Mariana Haydee Morteo Rocha 03056274 English III

Teacher: Lorena Margarita González Caldera Activity 7

Activity 7 Superstitions

1. Listen to the Ted-Ed talk "Where do superstitions come from?- Stuart

Vyse"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quOdF1CAPXs

2. Read the following statements about the video and write T if the statement is true or F if it is
false..

__T__ Superstitions are based on science.

__F__ Many superstitions are based on religion.

__T__ Knocking on wood comes from the belief that touching a tree would bring the blessing from
the spirit that lives within.

__F__ All superstitions are religious.

__T__ For many people superstitions are based on culture rather than on unconscious beliefs.

3. Research about ancient cultures that you find interesting and analyze their customs or
superstitions. You may search online from reliable sources using the keywords: culture,
superstitions, traditions.

The mayans

The Mayan culture was a Mesoamerican civilization that developed mainly in Mexico, Guatemala,
Belize and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador, it was established in the year 1800 BC. c.
They have a very prominent culture for their elaborate writing, numerical and calendar systems, as
well as for their impressive art and architecture.
 The Aztecs

The Aztecs, also called Aztecs, were a Nahua people from northern Mexico who settled on the
islands of Lake Texcoco, in the Valley of Mexico, around 1325. ... In 1426 a war between Mexica
and Tepanec began that ended in 1430 with the total triumph of the Aztecs. The place where they
lived was the Mexican valley, which was mostly dry. The Aztecs roamed there for a long time when
they finally settled in their capital, Tenochtitlán. Mexico's climate varies, but around the location
of the Aztec civilization the climate is swampy or dry.

4. Choose one of the ancient cultures you read about and do the following:

Standard students: write an informative paragraph (100-150 long).

The Olmec culture was the first in Mesoamerica that founded the urban centers and societies. The
Olmecs began with cultural and religious practices that would later be integrated into the
Mesoamerican groups that preceded them. Find out here a brief review of their contributions and
where you can enjoy their remains. The Olmec writing is considered the oldest in America. They
were then the oldest epigraphs on the continent, and they too created the first glyphs and
calendars. The men wore mud flaps and capes, clay basin necklaces, shells and greenstone,
earmuffs, anklets, and bracelets, and the women a skirt fitted by a belt. They wore a kind of
helmet, turban, elaborate headdresses and masks. The turbans and headdresses are majestic and
were used in ceremonies, festivities and even sacrifices. The pottery was relatively poor, very
simple. They knew some musical instruments. They also played ball game, but there are no courts,
therefore it is thought that they played it outdoors. They had many animals considered gods, such
as the alligator, toads, reptiles, all animals in the area. It is believed that it could be a dynastic
religion, because its gods were related to rulers.