National traditions and feasts

arianne_nl

Moderator

Posts: 504

Location: The Netherlands

Occupation: Student/Mailwoman

Monday, July 26th 2010, 12:16pm

National traditions and feasts

I was wondering what kind of national traditions or feasts you have in your country? Do they commemorate a certain historic event, or is it just something of the past of which the original is almost forgotten and just the tradition or feast is left?

Here in the Netherlands we have certain traditions which return every year. We have our national memorial day of war victims (especially victims of the second world war) which is called 'Dodenherdenking' in Dutch. It takes places on the 4th of May. There is a national ceremony at the central square in Amsterdam (pics of teh last time are on my flickr page: Dodenherdenking) Besides that there are smaller memorials in smaller cities throughout the country.
This event is followed by the 5th of May: liberation day (Bevrijdingsdag). Which is a free day once every 5 years. That day remembers the day in which the Netherlands were liberated from the German occupation in 1945.

On the 5th of December all Dutch people get presents from Sinterklaas. This figure is like Santa Claus at Christmas as some countries know. They are both based on the same Saint Nicholas. Sinterklaas has black helpers, called 'zwarte Piet' (Black Pete

). They 'climb' through chimneys to bring presents, which gives them their black colour. But some parties seem to think it has something to do with the Dutch past in slavery. There are huge discussions about that every year.
The Zwarte Pieten give candy to kids too, called 'pepernoten'. It's a tradition which is very big here in the country. Although the Americanisation (sorry to say.. ) of Christmas and the arrival of Santa Claus is giving Sinterklaas a hard time.

Do you have things like this in your country? What do they mean and where do they come from?

Sinterklaas and two of his helpers:

Member of the workgroup Europe in The Hague.. woohoo!

Flickr *update! New pics available! THE HAGUE*

Silvio

Administrator

Posts: 506

Location: Grisons

Occupation: Student

Thursday, July 29th 2010, 6:52pm

Our national holiday is on the 1st August - so just 3 days to go!

It's about the fondation of the 'Swiss Confederation' and about the 3 cantons which were part of it. It's an important day for our conservative parties... it is always accompanied by fireworks, speaks and last but not least with a big fire. Well, pretty patriotic day, in fact.

Quoted

[1st August] National Day, commemorates Switzerland becoming a single unit in 1291. (wikipedia)

I might post some pictures... that might be interesting for you.

arianne_nl

Moderator

Posts: 504

Location: The Netherlands

Occupation: Student/Mailwoman

Friday, July 30th 2010, 9:49am

@Silvio: that would be a nice idea

Member of the workgroup Europe in The Hague.. woohoo!

Flickr *update! New pics available! THE HAGUE*

wit

Intermediate

Posts: 153

Location: shanghai,China

Occupation: full-time student

Friday, July 30th 2010, 2:57pm

Dragon boat festival

In the May 5th (the lunar calender), we always celebrate the "Dragon boat festival", a traditional festival of our Han people in china. it originates from chiese legend, which q poet named "quyuan" jumped into the river and drowned himself for patriotism on that day. ppl wanna commemorate him through some activities,such as eating rice dumplings, dragon boat race and wearing dragon purse,etc. it's our national day when we have three days off and celebrate it.
here i will attach some pictures abt the activities on the " dragon boat festival".

wit has attached the following images:

Not ignorance, but the ignorance of ignorance is the the death of knowledge.

TamaraNite

Trainee

Posts: 36

Location: United States

Occupation: Teach and write

Sunday, August 22nd 2010, 5:59pm

The Fourth of July

Our national holiday is the Fourth of July. On July 4, 1776, the members of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, declaring our independence from England. It began with the words: " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The Fourth of July is a celebration of Freedom, the thing that Americans hold most sacred.

We celebrate this day with flag-waving, fire crackers, barbecues, and picnics. We usually go to the lake for boating and swiming with family and friends. We eat grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued ribs, apple pie, and cakes decorated with blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream. We fly the flag of our country and dress in red, white, and blue. We also decorate in those colors. In the early evening, before dark, the local symphony orchestras play patriotic songs, the local famous people give dramatic readings about the founding of our country, and the people bring blankets and lawn chairs and sit around on the grass to listen. When it gets dark, the fireworks begin. Each community has its own organized fireworks display,

When I watch the fireworks in the night sky, I think of the line from "The Star Spangled Banner," our National Anthem, written by Frances Scott Key: "And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there." It is a day of celebration and of thanksgiving. It is a day of remembering those who sacrificed their own lives so that we could be free. It is a day of honoring those who keep the flag of freedom flying. And it is a day of being very proud to be an American.

Love's greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred. --Barbara De Angelis