Public Slovakian Holidays

Where in the world? Slovakia

     Like everywhere else in the world, Slovakia has many holidays celebrated throughout the year. Many people are not aware of them. On January 1, the Emergence of Slovakia is celebrated. In 1993 Czechoslovakia was split and Slovakia was formed. Since then, Slovakia has continued to be independent as well as democratic. It also has a new flag.  On January 6th they celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Three Kings is a Christian holiday and is actually one of the oldest. It is celebrated in Slovakia, and all over the world in many Christian Churches. This is a reminder holiday for when God revealed the stars of his son to all nations. Also it is the reminder of when the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem from the East.  On July 5th, The Memory of St. Cyril and St. Methodius is celebrated. They both compiled the Slavic alphabet and even translated it into different texts. They also made schools and training centers in Slovakia. 

Mosques and Minarets

         A mosque is a place of worship for the religion of Islam.  Followers of the religion practice five daily prayers there, as well as a congregation sermon that are on Fridays. The Qur'an which is a sacred text is also taught there. A Imam leads the prayer in a mosque. They originated on the Arabian Peninsula but are now found in various places. In places such as Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq mosques can play a political role, but in other Islamic countries this sort of practice is banned.

     Mosques have long pointed structures with onion shaped pieces at their top at the sides of their buildings. These are called Minarets, styles of them can vary depending on where it is located and what time period it is from. They serve as a focal point and are used to call for prayer. They also provide a type of natural ventilation for the mosque. They can often be described as a "gate from heaven and earth".

Irish Step Dance

Where in the world? Ireland and various other counties

Step Dancing originated in Ireland but through migration and population shifts it has spread to various parts of the world.  It has been said that the Druids were the group of people who started this dance as a religious ritual. They would honor an oak tree and sun. When the Celts went to Ireland from Europe two thousand years ago, they brought their folk dances with them. This dance is now considered to be a social dance to be preformed. Old dances are modified, and new dances may be designed. There are variations to the dances depending on where you are also. It is known for its fast leg movements and arms and legs left staying at the side of your body. Two of the many categories that the dance may divide into is the hard shoe dances and the soft shoe dances. Hard shoes used to be made of wood, but are now similar to a tap shoe. Soft shoes are more like jazz shoes. They are black lace up shoes, girls wear these whereas boys where black leather shoes called reel shoes.  Elaborate dresses are also worn throughout the dance as seen in the picture above.

Cultural Identity

The question we are discussing is...How do people identify themselves with a particular culture?

Some people may have an easier time defining their cultural identity than others. Some may be Irish, Chinese, German, Mexican, and still think of themselves as Americans. Some may have a mixture of various cultures and therefore cannot identify with just one. People can identify themselves with a religious, ethnic, racial groups or a country, language, dialect, set of foods, holidays, names and more. Culture identity is sometimes passed down from generation to generation. Some say that once we have gone far away from the place our original culture was, we started adapting to another culture that opened our perceptions. We have the ability to learn a new culture and language, rules and values. Also some believe that once we have adapted to a second culture, it is easier to adapt to more.

"Even while I try to explain my cultural identity, I realize that the person who has just asked me this commonplace question is not interested in a complex answer. In a way, my cultural identity is within three nationalities and not entirely in either."

(quoted on http://www.digitrends.com/crossingcultures/page1.htm)

Petanque

Where in the World? Quebec, Canada

                Petanque is a game that comes from Quebec. The goal is to throw hollow metal balls as close as you can to wooden ball called a cochonnet or bouchon. It can be played on gravel, sand, grass, or concrete. It is similar to the game bocce. It originated in 1907 in Southern France. In France, 17 million people play it most during summer months. 20,000 people in Quebec play it as well. It has been shown to now come to the United States recently. This game can be traced back all the way to the Ancient Greeks who used to play a similar version. Since 1953, there are world championships for this game and 52 teams from 50 countries attended in 2007 in Thailand. This game is played by 2, 4, or 6 people organized onto two teams.

For more information on the history, rules, and stratagy as well as videos and picture on this sport, visit http://www.petanque.org/around_the_world/french_games.shtml (:

Blue Jeans

Where in the World? America

One example of popular culture is Blue Jeans. These are durable pants made from a blue tinted cotton fabric. They were first created for people who were working in the 1894 California Gold Rush. They used to only be worn by workers but in the 20th century. In the 1950's people thought that the young men wearing these were rebels. They were being worn all over the world, but still remained to be an American invention. The fabric denim was originally from a town in France named de Nîmes (which was shortened to denim), and died dark blue so that workers pants would not show any dirt. They were invented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss. In 2005, Americans spent more than $15 million dollars on blue jeans! I bet you never really thought about where the items in your closet originated.

Pop Culture vs. Folk Culture

First Off, Happy St. Nick Day! (see one of my previous posts)

Many may think of culture just as one general term, but in fact there are two types that are often confused. These are popular culture and folk culture. Popular culture is constantly changing and specific to a certain place and time. It is determined by the media, film, newspapers and is seen globally. Popular culture is seen all around us, everyday. Some say that it is the contemporary culture that is practiced by "ordinary people. Examples would be things such as Bugs Bunny, McDonalds, Brittany Spears. It is defined by objects, images, books, and music. Folk Culture on the other hand, refers to the lifestyle of a culture. It is often handed down through word of mouth and through generations. If folk culture is moved to a new place, its origin is still very apparent. Examples that were used in previous posts of mine were the Native American Tipis, Hawaiian Hula, or Shaker furniture.

What are some examples of folk culture or pop culture that you can now put into these categories?