JAMAICA

First of all, I must say that the Jamaican culture is very rich in all possible aspects, its language we
can say is officially English, but traditionally the people perform a mixture of different languages in
their dialect, Spanish, African dialects even Irish, British and American products of slavery thanks
to the mixture between slaves and their owners. Jamaican food is now very famous in the world,
since it has become famous for its flavor thanks to the native species used in it, the most famous
dish is jerk chicken which is prepared by leaving the chicken to burn and Combine it with some
spices, its fame is international, some other dishes are goat's head soup and cow's foot stew.

Their clothing is very colorful and usually attracts attention for being traditionally colorful, usually
they are made by hand and with calico fabric, they are also usually printed and are completed with
a scarf and a hat to cover the wearers' dreadlocks, usually Dress in very flashy fabrics, extravagant
colors are commonly used in Jamaica.

Jamaicans tend to be very believers and it is very common for them to meet with their families on
Sundays in church, there are many churches in Jamaica, it is the country with the most churches
per square mile in the world, the religion is mainly Christian, but there are many variants on this
island, Catholics, Adventists, Presbyterian Methodists, but also religious diversity such as Jews,
Muslims, Hindus, among others.

The most common traditional celebrations are: independence, carnival, Junkoono, the nine nights;
(Very common since they believe that if they are not celebrated the spirit of the dead returns and
persecutes the family). Christmas, Easter, St. Stephen's Day, New Years and Chinese New Years are
other festivals celebrated by Jamaicans. Finally, some common practices are: burying the umbilical
cord under some trees for the connection of the individual with his country, meetings for 8 days in
the house of the deceased to celebrate the life of the deceased. Marriages are celebrated in style
and the guests do wonders to get the couple into the beginning of their wonderful life together.
The dances or dances in Jamaica are spectacular, those who practice it usually enjoy that show a
lot.

EGYPT
It is one of the most recognized countries in Africa, popularly known for pyramids-built thousands
of years ago, but now many of its traditions and customs today have been renewed and these are
some of those that we can mention for today.

Religious customs and traditions in Egypt

Al Mawlid al-Nabawi ’or Muhammad's Birth Anniversary

The believers of Islam usually have the celebration of the birth of their prophet and founder
Muhammad, doing parades, dances, choreography, music and other cultural representations, in
this festival they usually tell stories of God, the Koran and other feats of their ancestors.

Festivals; Egyptians often organize festivals for their fun, they are famous for the festival of "El
Moulid de Abu El Haggag", which is 5 days of dance, food and sports, takes place in the city of
Luxor, includes races, parades, folklore activities , etc. And there is that of "Wafaa Al Nil" which is a
tribute to the Nile River and is said to be the oldest in the world, it is celebrated in August and
September and rites and fasts are held. It is considered a religious festival in honor of Mother
Nature.

Daily customs of modern Egyptians

Birthday celebration

Birthdays are special days for Egyptians, for this reason, they organize large parties to share with
family and friends. All those present should bring oversized gifts for the birthday boy.

Business is trustworthy

To do business first, a bond of trust is made with whoever is thinking of doing the business,
Egyptians as well as Latinos think that in order to do business with someone it is necessary to
know them well and trust that person.

Bring a present on the first visit

The first time you visit someone in Egypt you should bring a present out of respect and courtesy,
bouquets of flowers, chocolates, cakes, among others, are some of the presents that are usually
taken on the first visits in Egypt.

Ancestral traditions of the Egyptians that persist to this day

Christmas and New Years

They usually have their family dinners on December 24 and 31, but the most important day is
January 7. It is this day where all the parishioners must go to their churches with offerings, fasting
and with new clothes to receive the new year.

Women are reserved

Despite the fact that many things have changed in their culture, women are still reserved as in
ancient times. They do not have the opportunity to drive, go alone on the streets or work
wherever they want.

However, they can do so if they wear the corresponding clothing and if they are previously
attentive to their children and husband. Above all, they cannot neglect their home, in fact, once
married, their professions take a back seat.

Arranged marriages

In elite metropolitan areas and rural towns, it is common for parents to arrange the marriage of
their children, as is the case in China, for example. This is a practice that has been decreasing, but
that still a high index of Egyptian society continues to do.

TAJIKISTAN
Traditions of Tajikistan. Beliefs, Holidays, Customs, Clothing and Food
Persian Tajik people have been in the area now known as Tajikistan for over 3,000 years, they
speak an ancient language very similar to that of Iran and Afghanistan. The natural landscape,
agriculture, and Islamic lunar calendars have done much to shape the Traditions of Tajikistan, with
foods, customs, and festivals reflecting both religion and the particular requirements for survival in
each region's climate.

Religion

Sunni Islam is by far the most widely practiced religion in Tajikistan. According to a 2009 US State
Department statement, Tajikistan's population is 98% Muslim (approximately 95% Sunni and 3%
Shiite). The Sunni branch of Islam has a 1,200-year tradition among the sedentary population of
Central Asia, including Tajiks with some Sufi orders.

The next largest religious community is presumably Russian Orthodox, the historical faith of many
Ukrainians and Russians. A cathedral in Dushanbe, Saint Nicholas, serves the Orthodox
community. At the end of the Soviet era, Tajikistan was also home to a small number of people
belonging to other Christian denominations, including Roman Catholics (originally most of them
were of German origin, but also Tajiks), Seventh-day Adventists, and Baptists.

Holidays and celebrations of Tajikistan

Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation, so many of Tajikistan's national holidays and regional
festivals are related to events on the religious lunar calendar. Most Tajiks participate in the
celebrations at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

New Year's Day

New Year's Day (January 1) is a public holiday in Tajikistan, and one of the most important public
holidays of the year. It is celebrated in a similar way to Western Christmas, with decorated trees,
gifts, and family visits. Many cities will also host fireworks.

Navruz

Navrus is the Persian New Year celebration, which takes place over three days between March 20-
22 each year on the spring equinox. The event is a national holiday and a very important festival.
Celebrations are a community affair, with entire towns preparing special dishes, eaten only on this
occasion, participating in street parties, concerts, and parades, as well as visiting friends and
family.

Sayri Guli Lola

Sayru Guli Lola is a regional festival celebrated in northern Tajikistan in honor of the native tulips
that bloom during spring. This colorful two-day festival is organized by different cities and features
traditional choirs, music, and dancing. The first day sees the locals tying tulips around the trees,
where people gather to sing, dance, and make wishes.

Victory Day
Victory Day is a national holiday that takes place on May 9 of each year. The festival, which has
been observed in Tajikistan since 1946, commemorates the defeat of Germany in WWII by the
Soviet Union, and is generally characterized by fireworks and a military parade.

Eid al-Fitr

The Muslim event of Eid al-Fitr, also known locally as Idi Kurbon or Qurban Eid, is held according to
the Islamic lunar calendar, usually during September, to celebrate the end of the holy fasting
month of Ramadan. The festivities generally focus on community prayer, festivities, and family
visits. Fasting is forbidden for Muslims on this day.

Independence Day

Tajikistan celebrates its 1991 independence from the Soviet Union on September 9 of each year.
Each city celebrates in its own way, usually with a festival that includes street parades, concerts,
and fireworks. Independence Day is a national holiday observed.

Eid ul-Adha

This Muslim celebration occurs 70 days after Ramadan on the tenth day of the twelfth month of
the Islamic calendar. Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, the event commemorates Prophet
Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in submission to God's will.

The four-day celebration features special prayer services and a family feast of fattened sheep
(referring to the lamb that was slaughtered in the place of Abraham's son, also at God's
command).

Customs of Tajikistan

Despite the great changes in the life of the Tajik people, numerous customs and social ceremonies
that belong to the traditional culture of the people have still been preserved. Festive occasions in
Tajikistan, be it weddings, birth or homecoming, are celebrated together with great pleasure and
ardor. Apart from all the inhabitants of the kishlak (village) or mahallia in the cities, numerous
friends and relatives of the neighboring kishlaks and mahhalias join in the festivities; they come
alone, often without special invitation.

These customs and ceremonies show specific ethnogenetic characteristics of the Tajiks. For
example, the wedding ceremony is one of the episodes of rich life in the manifestation of such
customs and ceremonies.

Tajik weddings

The wedding ceremony, nikoh, is a tradition in itself, although it retains a religious character.
Weddings, which include a series of celebrations related to the son or daughter's marriage,
contain the entire system of national customs and ceremonies.

Hostgori, engagement (fotiha), preparing clothes for the bride (parchaburon), bridal show
(rubinon) are part of it. One of the highlights is the "sartaroshon" (groom's haircut). This ceremony
is accompanied by an interesting entertainment, dances, songs and the distribution of coins and
sweets to the groom. In Kulyab, in addition, the songs are of imminent color, not only the groom
but also the barber becomes the object of jokes and entertainment. This ceremony has been
preserved to this day.

Tajikistan Clothing

Female dress, the most common traditional garment is a straight dress, flared at the bottom, worn
over trousers. Long and long sleeves generally cover the hands, although in some mountainous
regions the sleeves are tight at the wrists. Another type of dress is straight cut, with a yoke and
inserted sleeves. Older women wear long dresses with a high neck, while younger women wear a
shorter, narrow version with a narrow neck.

Outerwear consists of several types of caftan, a lighter one that is often worn under a heavier
type; a long coat that adjusts the body at the waist, then flares into a full skirt, with sleeves
inserted at the wrists; and a version with a fitted bodice attached to a gathered skirt on both sides,
also with long sleeves that taper at the wrists.

The traditional headdress was a large kerchief. The one worn in the plains (Samarkand, Bukhara,
Ḵojand) is a large square or rectangle (plate cxxxiii, above), while in the mountains (Kolāb, Darvāz)
it looks more like a stole, with embroidered ends (plate cxxxiv , above) . For festive occasions, the
young and middle-aged women of Qarategin and Darvāz have recently worn the kerchief over a
cap.

The traditional dress of Tajik men is less diverse than that of women. Undergarments consist of
loose pants and a shirt that is worn over them; worn with a belt when worn without underwear.
The details of the neck opening and neck decoration vary regionally. For example, the neck
opening can be horizontal (along the shoulder), vertical, or draped. In the Pamirs, the shirt has a
high collar and is buttoned at the side, a type known in Central Asia since ancient times.

Tajikistan gastronomy

Traditions Of Tajikistan

Tajik food is influenced by food from Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, and other Central Asian countries.
The staples of the Tajik diet and the diets of most people in Central Asia are lamb, flatbread, crisp,
rice, and tea. According to Islamic beliefs, pork is not eaten. Alcohol is consumed less than in other
Muslim countries in Central Asia. Common seasonings are onions, vegetables, and sour milk
(katyk).

Typical Dishes

Many Tajik foods are also eaten in other countries in the region. One of these is the old shashlik
(shish-ka-bob without vegetables, barbecue) that can be found in any corner of central Asia.
Shashlik is simply pieces of meat (of any kind) placed on a long skewer and roasted over charcoal
or wood; however, the marinade is crucial to flavor and varies widely.

The Palav or osh, is a rice dish made with grated yellow turnip or carrot, and chunks of meat, all
fried in vegetable oil or lamb fat in a special qazan (a wok-shaped cauldron) over an open flame.
Qurutob, dried salty cheese balls) is dissolved in water and the liquid is poured onto strips of a
flaky flatbread, that is, fatir made with butter or tallow for flaking.
Sweets and desserts

Tajik sweets are influenced by Arabs, Persian and Turkish sweets. These include twigs, puffy sweet
cakes, halvah, crystalline sugar (nabat), nishallo (a creamy sugar dough, beaten egg whites, and
soap), and traditional sweets (pichak).

Beverages

Tea generally accompanies each meal and is often offered between meals as a gesture of
hospitality to guests and visitors. It is served hot in a porcelain pot with a lid, and it is drunk with
sugar from small cups without handles (piola). Due to the universal popularity of drinking tea, the
choykhona, or tea house, is the most common gathering place in Tajikistan, and is similar to the
Western-style coffee shop.