New Year: shared traditions

by | 22/06/2023 | China, France, Japan, South Korea

Once Christmas is over, we find ourselves looking forward to another of our favourite holidays: New Year! The family and friends gathering, the great dinner, the countdown before midnight, the fireworks display, and the emotional celebration are some of the traditional elements that we surely think of when we refer to this date.

However, we are not limited to just these traditions. There are some others that are also performed around the world. Interestingly, we give these traditions different meanings although we perform the same. Hence, we want to share with you some of them and what is their purpose in other countries.

  1. To clean up the house

Doing a thorough cleaning of the house and removing everything that is no longer needed is a common tradition in Mexico and other Latin American countries. By doing this, the following year will bring abundance and prosperity, although it may seem like a difficult task.

People in Japan take this tradition further than cleaning the house. They clean workplaces, temples and schools. They designate a specific day to do this cleaning with great commitment, starting early in the morning. This tradition is a way to start the year off right, leaving in the past the unnecessary loads. It is called Oosouji, which is translated as “great cleaning”.

  1. To eat lentils

Although it is performed in Mexico, this tradition is from Italy. It is very common for Italian people to have lentils as part of the menu on the December 31st dinner. Lentils symbolize wealth, due to their similarity to ancient coins. Some people even place them in wallets and bags where there is usually money.

  1. To eat 12 grapes

This originally Spanish tradition has reached the entire world, including countries such as France, England, the United States, Italy, and Latin American countries like Mexico, of course. According to the vox populi, each grape represents a month of the coming year, and eating them symbolises good luck; Thus, in order to achieve good luck throughout the year, each grape must be eaten one by one along the bells tolling 12 times.

  1. Bell Tolling

Speaking of bells, we may consider this one as a quite popular tradition. Generally, when midnight arrives, bells are tolled 12 times representing the 12 months of the year. This practice was born in Spain and is currently done in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and many other countries.

In Japan, instead of this, Buddhist temples toll their bells 108 times, to get rid of 108 “defects” that bring trouble to people. They call this tradition Jyoya no kane (除夜の鐘), which is translated as “New Year’s Eve bell”.

  1. To watch the first sunrise of the year

This is an important tradition in which we welcome the New Year and all that it’s bringing. Due to this fact, we aren’t the only ones who do it. In South Korea and Japan, for example, they even travel for hours to witness the first sunrise from the beach or from a mountain. It is very common to make wishes when you see the first sunshine.

  1. To visit friends and family

The first day of the year is a special day. We usually go to visit our relatives to deliver our best wishes to them in the new current year. Something curious about this tradition is that in England the first person who visits you settles how the year will go for you. If the first person who enters your house is a dark-haired man, it will suit you well, but if it is a blonde or redhead woman, it will bring you bad luck; This belief is associated with the history of Vikings invading England to loot.

Have you ever participated in any of these traditions? Do you know any other? Let us know in the comments!

HANXUE SCHOOL WISHES YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 

British punctuality

by | 22/06/2023 | England

For a long time, we have heard the rumour that the British are “excessively” punctual when it comes to making plans. If you agree with the word in inverted commas, it is probably due to the culture clash between the UK and the rest of Latin America. For their part, the British might consider that in Mexico we have a habit of being “excessively” flexible with our schedules, or at least that would be the polite way of referring to our punctuality.

Before anything else, let’s emphasise the term punctuality. The meaning of punctuality is to have the “quality of being punctual”. In turn, to be punctual means to perform actions in time and form as established by a person or people, or even an institution or organisation. This concept varies according to each culture in the world and by “vary” we refer to the difference between British culture and Mexican culture.

For example, take punctuality when arriving at a celebration. In Mexico, when we are invited to a party or meeting, culture dictates that we should arrive an hour after the scheduled time. If we arrive at the agreed time, we will realise that the party has not started. There are even cases where the hosts have not even started to prepare for their guests. On the other hand, in the UK, guests are expected to arrive specifically at the appointed time, except for the 15-minute tolerance that some claim to be fashionably late.

Do not be misled into thinking that such punctuality is inhuman. The British trick is to arrive a little earlier than agreed and wait. The above also applies when attending different types of events. For doctor’s appointments, job interviews and so on it is advisable to arrive 5 minutes early. For concerts, matches, and other artistic and sporting events, it is advisable to arrive 30 minutes early. The reason for this is to give people a few minutes to prepare themselves. In the first case, a book can be read while being called to the consulting room or office. In the second case, one can buy food and drinks and get ready to go in. Whether it is a case of arriving at the host’s home, it is important to wait a little while at the entrance until it is time to ring the doorbell.

However, all this is possible because not only are we the ones who arrive on time but also because events and meetings are scheduled to start at the established time. Likewise, in Mexico, a concert or game often starts up to an hour later than advertised. In other words, our culture shapes us and we shape our culture. It is just as important not to arrive late as it is not to arrive too early, as it can be considered rude. Waiting a few minutes at the entrance is as cordial to the hosts as it is to call to say you are late and apologise when you arrive.

No doubt this whole concept of “British punctuality” is totally different from what we know in our country. For this reason, it is essential to be well-informed about the customs of the country or continent we are visiting. It is not advisable to arrive an hour late for a meeting and make the joke about being “late as is common in our culture”.

 

Western Christmas

by | 22/06/2023 | Brazil, England, France, United States

When we think of Christmas, we inevitably picture in our minds all those lights and decorations that embellish our houses and cities, as well as we imagine the scent of the delicious December 24th dinner or December 25th lunch. We will also think of the spark of joy of the little ones when they open their gifts, and the warmth we experience when we spend a holiday with our family and our loved ones. 

This celebration of Christian origin is not an exclusive tradition of our country, but it has spread throughout the world enough to be adopted by many other countries; Naturally, given that it represents one of everyone’s favourite moments of the year. But seriously, Christmas is different for every country; Many elements are shared between countries, but there are also different traditions and even different meanings for Christmas. We want to share with you what we know: we will show below how Christmas is celebrated in some countries: 

  

England 

Streets and houses are decorated with many colourful lights and Christmas trees since the beginning of December. Although, the celebration does not happen on December 24th; The planning for the celebration to occur on the following day is made instead. Children hang socks in the living room or somewhere in the house for Santa Claus to fill them up with gifts. Christmas is then celebrated on the 25th, when the family exchanges gifts and, after they open them, everyone enjoy a meal. 

On December 26th, Boxing Day is celebrated, or also known as the second day of Christmas. It is considered a national holiday where people traditionally give boxes with donations to others in need; The word “boxing” refers to “box”. 

  

France 

In France, Christmas takes place on the night of December 24th. As in many other countries, it is very common to find Christmas decorations such as colourful lights, pine trees, and many other flashy ornaments. Although France is considered a secular country, many people assist to the Midnight Mass or Messe de Minuit, which is celebrated in the afternoon. 

The family dinner is perhaps the most important part of the whole tradition. Typical French dishes are generally served on the table, such as foie-gras or escargots (snails). The main course may be either stuffed turkey or capon. Traditional dessert Bûche de Noël (or Christmas log), which is a kind of cake rolled up and covered in chocolate, is likely never missing on this celebration. 

At the end of dinner, children leave their slipper under the tree before going to sleep, and the next day they find it full of sweets. In France, it is Santa Claus, or Père Noël, who is in charge of leaving sweets and some gifts for children who have behaved well throughout the year. 

  

Italy 

Italian people share the following saying: Natale con i tuoi, Pascua con chi vuoi, which can be translated as “Christmas with your loved ones, Easter with whoever you want”; This saying gives us a good idea of how it is celebrated in Italy. The typical Christmas decorations begin to be placed on December 8th, which include coloured lights, Christmas trees (which usually is a natural pine) and the nativity scene, also known as a “crib” or “manger”; the latter consists of a tiny representation of Jesus’ birth, according to the Christianity. 

On the night of December 24th, la cenone (or great dinner) is held. Traditionally, the whole family meets to have dinner and spend time together. The most common main course is fish with vegetables, although, it varies depending on the region. The most important thing of Christmas is that there is plenty of food on the table and that the whole family is together. Italian people usually eat panettone for dessert, which is a type of sweet bread with chocolate or candied fruit. 

On Christmas night, Babbo Natale, who is the Italian version of Santa Claus, is the one who brings gifts to children if they are asleep. Also, there is a tradition similar to the Three Kings of January 6th, called Befana. It is told that a woman gives sweets and gifts to children who have behaved well, but if they have behaved badly, she only gives them a piece of coal. 

  

Portugal 

We are very likely to find the houses of Portugal decorated as in Italy and other countries. The Christmas pine is never missing nor adorned with hanging spheres and colourful lights. Next to the pine, there is always a place for the manger. It is also common to see manger scenes of different sizes in churches and even on the streets. 

The Christmas dinner of December 24th is called Consoada in Portugal. The traditional dish is boiled octopus or cod, although stuffed turkey has also gained popularity in recent years. A dessert that is never missing in Christmas dinner is the Bolo Rei, which is quite similar to the well-known Mexican Rosca de Reyes. 

After dinner, families usually go to the Missa do Galo, or Midnight Mass celebrated exactly at midnight. Returning home after mass, the image of baby Jesus is placed in the manger. Gifts are also exchanged, either at that time or along December 25th. 

  

  

Brazil 

Christmas in Brazil is a bit different. While most countries celebrate Christmas in winter (just like us), in Brazil it’s midsummer. It is very common to see many people celebrating on the beach during the Christmas season. There are also lots of Christmas trees (mostly artificial pines) and decorations that symbolise Christmas, as well as the nativity scene, called presepio/manjedoura in Portuguese. 

By tradition, the family gathers for dinner on the night of December 24th, and not only the close family, but the whole one instead, including uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc.; It’s a big family dinner. In the past, Brazilians used to wait until midnight for Christmas dinner, but today many have chosen to eat earlier. Among the main courses, we may find roast turkey and pork leg, and for dessert, they often have Italian panettone, or pavê, which is some kind of Brazilian tiramisu. 

After dinner, people usually exchange gifts and hugs. In the early morning of December 25th, it is said that Santa Claus goes to relax on the Brazilian beaches and that he shows appreciation by leaving gifts for the children. Brazilians typically represent him with his usual red suit, but using shorts instead of pants, and relaxing under the sun, in the middle of the waves. 

What do you think about Christmas? How do you celebrate it? Let us know in the comments! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

La Toussaint, a French celebration

La Toussaint, a French celebration

by | 28/10/2022 | France, France

By: Francisco Landa

Once again, we are on the eve of a celebration that makes us experience a whole series of sensations and emotions, both in the family and personal spheres as well as in the social one. The celebrations and commemorations which are full of history and that represent at the same time one of the most colourful, striking and famous traditions in the world. That is correct, I am talking about the Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day. 

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is the result of a superb mix between Catholicism and pre-Hispanic cultures. It is a tradition that, due to its nuances and originality, has caught the attention of the entire world. It’s a fact that nobody celebrates death as distinctively as we Mexicans do. 

Then again, we may say that the only celebrations that take place at the end of October and at the beginning of November are “Halloween” and the former parties previously mentioned. However, it is not the case of French-speaking countries, especially France. 

In France, La Toussaint is celebrated on November 1st. It is the equivalent to Mexico’s All Saints’ Day (for instance, November 2nd). Now the question is: “How is it celebrated and what do we expect to do about it?” Despite the multiple answers that we can find, if you ask any French, they will mention that it is a sad day. The reason is that it happens in the middle of autumn, it is cold and of course, the perspective of French people towards death is conservative as well as a big taboo. Because of this, Mexican traditions can be quite disturbing for them by not delving into the true meaning of the symbols. As it is a holiday, most shops or offices are closed (although it is getting common for big shopping centres or supermarkets to open their doors). 

During the “Toussaint”, people remember their dead. They visit the cemeteries and tombs of their deceased to clean them and decorate them with “chrysantèmes” (chrysanthemums). Thinking of those who have already left is a very intimate act and, for most of them, it is a source of nostalgia, pain and sadness. 

French etiquette tip: 

You must never give chrysanthemums to someone; It is very frowned upon. This flower is traditionally associated with death. It can be a big “faux-pas” (false step, or what is the same, it would be “messed up”), instead of a kind gift. 

Toussaint’s holidays: 

This season brings with it the “Vacances de la Toussaint” or All Saints’ Day holidays. Students went back to school in September, and they have the first two weeks of vacation of the school year right at this time. 

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead

by | 21/10/2022 | Mexico

The Day of the Dead is one of the most awaited and beautiful festivities that we celebrate as Mexicans on November 1st and 2nd. On this date, absence is not celebrated but the living presence of those who have departed and the return of their souls to our homes, represented in the altars. 

The origin of this tradition dates back to prehispanic cultures. In ancient times, rituals were part of the civilization and they were present in every aspect of life. It was important for Mexicas to make a party when someone died to guide their soul to the Mictlan, the place to rest for souls of dead people, serving food in case they were hungry along the way. On the Day of the Dead, souls can return to earth to enjoy the dishes that their relatives made for them.  

With the arrival of the Spaniards and the catholic religion, the celebration of the Day of the Dead of the different cultures such as Mexicas, Mixtecas, Zapotecas, Totonacas among others, was moved to All Saints’ Day in the Catholic calendar and All Souls’ Day, on November 1st and 2nd respectively. These dates coincided with the end of the agricultural cycle of corn, being this the main crop of the country and adding one more reason to celebrate. 

It is a fundamental part to place altars in homes and in public spaces. The most elaborated ones usually have 7 floors or steps but is very common in small houses and spaces to find altars with one floor like a table. These are decorated with tablecloths, colourful papel picado and the well-known cempasuchil flower, representative of this season. On the altars are also placed photos of the people who have passed away, candles and dishes such as mole, tamales, pan de muerto, fruit, hot chocolate, sugar skulls and some of the dishes that the departed loved the most. 

In the past, a path made of cempasuchil flowers was made from the cemetery to the houses so the deceased could follow it. Nowadays, the path is made from the entrance of the houses to the altar or simply around it. As a result of the catholic influence, a cross is traced on the floor or on the altar with petals of cempasuchil flower. 

The Day of the Dead is considered a national holiday, so work and activities are suspended on this day and families generally gather to clean the graves of their deceased at the cemetery, socialize and eat together. It is also part of the tradition to dress up as a catrin or catrina. This consists of making up as if you were a skull and wearing traditional Mexican clothing, or elegant and ostentatious costumes. It is very common at this time of the year to see exhibitions and contests of altars and catrinas in schools and parks. 

Such is the impact of this festivity not only in Mexico but worldwide, that in 2008 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared this festivity an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as it is a celebration that unites the past and tradition of indigenous peoples with modern society, reinforcing cultural capital and national identity. 

Finally, it is a celebration of remembrance that, although it is celebrated in different ways depending on the region and state, we will find all over the country, and of which we all feel very proud. 

Halloween

Halloween

by | 14/10/2022 | United States

By: Daniel Morales

Halloween is a famous date celebrated on October 31 in which houses are decorated with pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, and other gloomy decorations. Its name comes from the phrase All Hallows’s Eve, which also means All Saints’ Day. This celebration starts the season known as Allhallowtide, or Time of All Saints, which includes November 1st and 2nd. This festivity is held mostly in English-speaking countries, throughout Europe and North America, but also in Spanish-speaking countries where the influence of foreign culture is strong. 

Its origin is mainly associated with the Celtic festival of Samhain. It was believed that the souls of those who died returned to their homes during this festival. It was also believed that the souls of people who died during the year made their way to the afterlife during this celebration. People used to place bonfires on top hills to relight the fire in their homes and scare off evil spirits. Many others wore masks to avoid being recognized by the ghosts they believed were haunting them on Halloween Eve. These customs caused Halloween to be associated with folkloric creatures such as ghosts, goblins, demons, fairies, and witches. 

In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day on May 13. Subsequently, and possibly aiming to eradicate pagan festivities, this celebration was moved to November 1st. By the end of the Middle Age, during the reformation, many religious celebrations were merged with secular dates; Thus, Halloween became a non-religious celebration. When the first American settlers arrived on the continent, they forbid Halloween. However, in the 19th century, they developed festivals dedicated to the harvests, adding several elements of Halloween to them. Later, with the arrival of Irish immigrants, their customs became part of the tradition, and in the 20th century, Halloween had become one of the most symbolic holidays in the United States. 

Nowadays, Halloween is mainly related to multiple traditions, such as harmless pranks, dressing up, and going out trick-or-treating. The most significant activity is the one where children dress up as folklore creatures and go out asking for candies using the phrase Trick-or-treat, which was originated by the British tradition of allowing the poor to ask for soul cakes. In case they are not given any candy, they usually make innocent pranks, and some others not that innocent. Theme costume parties are also held on this date. The participants not only dress up as children, but they also perform games such as bobbing apples out of a container of water using only their mouths, this game is believed to be originated in the Roman celebration of Pomona. 

Additionally to folkloric monsters, another characteristic of Halloween are the decorations and costumes based on monsters of modern cinema, such as vampires, mummies, werewolves, and the iconic Frankenstein monster. Also, black cats and carved pumpkins known as Jack-o’-Lantern, which literally means Jack’s Lantern. Jack-o’-Lanterns are created by removing the insides of a pumpkin, carving a face into one of its sides, and placing a candle inside. The popularity of this ornament and its process reached such a point that it became the main symbol of Halloween.