World Wide Customs

World Wide Customs: Brasil BRASIL: Carnival  (in Portuguese: Carnaval) is a Catholic event by origin, but is also rooted in European pagan traditions. Originally, Carnival was a  food festival , because it was the last time to eat abundantly before the 40 days of Lent, a period of frugality starting on Ash Wednesday. Legend says the word 'Carnaval' was derived from the Latin expression 'carne vale' which translates as 'farewell to the meat'. Gradually the tradition was created to go once a year onto the streets to have a  party together . Musical styles and other customs merged over time. Only in 1917 this culminated  in the invention of the  samba ,  very much a product of the                  mutual love for music of the former colonists and the former slaves.  In Rio de Janeiro, the first samba schools were established in the early 1920s; the first samba parade competitions were held in 1933. (1

World Wide Customs: Namibia NAMIBIA: (1) The actual traditional way of dressing in Namibia is the one of the girl in the middle in the photo (1): they didn't really dress much! They belonged to a group called " Himba " (2): precisely they're part of  a semi-nomadic, pastoral tribe. The tall and slender Himba women show off unique hairstyles (3) that are complicated and require hours of preparation. It involves braiding her hair and covering it in an unusual mixture of butter and ochre. (2) (3) To get protection from the sun, women use butter, ochre, and mud to prepare a paste " otjize " (4) that on being applied to the skin, gives them a reddish hue, symbolizing the significant unification of the earth’s red color and blood. (4) Women, on the other hand, wear skirt  like dresses (5) that are made from calf skin and remain bare-breasted  throughout their lives.

World Wild Customs : Beijing  Beijing  (1) Japan passionately holds onto its past. Japanese fashions that fell out of everyday wear in the 19th century are regularly revived for holidays, ceremonies, festivals and cultural activities. Clothing in Japan evolved along a unique and fascinating course. It was influenced by factors such as battle and the weather. It was also greatly influenced by the desing of Japanese homes.  Kimono  (2) Kimono was once worn on a daily basis by most Japanese people. In modern times, it's formal wear that's approprite for a wide range of occasions.  Hakama  (3) A garment that's worn over kimono  that's similar to wide pleated pants or a skirt depending on the style. Hakama are traditionally men's clothing. At one time, craftsmen, farmers, academics and samurai all wore different styles of hakama. In modern times, women wear hakama too. Hakama are either worn for martial