Family tradition of traveling. Traditions of the people of Iceland. Don't be afraid of street food

Traveling around different countries, tourists get acquainted not only with the sights of the country, but also with its customs and traditions. There are many countries, nationalities, and therefore traditions on earth, and if you have not yet decided where you want to spend your vacation, then we offer you an overview of the traditions of some countries.

Italy, France

Italy has a large number of cultural values. In this country, traditions are very diverse. Italians love holidays very much and always celebrate them in a big way. If you visit Italian festivals, you will understand for yourself.

Italian traditions can be divided into New Year's, wedding, folk, culinary and family.

As for wedding traditions, marriage in this country takes place in any month except May; they also do not get married on fasting days. The best time to get married in Italy is autumn. According to Italian tradition, marriage is not recommended on Tuesday and Friday.

Folk traditions of Italy include leatherwork, wickerwork, glass and ceramics.

Italian men are very polite and gallant. In their wallet you will always find a photograph of their wife and children. In Italy, family is very important; for any Italian, it will always come first. Italians prefer to dine at home, with their family.

New Year in Italy it is a festive table, which is bursting with all sorts of dishes. According to tradition, at 24.00 New Year's Eve The family breaks the dishes; it is believed that in this way the negativity accumulated over the whole year is released.

France is also a country of art and culture. Famous writers, poets and artists lived and worked in this wonderful country.

In France, wedding traditions are very interesting - on the wedding day, the bride is obliged to cry and in any way try to escape from under the aisle.

France is famous for wine and cheese. But the French are also distinguished by an extremely sensitive attitude to how the table is set and how etiquette is observed at dinner or lunch.

Despite the fact that the main and main holidays of the French are Easter and Christmas, they most like to celebrate the New Year.

Korea and China

Korean traditions and customs are defined according to Confucianism. In this country, Confucianism occupies the most important place. Koreans also treat older people and those in high social position with respect. People of the upper class of society are the undisputed authority, and the younger ones respectfully listen to the advice of the older generation.

Before a Korean makes a friend, he learns everything possible about him. What is the marital status, habits, status, what kind of family does this person have, etc., and only then decides whether to make friends with him.

When meeting each other, Koreans do not show any emotions, they simply shake each other’s hands, even if they are best friends who have not seen each other for a long time. Therefore, you should not throw yourself on the neck of your Korean friend, they will not understand you.

When entering a house in Korea, you must take off your shoes; this tradition dates back to ancient times. Since ancient times, Koreans (and even now) eat food while sitting on the floor.

Everyone knows that China is the country where there are the most various ceremonies. There are a large number of philosophical schools in this country.

The Chinese love to celebrate New Year and Spring Festival most of all, they celebrate them on a grand scale.

The tea ceremony is one of the main traditions of China, every day Chinese family must gather at the table to drink tea according to all the rules and traditions.

One of the unusual Chinese traditions is the following. On the wedding day, the newlyweds must hang a lock on the Great Chinese wall. Previously, if a couple separated, this lock was removed and thrown open, now, of course, no one removes the locks, but they hang them up.

Great Britain. Germany

The people of Britain are very proud that they are not like other nations of the world. To this day, the British play cricket and measure distance in miles.

Despite their composure, the British have a good sense of humor and are generally very sociable people.

When planning to have lunch or dinner, a self-respecting Briton will definitely change his clothes. All residents of the country strictly adhere to all traditions and customs.

There are many festivals in the UK, so they are also considered traditions. At these events, the British show various types of art, most often choral art, theater and drama. The Queen's Birthday is considered the most solemn and wonderful holiday.

The British are very sensitive to royal, wedding and tea traditions.

Germany can be called a country of philosophy, music and literature.

All the traditions of this country are similar to the traditions of others European countries, but there are also some customs that can only be found in Germany.

The Germans celebrate weddings only on Friday or Saturday; the newlyweds and their guests must have myrtle branches on the table. A wonderful tradition - newlyweds must plant a tree or bush together.

German men try to arrange everything in their home on their own; they instill their skills and pass them on to their children.

Children grow up and leave their parents' home early, then they very rarely appear there. When parents reach old age, they move into nursing homes.

Most of all, Germans love to eat meat and potatoes, and, of course, drink beer; in this country, the foamy drink is of excellent quality and at a very low price.

Malaysia. Mexico. South America

There are many nationalities living in Malaysia, but the bulk of the population are Malays, they speak Bahasa and revere Allah.

A traditional Malay dish is meat kebabs generously seasoned with spicy peanut sauce.

In this country, any holidays are celebrated on a grand scale, one might even say all the holidays that exist in the world. Malay, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and others. Moreover, on the days of any holidays, Malaysians do not work, but have fun.

Mexico is an amazing country, except for what is concentrated there great amount unique and interesting historical monuments; very interesting and talented personalities still live there. Business card Stans are historical writings, rock and wall paintings.

Mexico's biggest tradition is its colorful and unforgettable festivals, during which the country's residents dance and this enchanting show ends with equally bright and colorful fireworks.

Conquerors South America brought their customs, architecture, language and religion to this continent. Speaking about the traditions of this country, we can say that this is a kind of symbiosis of African, Portuguese and Indian customs.

Residents of South America love to weave various household items - hammocks, rugs, etc., and I must say they do it very well.

The main traditions of the peoples of South America are rituals that arose against the backdrop of amazing legends and myths.

This country loves noisy and cheerful holidays and often organizes carnivals.

As for sports, the country has excellent football, basketball and rafting.

Caucasus

Many nationalities live in the Caucasus; wedding, family and culinary traditions are highly respected in this region.

The Caucasus is very hospitable, here it is customary to respect guests, protect them, give them shelter and set the table.

Residents of Caucasian villages very zealously honor and observe traditions and rituals wedding celebration. It is noteworthy that the bride and groom celebrate this event with a feast in different houses; this tradition is called “wedding hiding”.

The most popular dishes are shish kebab, pilaf, lula kebab, sherbet, kutaba, baklava, etc. Mainly in the Caucasus there are Azerbaijani, Armenian, Kazakh and Georgian cuisines.

Africa

African culture is unlike any other culture in the world.

The traditions and customs of this country are conveyed in music and dance. Each tribe has its own characteristics, but in any tribe the most important thing is family.

Everywhere in Africa, a husband must fully support his wife. Weddings in Africa are celebrated only on the full moon; it is believed that if the moon is not full, then the marriage will not be happy. But a wedding in Africa is not a holiday, but a sad event, and it is celebrated very quietly and sadly. An African man can have several wives, but only if he can adequately provide for them all. Wives in a harem share all housework equally.

As for the taste traditions of the Black Continent, they mainly eat meat, fruits and dairy products. The only alcoholic drink is wine.

Traditions in Africa are very strong and durable, they have remained exactly the same as they were in ancient times.

The world is diverse, there are many peoples inhabiting our planet, and learning about their traditions is very interesting and educational, so travel and get to know the world!

Iceland is one of the most unusual and original countries on our planet. This Island state, inhabited by the descendants of the Vikings at the end of the 9th century, is lost in the vastness Atlantic Ocean. The isolation and seclusion of the island influenced the customs and traditions of the Icelanders, which are quite rare and unique.

Family traditions

It will be unusual for any foreigner in Iceland to learn that Icelanders do not have surnames. What Europeans are accustomed to understanding as a surname is a patronymic among the inhabitants of the island. Thus, if a person is, for example, Ragnar Olafson, this means that Ragnar is the son of Olaf. However, Icelanders do not like to call each other by their last name. Communication with each other is limited to names.

Culinary traditions

Despite the scarcity of local flora and fauna, due to the harsh northern climate, Iceland's cuisine is extremely diverse. Most vegetables and fruits are imported into the country, but Icelanders grow carrots, cabbage, potatoes and cucumbers and tomatoes on their island. Traditional and popular dishes in the country include sour milk, fried puffins (a type of bird) and their eggs, ox eggs soaked in curdled milk, smoked lamb, salmon marinated in spices, chopped sheep liver and rotten shark meat. Coffee is very popular on the island. When visiting a cafe, you are charged only for the first cup of coffee; all others are free. Travel traditions

Icelanders love the natural beauty of their region. The island's adults have SUVs and small farms or nature cabins outside the city limits. The descendants of the Vikings love to travel. For their voyages, they often choose not other countries or resorts, but the territory of their own country. It has become a good tradition to visit each year historical places and natural monuments.

Folk traditions

There are only two seasons in Iceland - winter and summer. Six months in the country it is day, six months it is night. In order to somehow diversify their lives during long, boring evenings, Icelanders, in addition to various family games, have become addicted to knitting. Currently, in cities this tradition has already become obsolete, but residents of farms, both men and women, enjoy knitting. It was because of this mass passion for knitting, from an ordinary hobby that turned into a national tradition, that the famous Icelandic sweater, called “lopapeysa” or abbreviated “lopi”, appeared. Such things look like warm jumpers or sweaters, decorated at the top and near the throat with national ornaments. For export, such clothes are made from imported wool, since the yarn from the wool of local sheep is very prickly. Due to the fact that sweaters are very warm and practically impermeable to moisture, they are often used as outerwear.

Literary and musical traditions

Icelanders are especially proud of their national traditions in literature and music. Real events from the life of ancestors are passed down from generation to generation and performed to music using national musical instruments. Such instruments are the organ and the harmonium.

In modern music, which is closely related to Scandinavian music, you can clearly hear ethnic tunes characteristic of Icelanders. The country has several musical groups that have received worldwide recognition.

National pride in literary terms is, of course, the winner of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Icelandic writer Halldór Lasness. His works, inspired by the plots of the sagas, brought the author worldwide fame.
Holiday Traditions

The main Icelandic holiday is considered Winter holiday. His tradition was to wear pants on only one leg and jump barefoot on his bare leg around his own house. The Icelandic Winter Festival is celebrated widely with plenty of food and alcohol at the table. Jumping in the cold in the snow around the house is not prohibited, but it is not mandatory either.

Traditionally, one of the main and beloved holidays has become the New Year. During its celebration, Icelanders light bonfires and dance around them, singing merry songs.

After the New Year, the island's residents celebrate their most traditional holiday called "Yule". When celebrating it, bonfires are necessarily lit, but in specially designated places, due to the fact that the holiday is dedicated to the goddesses of fate. Yule traditions are very similar to Christmas traditions. Icelanders also decorate the Christmas tree and hide gifts under it.

Icelanders celebrate the first day of summer - Sumardagurin Firsti - on a grand scale. A number of folk beliefs are associated with this pagan festival. Frosts on a holiday night were a good sign. Icelanders believe that the thickness of ice on water will be the same as the thickness of cream on milk throughout the year.

In celebration of the first day of summer, Iceland celebrates the first day of winter. During its celebration, Icelanders organize various competitions and organize many festivals.

The main public holidays are Independence Day, celebrated on December 1, Head of State Day and Proclamation Day of the Icelandic Republic.

Icelanders are no strangers to celebrating some holidays generally recognized throughout the world, such as St. Nicholas Day, Catholic Christmas, Valentine's Day and Lutheran Easter.
Other traditions

Icelanders are extremely punctual. When making an appointment, it is better to arrive on time or even a little earlier. Being late to meetings is considered bad manners.

It is also considered bad form to use the word “peasant” in communication, in any language. It is generally considered offensive. In Icelandic it was replaced by the word "farmer". Settlements accepted on European continent to call a village or hamlet is here called a farm. On the island, according to its residents, there are generally only two types of settlements - urban settlements and farming settlements.

When invited to visit, it is customary to give the hosts any gift, even a purely symbolic one. Icelanders are very welcoming and hospitable.

Travel traditions in the Eastern world

Because the modern tourism focuses primarily on European countries and partly on North America, tourism research is typically characterized by Eurocentrism. However, the contacts between the Christian and Muslim worlds, which have already been discussed, also influenced the formation of cultural traditions, including travel traditions. In addition, the religious pilgrimages of the East are larger in scale than similar phenomena Western world. Along with Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostella, Canterbury, Loreto, centers of attraction for both religious and educational tourism there were and remain Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu shrines of the East: Mecca and Medina, the temples of Benares, the sacred river Ganges (Ganga), Buddhist temples and monasteries in Tibet, India, China, South-East Asia and so on.

The Rigveda, the oldest written monument of the Indo-Aryans (XI-X centuries BC), the inhabitants of India who came from the north-west, tells in poetic form, in particular, about the sacred place where the waters of the Ganges and Jamna. According to the Rig Veda, bathing at the confluence of these rivers ensures heavenly bliss and that those who voluntarily die there will gain immortality. This is the first mention of Prayag (modern Allahabad), the largest religious center of ancient and modern Hinduism, where since the 7th century. Every year in late January and early February hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather, and every twelve years (the great Kumbhamela) the celebration attracts millions of people and is probably the most crowded pilgrimage in the world.

In the II century. BC. great silk road from China to the Mediterranean, along which for a millennium not only traders, but also missionaries - Buddhist monks moved, who, according to archaeological monuments, visited Syria, Egypt, Libya and Greece.

Worth mentioning is the journey of the Chinese monk Xuan Jiang to India in the first half of the 7th century for Buddhist sutras. His “Notes on the Western Countries during the Great Tang Dynasty” includes the first description of religious holidays in Prayag with a gathering of almost half a million believers. The celebration in those days was held once every five years and lasted a total of 75 days. Both Hindus and Buddhists and members of various religious sects made sacrifices and participated in rituals.

From Xuan Jiang's notes we learn, in particular, about mass religious suicides based on the belief that those who die in sacred waters during the celebration will gain immortality (the law prohibiting religious suicides was adopted only at the beginning of the last century).

In the Middle Ages, the genre of adventure novel developed in Chinese literature, in which information about real travel and fantastic events associated with the philosophical layers of the narrative were intertwined in a bizarre form. Xuan Jiang's notes about his pilgrimage to India served as the basis for one of the most popular novels of the 16th century. "Journey to the West" by Wu Chang'an.

Arabic scholarship was of particular importance not only for Eastern, but also for European culture. The European Renaissance owes a lot to Arab science and culture, which accumulated in libraries translations of ancient authors that later became the property of Europeans. Cultural and scientific achievements Arab world were received by enlightened Christians mainly through Spain, the western tip of the Arab world, where the libraries of Toledo, conquered by Christians in 1085, became a center of attraction for European intellectuals, who at first were primarily translators.

Starting from the 8th - 9th centuries. AD The countries of the Arab world were experiencing a period of cultural and scientific growth, especially noticeable in comparison with Christian medieval Europe. At the court of the heirs of Harun al-Rashid, the most significant sources of geographical information are collected and translated, the nature of which is evidenced by their names: “The Book of the Picture of the Earth” by al-Khwarizmi, which was a reworking of Ptolemy’s “Geography” with the addition of Arabic and Iranian materials; original guidebooks - “Books of Ways and States” (inventory of routes of merchants and pilgrims, often with the authors’ own observations and descriptions of various kinds of attractions), “Wonders of Countries”, “Wonders of the Earth”, etc.

Evidence of Arab merchants and travelers of the 9th-10th centuries. are the most complete source of information about Eastern Europe and Ancient Rus', in particular. For example, Ibn Fadlan, a merchant who traveled in 921 - 922. as part of the embassy from Baghdad to Volga Bulgaria, he reports the most valuable details about the morals and customs of the Slavic and Scandinavian merchants, which he observed on the way “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” The journey of Ibn Batuta (14th century) was record-breaking in length and duration: having set off as a 20-year-old youth from Tangier (Morocco) on a pilgrimage to Mecca, he traveled throughout the entire inhabited world known to the Arabs. During 24 years of wanderings, he visited the shores of Pacific Ocean, in Volga Bulgaria, in Mozambique, Mauritanian Spain. Western Sahara, Arabia. In his essay, he, like Herodotus, provides a wide variety of information about the countries he visited, captivatingly tells legends and entertaining stories. A special place in the essay is occupied by stories about Muslim relics and holy places (Mecca and Medina).

As in Europe, around religious and shopping centers In the East, a corresponding network of services is being formed: from the trade in relics (for example, in Mecca - rags of “Kiswah”, the brocade cover of the main shrine of Muslims, the Kaaba) to the services of the so-called “bayaderas” (Indian temple dancers). In Muslim countries, caravanserais and pack animals were provided with shelter and food for three days at the expense of the treasury (this is reported, in particular, by Afanasy Nikitin in his “Walking across the Three Seas”). After this period, the traveler had to either pay or move on.

IN ancient China and in ancient india there was a well-developed and fairly well-maintained network of roads (in China, tea houses were located along the roads, where you could drink tea at a reasonable price, and in India, the roads were lined with trees to protect travelers from the sun). It is interesting that in China, when laying roads, they thought about how to protect travelers from evil spirits, which, according to traditional Chinese ideas, move only in a straight line (“evil takes the shortest path”). Accordingly, the roads were winding and the paths were confusing - which was more reminiscent of medieval Europe than Ancient Rome.

In some cases, the service system was delivered quite modernly. Thus, in India, during the already mentioned pilgrimage to modern Allahabad, (to the confluence of the sacred rivers), the ritual of ablution has long been led by the so-called pandas, to whom this position is inherited. This organization includes hundreds of families, dividing the whole of India into districts; The richest pandas send their agents to travel and look for new clients. Each new pilgrim is required to enter into a written agreement that on his next visit he will contact his panda exclusively, and he will create detailed documentation for clients. Hundreds of barbers also live at the expense of the pilgrims (in our days, from the entire ritual, which was quite complex in ancient times, three main points remain: bathing, shaving and paying a fee).

In the 19th century, according to a modern Indologist, “the enterprising spirit of Europeans showed itself here”: As a pass to paradise... a tax on pilgrimage was introduced. It is interesting that the measures taken by the English. government (strict rules of movement requiring passage only along certain streets and through certain gates; issuance of documents certifying the right to ablution; the presence of troops in case the crowd tries to break through by force; rules designed to eliminate abuses in the collection of taxes) organically merged with the traditional an order that secular authorities established already in the Middle Ages, as we saw in the example of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

Let's discuss this with you interesting topic like people's habits.

Everyone knows that there are bad habits, but not many people think that they have many good, useful habits.

Considering various issues related to travel and travel, we think not only about obtaining material values ​​anywhere in the world, but also spiritual ones. One of them is the habit of traveling.

It is no secret that it is travel that broadens your horizons and scope of thinking to the maximum, making you a completely different person. Traveling spiritually enriches you, as it inspires ideas and opens up new knowledge. By developing a love of movement and search, you improve.

It will take a very long time to develop such a habit. But you can travel now - travel in your thoughts. Develop your imagination, dream: thoughts are material.

The journey begins, oddly enough, in the head. First an idea appears, we think it over, compose it. And then you can go!

Why don't people develop the habit of traveling? The answer is simple - everyone is quite lazy on their own, and when it comes to even making a travel plan, a person becomes lazy. And if you add various fears, the journey can be buried.

Sergey, experienced traveler:

“Since childhood, I loved exploring my city; it is quite large, and I was drawn to visit all its parts. Then I was drawn to regional cities, I went first for a few days, then for weeks to visit friends. There were also other trips with my family all the time. And once I already organized a trip for myself for almost a month, I formed it myself, rented a house with friends and we traveled to different cities and places on the Crimean Peninsula.

It’s very cool when they don’t force you where to go and where to live, but you yourself move freely and live the life of another place. Now I'm already planning a trip for several months and I think it will be cool. It will no longer be one country, but several.”

Habits begin to form with a small step forward, and then they become part of your life.

The more you travel, the more useful experiences you gain. You begin to understand the mistakes you made before and can correct them without much effort. This allows you to save money, get rid of unnecessary worries and travel much more conveniently. Develop all these habits to make every trip enjoyable.

Create a list of things you need

If you make a list of everything you need in advance, it will be more convenient for you to pack your suitcase and you will not forget anything. Experienced travelers always make lists - they are convenient for packing before leaving and putting things away before returning home.

If your friends or family have already been to the place you are going to, they will be able to suggest where to eat, which museum to go to and which public transport ride. People close to you know you well, so they will be able to give advice that is suitable for you personally and which has been tested in their own experience.

Get ready in advance

You should be in the habit of packing at least a day before your trip, ideally even earlier. If you're packing slowly throughout the week before you leave, you can put things in your bag as you remember them. This way you are less likely to forget something. Don't wait until the last moment, otherwise you will start your journey with stress and may forget about something.

Make multiple copies of important documents

You should carry copies of your ID and insurance with you, and leave your itinerary with relatives or friends. If you lose something, they will send you the necessary copies. The original documents should be kept in the hotel safe, and only copies should be carried with you, this is much more convenient and safer.

Always carry a water bottle with you

Carry a water bottle with you everywhere so you can easily fill it up and drink it during the flight and throughout your trip. You never know if you will be able to buy water at any time, so having a bottle will be very convenient for you.

Always charge your devices

Take adapters and chargers with you wherever you go. If there is an outlet where you are sitting down for lunch, be sure to use it. Charge all your devices overnight while you sleep so you have a full battery in the morning that will last as long as possible. In this case, you will not have to face any inconvenience.

Try to get everywhere early

Go to the airport early. Come early to railway station. Don't be late for the restaurant where you have a reservation. If you're in an unfamiliar country, you never know what the problem will be, so the best solution is to leave early to anticipate problems. This is especially true when traveling by plane. Avoid being late to avoid getting into trouble.

Don't keep your money in sight

You shouldn't show your money openly, no matter if you're in your hometown or traveling. Keep money on you, but out of sight, and never put anything valuable in your back pocket - this is the easiest place for a thief to steal something.

Download maps to use them without the Internet

You can download in advance the parts of the map that you will especially need, so that you can use them even when you do not have wireless Internet. You will be able to navigate around the city at any time, even if you find yourself in a completely unfamiliar country for the first time.

Take photos of important parts

Take a photo with your hotel address, your itinerary, your tickets, parking space, departure confirmation numbers, receipts, hotel room. Don't rely solely on your memory. There's a good chance you'll be glad you have these helpful photos on your phone.

Remember when your passport is expired

If your documents become invalid soon, you may have a problem. In many countries, you cannot travel if your passport has three or six months left until its expiration date. Be sure to keep an eye on this and update documents on time.

Learn to take a minimum of things

Try not to overload your bags, take a minimum of things - only what you really need. Try to limit yourself to one bag - this will make it much more convenient for you to move around, and you won’t have to worry about your luggage.