Resumo de Book Of Facts - Reader's Digest

CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS II

THE LIVING GODDESS

Hindus in Nepal worship a living goddess- a young girl. Known as Kumari Devi, a title meaning ?Living Goddess?, she is chosen from the Buddhist goldsmith?s castle when she is three years old and must be without any physical blemish. She assumes divinity after proving her bravery by remaining alone for a darkened room filled with skeletons and gruesome objects. Thereafter she spends much of her time reciting prayers to Hindu gods until puberty when she ceases to be divine, and is replaced by a new goddess. During her term of office, Kumari Devi is supported by the state and lives with her family and friends in a temple in Kathmandu?s Durbar Square. She id allowed out once a year. Worshippers, including the King of Nepal, visits her temple and place their heads between her knees for luck. The period of divinity carries a heavy penalty for the girl; however .Nepalese men possibly daunted by the thought of marrying a goddess, even a former goddess, often avoid them later in life. In addition Nepalese folklore predicts an early death for goddess?s husband

RITE OF SPRING

Children in parts of Czechoslovakia burn a straw effigy before Easter to mark the passing of winter. The effigy is of a figure of death called Smrt, and is decorated with coloured rags and standas of eggshells. The straw figure is carried into the fields and either burnt or thrown into a river. After Smrt?s destruction, the children carry flower garlands home to symbolize the arrival of spring

GIFTS FROM THE GODS

Followers of some of the world?s youngest and most bizarre religions believe that modern technology originates from supernatural sources. Cargo cults, as these religions are called, sprang up among many primitive and isolated New Guinea and Melanesian tribes after they came into contact with white culture from the late 19th century onwards. Devotees believe that aeroplanes, for instance, are messengers from the gods or form the spirits of their dead ancestors. Tribesmen pray to the gods for gifts such as radios, tinned foods and refrigerators. Sometimes they even destroy or abandon everything they own, and build storehouses to hold the gifts and gadgets they hope soon to receive.

LOOK, NO HANDS

Bulgarian children help their parents prepare for Lent by trying to eat food dangled on strings from the cling, without using their hands. Lumps of chesses hard- boiled eggs and Turkish delight are hung as titbits for children as families use up their dairy products- forbidden during Lent by Orthodox Christian Church. The festivals, called Cheese Week takes place immediately before Lent. Chesses Week is also celebrated in Greece. Orthodox Russians call the festivals Butter Week, using up their butter and eggs in special rye- flour pancakes known as bliny

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