environment. Tibetan clothing consists of a robe and shirt. The Tibetan robe worn by men is broad and is normally fastened under the right arm, while the women's are slightly narrower with or without sleeves. The robes often fastened with two cloth belts. The shirts are also fastened on the right. Men typically wear white shirts with high collars, while women wear various colors with turndown collars.

In northern Tibet, were the weather is bitterly cold, herdsmen wear a fur lined robe years round. Their robe also doubles as their quilt at night. Since the day and night temperatures vary greatly, during the day they usually do not put their arms in their sleeves, but rather tie the sleeves around their waste wearing their robe as a kind of skirt. Their fur lined robes are very bulky and have no pockets, but being fastened at the waist it gives the wearer plenty of room inside for to carry daily necessities, or even their children inside.

In pastoral areas the clothing worn by herdsmen are distinctive for their decorations. Their clothing is usually hemmed in black cloth at the front and lower edges and cuffs. Women wear aprons decorated with colorful cloth stripes.

In the south of Tibet where the weather is warm and damp, the clothing is made from hand woven woolen cloth. Both men and women button their clothing on the right. Men's clothing are hemmed in colorful cloth, or with silk, while women normally wearing sleeveless robes.

In Lhasa, where the weather is warmer and damper many men wear double layered robes, and women dress in close-fitting robes and long sleeved shirts, with brightly decorated aprons.

The apron is one of Tibetan women's favorite clothing articles. According to custom the aprons are only worn by married women. It is a privilege that young girls look forward too.

Thailand Culture

It is immensely useful to know about the culture of any country that you are planning to visit. Having the right information about the ways of the local people can prevent misunderstandings and will also enrich your whole travel experience.

Thailand, which is a very popular holiday destination, has a culture influenced by its historical trade links and conflicts with the Indian subcontinent, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan and China.

Here's a brief list of things to know -

1. The Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Royal Family hold a deservedly high and revered position in the country. You will do well to respect this popular public sentiment. You can get into serious trouble for poking fun or disparaging them.

2. Show respect to Buddhist monks. They also command a great deal of respect in Thai society. Women should step aside to make way for passing monks and avoid any accidental contact.

3. Buddhism, especially Theravada Buddhism, is the main and government supported religion of Thailand. Other religions followed are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

4. The Thai language is derived from Khmer, Sanskrit, Pali, Malay and Chinese. English is widely spoken nowadays, but it'll be great if you make an effort to learn a few simple phrases. Like 'Sawadee khrap/ka' for 'hello/goodbye'; 'Sabaai dee mai khrap/ka' for 'how are you?'; and 'Sabaai dee khrap/ka' for 'I'm fine, thank you'.

5. One Thai custom you'll encounter frequently is the Wai. This is similar to the Indian Namaste gesture. You put your palms together at chest level and bow your head. The Wai is used in greeting, in farewell or in acknowledgment.

6. Thai people place a great emphasis on family life and respecting parents, elders and seniors. Seniority, by the way, is determined more by social standing and work denomination than by age, and brings with it certain obligations like paying for the whole group when dining out.

7. Many Thai people have nicknames in addition to their formal Chinese/Sanskrit-derived and often long, complicated given names. The nickname may be a shortening of the given name or can be the word for a color, fruit, flower, animal, etc.

8. Displays of public affection between friends are not uncommon; such displays between lovers are usually less common and less appreciated, but globalization is changing all that, especially in the case of the young generation growing up on American soaps and the Internet.

9. Thais dislike conflicts and loud, angry public arguments. You are likely to be more respected if you stay calm, don't point left and right, don't wave your arms about like wind-mills and avoid all excessive behavior.

10. Traditional Buddhist marriages are divided into a Buddhist ceremony and a non-Buddhist ceremony. The groom is required to give dowry, known as Sin Sodt, to the bride's family.

11. Thai funerals usually last for a week, during which many prayers are recited and crying is not encouraged.

12. Dress modestly in clothes that cover your shoulders and upper legs. Especially when visiting temples.

13. Remove shoes when entering someone's house or a temple. Try not to step on the threshold when entering or departing.

14. It is considered rude to touch anyone on the head or to touch them with your feet. It is also considered offensive to sit with your feet pointing at someone.

15. Early Thai literature was influenced by Indian Literature. The Indian epic Ramayana was written into a Thai version by the Thai Kings Rama I and Rama II.

16. There are three categories of Thai dance - Khon, Lakhon and Likay. The Khon dance is the one you see on many tourist brochures, with elaborate dance moves and dancers wearing masks, gilded head-dresses and jeweled costumes. Music and dialogs are performed in the background by off-stage performers. Khon was originally a dance for the Royal Courts. The Likay dance, which is considered unsophisticated in comparison, was performed in public for the common folks and has satirical, political and comedic overtones.

17. Thailand is famous for its shadow puppet plays, Nang Yai and Nang Thalung. These plays are mainly performed in the southern part of the country, and are accompanied by music and comedic dialogs.

18. Traditional Thai music is a blending of different cultural influences, mainly Indian, Khmer and Chinese.

19. Thai cuisine, which is world famous for its blend of sweet, spicy hot, sour and salty tastes, is mainly eaten with a fork and a spoon; chopsticks are used only for certain foods. When dining with friends or in a restaurant, use your right hand to pass things and leave a little food on your plate when you finish eating. This shows you have good manners and have had enough to eat.

20. Two important Thai holidays are the Thai New Year is called Songkran, which is celebrated on 13-15 April, and Loy Krathong, which is celebrated on the full-moon day of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in mid-November.

The Culture of Pakistan

Pakistan, a country in Southern Asia, has a rich culture and heritage. Formerly, a part of 'Hindustan', Pakistan became an independent country on August 14, 1947. The highly traditional Pakistani culture borrows heavily from the cultures of different countries like the Arabs, Greeks, Persians, Aryans, Moghuls and the British. The neighboring countries of Pakistan, like Iran (in the west), Afghanistan (in the northwest) and India (in the east) also influence its culture.

Language
Although, English is widely spoken in Pakistan, Urdu is the official language. The other languages that are spoken in Pakistan are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Balochi, Hindko, Saraiki, Brahvietc.

Religion
The majority of Pakistan's population are Muslims and they follow the Islamic religion in a strict fashion. They offer namaz (prayers) five times everyday. Ramadan, the most important festival of the Muslims, is also considered as a sacred month. During this month, they fast from morning till sunset without drinking water and are strictly prohibited from smoking and consuming alcohol. The last day of Ramdan is Eid which is celebrated with great fervor with family and friends.

Islam is the major religion in Pakistan, but is not the only one. The minority population comprises of Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and the Persians. Christmas (also the birthday of Ali Jinnah, first governor-general of Pakistan), Jashn-e-Baharan (spring festival celebrated by the Punjabis), Baisakhi Purnima (the birth date of Buddha) and Naoroz (Parsi New Year) are among some of the festivals celebrated in Pakistan.

Architecture
The architecture of Pakistan is miscellaneous, as every nation that invaded and settled in this country has left a mark on it. In ancient times, this Islamic country was a part of the Indus Valley Civilization and the architectures of Mohenjo Daro, Harappa and Kot Diji, are considered as the heritage sites.

One can also see the Buddhist monuments that were constructed during the time when Buddhism was prevalent in Pakistan. The advent of the Moghuls put an end to the Buddhist architecture. During this time, due to the influence of Greeks and Persians, there was an amalgamation of these styles in the architecture of the country which was known as the 'Greco-Buddhist' style.

The invasion of the Mughal empire led to the development of Islamic architecture. The Shah Jahan Mosque of Thatta is the first building that was constructed according to the principles of Mughal architecture. One of the very important monuments that came up during this period is the Badshahi Mosque. It was built during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb, and is flanked by the magnificent Alamgiri gate.

Later, during the time of colonization, the constructions were majorly of Indo-Western style. Today, in the post-colonial era, we can see a mixture of all these styles along with the modernized structures.

Sports
Although, field hockey is the national game of Pakistan, cricket is a game that is followed with lot of passion. In recent times, even soccer has become popular among the people. The country also internationally represents in sports like swimming, boxing, shooting and athletics.

Art and Literature
Poetry is the most important form of literature in Pakistan. One of the most known exponent of Urdu poetry is Mirza Ghalib. He has written various poems in Urdu and Persian. His poems are still read and loved by Urdu and Hindi speaking people around the globe.

Pakistani literature is not restricted only to Urdu poetry. There is an embodiment of works written in English, Punjabi, Sindhi and Pushto languages. Also, there are Pakistani diasporic writers around the world.

Music is a primary interest of the Pakistanis. Qawwali, which was said to have been introduced by Amir Khusrau, is one of the most traditional forms of music that exists in Pakistan. Film, Urdu and Punjabi pop music is also popular among the people. Nowadays, it is blended with western music and this amalgamation has developed into a popular music genre.

The most popular entertainment medium in Pakistan are the television and the radio. Pakistan's film industry is referred to as Lollywood with a production of 40 motion pictures every year. Indian movies are also popular in Pakistan, although, it has been banned by the Government of Pakistan.

Social Culture
The Pakistanis are mostly conservative in nature. They follow a strict code of conduct. They live in a patriarchal family where the eldest male member is the head of the family. The elders are given lot of respect and their opinions are regarded with utmost importance while taking important decisions.

Although education is considered as a very important factor among the middle class people, most Pakistani women are not given the freedom to work. But nowadays, many joint families are disintegrating into nuclear families due to the social and economic limitations that are enforced by the joint family system.

Pakistan, is a country, that adheres to its traditional beliefs, values and customs especially in matters of religion. Although, the Pakistanis are deeply rooted in their cultural values, the nation is not lagging behind, with globalization affecting every part of the world. Westernization has embarked into the Pakistani culture which has paved the way for positive development.