Quccija or ‘choosing’ is a unique tradition celebrated in the Republic of Malta on a child’s first birthday. Do you know: The locals believe that this custom helps predict a child’s future. For the child’s first birthday, various objects are laid out before him. The locals believe that the object the child touches would predict […]
Scientific name : Elaphodus cephalophus Family : Cervidae Native to : China and Myanmar Interesting fact : Its hide costs much and sells for a lot of money. Conservation status : Near Threatened It is called tufted deer because of a tuft of black hair on its forehead. The deer bears close resemblance to the
The Umhlanga is the traditional dance of Swaziland, which is performed by thousands of young women in August. Do you know: The dance is also known as the Reed Dance, as it performed when the reed has reached maturity. The Umhlanga attracts young women from far and wide, who travel all night on the first
‘Feet on the Ground’ is an Irish wedding custom. Do you know: As the guests leave the wedding ceremony, the bride and the groom throw chocolate coins to the guests. While green may be the traditional colour for the Irish, no one wears green to a wedding as it brings bad luck. Also, at their
Common name : Baluchi wild ass, Ghudkhur, Khur Scientific name : Equus Khur Family : Equidae Native to : Rann of Kutch, India Interesting fact : Their sub-species are found in Tibet. Conservation status : Endangered It usually has a sandy coat, which can sometimes vary from reddish-grey, fawn to pale chestnut, and a lighter
Wedding Towels play an important role in wedding customs in Belarus. Do you know: The colour and design of a wedding towel vary from region to region in Belarus. For her wedding, the bride was made to tie a towel around her hand and drag it on the ground, on her way to church. The
Mundan is a custom followed by the Hindus. It is a custom when the child receives his first haircut. Do you know: The Hindus believe that the baby’s birth hair has a connection with bad habits from his past life. Mundan is usually performed on a child between the age of 1 and 3 years.
Tol is a custom celebrated on a child’s first birthday in Korea. Do you know: In the past people would start the Tol day with a prayer to the mountain god–Sanshin and the birth goddess–Samshin. On the Tol day, the baby is dressed in colourful clothes known as ‘Tol-bok’, which are different for boys and
The Pushkar Camel Fair is organized annually in Pushkar, on the edge of the Thardesert in Rajasthan, India. Do you know: Approximately 3,00,000 people attend the fair. The Pushkar camel fair had started as a way to gather all local camel traders in the time of KartikPurnima festival. The fair has evolved with more than
There is an interesting wedding custom in the Marquesas Islands that comprise 14 islands in French Polynesia. Do you know: Local weddings in the Marquesas Islands end in a ‘human carpet’. After the wedding, there is a custom where the bride’s relatives all lie facing down on their bellies. They form a long row in
Not having a single knot on the bride and the groom is an Orthodox Judaism custom. Do you know: This custom is emphasized more for the groom than the bride at the wedding. In the Lubavitch Hassidic sect of Judaism, the groom must arrive at his wedding without a knot on his body. Before the
Placing a doll similar to the bride at the wedding is a popular wedding custom in Puerto Rico. Do you know: The bride in Puerto Rico carries a bouquet made of poppy flowers and a fan, which are meant to bring good luck. A doll made in the likeness of the bride is during weddings.
There are many symbolic customs that surround weddings in Finland. Do you know: According to Finnish customs, the bride and the groom are supposed to take a sauna before their wedding. In Finland, the future bride-to-be wears a golden crown on her head. An older married man accompanies her. Along with him, she goes from
Blindfolding the groom is a common custom in Estonian weddings. Do you know: Only the groom and men at the wedding carry out the blindfold tradition in Estonia. After the wedding, the groom in Estonia is blindfolded at his own reception and single men are made to stand around him. The groom is spun around
There are some strange amusing customs surrounding Russian weddings. Do you know: The guest who wishes to get married soon, secretly pulls the tablecloth at the couple’s reception. Russian celebrations last for two days, and on the second day, the Russians have a tradition where guests have to buy their forks, spoons and knives at