Women's initiation rites in Africa

African female initiation ceremonies are rites of passage for girls entering womanhood, and are usually a public annoucement of the girl's eligibility for marriage. Nearly every culture in the world ritualizes the important milestones throughout life. Birth, marriage and death are typically marked by special ceremonies. The final passage from childhood to adulthood also figures prominently among various ethnic groups worldwide. Hispanic cultures have quincineras for their daughters. Jews hold Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs for their children. And in America we celebrate with Sweet Sixteen parties. In Africa, initiation ceremonies are rooted...

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The Japanese tea ceremony ritual

Rooted in the Zen principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility, the ritual Japanese tea ceremony provides participants a respite from their daily routines. The Japanese tea ceremony is not a ceremony at all, if that word is taken to mean an unchanging program of actions and rituals. Rather, it is a subtly variable way to commune with nature and with friends. Deeply rooted in Chinese Zen philosophy, it is a way to remove oneself from the mundane affairs of day-to-day living and to achieve, if only for a time, serenity and inner peace. On the surface, chanoyu – the Japanese term for what is known in the West as the tea ceremony – is...

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What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the practice of balancing life's energy. Find out more about it! The practice of Feng Shui has been used by the Chinese for centuries. Translated, the name "Feng Shui" means the wind and the water. These are considered to be two of the most important forms of energy. The basic idea of this age-old practice is to make our environments as beneficial as possible to our health and well being. That is, if our life energy is balanced, then good things and happiness will surely come to us. This is achieved by making the natural energy in a room or an entire building flow naturally and positively. The Chinese believe that this is achieved...

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Kendo: techniques of Japanese sword fighting

What is the kendo technique of Japanese sword fighting? Fully armoured knights attack in a flurry, bamboo swords cracking on polished leather. Learn more about this popular sport. From a nearby gymnasium comes the sound of a loud cry and the crack of bamboo hitting leather. A stranger peeking into the room could be forgiven for thinking they had entered some science fiction movie set with a race of masked and armoured aliens. In fact, what they see is the traditional, protective clothing of kendo. What is kendo? Kendo is based on traditional Japanese fighting forms called bujutsu which were designed to practice the most efficient ways of attack...

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Understanding cultural references in japanese anime and manga

Ever wondered why anime characters have big eyes or wear beads? This article gives you an insight into Japanese culture, as seen in anime and manga! Most Japanese anime is, obviously, made for a Japanese market, meaning American viewers will be unfamiliar with much of what they see. While some of this unfamiliarity adds to the pleasure of watching, some facets of Japanese culture could stand to be explained. The Eyes: The large, shiny eyes that have become a staple of anime style are actually more a product of history than of culture. In the past, characters in American and European cartoons, such as Betty Boop and Felix the Cat, had disproportionately large eyes. This style was emulated by Tezuka Osamu, one of the most influential founding fathers of anime. Today, this distinctive eye style...

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All about african fortune telling

Reading fortunes in Africa comes in several forms,depending on the region of Africa and the belief system. In many cultures divination has played, and continues to play a significant part in religious life. While popular religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, look down upon and even preach against divination, African fortune telling has a particularly rich tradition that still thrives today. The bulk of African fortune telling revolves around the culture’s desire to not only decipher personal destiny, but beyond this, to discover meaning in life. For most African cultures the two central figures in the divination process are the...

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The Haida tribe

Learn about the Haida tribe, hardy inhabitants of the 150 islands that lie off Canada's British columbia coast. Haida Gwaii is a dagger shaped archipelago of some one hundred and fifty islands that lie about 60 miles ( 100 kilometers) west of Canada’s British Columbia Coast. This group of islands is known to Europeans as the Queen Charlotte Islands. The islands benefit from warm ocean currents from Japan which give the islands a moderate climate. The islands are inhabited by the Haida people. They were first discovered by Europeans about two hundred years ago when explorers and traders came across them. They found the natives of these islands...

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History of Ottoman empire in Turkey

The history of the Ottoman Empire: it is said to have been founded in 1453 when Mehmed II captured Constantinople from the Byzantine christians, renaming the city Istanbul. The reign of the Ottoman empire, despite the success of its expansionist strategy and the influence which this culture had upon a vast portion of the world, has been largely ignored by Western historians. This is surprising considering that the Ottomans or 'Osmali' ruled a vast section of the middle-eastern Europe for four-and-a-half centuries under one lineage unbroken from the first ruler, Osman, who gave his name to the empire. While the Ottoman dynasty was established...

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The truth about absinthe drink

The article presents history and insights into absinthe, a liquor rich in culture and danger, to which Europe is currently re-opening its doors. There is a growing interest on the Internet about absinthe, an interest akin to the flair for Starwars, the Mars footages or even Napster downloads. Absinthe is simply an extraordinarily strong liquor very popular in Europe (especially Paris) in the 1800s which was subsequently banned towards the early 1900s due to its harmful content. So why the hype? The growing Internet craze for the intoxicating drink derives mostly from the liquor's rich history, which drives on-line pundits to create not only...

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Religion: worshipping at a Shinto shrine

A description of how to worship at a Shinto shrine, as well as a description of the religion of Shinto in general. When it comes to the old religions from the Orient, very few have the mystery and mysticism associated with them that Japanese religion of Shinto does. A religion without a founder, written scriptures, or body of law, Shinto has been described in the past as a mix of nature worship, shamanism, fertility rites, divination, and hero worship. Shinto dates back to around the 8th century BC, while the Yamato dynasty still ruled over Japan. The name "Shinto" is derived from the Chinese words "shin tao", which means "The Way of the Gods",...

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Culinary cultures all about thai cuisine basics

For the new cook and the practiced chef, an introduction to Thai food preparation. Includes ingredients, dishes, and tips for cooking. Thai food is an increasingly popular fare served in storefront cafes and elegant restaurants throughout the country. Its aromatic and often spicy flavors are delicious testament to Thailand’s unique culture and environment. Thai food is not always hot, although many of its most famous dishes, including red and green curries, are very spicy and not for the timid. The hot and humid Thai environment influenced its cuisine in a number of ways. Historically, food preservation was a problem in many tropical countries....

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