Cultures and traditions

1 Our world has become more diversified due to increased immigration and globalization. Different countries have their own territories, state systems with their governments, laws and regulations that affect people’s life. And they all try to preserve their cultures, languages, customs, traditions, food, clothes and celebrations.

2 In most of Europe you are allowed to marry at 18 (16 with parents’ permission). In Scotland young people can marry at 16 without parents’ permission. In China men can’t marry before the age of 22 and women before 20.

3 In the UK it is illegal to buy alcohol until you are 18 (although you’re allowed to drink alcohol at home from the age of 5). In most US states and in the UK smoking is banned inside bars and nightclubs and you’re not allowed to drink alcohol outside them.

4 According to the UK law you are not allowed to drive until you are 17, while in most of Europe it is 18. In the USA you can drive much younger, in some states from the age of just 14.

5 Unlike in Germany British and American restaurants bring everyone’s food to the table at the same time. So wait until everyone has been served before you start eating. Americans eat with their fingers more often than the British or Irish do. You can use fingers to eat fried chicken, French fries, pizza, etc. Use fingers for olive pits (косточки) and a fork for chicken bones. With fish bones fingers are allowed.

6 On the wedding day in the UK, North America and Australia brides wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue for good luck. In Turkey the female friends of the bride write their names inside her shoes. After the wedding ceremony the bride looks inside her shoes. If she can no longer read one of her friends’ names it means that friend is going to get married next.

7 In China New Year lasts 15 days. The Chinese people decorate their houses and paint the doors red – a lucky color for them. They cook special food and at midnight have fireworks. The next day they watch a fantastic parade. In Taiwan children love New Year because they get red envelopes with money inside from their parents. In Ecuador people say good-bye to the old year by burning life-size dummies dressed in old clothes on big fires. Young people dress up as witches and skeletons and ask for money for New Year celebrations.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-18