1. CHINA
Traditions
China, whose official name is the popular republic of China, its state has the largest population of
the whole world and as we can imagine the size of the population, we can be sure that it’s the most
diverse of all. It’s territory has a lot of traditions and customs that goes hand by hand with Asia
which in some point in the past they had contact with, as well as Butan, Birmania, Mongolia, Corea
and others.
Here are some of the primary ancient traditions:
Spring fests are: known throughout the world as New Year. This celebration starts on the first day of
the month of the moon calendar, which matches at the end of the month of January. Offerings are
made to the divines of heaven and earth and the effigies of their ancestors for 15 days. This is
celebrated in their house with all kinds of foods.
Lanterns festival: This celebration which is held between the months of February and March, it
became famous in China as they are acustumed on lighting lanterns in the streets to show respect
to Buda. They tend to eat the popular yuanxiao, which are small dumpling balls made of glutinous
rice.
The boat dragon festival: it’s in contribution of Qu Yuan, a famous poet and it’s celebrated on the
fifth of the fifth month of the moon calendar. (it would be the month of June in our calendar).
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Solstice winter festival: It’s like a Christmas celebration since it’s held on December 22 or 23 . the
main meal is ravioli soup.
The country of china, is a place where they are unique with their traditions, with lots of festivals and
celebrations, they offer a long agenda of international tourism activities throughout the year that
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everyone will enjoy. One of their celebrations is the Lantern festival, which is celebrated on the 15
of the first month on the moon calendar. Generally this festival is held on February or March of our
calendar and it’s one of the most important events.
The lantern festival was first held on the 3rd century before Christ. Buddhism first entered China
during the reign of Emperor Mingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty. That was also when the monks
started lighting lanterns to adore Buddha.
That’s why they used incineration of the body. One emperor found out about this and started to
show his respect to the Buddha by lighting lanterns in his palace and in his temple. Throughout
time, peoplestarteddoingthis in their home.
The lion dance is an important tradition for Chinese people around the globe and usually performed
as part of the Chinese New Year festivities and other important events such as the opening of a
new businesses and weddings. If well-performed, the lion dance is believed to bring good luck,
prosperity, and happiness. The lion is not a typical animal in China, in fact, the first ones were
brought to markets and they say that the first one was a gift to the emperor Shun (126-145 a.n.e.).

2. The lion dance dates back to the Han Dynasty (205 B.C. to 220 A.D.) in China and during the Tang
Dynasty (716-907 A.D.) when it was at its peak. Chinese lion dancing has two traditions: the
northern lion and the older southern lion.
However, one can tell it is lion dance since it only takes two people to animate the lion. One
handles the head, made out of strong but light materials like paper-mache and bamboo, the other
plays the body and the tail under a cloth that is attached to the head.
New year in China is also known as the spring festival, and it’s a very ancient celebration. This is
the perfect occasion to pay old debts, enjoy banquets, give red envelops to children and to also
remember our past love ones. Legend tells during the Han Dynasty. Legend spoke of the wild beast
Nien (which also is the word for "year") that appeared at the end of each year, attacking and killing
villagers. Loud noises and red bright lights were used to scare the beast away, and the Chinese
New Year celebrations were born.
That why the Chinese consider that the color red means happiness and prosperity, they light up
lanterns at midnight in new years. This is how they scare away bad spirits form previous year..
Today, the 15-day New Year festivities are celebrated with a week of vacation in metropolitan areas
of China. Much like the Western New Year (January 1st), the biggest celebration is on the eve of
the holiday. At the turn of the new year, firework displays are put on throughout the city.
New year in China is also known as the spring festival, and it’s a very ancient celebration. This is
the perfect occasion to pay old debts, enjoy banquets, give red envelops to children and to also
remember our past love ones. Legend tells during the Han Dynasty. Legend spoke of the wild beast
Nien (which also is the word for "year") that appeared at the end of each year, attacking and killing
villagers. Loud noises and red bright lights were used to scare the beast away, and the Chinese
New Year celebrations were born.
That why the Chinese consider that the color red means happiness and prosperity, they light up
lanterns at midnight in new years. This is how they scare away bad spirits form previous year..
Today, the 15-day New Year festivities are celebrated with a week of vacation in metropolitan areas
of China. Much like the Western New Year (January 1st), the biggest celebration is on the eve of
the holiday. At the turn of the new year, firework displays are put on throughout the city.
In this month it’s a tradition for the Chinese to plant orange or lemon trees, since it represents
fortune and blessings for 7 future generations. Also they put real flowers in vases which bring good
luck; the carnations bring good relationships; and others bring wisdom and good profit for business.
Another ritual that is common for China is to put fruits and offerings in the front door, like flower
ornaments and little fountains that symbolizes the riverbed that bathe the plantings that makes the
harvest good and prosper. Other people give red envelops that have good luck writings. You can
place coins or talisman of good luck.
It’s also common to prepare their pots and pans for midnight, since at that time they start making a
lot of noise to spook the bad spirits and avoid from them to come in the house. You can also use
bells which is recommended to sound around the corners.
China

3. The Chinese are people with rooted customs that they’ve kept for a long time. They don’t like
showing their feelings, that’s why they look bad at people who greet with a kiss on the check, even
though these could be women.
The Chinese never touch strangers, for them, the correct greeting is to incline their head.
The Chinese are people who like to show education, whenever you have a doubt, they will do
everything possible to help you, and if they don’t know the answer, they will take you to some who
does, since they consider the phrase “I don’t know” being a bad education.
When a Chinese person offers something, like a gift, a pack of cigarettes, ect, they give it with their
2 hands and their receiver should also get it with 2 hands, because if you don’t, it is consider lack of
respect.
A particular custom is making a loud noise when drinking soup, it is consider having a good
education (something that to us is a bad education), and the sticks don’t go to the mouth,
it’sviceversa, our head gets closet o the sticks.
The food is a big event, which it’s purpose is to provide happiness and pleasure. A typical food in
China is made of rice or pasta including three, four or five fine plates, with pillows around the table
with a low height.
When they finish eating, it is considered a bad education leave the fine plates in the main plates,
the correct thing to do is to leave them aside.
Another rooted custom is the Taichi practice, early in the morning a lot of people are practicing it in
the gardens or plazas
To talk about China, means to talk about tea, since it’s the national beverages. A plant and infusion
were born and within centuries it has become the identity of china town.
In nChina, New Years is celebrated on the night of Febuary 13th. The word New Yearseve is
“Chux”, just like in our language, it is formed by 2 meanings, Chu = eve and Xi = New. The
celebration is for 15 days and the last day they have the Lanterns festival. “yuanxojie”
In this season it is customed to give to children red envelops “hongbao” with a Littleamunt of
Money, this is to show good luck.
The kitchen does not look the same way as we are used seeing in our city. In China everything that
walks, swims, runs or flies goes to the pan. And if it doesn’t, it also goes to the pan as well.
The Chinese invented the paper, the fireworks and not pasta, but they are masters when t comes to
that. With pasta they make various dishes, like raviolis that are prepared in various ways, colors and
forms, and always made manually. There are restaurants that have more than one hundred types of
raviolis in the menu.
In Marco Polo’s journey in the route of Seda, he was impressed by the flavor and variety of pasta

4. that is made by Chinese people, and he didn’t doubt on learning the formula to take it to Venice.
Since then, Italy couldn’t live without it.
ITALY
Italian customs and traditions
Italy is a country of great cultural, historical and artistic. With unique festivals in the world, true gems
of art and architecture, delicious meals and dishes that just are known everywhere and much more.
Festivals
In Venice, one of the most beautiful and most important in Italy, takes place during the spring the
most important festival, a festival of masks called "Carnival of Venice" (Carnivale di Venezia).
The people dress in costumes of the Victorian era in Italy, made with extreme dedication and caring
for every detail, and masks used everything from the simplest to the most comprehensive and
complex.
During the rest of the year also made other festivals but smaller, which also used traditional
costumes, traditional dances are performed and all kinds of musicians perform live presentations of
Italian folklore.
Meals
It is impossible to avoid foods if we talk about the customs and traditions of Italy and there are two
dishes that have a huge reputation at home and around the world know, even though many
question their true origin, pasta and pizza are two dishes that immediately associate with the big
boot
The Italian territory has great culinary diversity in different regions but it is something that the
Italians themselves are proud. Most traditional dishes include cheese, tomato and red wine, coming
mostly from the south and especially the island of Sicily.
Other popular preparations also include olives and olive oil essences as well as an abundance of
fish and products from the sea, especially sardines, lobster, cod and swordfish.
Religión
Italians are very religious people who are characterized by their faith in God and religion, it is no
coincidence that the Vatican is in the territory of Italy.
The country's largest religion is Catholicism, and about 90% of the country is Roman Catholic,
although it should be noted that it is also believed that most of the followers of Satanism also found
in Italy.
Many traditions and religious festivals of the country have become very popular in many parts of
the world, such as the day of St. Francis of Assisi. The churches, shrines and statues throughout
Italy, reflect faith majesty Italian
Family
The important role played by the family in the life of the Italians is a distinguishing characteristic of
the population of Italy. With families formed in which each member plays a specific role and that is
characterized by respect and by strong ties.

5. Baptism and marriage are two key issues in the family, it is very common for mothers to their
children baptized in the church picking a godfather and a godmother to be foster parents in cases
that merit it.
Furthermore marriage is another essential part takes place throughout a ceremony also takes place
in the church, where have committed before God their bond of love seeking blessing and
prosperity.
Moreover, a special activity that takes place in the family is gathering the stadium to see one of the
major sports in the hearts of all Italians, football, with Italy one of the leaders and teams in the world
Music and dance
The typical Italian music most important of all is the majestic and spectacular opera that had its
beginnings and great popularity in the 1800s. It was created by the Italians and is one of the many
jewels of art proud Italian hearts with much merit.
Many singers and Italians are also very popular in all styles and all over the world, especially in
opera singing as in the case of Luciano Pavarotti unfortunately already deceased. Also in the rock,
jazz, electronic music and pop, as in the case of Andrea Bocelli.
But in terms of tradition and customs in dance, it comes down to a style: the tarantella. It is a type of
dance that takes place between several pairs of men and women, with typical costumes, fun and
involving all family members.