Esala Perahera is also known as the ‘Festival of the tooth’, and is the biggest festival in Sri Lanka. Do you know: While the festival has been organized since the 18th century, thereare experts who believe that the ritual dates back to the 4th century. EsalaPerahera is an annual festival where the main attraction is […]
Common Name : White Tiger Scientific name : Panthera tigris tigris Family : Felidae Native to : Indian sub-continent Interesting fact : It is an albino Royal Bengal tiger which exists only in captivity. Conservation status : Endangered They measure 6.8-11.0 feet, weigh 140-300 kg and have a 10-20 years life span. As the name
The Feria de Caballo is a horse fair that is held annually in the city of Jerez de la Frontera, in Southern Spain. Do you know: The origins of this fair could be traced back 5 centuries. What started as an ordinary place for meetings, over the time became much more; with wine producers joining
The Festa del Redentore is a special feast organized in Venice, Italy, annually. Do you know: The feast was started as a celebration for the end of the plague, in 1573. The Festa del Redentore is celebrated each year in the month of July. On the special day, people in thousands collect to watch the
Common name : Least weasel Scientific name : Mustela nivalis Family : Mustelidae Native to : Worldwide Interesting fact : Britain’s smallest carnivore Conservation status : Least Concern Weasels are small mammals with a reputation for cleverness, quickness and guile. There are many different species of weasels. They are small, active predators, long and slender
Detailed eating rituals and table manners are followed in the Japanese custom. Do you know: The Japanese rarely use spoons with their food. Since mostly chopsticks are used, many customs revolve around eating with them. The Japanese sit on a tatami floor with a low table for their meals. In a formal arrangement, it is
Palio Della Rana is an interesting event organized after Easter in Fermignano, Italy. Do you know: The main attraction of this event is a frog race. The Palio Della Rana is a unique event, where almost 300 people dress in medieval costumes and parade before the main event. The main event is a frog race,
Bone House is a custom whereby a building housing human bones is built. Many such houses exist across Europe. Do you know: The custom of human skeletons being arrangedin a special way inside a building started in 1278. Bone Houses were created essentially due to the paucity of space for burials. Hence, in the area
Common name : Common warthog Scientific name : Phacochoerus africanus. Family : Suidae Native to : Sub-Saharan Africa Interesting fact : The warthog is the only species of the pig that has adapted to grazing and savanna habitats. Conservation status : Least Concern It is a wild member of the pig family. The common name
They are a tribe of people who live over a vast area of land spread out in the Kalahari desert. Do you know:The San People are said to have the oldest culture, which is over a 1,00,000 years old, on the planet. The San People have interesting customs relating to death. They avoid burial places
While weddings are beautiful in Morocco, the excitement and festive atmosphere is created with the pre-wedding customs. Do you know: Traditionally, it used to be the groom’s family that chose the bride for him. The first pre-wedding custom involves sending gifts such as jewellery, clothes and perfumes to the bride. The second custom, the furnishing
The Kayapo are native to Brazil and live along the Amazon basin mostly. Do you know: The Kayapo believe that their ancestors learn their social skills from insects. The Kayapo custom does not allow them to differentiate between heavenly and earthly things. Families have private property. But other than that, everything is shared. The women
Common name : Freetambo Scientific name : Philantomba walteri Family : Bovidae Native to : Togo, Benin and Nigeria Interesting fact : Its name commemorates Professor Walter Verheyen, who was the first to obtain a specimen of this species of duiker from Togo. Conservation status : Not Evaluated It measures under 40 cm tall at
In Portugal, the locals believed that the baby’s gender could be decided by the kind of food eaten. Do you know: The locals of Portugal believe that the shape of a fruit or food could determine the baby’s gender. Pregnant women in Portugal are told that if they want to have baby-girls, they should eat
There is a quaint custom surrounding pregnancies in the Orkney Islands, in Northern Scotland. Do you know: The baby-boys were always baptized before baby-girls, because the locals believed; if a girl was baptized first, she would grow a beard. In the Orkney Islands, a pregnancy is usually kept a secret to keep the mother and