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Taste Asia,Taste Africa

Taste Asia, Taste Africa Asia Asia is as diverse as the people in it, and despite the infusion of other cultures, the Asian traditions and customs are very prominent especially during holidays, festivities and other celebrations. Here are some Asian traditions that you can experience when you take a trip to Asia.Feng Shui originated and is largely practiced in China while there are a lot of countries adapting this practice too. Feng Shui identifies good and bad fortune and can make recommendations for your home on how to make positive energy flow into it. Japan has a great expression for the arts where they are able to perfect the art of flower arrangement and of paper folding, known as Ikebana and Origami respectively. These works of art and the skills required for them are being passed on for generations. Sumo wrestling is both an art and sport that wrestlers have dedicated their life to their passion. Despite the size of the people competing in this sport, it is the heritage and respect for the sport that makes it appealing to the world and spectators of the sport.

Literature and agriculture are also some of the contributions of Asia to the world. Written works and different rice culture are constantly being developed. With rice being the main staple, Asian countries share the best practices while still keeping their distinctive produce and crops.

There definitely is no shortage of festivities when you're in Asia, and they seem to never run out as there are festivities all throughout the year. Christmas is as colorful and as joyous as it can be with carolers, gift-giving, and in the Philippines, people of the Catholic faith attend mass every 4'o clock in the morning for nine consecutive days leading to Christmas. Called 'Simbang Gabi", this tradition is believed to grant the person's wishes if he or she is able to complete the nine masses. There are the colorful lantern festivals, food festivals, and festive New Year celebrations, whether it is the Roman New Year or Chinese New Year. Personal celebrations are symbolic too, with birthday customs and traditions and weddings complete withAsian wedding favorssuch as oriental fans or beaded necklaces or bracelets.Africa Africa has a rich tradition ofartsand crafts. African arts and crafts find expression in a variety of woodcarvings,brassandleatherart works. African arts and crafts also includesculpture,paintings,pottery,ceremonial andreligious headgearanddress.Manlana Karengastates that in African art, the object was not as important as the soul force behind the creation of the object. He also states that All art must be revolutionary and in being revolutionary it must be collective, committing, and functional, this is echoed byShahadawho states "in Africa all art is socially functional.

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African culture has always placed emphasis on personal appearance andjewelryhas remained an important personalaccessory. Many pieces of such jewelry are made ofcowryshells and similar materials. Similarly, masksare made with elaborate designs and are important part of African culture. Masks are used in various ceremonies depicting ancestors and spirits, mythological characters and deities.

In most of traditional art and craft of Africa, certain themes significant to African culture recur, including a couple, a woman with a child, a male with a weapon or animal, and an outsider or a stranger. Couples may represent ancestors, community founder, married couple or twins. The couple theme rarely exhibit intimacy of men and women. The mother with the child or children reveals intense desire of the African women to have children. The theme is also representative of mother mars and the people as her children. The man with the weapon or animal theme symbolizes honor and power. A stranger may be from some other tribe or someone from a different country, and more distorted portrayal of the stranger indicates proportionately greater gap from the stranger.

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