Resumo de Book Of Facts - Reader's Digest

CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS

FEASTING WITH THE DEAD

Macabre graveside picnics take place in Mexico on the Day of the Dead when, according to Indian folklore, the dead return to life. Marigolds, tequila- a flery national drink- and food are offered to the dead by families who afterwards feast in the cemeteries on their gifts. The food always follows the theme of death; a reveler eat chocolate hearses and coffins, sugar skulls, skeletons and funerals and fancy breads patterned with skulls and crossbones. The occasion is widely celebrated as a national holiday every November 2, All Soul?s Day in the Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar, when prayers are traditionally offered for souls in Purgatory.

THE MONARCH?S MANEY

Every Monday, Thursday- the day before Good Friday- the reigning British monarch personally distributes money to the poor in one of Britain?s cathedrals. Purse containing silver pennies, two-pennies, and four pennies, specially minted for the occasion, are given to poor people- one for each year that the sovereign has lived. The recipients chosen from a different area each year are people who have given a lifetime of voluntary service to their church or community. The custom commemorates the washing of the Apostles? feet by Christ.
Until 1689, when Williams III and Mary II took the throne, the reigning monarch personally washed the feet of the poor in Britain- but thereafter money was given instead. The money- known as Monday money- is legal tender in Britain but is worth much more than its face value.

EASTER SOAKING

Hungarian men splash girlfriends with water until they are rewarded with coloured eggs on Water Drench Monday, as Easter Monday is sometimes called there. In big cities the old-fashioned water drenching ritual has been replaced by a ceremony in which a few drops of perfume or eau-de-cologne are sprinkled over women by their boyfriends. The ceremony is meant to bring a good harvest and ensure good health.

HOLY SMOKE

Every year Chinese families burn one of their own gods. This fiery ritual takes place before the Chinese New Year (held between January and early February) as part of the Festival of the Kitchen God, Tsao Chun. Washing to court Tsao Chun favour, so that he will speak ell of them to the other gods, families offer cakes and sweets to his picture, smear his mouth with syrup and dip him into wine to make him tipsy and amiable. Afterwards they burn his picture in the belief that the god will ascend to heaven on the smoke. Tsao Chun is believed to return to the household on New Year?s Day when a new picture is hung on the kitchen wall.

HORSE RACING, ITALIAN STYLE

Every summer jockeys dressed in medieval costume honour the Virgin Mary by racing bareback around the main square of Siena, Italy. Jockeys ride for individual city wards after having their mounts blessed in church, and the winner of the race is presented with a silk banner depicting the Virgin. The contest- known as the Palio- was started by the Papal States in the 13th century and is held every July 2 and August 16. Each jockey is given a whip before the start and, under the rules; he is allowed to use it not only on his own mount but on other horses as well- and on their riders.

MOON?S BIRTHDAY

In China there is no man in the moon. Instead there is a toad in the moon, as well as moon rabbits and a goddess, all of which appear as decorations on moon cakes, backed to celebrate the moon?s birthday on the 15th day of 8th moon (September ). These cakes ? which are traditionally circular to symbolize the full moon, are exchanged between friends while children receive toy pagodas made from clay. The birthday marks the end of the harvest, when debts are meant to be settled.

Resumos Relacionados