A class forum

Hi, everyone. I'm from Kazakhstan and in my country a lot of tradition. In my childhood favourite was Shashu. Oldest grandmother appear and begins to throw candys to children. This traditional happens in each holidays. Shashu mean joy and happiness. Shashu like adults and children.

So cool to read about everyone's home tradition. I’m Brazilian and in my country aumoust have a home tradition about bonfire. Is the Saint João Batista day’s, that is a catolical traditional party. The bonfire simbolize the João Batista borned. Izabel, mother of João Batista, made a promise to her cousin Maria, mother of Jesus, when her baby was born, she would light a fire and put a mast with a doll on top for Maria to know about the birth. Now a days, the people continue partynig that traditional party, and biulding a bonfire, and put the João Batista Saint mast and cook the tipical foods: boiled corn, peanut candy, cake corn for celebrate the date.

the best tradition most of us do it in egypt and its religion tradition is eid we eat biscuits and eat kahk(circle shape dessert its sugary) and we celebrate eid after we fasting ramdan

So nice to read about all these local traditions! it makes me dream! I'm Russian and I've been living in France for 10 years. I miss a lot my native country with its customs and traditions. There is no particular Russian tradition I miss the most, but I would like to speak here about Women day which is well-known in Europe as well in Russia, but it's not really celebrated in European countries. In Russia the 8th of March is a special day, the day when any woman - from little girl to old grandma - is a queen, she feels adored and loved. She receives flowers, gifts and sweet messages from her loved ones. This day the woman is always pampered in Russia, while in European countries the 8th of March symbolizes feminism and its fight for women rights. In Europe this day doesn't bring any tenderness, any gentleness. So, this day I prefer to be in Russia then in France.

It’s fascinating that there are so many different countries with very interesting traditions but personally, Egyptian traditions surprise me the most. But in my country, we say Užgavėnės, which is a Lithuanian festival that takes place during the seventh week before Easter around February every year. Its name in English means "the time before Lent." I remember as a young child with classmates, celebrating the festival in the school stadium, making a big Scary doll that we always put in the middle of a bonfire as it was always cold and snowing in Lithuania this time of the year. Hence we had a tradition of dancing in circle around the bonfire singing ”winter go away. The traditional food for the celebrations is pancakes and waffles served hot with sweet sauces.

Hello everyone For me it is a traditional party in the south of Spain. There are also bonfires and fireworks. But the theme is different. We celebrate the end of an olive harvest with a few bonfires in every neighborhood in every city. It's amazing because there is music and a party everywhere, and you can dance and eat with everyone around the bonfire. BYE

Hi, everyone. It’s very interesting to know traditions of different countries. I’m from China. There are a lot of traditions in China. The most romantic tradition is Tanobato on July 7th of Chinese lunar calendar. Nowadays we also called Chinese Valentine’s Day. According to legend, there was an honest man whose name is Liu Lang from mundane world, and a gorgeous fairy whose name is Vega from heaven. They fall in loved at first sight. And then, they got married and had a lovely son and a beautiful daughter. They had a very happy life during that days. Unfortunately, about two years later, The queen of heaven Vega’s mother knew her daughter Vega had got married with a mundane men. She was very angry about it, and then she brought Vega back to heaven. Liu Lang was depressed after Vega left. With the help of a magic cow, Liu Lang and his children flew to heaven. At the time he found Vega, and almost caught her. The queen mother took off her hairpin and draw a long line in the sky between Liu Lang and Vega. Suddenly, a huge river appeared. Liu Lang and Vega were separated on the two banks forever. Everyone in mundane and heaven felt sad about their story. Their unmovable love touched heaven’s magpies. On July 7th, tens of thousands magpies came to built a bridge. So Liu Lang and Vega could meet on the bridge. By many people’s suggestion, the queen allowed they could meet on July 7th each year. So, it’s become a tradition that people send gifts to their lovers.

So interesting traditions of your countries. I live in Mexico and in my city we celebrate "el día de las flores". Men give a flower to the girl they like when walking around the "jardin de la unión". A day before the government brings concerts of regional music so that people attend to dance. I enjoy this celebration because of the time you spend with friends.

Hello guys! It is interesting to read your stories. I've been living in Germany for more than five years but I was born and grew up in Ukraine. In Ukraine, we have many different holidays and traditions which I love! This time I will tell you about New Year and Christmas, as they are a bit different from other contries. In Germany, as in many other European countries and the USA, Christmas is much more important than New Year. But for the Ex-Soviet Union countries (like Ukraine, Russia, Belarus) is the New Year more valuable. Why is it so? In the Soviet Union we didn't have any religion, so we didn't have Christmas at all. Only after breakdown of the Soviet Union, many of people became orthodox and started to celebrate Christmas. The celebration is also different. Many of typical Christmas traditions like Christmas tree, gifts, family dinner and so on, we, in Ukraine, have in New Year. On Christmas eve we have only a family dinner. On the table it has to be 12 different dishes and always Kutia - traditional dish made often with grain, poppy and dried fruits ( I am not a fan of it). Such celebration makes more sense for me. I am really wondering how Christmas tree and gifts are related to the Birth of Christ? I could assume how they are related to New Year but to he Birth of Christ? No, I cannot..Any ideas?