Eating and rules courtesy of Japan

Eating is a pleasure in daily activities. So in order not to cause discomfort to those sitting at the table together, which also has the polite rules or methods holidays mean seriously.
In case of Japan, though relatively less, but also some rules of courtesy or ceremony method means that you should remember and practice.

1. Using chopsticks during meals

Food culture in every country in the world is very diverse. On how to make a meal, country meals are served on the floor and sit down to eat, and national use table. Moreover, how to eat, country eat with a knife and fork, eat with chopsticks countries, what countries also use their hands to eat etc. The difference is that the method developed by conditions climate, nature and contents of the dish etc. and was a most appropriate method, is preferred to that country, and it is seen as part of the cultural life of the country.

Japanese dining table and use chopsticks when eating. Only a few people in the world such as Japanese, Chinese etc ... use chopsticks, but if used it is very convenient.

2. Do not eat with your hands

The Japanese hated feeding method because hands become dirty. Because they think that there are many different species in the magazine in your hands, just wash a bit, it still remains very much in the nails, etc. Surely this is not how food hygiene. However, for trainees and technical interns grow in direct hand food culture, it appears that delicious feeling of being cut in half by not eating with chopsticks. At least in the case of Japanese meals and eat together as in the restaurant or at a party, it is better to eat using hands.

3. Number of bowls

The Japanese appreciate the shape, flavor materials available, to appreciate the beauty of the shape sorting food, etc. So, there are specific points that each dish is placed on a separate disk should have a variety of dishes laid out on the table. And both eat and enjoy the taste of each plate.

In contrast, food is probably the most common beverage in many countries, for food on a big plate of rice, then to penetrate rice dishes, or mix and eat with food .

This is due to differences in food culture, food in any way. However, when food is absolutely not leave uneaten food on the table or thrown to the floor. Table dirty, very unsanitary. Leftovers to put in an absolute angle of the disk is not littered. This makes it easier to clean.

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"Quan ho" folk songs of vietnam

Of them (also known as Quan Quan Ho Bac Ninh or Kinh Bac ...) are the folk songs of the northern plains, Vietnam; concentrated mainly in the Business North - Bac Ninh News and northern Jiang.

Called Quan Ho Bac Ninh does not mean Bac Ninh province is the main subject of the folk genre, North Kinh Bac Ninh or be interpreted as former Bac Ninh province, October 10, 1895, Bac Giang province, separated from the Northern Province Ninh. However, this type of folk mainly developed in the Bridge River, a natural border of the two provinces. According to the researchers, the name of this heritage can change over time, by creating cultural entities.
September 30, 2009, at the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention on Protection of intangible cultural heritage (from September 28 to October 2, 2009), they were recognized as representative of the intangible heritage of humanity after Hue royal court music, the space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands and the same phase with Ca Tru.

Origins
Meaning of "Quan" is usually separated into two words and literal interpretation of the etymology of "objective" and "them". This leads to insights about Quan derived from "royal music", or associated with the integration of an important man going through the Kinh Bac was ecstatic by singing of joint his sister in the it and stopped steps to enjoy ("they"). However, this interpretation ignores the elements of their cultural space as living forms (the wards ceremony they made you two, her life just as you, can not be causally husband and wife), oratorio, how to organize and communicate, the way to use the word opposite in meaning and tone in cultural activities to meet folk.
Some opinion said that Quan derived from religious rituals bring people the traditional elements, not Quan derived from royal music, or view the progress of living forms culture "Quan game" rooted in religious ceremonies through the court then folk folk back.
Identified based on the semantic analysis of terms in the tunes and oratorio space that their view is "relationship" of a group of people who love them in Kinh Bac.
However there is no point of view accepted by most scholars. Their offices today is not only a way of singing (singing) between "linked him" (the male, men singing them) and "instant she" (female, woman singing them) but also the form of emotional exchange between mainland him, and he her audience. One of the forms represented a new song they sing style for consecutive consecutive meeting between him and her. Scenario may occur in the content of the lyrics have been prepared in advance or according to ability to improvise both sides of the theater.

Traditional quan
Traditional they only exist in 49 villages of their origin in Kinh Bac Quan is a form of traditional folk cultural institutions of Kinh Bac people, with strict regulations, requiring rigorous consecutive him, her instant understanding the criteria and follow the rules. This explains why Kinh Bac people enjoy "Quan game", not "Quan sing" traditional Quan main accompaniment and sing consecutive double between him and linked her to the spring festival The second period in the village. In their tradition, sometimes linked him to meet with her immediately she is known as sneeze, sing farming; them, the group linked him to meet with the group immediately she called to sing Happy, happy, singing church.
- "Playing them" traditional no audience, and performers who enjoy (enjoy the "love" your song). Many post offices they traditionally linked him, and he her "play their" favorite to this day as that, Love, You metallic times, A, plant rice.

They
They also called "Quan sing", is a form of performing (singing) their offices mainly on the stage or in the community Spring Festival, festivals, tourism, restaurants, ... In fact, they performed on any day of the year. The tape CD, DVD of them today are the form they were performing on stage, ie they are new. They always have an audience, who sang emotional exchange with the audience is no longer the love between you sing together. They are no longer located in the village space that has reached out in many places, with many listeners in countries around the world.
They have the form of their richer representation traditions, including solo, song, top song, dance song accompanied ... They modified the traditional post in two ways: unconscious and conscious. More or less, but the form of their song accompaniment is regarded as a modified no sense. Most all of them come under this type of arrangement. Modified sense that all documents have modified both the music and lyrics of their tradition. This type of arrangement is not much, for example, "do not" is adapted from tunes "Golden Bell doorman gate" (Xuan Tu arranger).
Sing them with my new favorite by many to mistakenly believe their traditional song "Bridge River water suspended poetry" written by Mai Khanh new words from traditional tunes "least sensitive cinnamon". They are preferred over traditional they do not have the space and the activities of their neck style is no longer part due to the activity "of their song" today often associated with responsible authorities for propagation, introduction, promoting them on a large scale.

Tunes
They are the most abundant type of folk on folk tunes in warehouses Vietnam. Each of them has its own tone. So far, there were at least 300 of them have been negative sign. The last of them was introduced only a part of the folk repertoire they were discovered. Tape storage thousands of their shares by the artist in the villages of their singing is still kept at the Department of Culture, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh.
The tunes of their neck: is that the way you Kim Loan, rice plants, Farewell you, Well la, La bargain, The Funeral, A, Up the mountain, down the river, the soul, A, Wind Moon bar, Four you ...

Apparel

Hats Sports straps and strips her tenderness of the joint
Of their costume includes dress costume then he and her immediately. During the festival they have both of their costume contest.

Soon he
Soon he wore a fifth body, neck upright, leaf, border evil, to bear up to the knees. Usually inside wearing a blouse or two, then two long. Particularly outside the regular black dress, materials, food, the, or for better-off people, the coat is made from the black, also covering garment dress twice with one out in wages or the period, once in blue silk thin flake, light green shoots, lemon yellow ... called a double coat.
Concerned of his white trousers, wide tube, garment type is lame foot up to the ankle, sewing materials polling well with pants, Cartridge, architecture elected, or silk Truoi color chicken fat. Small waist to tighten the waistband. Noise double his head wrapped or folded towel. Time ago, man more bun to should be the hair with a towel. After this part many haircuts, turn road house should switch to use a folded towel sold in the stores for this.
Along with pants, shirt, scarf, shoes, ... the instant he often more conical tip with the tip sheets usually pineapple or tip, chicken fat silk straps. Also see the instant he used the black box. Other accessories are hand towel, comb, the "luxury" in the ancient sense. Handkerchiefs of silk or with a large white cloth, fold and tuck in the donut, belt or pocket.

Soon she
Apparel instant she often referred to as "open three open seven shirt", consecutive means you can wear three interlocking dress (her grave) or seven interlocking dress (open seven). But in fact, the instant she often wears her grave. Basically costume includes components: the same as a regular brightly colored overalls made Truoi silk dyeing. Flaps are usually two types of is affectionately car (for middle) and neck bibs border (for young women). Outside bibs as a white blouse, gold, ivory, light colors, background firing. Also the same as the dress itself, the color scheme is similar in male costume but more colors.
Dress of the female body, buttoned, the different styles of Deathly tighten the two before that in ancient times girls usually worn during festivals, weddings or current artistic actors usually wear. Material for the best dressed first is the silk. Dresses out often fired as the old brown background color, non brown, black, amber while in often different colored dress: colored lotus, patio flower color, cerulean, hydro, color lemon yellow, yellow nuggets etc. Blouses worn can be replaced with white filter fabric, silk chicken fat.
Often dyed red overalls (old called petal coveralls), yellow letter (flowers), blue (natural sound), pink (lotus), aquarium (blue) etc. also sometimes encounter colored overalls white. Related sisters they do not seem to want his affection, his shirt completely covered should have caused a bit of bright color from the affection and the hem left body turn out. Award affection to let out the back of shirt and the bibs tied around the waist and wearing the front zone with bags and belts.
How's the old girl they often use oak material se (third-woven silk spinning), black, braided tassels at the ends of shell width, you can use thin pocket in the cover and tighten neat waist, slipped back tunic, tight get three body shirt, tied to zone to cover the belly. Belts are usually small bag with about 1/3 bag, used to tighten the waistband skirt waist. Similarly overalls, belts made of silk dyed bright colors like pomegranate flowers, peach flowers, fresh porch, colored aquarium. The waist and tied to the front zone to zone with shell smell overalls make these colorful flowers in front of the girl.
Immediately she wore skirts oak, silk skirts, sometimes with a double skirt dress in silk, fabric, color, food, the, the; outside in the silk dress. Black skirt. The dress is smart not to cut front dress, in strapless dress circle for trousers that are arranged so that the front drape tongues bottle down near the back of the foot, behind the superficial range incipient double sweet side heel.
Contact her slippers made of buffalo skin by manual methods; leather with a circle on the slippers to put on the second toe (next to the big toe) caused walking, not falling sandals. Nose bent sandals and slippers hairdresser to know yourself, of for hard nose sandals, such as a small shield, hiding the toes. Also, pants, belts, slippers, instant, she also scattered towel opened, athletic hats straps, the and strap beam waist area.
Quan conservation
Quan is a kind of extremely rich folk tunes. They were handed down in folklore from generation to generation through the oral method. This method is an important factor for them to become a kind of folk large number of songs with different melodies. However, this method has to do for all they are handed down in folk had to be changed a lot, even different than the original. Many ancient melodies were lost. Although this change make Quan development, but in the context of intrusion of Western culture is strong in Vietnam, their problems preserve the status quo in each stage of development is the employment level setting. Since the 70s of last century, the Department of Culture, Hebei conducted Quan collection. Thousands of posts Quan, including variants have been recorded in the villages of them, with the voices of hundreds of craftsmen (By now almost all gone). After screening and selection, musicians, researchers Hong Thao signed audio tracks, added some characters their own characteristic tone Quan. 300 Quan or post has been Music Publishing in a book. However, thousands of posts they have been recorded, by the particular artist (deceased) sang, must be extremely careful preservation. Department of Culture Bac Ninh (or Bac Giang) is responsible for keeping the tapes need to digitize the entire order to be able to keep a long way for future generations.

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ancient costumes of philiphin

The official national costume of Filipino men is the barong tagalog. The  upper garment of the boy in the picture is a barong. It is worn over a Chinese collarless shirt called camisa de Chino. The boy is also wearing the traditional wide-brimmed hatsalakot, which is usually made of rattan or reeds.

 The official national costume of Filipina women is the baro at saya (= baro't saya). The baro is the top blouse. The saya is the skirt.

They look like Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos! She was famous for wearing the terno with its butterfly sleeves. 

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Spanish Fashion

Spanish fashion triumphs all over the world through its designers, prestigious international fashion labels and models that have had success on international catwalks like in Milan, London, New York and Paris displacing the most sought-after top models in the market. The world of fashion, frivolous as it may seem, is a million-dollar business which does not only allow many national companies turnover millions of dollars, rather it makes Spain known and it promotes the use of Castilian.

An example of this expansión at international leve lis that of the leading companyZara which is currently the most widely known company of Inditex group, also consisting of Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Berksha and Stradivarius, a fashion empire made up of hundreds of factories and 1080 shops in 33 different countries.

Inditex dresses Europeans, Americans, the Japanese, and the Middle Eastern population alike with its labels. It also attracts international personalities for example Chealsea Clinton, the daughter of Bill Clinton, ex-President of the United States, who once modified his presidential itinerary to go shopping in the Zara branch of Ankara, the Turkish capital where his father had once visited officially.

The thing with this story is that it had wide repercussions and it meant unexpected as well as free publicity for the company which, among its characteristics that distinguish it from its competitors, had to suffer a calculated aversion to advertise itself through the media. A similar story of free advertising which the company enjoyed was when the American model Cindy Crawford appeared unexpectedly in one of the Zara branches of Canada.

However Inditex and Zara have not only known how to attract the foreign market. Companies with large numbers of sales like El Corte Inglés, Loewe, Camper, Mangoand Pronovias have taken part. In the case of Pronovias the Spanish firm which produces clothing for weddings is the largest producer in the world specializing in this market. Since 1965, the year in which it was born, it has been ever an ever growing company. There are 100 shops with the name in Spain, one in Paris and one in New York and 1000 mini stores within department stores, distributed over more than 40 countries. Another one of the fashion empires is Mango. With more than a hundred shops in the world its expansion in 1998 was so big that it had an average of 10 openings of shops every month. China and India are the latest openings of a giant which employs more than 4000 people.

However behind these companies and other companies the brains of Spanish fashion can be found. They are the artists of fashion, with Spanish names which mark style. Some have triumphed in the country but have also crossed the borders to take their label to other countries to gain success and it has been something which has rendered them Gods in their native country.

Among the most notable fashion designers many names can be found such asAntonio Miró, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Pura López, whose products can be found in Asia, Australia, Latin America, and it many parts of Europe, Amaya Arzuaga, Pedro del Hierro, Paco Rabanne…. A large list of designers who have sold all over the world.

In the case of the Sevillians Victorio & Lucchino, their designs can be found in the best shops in New York, in Paris they are a point of reference and also sell in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. Other have managed to become known by merging, which is the case with La Asociación Textil de Galicía (Galician Fashion Association), which boasts well-known names like Adolfo Domínguez, Javier Cañas Caramelo and Roberto Verino. Each one of its members, currently 13, generates millions each year thanks to its varied and personal offers. Forming part of this group has helped them to become famous, nationally as well as internationally. They, together with other designers, have played a part which has given rise to Spanish fashion its grand success.

However, it is without doubt that Spanish models are the main reasons why Spanish fashion has become to be so recognised internationally. Professionals who can let themselves be called top models, a word which only the best are named. Among them, names such as Eugenia Silva, for whom it is normal to see at on 5th Avenue in New York. A close up of her face used to be on la valla deEscada. Eugenia has modeled for Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Christian Dior. She has made the front page of the Italian and American Vogue and has modeled for campaigns of Óscar de la Renta and Clinique.

Also Vanesa Lorenzo has been involved in a big campaign. She has been the face of Gap and has featured on billboards in Time square and in JFK airport. However they are not the only ones. Eshther cañadas, Inés Sastre, Laura Pone, Nieves Álvarez, Judith Mascó and Verónica Blume are models who today who can been seen in the world, contributing to the use of Castillian and it being the second most used language of the world.

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Dhoti- India clothing

Indian Dhoti

In Andhra Pradesh it is called Pancha, in North India it is called dhoti in Hindi, 'Laacha' in Punjabi, 'mundu' in Malayalam, 'dhuti' in Bangla, 'veshti' in Tamil, 'dhotar' in Marathi and 'panche' in Kannada, is the traditional garment of men's wear in India. Dhoti is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 5 yards long, wrapped about the waist and the legs, and knotted at the waist.

Dhoti, a cloth-piece covering the lower part of the body from the waist, is a kind of traditional drapery, bearing the signature of the heritage of Indian civilisation. This single piece of rectangular stitchless cloth , measuring about 5 yards in length, can give a man an air of elegance, inherent to his culture

In northern India the dhoti is worn with a Kurta on top, the combination known simply as "dhoti kurta", or a "dhuti panjabi" in the East. In southern India, it is worn with an angavastram which is a another unstitched cloth draped over the shoulders in Tamil Nadu or else with a "chokka"(shirt) in Andhra Pradesh or "jubba" (a local version of kurta). On occasions Dhoti kurta is considered formal wear in India.

Dhoti is a traditional Indian men's wear and even in the developed world today men love to wear this ethnic wear occasionally. To tie a dhoti is a difficult task. This attire worn by important political persons makes a political statement. Many people say that clothes may or may not make a man but they certainly make a point when political leaders wear them. Indian political leaders wear their political ideologies on their sleeves by choosing clothes. So if you follow the dhoti trend in Indian political arena, they will tell altogether a different story.

Dhoti is known to be a traditional wear for men all over the country. It is called by different names and worn differently in different sates of India. Over the past century or more, the western clothings have taken the place of traditional Indian wear like dhoti. But in traditional functions like wedding ceremony, it still enjoys an eminent status and preferred by men, all across India. Earlier the dhoti used to be a casual daily wear of the Indian men. But with modernization of our society, it steadily relegated to being just formal clothing in India, though there are still people especially in the rural belts for whom dhoti is the regular clothing attire.

The dhoti dress has not yet lost its popularity in modern day India, as it is still worn with a lot of dignity by the many prominent senior citizens, politicians, musicians, dancers and others. Apart from being worn on all important government and family occasions, the dhoti kurta is also allowed to be worn in the post upscale clubs, which normally stipulate very stern dress code for guests. There is one prominent Indian citizen who gets all credit for popularizing this attire beyond the Indian borders and he is Mahatma Gandhi.

There are various styles of wearing the Indian dhoti. The Bengali style is- men usually make pleats in their dhoti. In south India, the dhoti wearers add the angavastram to their attire, which is an extra piece of unstitched cloth kept on the shoulders. For convenience purpose, many south Indian men fold their dhoti in half and tuck it at the waist so that it reaches only till the knees. In certain Indian communities in Rajasthan, wearing the dhoti-kurta is mandatory.

A dhoti is the coventional male costume for attending official meetings, or ceremonial occcassions, in the entire nation. Even today`s young generation, flaunt themselves in Dhotis, ornately designed , happen to be their foremost priority , during festivals, social-gatherings and ceremonies.It not only furnishes them with an ethnic look, which is the in-thing now, but increases the element of dignity, related to manliness.

This attire of eminence, Dhoti is the costume of most of the national icons too. Ranging from the ministers, politicians, national leaders, to the cultural cultivators, like musicians, poets, and men of letters, represent the nation, being Dhoti clad.

Indeed, dhoti was the insignia of national tradition, a strong pillar of Ghandhi`s championing of indigenous culture, in the face of the oppressive enforcement cast by the British regime in India. The glorification of Dhoti, was a constituent programme of Satyagraha movement, initiated by the venerated Bapu, the Father of India, Gandhi, during the national war of Independence in India.

Gandhi, himself used to wear Dhoti, to personify the teeming millions of the country, starting from the humble farmers to the elite class, as all had Dhoti as their common dress.

Dhoti , in this hi-tech age, is till date, the daily garment for many regions in India. For example, the royal Rajputs, proudly display themselves in Dhoti. The Bengali manner of Dhoti-draping is quite artistic .Dhoti, with sober but attractive patterns, are arranged in proper pleats, with the front portion of the cloth being held firmly as a japanese fan. Dhoti is the hereditary groom`s costume in Bengali marraiges. Again, the manner of wearing is differernt in Tamil Nadu. One famous style is the Pancha Katcham, i.e. five knots or five folds.

A Dhoti, normally comes in shades of white, crème or beige. In South India especifically in Tamil Nadu, the material of Dhots, known as Magatam or Pattu Pancha, is in general , silk, while the fabric could be of tussar, or silk, or comfortable cotton in Bengal. Crimson, Dhotis called Sowlay, is the uniform of the temple-priests in Maharashtra.

The Dhoti is an integral part of our cultural context, and daily customs and religion. Dhoti , as an Indian traditional costume, contains, the very impression of Indianness, needful to project our national identity, before the entire world.

How to wear a dhoti:

• The dhoti is one long piece of cloth. The first step is to start by folding the dhoti in half so that it is half its original length.
• Drape the dhoti behind onself. The stripe of the dhoti should be vertical and held at the top by the left hand. The top of the folded side should be in your right hand and the dhoti should drape almost to the ground behind your heels.
• Bring together in front side the folded side in the right hand to meet the stripe side in your left hand.
• Hold both the folded and stripe side in the left hand and bring them at even tension directly on to the left side, keeping the bottom of the dhoti level and near the ground.
• Hold the stripe side in the left hand as one accordion fold the fold side with the right hand until it is even horizontally with the left leg.
• There should now be a folded bunch in one’s right hand. Slightly lift this bunch in the right hand as one bring’s the stripe side over it on to the right side.
The dhoti is now wrapped around the waist. What is left is adjusting the tightness and rolling it down to hold the tension in place.
• Take the bunch in the right hand twist it slightly together and to the left and slip the top side of the dhoti just over the bunch to hold it in place.
• Even up the stripe side so that the stripe is vertical and the dhoti drapes level just above the floor.
• Roll the top of the dhoti down to a comfortable waist level, somewhere below the belly button.

Tips for comfort and convenience: Dhotis do not have pockets, but they do have a roll at the waistline which is very much useful. It is possible to carry small items such as keys, cash, and some IDs by placing them in the roll. With some practice, your items will be secure and easily accessible. One should be careful going up steps while wearing a dhoti. It is easy to step on the dhoti, especially the left side. Lifting the bunched accordion fold higher before rolling helps alleviate this problem. Silk dhotis do stay on.

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Culture of India

CULTURE IS THE ART OF LIVING

It refers to the intellectual development evolved out of the physical and mental training acquired in the course of the ages in a country.The culture of India (or) Indian culture can be best expressed as comprising the following

Humanity - The mildness of the Indians has continued till date, despite the aggressiveness of the Muslim conquerors and the reforming zeal of the British, the Portuguese and the Dutch. The Indians are noted for their humanness and calm nature without any harshness in their principles and ideals.

Tolerance - Gandhiji’s satyagraha principle or Ahimsa - freedom without taking a drop of blood, worked wonders and gave credit to India in the international arena. Swami Vivekananda in his famous Chicago Speech on the 11th of September, 1893 spoke of this.

Unity - India is a conglomeration of men and women of various castes and creed. It is a fusion of old traditional values and the modern principles, thus satisfying all the three generations in the present India. The Elite businessman and the common vendor on the road share the same news and worship the same deity .

Secularism - India is a secular coun country as stated in its Constitution. There is freedom of worship throughout the length and breadth of India without any breeches or violations of any other’s religious beliefs. The Hindus, The Muslims, The Christians, and The Sikhs in times of calamity and during festivities come openly together to share their thoughts despite their religious affinities. The catholicity of the Indian culture can be best understood by the fact that hundreds of Hindus visit the Velankanni shrine or the Nagore Dargah in Tamilnadu.

Closely knit Social system - The Indian Social System is mostly based on the Joint family System, but for some of the recently cropped nuclear families. The families are closely knit with Grandfathers, fathers, sons and grandsons sharing the same spirit, tradition and property. 

Cultural Heritage

India’s one billion people have descended from a variety of races. The oldest ones are the Negroid aboriginals called the Adivasis or First settlers. Then there are the Dravidians, The Aryans, the Mongols, The Semites and innumerable inter-mixtures of one with the other.

The great Epic, The Mahabharata and the sacred text, the Bhagavad-Gita teaches the Indians that survival can only be in terms of quality of life. It provides a framework of values to make the Indian culture well- groomed.

Swami Vivekananda (1863- 1902) laid stress on physical development as a prerequisite for spiritual development, which in turn leads to the development of the culture of the country. For the past 1000 years various foreign invasions like that of the Huns, the Kushanas, The Arabs, The Muslims, TheDutch, The French and the British took place. So the Indians were exposed to cultures that were totally alien to them. Several attempts were made by the Indian rulers like the Pallavas, the Chalukyas, the Palas, the Rashtrakutas, the Cholas, and the Vijayanagar Emperors to give the Indians an administration, which was in consonance with the cultural heritage of the country.

Later, religions became an important part in the culture and places of worship became community centers. The innovations in religious thinking brought two popular beliefs in India, namely Buddhism by the Buddha and Jainism by the Saint Mahavir. Then there was a socio-religious shift or orientation in the Indian culture.

Later in the century Westernization of Indian culture began , but it was stemmed by the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dayananda Saraswathi, Swami Vivekananda, Narayana Guru, Maharisi, Aurobindo, etc. Then there took place a Renaissance, that emphasized the need to recognize the country’s own culture while ushering in an age of modernity. 

If India’s culture tended to become tolerant, accommodating, open-minded, deeply but not ostensibly spiritual and concerned with the common human welfare, then it is due to the great and relentless efforts of our great ancestors and leaders. Thanks to them our country has achieved a common culture, despite a staggering pluralistic society.

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Ancient music of Japan

Traditional Japanese music usually refers to Japan's historical folk music. One of the defining characteristics of traditional Japanese music is its sparse rhythm. Regular chords are also absent. It is impossible for a person to beat time to the music. All of the rhythms are ma-based, and silence is an important part of the songs. The focus is on creating music that flows in an attempt to mirror the behavior of nature. It is regular for songs to start off at an extremely slow pace and to pick up speed as they progress. Then, they get slow again before transitioning into long and drawn out finishes.

Traditional Japanese music has three main types, instrumental, court music, and theatrical. One type of theatrical music is Kabuki. Kabuki music can be sub-divided into three categories. The first is Gidayubushi, which is similar to joruri music. Joruri is a type of narrative music that uses shamisen  and has four styles. The second type of kabuki music is Shimoza ongaku and is played for kuromisu (lower seats) below the theater stage. Another form of theatrical music is called noh. The hayashi-kata play Noh music. They use taiko, kotsuzumi, fue, and otsuzumi instruments to make the sounds. The oldest Japanese traditional music is gagaku. Gagaku is a form of court music. Gagaku includes dances, songs, and a blend of other genres of Asian music. There are two styles of Gagaku. These are kigaku, which is a form of instrumental music, and Seigaku, which is A form of vocal music.

Some traditional Japanese music originated in other countries.  An example of this is shomyo.  Shomyo is a type of Buddhist song that is known for being a melody that is added to a sutra.  Shomyo originated in India and came to Japan during the country's Nara period.  An interesting fact about shomyo is that it doesn't use any musical instruments.  Instead, the song is sung by Buddhist monks.

Historical Japanese folk music is strongly-influenced by music from China. This is because many of the musical instruments which are popular in Japanese music first came from China.  These instruments include koto, shakuhachi, and wadaiko drums.  A koto is a stringed instrument that shares a similarity to China's guzheng.  It is Japan's national instrument and is made with kiri wood.  It uses thirteen strings over thirteen bridges that are movable over the instrument's width.  Picks on three fingers are used to play it.  Wadaiko is the name for the traditional style of Japanese drumming and the particular drums themselves.  The world's most famous wadaiko drumming group is Kodo (heartbeat).  A shakuhachi is a flute that is used in traditional Japanese music.  Shakuhachi are usually made from bamboo, but can also be made from other materials.  These instruments were originally used by Buddhist monks to practice suizen (blowing meditation).

Japanese music has a long tradition and great diversity.

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"Ao Yem" Ancient dress of Vietnam

Looking back into the historic development of national dress, Vietnam not only has “Ao Dai” but also “Ao Yem” – the indispensable dress of ancient girls.

Images of graceful girls in national charming long dress have been a symbol of Vietnam. However, looking back the historic development of national dress, Vietnam not only has “Ao Dai” but also “Ao Yem” – the indispensable dress of ancient girls.

“Ao Yem” appeared in Vietnamese life in a very old day, yet, not until Ly dynasty was it basically shaped. During those days, “Ao Yem” was called “Yem”. A very simple garment consisting of a square piece of cloth with one corner cut away to fit under the woman’s throat. This scrap of fabric is secured across the chest and stomach within strings. Traditionally, this halter-top was worn beneath a shirt, the flaps of which were often left unbuttoned to reveal “the ao yem”. Urban women favoured white, pink or red ones, while those in the suburb preferredbrown or beige, suited for their rustic environment.

Through the stream of history, “Ao Yem” was changing incessantly with improving design. However the revolutions of “Ao Yem” only happended at the beginning of the last century when western trousers and skirts entered Vietnam. In 17^th century, “Ao Yem” did not have any big change of model. Entering 20^th century, “Ao Yem” was used widespread with plentiful designs and models.

There is one kind of “Ao Yem”, which was often worn by ancient ladies, being called “Yem deo bua”. Its name derived from the fact that it has a small pocket of musk beside, which was an advantageous weapon of ancient ladies. Furthermore, “Ao Yem” created many original love stories. In the old days, when a girl dated with her boyfriend, she put a piece of betel inside her “Ao Yem”; it was called “khau trau dai yem”. Perhaps there is no kind of betel more supernatural than this one.

It is an age-old dress which is maintained until today. “Ao Yem” was used by all levels of society from working class to upper one. It was also used widespread in traditional festivals, therefore becoming the national traditional clothes of ancient ladies. While the wearers may age, the ao yem retains its timeless charm.

Today, the “Ao yem” is appreciated for its cultural and artistic values. On festive occasions, women throughout Vietnam are embracing the ao yem and other traditional clothes with renewed enthusiasm.

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cultural dress of Japan

In recent years, the Japanese have become more accustomed to wearing western clothing. This is likely due to the convenience of western clothes and the global acceptance of western styles and fashions. However, the Japanese have a rich history of their own unique cultural fashion. Traditional Japanese clothing includes many different types; fundoshis, furisodes, hakamas, hantens, happis, jinbeits, gūnihitoes, kimonos, obi (sashes), samues, sokutais, tomesodes, uwagis, and yukatas. These garments are made to suit the seasons in which they are worn. Clothing that has rustic hues and patterns, such as those that feature russet leaves, are preferred for autumn wear. However, floral designs, such as those that feature cherry blossoms, and more vibrant colors are more common during the spring time. For winter, people who are dressed in kimonos like to wear darker fabric and more layers. Sometimes, people may wear ten layers of clothing.

One of the most popular garments of traditional Japanese clothing is the kimono, which is worn by both men and women. Unlike the kimono that is worn by women, men's kimonos are much simpler and usually include only five pieces, not counting footwear. A few inches of the sleeves are left unattached at the bottom of the sleeves.  The sleeves are also not nearly as deep as the sleeves of the women's kimonos.  This is to make room for the obi that goes around the man's waist directly underneath the sleeves.  On the woman's kimono, sleeves are able to hang on top of the obi and not interfere.

More recently, the main difference between men and women's kimonos is the material used.  Typically, men's kimonos are dark, subdued colors, like dark blue, black, brown, or green.  Usually, these are also matte fabrics with some having slight patterns.  Casual-styled ones are commonly textured and a little more brightly-colored, like light blue, green, or purple.  Occasionally, sumo wrestlers like to wear brighter colors, even fuchsia.  The formal kimono is colored plain black and it is made of silk and features shoulders, a chest, and a back with five Kamon.  Although, a kimono with three kamon is a little more formal.  These kimonos are worn with white accessories and undergarments.

Another popular traditional Japanese garment is called a happi (happy coat).  A happi is a coat with straight sleeves that is normally made of brown or indigo cotton and features the imprint of a special mon (crest).  These were first family crests, owing to the fact that happis were the clothing of the house servants.  Eventually, happis started to use the crests for organizations and shops.  Happis were also popular attire for firemen.  These happis had symbols on the back that told people the groups to which the firemen belonged.  During Japan's Edo period, firemen were paid for being prompt and present.  This is why the happis were so important for them.

Traditional Japanese clothing, both unique and beautiful, is still worn by many in modern society.

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Culture of rusia

Traditional

Matryoshka – The Russian Nesting Doll

It's hard to find a symbol of Russia more popular than the traditional Russian nesting doll. These decorated wooden dolls "with a secret" are also calledmatryoshka dolls or babushka dolls. They are recognized even in the countries thousand miles away from Russia. Taking a Russian nesting doll back home is a must among tourists from Europe and the United States alike. The lovers of exotics collect matryoshkas in Australia and South Africa. The simplicity and originality of matryoshka dolls attract the fans of Russian folk art from around the world. Bright and picturesque Russian nesting dolls decorate the fireplaces and bookshelves in the homes of thousands of Russians.

The history of Russian nesting dolls

Some historians of Russian life argue that matryoshka dolls originated from Japanese traditional dolls. However it's known that Russian masters would make hollow detachable Easter eggs from the wood long before the first nesting doll was made. The first Russian nesting doll set appeared in Moscow in 1890's. It was carved by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by a folk crafts painter Sergey Malyutin. The doll set consisted of eight dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside the other. All eight dolls depicted children -- the outermost was a girl holding a rooster, six inner dolls were girls, the fifth doll was a boy, and the innermost was a baby.

The original matryoshka set

Despite the fact that first matryoshka dolls were intended for children, their price was so high that only adults could afford to buy them on special occasions. Matryoshka dolls were often given as a present to young women from their beloved ones. In 1900, the dolls earned a bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Paris. Soon after, Russian nesting dolls became wildly popular. The toys were being produced in several well-known manufacturing centers, the most famous of them being Sergiev Posad and Semenov. In the early twentieth century, Russian nesting dolls were being exported abroad in large quantities. The popularity of the dolls even gave rise to a few companies in Germany which produced counterfeit nesting dolls and sold them as Russian toys.

How are Russian nesting dolls made?

It takes a lot of skill to make a Russian nesting doll set. Traditionally, matryoshka dolls were made from linden or birch and their production would involve the participation of the whole family. The dolls of the cylindrical form were painted in different ways: it could be a peasant girl dressed in a sarafan and a headscarf, a man or a child. Matryoshka dolls are often painted holding a basket of berries, bread, or a bunch of flowers in their hands.

The production process would begin with the smallest, innermost doll that was lathed from a single piece of wood and wouldn't separate as opposed to the larger figures. The number of nested dolls in a set could vary from two to sixty however a classic set normally included five nested figures. The carved dolls were covered with special glue to fill the cracks and reduce the roughness, after which the dolls were painted to follow a particular theme.

Politician-themed matryoshka dolls
Photo by Brandt Luke Zorn CC-SA2.0

Today, the same process is used in for hand-made nesting dolls some Russian villages. The nesting dolls can be painted to follow the traditional theme or any other style, including fairy tales characters, animals, famous political leaders, historical figures, musicians and popular movie stars.

A fancy set like that might make a good gift. When in Russia, you can purchase Russian nesting dolls at most places where souvenirs are sold. In Moscow, Izmaylovo Market is an excellent souvenir venue where hundreds of vendors offer myriads of gifts for sale. It's a good idea to reserve a hotel in Moscow and dedicate a full day to shopping at the market.

Russian nesting dolls: Record-breakers

In 1913, a factory in the city of Semyonov produced a matryoshka dolls set that consisted of 48 figures and was painted in traditional red and yellow colors.

In the meantime, the biggest Russian dolls set was presented at the exhibition in Japan in 1970. Russian masters from Semenov showcased a matryoshka set that included seventy-two figures. The production of such matryoshkas requires exceptional skills and talent, so their mass production is not possible.

Russian Hospitality

There is a big difference between the Russian tradition of hospitality and a friendly attitude towards guests in other countries of the world. The legends about the breadth of the Russian soulhave a very good reason to exist. Russians love to accept guests and make great hosts. When in Russia, you don't need to wait for a special occasion like a birthday or a holiday to visit a friend or a neighbor. Russians like visiting each other, meeting in friendly companies for dinner, or just stopping by to catch up on what's going on. The latter is called "to drop in for a cup of coffee" (забежать на чашечку кофе).

Do I need an invitation?

Russians often visit each other's homes without a special invitation. Just let the hosts know about your plans in advance and they'll be very happy to accept you. It is considered rude to leave guests without a treat. A host may offer the guest a cup of tea with cookies or set the table with snacks and serve cocktails—everything depends on the company, the time of the day, and the financial well-being of the host. In the least, you will always be offered something to eat or drink when visiting Russians at their homes.

Gifts for the Hosts

Just like it would be rude to leave a guest without a treat, it is considered rude to make a visit without a gift for the hosts. Russians even have an expression "придти с пустыми руками" that literally means "to come with empty hands". It is used to describe guests who didn't bring any gifts to the hosts. You don't have to buy expensive souvenirs when being a guest. A box of chocolates or a bottle of fine wine will make a good gift. If you are visiting a family with children make sure to bring a treat for the kids—a candy, a chocolate bar or fruits.

Theme parties

A good way to get together with friends is to organize a "theme" party. Theme parties are quickly gaining popularity among young Russians. For example, the increasing number of Russians are becoming interested in Japanese cuisine. A company of friends may choose to organize a sushi night at someone's house and order sushi delivery or make their own sushi rolls. Other Russians like to meet up for beers ("на пиво") which usually involves boiling shrimp or crawfish and tasting different types of beer while watching a movie or a soccer game in a company of friends.

Holiday Celebrations

Russians like to serve a festive dinner for the guests on occasion of such holidays as birthdays, New Year and Easter. The necessary attributes of a holiday dinner include meat and cold appetizers (jellied minced meat known as "kholodets" is very common), one or more hot dishes, and cake for dessert. Russian housewives prefer to cook everything themselves and it is expected that a real Russian woman should be a good cook. Alcohol is another important attribute of a holiday dinner. Russians do not usually follow the habits of serving wine with meat dishes or hard liquor with dessert. Instead, all types of alcoholic beverages are served on the table and guests may pick their favorites themselves.

Foreigners and visitors from other cities

Russians display special generosity and goodwill to guests from other cities and countries. A real Russian is more than happy to accommodate a new guest in his or her house instead of reserving a hotel room for the guest. Many Russians who live in small apartments and don't have an opportunity to accommodate a guest will feel very upset about that. If you are visiting Russia and staying with a Russian friend, they will be very pleased to show you around, accompany you during sightseeing, and guide you to the most interesting places in their city.

Russian Banya

 Interior of a typical Russian banya

Banya (a Russian type of sauna, a kind of steam bath) is one of the oldest Russian traditions. Despite the fact that this tradition is several centuries old, the banya is popular even today. You can find banyas in large cities and small towns. Usually those Russians who have summer cottages, almost always build their own banya there.

How a Russian banya is set up

A Russian banya (ба́ня) has a special room, where a large amount of hot steam is created with the help of water and hot air. A classic Russian banya is heated with firewood, but modern versions might use electric heat as well. Inside the banya, which is usually built of wood, there are wide wooden benches along the walls. They are built up one above the other like steps. You can sit or lay on the benches. The higher up the bench the hotter the air is. Once someone has warmed up well enough, he or she leaves the steam room (it is called the парна́я in Russian) and dips into a pool of cold water. You can also pour water over yourself from a tub (уша́т), while in Siberia it's common to walk right out of the steam room and jump into the snow.

What do you need a venik in the banya for?

  ©iStockphoto.com/Andrey Shchekalev

At Russian banya there are special bath brooms (ве́ник) that are used. These brooms or veniks are bundles of twigs and leafy branches bound together from some kind of tree—usually they are from birch or oak trees. The veniks are dipped into cold water and then smacked briskly all over the body. There is a special person who is responsible for this, called banschik (ба́нщик). But usually people don't need banschik's help because groups of friends typically go together and are able to smack each other with veniks.

Banya is a place for communication

  ©iStockphoto.com/Andrey Shchekalev

Friends go to the banya with a special purpose in mind. It’s considered that the banya atmosphere brings people closer together, allows them to communicate and interact on a more common level. Russians don't spend all their time in the parnaya (парна́яis a room with hot wet steam). During a break they walk out to another room which is called predbannik (предба́нник is a room before the steam room). Usually, that room has a large long table and a few benches. In the predbannik, people take a break from the hot temperature and relax, drink aroma tea or special herbal tea, have conversations about life and share their ideas or beliefs to each other.

Russian proverbs about the banya

Russians have lots of proverbs and sayings about banya. Here are a few of them in Russian and English:

Ба́ня здоровит, разгово́р весели́т.
The banya makes you healthy, it stimulates conversation.

Ба́ня - мать втора́я.
The banya is like a second mother.

В ба́не помы́лся — за́ново роди́лся.
Washing up in the banya is like being born again.

Вы́лечился Ва́ня — помогла́ ему́ ба́ня.
Vanya has recovered from sicknesses - thanks to the banya.

Приста́л, как ба́нный лист!
Stuck like a limpet! (literally: Stuck like a banya's leaf.)

В ба́не ве́ник доро́же де́нег.
A bath-broom in the banya is worth more than money.

Benefits of Russian banya

The benefits of the banya have been known for a long time. Hot steam (пар) helps clean the skin, makes it soft and smooth. The Russian banya helps fight sicknesses — harmful elements are removed from the body thanks to the bath-brooms (ве́ники) and hot steam. Overweight women who want to lose weight are recommended to go to the banya once a week. And there is a reason for another Russian proverb which refers to the banya's health benefit, "The day you spend in the banya is the day you do not age." (В кото́рый день па́ришься, тот день не ста́ришься.)

Russian Banya Vocabulary

ба́ня - banya (Russian sauna and steam bath)
парна́я - a steam room
ве́ник - a bath-broom (bunches of dried or fresh branches and leaves)
уша́т - tub
предба́нник - the entrance room
ба́нщик - a banya's service person
пар - steam
вода́ - water
здоро́вье - health

Russian Samovars

  Photo by Sergey Vladimirov
  CC-BY-2.0

Samovars and tea-drinking are an indispensable element of Russian culture. In modern Russia, samovars are rarely used to boil water for tea as originally intended, however many families place samovars in the center of the table during holiday celebrations. Reserving pride of place for a samovar at the festive table is both a tribute that Russians give to their ancestors and a ceremony that embodies warm-hearted hospitality.

What is a Samovar?

A samovar is a device traditionally used to heat and boil water for tea. The word samovar in Russian is derived from "сам" meaning self and "варить" meaning to boil. The name can be loosely translated into English as "self-boiler". Samovars are made from metal and consist of a large urn-shaped container and a metal pipe running vertically through the middle. To boil the water inside a samovar, the pipe is filled with solid fuel such as pine cones, charcoals and wood chips which are set on fire. A small tea pot is used to brew a tea concentrate. The tea pot is often placed on top of a samovar to keep it heated with the passing hot air.

The tea is served by pouring tea concentrate into a cup and diluting it with boiled water. The water is released through a faucet at the base of the metal container. Samovars were one of the earliest home appliances in Russia. Families and guests would sit at a large dinner table to have a leisurely talk and discuss the latest events while drinking hot tea.

What is a Samovar singing about?

Russian people believed that the samovar has a soul. This belief was mainly based on the fact that samovars were producing different sounds when being heated with fuel. The shape of the samovar's body accounts for amazing acoustics and water makes peculiar noises when it is being brought to the boil. It was common to say that "a samovar is singing" (самовар поёт).

Who invented a Samovar?

The oldest pottery samovar-like was found in Azerbaijan. Its age was 3700 years, which is about 1700 older than a samovar discovered in Egypt. There were similar devices found in China but they weren't used for making tea.

  Tula, Russia. Map by Marmelad CC-BY-2.5

In Russia, the first copper samovar was made in 1778 by the Lisitsyn brothers in Tula, a city known for its metalworkers and arms-makers. Within the first 70 years, numerous samovar-makers in Tula were producing 120 thousand samovars every year. Samovars were mainly made from nickel and copper and particular attention was paid to details. The handles and the faucet could be made in the form of vines or the claws of a dragon, while the body of the samovar could be engraved by hand.

The samovar manufacturing process consisted of 12 stages with individual masters specializing on each stage of production. Interestingly, the population of the whole village could be specializing on manufacturing of a single element, such as the handles of the samovar. The final assembly and trimming of samovars was performed at factories. By the early twentieth century there were about 170 different models of samovars. Samovars were sold by weight—the heavier the samovar the higher the price.

Samovar proverbs

Today, Tula is known as the historical center of samovar production. There is a Russian proverb В Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром не е́здят, which means "You don't take a samovar to Tula". It is used in the same sense as "to bring coals to Newcastle".

Samovars in modern Russia

Modern factories produce both antique and electric samovars. The traditional models are mostly purchased as souvenirs. The electric samovars use an electric heating element instead of the fuel pipe. Electric samovars serve the same purpose as the electric kettle and can be easily used in any household in Russia.

If you are going to buy a samovar made in Russia to bring back to your country, remember that Russian samovars are made according to the Russian electric standards. Russia has 220 volt electricity and a different electric plug. You will need to consult with the manufacturer about possibility of using such a samovar in your country. Whether you use it to boil water or not, a Russian samovar will always make a great souvenir or a home decor element.

Today, there are several museums dedicated to the "Russian tea machine". The most famous museum is Mikhail Borschev's private collection of more than 400 samovars. If you'd like to further explore the wonders of Russian folk arts you can visit the online samovar museum athttp://www.samovaroff.net/ (the site is available in Russian only).

Family and Marriage

The Russian Family and Marriage

  Photo by viZZZual.com
  CC-BY-2.0

Russian families are large and friendly. The meaning of the family in Russia is not limited to the husband, wife and children. It stretches to include grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. The members of the Russian family closely communicate with each other and frequently get together, especially on such family occasions as birthdays and anniversaries. Just like in any family, there might be misunderstandings and even quarrels among family members, however one thing is certain: Russians cherish their families and are always ready to help their relatives in difficult times. The tradition that everyone should love their own home and protect their family is instilled into Russians since the early childhood.

Husband, Wife, and Age Differences

Just a few decades ago, it was very common among Russians to play the wedding at an early age. Young men and women would get married at the age of 18-20 while studying in their second or third year at the university. A typical student family (студенческая семья) would consist of a young husband and wife pursuing their university degrees while receiving material support from their parents.

Photo by Yuriy Dyachyshyn CC-SA

According to the latest statistics, the marriages between Russians of the same age are much less common. In the majority of Russian families, the husband is 4-6 years older than his wife but the age difference of more than 10 years is still acceptable by most Russians (for example, the lead singer of the popular Russian band Mumiy Troll is sixteen years older than his young wife).

The Russian tradition, according to which a young woman had to get married as early as possible traces its roots to the distant past. In the ancient Rus', a fifteen year-old girl was considered to be mature enough for adult life and giving birth to children. Marriages were arranged and were a matter of practicality with the emphasis not being on romance. Such views on life preserved in Russia until the end of the twentieth century when marriages at the age of 18-20 were still common. It was only at the close of the twentieth century when an unmarried 20-year-old girl would no longer be referred to as someone who "stayed too long in maids" (засидеться в девках) and an unmarried 25-year-old woman would no longer be called the "old maid" (старая дева).

Nowadays the majority of young men and women in Russia prefer not to rush to marriage and the opposite trend has gained popularity: prior to marriage, the future spouses strive to receive good education, find a decent job and achieve the first successes in their careers. By the time of marriage and the birth of children, the young families have their lives arranged and are able to support themselves financially.

Civil Union: Putting Feelings to the Test

Civil unions have been gaining popularity in Russia lately. A civil union is a relationship where a man and a woman live together and share household expenses without officially registering a marriage. Civil union is a great opportunity for the young couple to test their feelings and make sure they are ready for a family life together. A marriage becomes official when the couple receives a wedding certificate in the Civil Registry Office (ZAGS) and gets married in a civil ceremony. In addition to the official civil ceremony, many newlyweds arrange an Orthodox wedding ceremony in the Church.

The place of living

Photo by longlostcousin CC-BY-2.0

The question of where newlyweds will live is not an easy one to answer. Young couples rarely have an opportunity to buy their own apartment or a house. In wealthy families, an apartment may become a wedding gift from relatives. Some couples apply for a home loan to buy their first home. Other couples rent an apartment paying monthly rent to the landlord. However, there are still a lot of young families who prefer to live with their parents to save money. Living together as an extended family is so common in Russia that it can be called a tradition. It's been always a norm for grandparents, their children and grandchildren to live together as a family in one house. This trend has seen some changes lately. Nowadays, more and more young Russian families strive to get their own housing whereas the families regularly reunite during a weekend family dinner.

How to address the parents in Russian

The husband's in-laws are called свёкор (father-in-law) and свекровь(mother-in-law) in Russian. The wife's in-laws are called тесть (father-in-law) and тёща (mother-in-law).

When talking to their in-laws the young spouses may simply call themмама (mom) or папа (dad). At the same time, they use the formal pronoun вы to show respect to the older generation. However, that is not a requirement and each family finds their own ways to address their in-laws.

Parental Leave: Where to get help from?

The birth of children means that one of the spouses will be forced to temporarily leave work. Just like in other country, there are agencies providing the services of nannies and babysitters however their services are rather expensive and young spouses prefer to take care or children on their own. Many families receive the support of grandmothers. It's fairly common in Russia for a grandmother to look after children while their parents are at work. In any case, parents always have a right to leave work for the term specified by law. This time is called декретный отпуск (parental leave) and is paid by the state. Either the mother or the father of the newborn may уйти в декрет (take the parental leave) depending on whose job pays more.

Divorce

Just like in any other country, a couple may realize that their marriage has become obsolete after a few years of living together. Formal dissolution of marriage is called развод (divorce) and occurs when one of the spouses or both of them files and official request for divorce. The children may stay with either their mother or father but it's more common for mothers to keep bringing them up. After divorce, the father helps support his children till they turn 18 years old—the age when a child is considered and adult in Russia. The support comes in the form of monthly payments called "алименты" (alimony). The amount of child support that the father pays is 25% of wages for one child, 1/3 of wages for two children, or half of wages for three children.

Government Support

The Russian Federation actively supports young families to reduce the number of divorces. There is a special program in Russia that supports construction of housing for young couples and provides favorable terms for home loans.

When a child is born, the young family receives support in the amount of 343,387 rubles (approximately $11,000 in 2010). Many Russian families bring up three or more children. These families are called многодетные(large families) and receive discounts on electricity, gas, water, education and public transport.

Traditional Russian Wedding

  ©iStockphoto.com/Moncherie

Russian weddings are celebrated on a grand scale. The extent of celebration and thoroughness of preparation are only limited by the financial situation of the family. Some couples choose to adopt western traditions, including the priest, marriage vows, staged shows and special tents for guests. Famous performers may be invited and celebration scripts may be written by professional directors. However, such celebrations are more of an exception in modern Russia. The traditional Russian wedding is, on the contrary, affordable to most newlyweds.

Official registration and civil ceremony

In order to get married on a set date, couples should submit an advance application to the registry office. Known as ZAGS (загс), the registry office is the official body for marriage registration in Russia. The husband-and-wife-to-be will usually file an application several months in advance to allow some time to think over their decision. When the wedding day arrives, the young couple visits ZAGS to receive an official marriage certificate (свиде́тельство о бра́ке).

Apart from the official civil ceremony, couples who wish to get married in church will arrange a special meeting with the priest. It is important that the meeting with the priest does not collide with the period of religious fasting as weddings are not performed on those days.

Preparations for the wedding: Wedding dress and toastmaster

Bridal dress and groom's suit can be purchased or rented. Apparel and accessories--purse, veil, necklace and earrings for the bride, and tiara, tie clip and cufflinks for the groom--can be obtained in a special bridal salon. Many other issues are arranged in advance, including renting a vehicle (often a limo) for the newlyweds to travel around the city on a wedding day, hiring a restaurant where the celebration will take place, and choosing a photographer and cameraman who will shoot the wedding ceremony. It is also common to hire or invite a toastmaster (тамада́) to manage many aspects of the wedding. A toastmaster announces performances, gives the floor to guests who want to make a toast, and holds fun contests for guests and newlyweds.

The Wedding Ring - A Symbol of love and commitment

A pair of wedding rings
Photo by Jeff Belmonte cc-sa 2.0

Just like in the Western world, it is a tradition in Russia for newlyweds to exchange wedding rings. Usually, the groom provides for the wedding rings, although that might vary depending on specific circumstances and material possibilities. The most popular wedding rings in Russia are made of gold and might be decorated with precious stones or platinum and silver stripes. The rings may be customized with commemorative inscriptions on the inside. In comtemporary Russia, the wedding ring is called обруча́льное кольцо́ or сва́дебное кольцо́. The distinction between these terms ceased to exist after 1755 when betrothal (обруче́ние) and crowning (венча́ние) became a part of the same wedding ceremony.

Russians traditionally wear the wedding ring on the ring finger of the right hand. Countries like Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, Germany, Spain, Austria, India and Greece have a similar tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the right hand.

The Engagement Ring

Diamond engagement ring on a finger
Photo by Jim Harper cc-by-sa 2.5

It's worth noting that engagement rings are a fairly new phenomenon in Russia. The tradition of presenting an engagement ring to a bride comes from the Western world and borrows most of its traits--the gentleman unofficially presents an engagement ring to his beloved on the day he makes her an offer. For those of you who are learning Russian, the engagement ring is calledпомо́лвочное кольцо́ in Russian.

The Wedding Day

So, you might be wondering what the traditional wedding day is all about in Russia? Well, we have a quick answer! From the start of the day, the bride usually gets some help from her friends and relatives with her looks and style. The festive makeover is often delegated to professional hairdressers and make-up artists who take care of every aspect of her looks. Fast forward a few hours, the bride arrives approximately an hour and half before the official ceremony of registration.

That's about time when a comical wedding tradition takes place. The parents of the bride pretend to steal the bride and ask the groom to pay a ransom. The groom usually ends up paying some symbolic monetary value or jewellery to get his beloved back. Of course, the entire event is played out only for amusement of the guests.

After the ransom is paid and parents return the bride to the groom, the young couple heads straight to ZAGS to officially register their relationship. The next destination for the wedding ceremony is a picturesque location of any sort where newlyweds can make memorable pictures, including city parks, places of historical interest, the romantic sea coast or any other places of interest. Finally the newlyweds head to the restaurant to meet with the guests they invited.

Russian Wedding Vocabulary

сва́дьба - wedding
справля́ть сва́дьбу — celebrate one's wedding
игра́ть сва́дьбу — celebrate one's wedding
жени́х - groom
неве́ста - bride
молодожёны - newlyweds
тамада́ - entertainer, toastmaster
свиде́тельство о бра́ке - marriage certificate
загс - registry office, ZAGS
помолвочное кольцо́ - engagement ring
сва́дебное кольцо́ - wedding ring
вы́куп неве́сты - paying ransom for the bride

Russian Women

  Photo by Муравьёв Александр
  used with permission

The charms and beauty of Russian women are known all over the world. However, the natural desire to take care of themselves and look their best is not the only trait that sets Russian women apart from everybody else. Every Russian woman knows how to stay abreast of the latest fashion trends, apply the make-up the proper way, and groom her hair to look her best. But the physical looks of Russian women is not the decisive factor when it comes to attraction with men. Russian women have something more that helps them to conquer the hearts of men not only in Russia. This precious thing is a "mysterious Russian soul" (according to the Russian classical writers, загáдочная рýсская душá), family values, personality traits, and a very traditional outlook on life.

The family is the priority

Emancipation might have spread all over the world but Russian women stay faithful to the traditional views of the male and female roles in a relationship. A Russian man is considered to be a provider who supplies the family with tangible assets, while a woman is viewed as a housewife and the mother of children. In contemporary Russia, many women use all the opportunities to get a good education, get a good job and build their careers. However, family (семья́) always remains the main priority for most Russian women.

Pride and Modesty

Most Russian women can be described as modest and friendly (скро́мные и приве́тливые). Being brought up according to patriarchal traditions, Russian women are acquiescent with men being the authority. In Russia, women never rush to break up or end their relationship with a divorce. They instead use every possible chance to save their marriage and continue the relationship with the man of their choice.

Russian women place great importance on romance. They like when men give them flowers and read poetry. At the same time, expensive gifts might be a bit of a concern. Russian women are very proud of themselves and will be unlikely to accept an expensive present that will indebt them if accepted. At any rate, there are no rules to obey if a Russian woman is in love. Even if they can't be named the women with southern temperament, the Russian women are very passionate and tend to fall in love once and for all.

Russian brides: Reasons to marry a foreigner

  Photo by egor.gribanov  CC GA 2.0

Russian women are also famous for being excellent housewives, great cooks and loving mothers. They usually learn since childhood how to cook traditional Russian meals and they love doing it. Besides, it's not very common to keep a housemaid in Russia. That's why Russian women are used to doing all housework themselves. These qualities of Russian women are highly valued by men in Russia and many other countries. In fact, there are many foreigners who are happy to have a Russian wife (рýсская женá), as well as there are many Russian girls who dream of marrying a man from abroad.

The reason behind this frame of mind is because Russian patriarchal traditions, which we have already mentioned above, also make men used to being the head of the family and, sometimes, men take for granted all the love and care that Russian women make available to them. The lack of respect from some Russian men is the reason for Russian women to seek a romantic partner abroad, hoping for a match who can provide for the family and care about the children.

On the other hand, foreign men tend to respect their love from abroad more and that makes their wives happier. Moreover it's always a great experience to build an intercultural family in which two people can interchange not only their personal experiences but also the heritage of their countries. But it is certainly more difficult and requests patience and respect from both husband and wife.

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