Come on then Canli, Elham, Pizza and others, we would also like to know more about YOUR traditions and customs and everyday life .

I remember Janissary posted some really great things about customs and traditions in Turkey some time ago, but they have been "buried" long ago. Would love to hear more

Also, Ninja, Slavica, Ayla (you qualify wherever you like to post ....

Yes, I would identify myself as coming from the East, while hearing someone having difficulties in drawing the line.

Hong Kong, having so long history of being a British colony, is in fact quite "westernized". Though the majority here is Chinese. We are privileged to have both western and chinese festivals...that mean quite a lot of holidays and celebrations.

New Year, Easter, Christmas as well as the Valentine's, Mother's or Father's days are very much celebrated. On the other hand we have Lunar New Year and many other traditional Chinese festivals(e.g. one having dragon boats' racing) are also major holidays. If you got a chance to stay in HK for one year, you will be very impressed about the above celebrations.

We enjoy both Chinese and Western cuisines here. In fact you can say we have all kinds of "fusion" dishes which are so good.

Ummm, there are many to talk about...so what would you all like to know?

I have a specific question for you to make it easier. What is the custom of meeting (an older?) person of holding their hand kissing it and putting it to your forehead. When do you do this? Gender differences, man to woman, woman to woman, woman to man? How old is 'old' and are you going to offend anyone if they don't consider themselves old? Cem (my fiance) said it is important to do this, but I felt too uncomfortable and I didn't want to make anyone feel OLD! I am a yabanci...I don't understand!

I have a specific question regarding the full hijab. If you meet a man, or even if you have an arranged marriage, at what point is he allowed to see your face and hair?

Also, with the advent of internet, would you be permitted to talk to someone you meet via webcam? Would you be able to exchange photographs?

Forgive my ignorance with this subject, but its something I have often wondered about

Thanks, the Turkish information comes in handy. It is interesting your information about Egypt. I think Cem's parents understand that I don't understand, but next time I see them I will do this! He specifically wanted me to do this when we visited his neighbors. I have to warn Cem or my parents about this, they will think it is super-weird if they don't know it is to show respect. I already warned him not to hug men in the U.S.

İn Egypt as in any other country traditions are different from place to another .
But we all share almost same traditions to some extent.
And that be in some events.
Ramadan,Şeker Bayram, 'Eid El Fitr' Kurban Bayramı 'Eid El-Adha'a',Birth Of Mohamed SAV 'Mevlet' ,and Christmas on 7th January for Christians those are the religious events
New year
'Smelling the nature scents'Şam El nesim,and that is a Pharaoh event
And we have 3 National holidays,here,we take the day off from work.
They are 23 Jule,the revolution day,when we become a republic and not following any Crown
The 6th Oct,where we took our land back
The 25th April we took last bit of our land back to us.

İn Ramadan,family gather and have İftar together first day,and then each day,they are having İftar at another member of the family,or at friends,and if they dont go out,they invite people to have iftar with them.
Frieday is our weekend,so it be the most crowded day at Ramadan,so on that day the far members of the family,reunion with the family in big iftar.
The tables always full of lovely food,Dolma is our tradition food by its all kinds,along with Molokheya ' its vegetable we cook it and add soup to it and we eat with rice,its lovely'and they used to serve with duck for first days of Ramadan 'yuk' and chiken too,my Mom makes Steak too'Biftak',i prefer it.
After Ezan calling,its tradition to eat date 'hurma' even one or 2,and drink water or some Easterns drinks like 'Tamr Hendi,Kharoub,..'
And we make doa,one to each own,then start eating.
And after İftar finish,we eat Huşaf,'its some kinds of dried fruits,we put in juice along with hurma too,' then they drink tea,and eat sweets.
Eastern sweets in Ramadan,like Baklava,Basbosa,..ect
Then most men and some women go to pray 'taravih Salat'which is extra Salat 'namaz' we pray it only in Ramadan ,then they gather again,and chat,or watch TV, read Kur'an
İn Ramadan,people race to finish reading the whole Kur'an in the Holy month.
TV in Ramadan be full of series made only to watch in Ramadan as a celebration,not a religious series,but sometimes there is one,usually they make more than 10 to 15 new series,played by the most famouse movie stars,and they race to put it in Ramadan schadual so they be more famouse.

Then some people who like to stay late,gather again at 3 am to have Sahour together,'Which we eat at dawn before fasting' we do it in my family.
Others sleep a little then wake up before dawn to eat,or some eat early and sleep.
You would see all the city full of light,Mosques are decorated with lights whole month,so much light as same as you do in Christmas,but we keep them right after Ramadan and Şeker Bayramı finish.
Ohh some other thing,in ramadan we have something called 'Ma'idet Al Rahman' meaning the Tables of AL RAHMAN ,AL RAHMAN is a name of ALLAH .
Those tables are made by people who are putting them in the streets to make large table,for poor people,or people who are on travelling and they cant catch Ezan time at home
For anyone who want to break the fast,and those tables full of good food,some people make in their homes,some they buy,who want to buy the fruits can do,and at the end,the tables full of goodies
No one would ever be hungry in Ramadan.
We all love Ramadan,its full of Hayır''blessings' even we fast for whole day,and sometimes get thirsty,but we always wait for it from a year to another,happy when it comes,sad when it finished.

Ohh,and i forgot to tell you about Ramadan lamp,we call it Fanous Ramadan
İts coming away back from the history,now it got so many shapes.
Kids in the past use to have small Ramadan lamps,and light it with a candle,and they gather in the streets together,lighting up their lamps,and singing some songs for Ramadan
Now there is a lamp inside it instead of candles,and made of Plastic,and kids play with it inside houses and close the light and sing for Ramadan still

Have a rest and i will tell you about Bayram traditions

Fanous Ramadan

Canliiiiiiiiiii! I loved it, thank you. Can't wait for the next "installment"

i tell you the difference between westeners and easterners.
1. when an easterner is in the west the westerners are supposed to understand and respect the customs and tolerate the most of the actions (including the women discrimination) of the easterner.
2. when an westerner is in the east, he/she is expected to understand and respect the customs and agree with all the actions seen in local area even it may seem rude or unfair.

when the easterner in the west he says:
MY house is MY house! YOUR house is MY house!

my hope is in the eastern europe (as once it resisted and stopped the asian expansion in the battle of vienna).
the western europe is passing away
when you arrive in the west you may exclaim: Oh my God, where am I, in Saudi Arabia?

2nd installment

Şeker Bayramı, or Eid El Fitr as we call it,its after Ramadan,we celebrate that we stopped fasting ,and celebrate the Holy month is over.
Before it ends there are some traditions we ALL do before Bayram.
Parents taking kids to buy the Eid clothes,all to his budget,but you would find all kids wearing new clothes,poor or rich
And women got there share too,and buy new clothes
İf there is any money left for the man,he can buy for himself, lol
Then the weak before Eid,all Mothers doing only one thing
CLEANİNG the house
And the can use kids too,asking them to tidy their rooms
And all the family is under the mother mercy in this
Usually the men who can afford pay and get the cleaning lady,but still washing curtains,and...,and... never ends lol
Then we buy the Eid Sweets,is some sweets got sugar on the surface,and lots of other goodies,all to his level too.
First day in Eid,family wake up early,and who doesnt wake,he receive a call on 6 am to say Şeker Bayram Kutlo Olsun
Then men,kids in their new clothes,and sometimes women go to Bayram Namaz,'Salat'
And when they come back,Family eat sweets with tea,and have an early gathering with the big family to have breakfast
Then start family visists.
Kids are the lucky ones in those days,they take money from elder people,family,relative or friends,who happen to meet.
Women get money too from husbands,if they afford it.
Then we have another family gathering at lunch,we eat grilled fish usually
Then kids go out and by toys with their money,and NEVER give it to parents
Second day some continue visisting people who we didnt visit,third day we gather youth together,have dish part,and play some games.
Ohhh,i forgot to say,Şeker Bayram is 3 days

one more truth!
the easterners cant stand any single criticism!
they love you when you flatter them (they throw on you all the possible compliments calling you wise and kind), but their love may end suddenly when you mention anything negative about their life.
thats the truth! remember it you naive westerners!

Third installment ,

mmmm,sorry Canım,cant post the third part at this level of discussion
This thread was about Eastern Traditions,and culture,and ended up insulting Easterns.
So,i either reply,and be dragged to some stupid fight,we have lots of them here in real world
Or to ignore and continue knowing each other.

İ chose the second one ,but when a moderate,and admin dont see what is wrong in those kind of posts
Adding that moderate read each post well enough that they just locked one for debating about religion,but they dont see any wrong in those kind of posts.
So i pick another alternative,and i wont join,im sorry.

When i feel respect is mutual,i will rejoin

Btw,great example of your culture femme,Thank ALLAH i dont know it,or else i would be dragged to another wrong judgement from people in the net this time,not the Media.

femme_fatal has killed the discussion. I really wanted to talk about these things more! People have told you that you are being disrespectful and you keep going. You know that story about a woman who hates herself was for you right? It is ok to express your viewpoints, but if it is hurting others (like a bazaar education) that is abusive and no one wants to see that (except you?) The rules here are no racist comments, the rash statements you are making about 'Easterners' are racist in my opinion. Also the way you have treated the Egyptian here, Canli started this string and now has left! My prediction is you are going to bash me as a person...

It's not often I agree with femme but I on this occasion I think there is some truth in what she is saying. Canlı started a thread "Let the West Talk" then proceeded to criticize western society. When somebody dares to criticize eastern values she is full of indignation.

hello, im Elham from Iraq,
it is beautiful topic to talk about it.
Iraq was not well known as an Arab country except in current events by news of the killings, destruction and terrorism .
So I just wanted to write some words, may be far from the center of the topic :
People battle for life

Iraqis are waging the fiercest battle fateful day in modern history, in order to survive, life and progress and continue to present with the future, before they are ruthless enemy nor pity nor humanity, that the Black terrorism enemy of humanity without distinction between this or that, want the good of all goodness and peace and security for themselves and their neighbors and the whole world. This is what Iraqis want and dreaming about, and whether this Bekthirali people had endured injustice, terrorism, war and tragedy by bloodthirsty dictatorship? , Which is still deem criminal terrorist continuous Although scandalous collapse. This is the battle of Iraq and its people with these murderers, people want life, liberty for a handful of criminals, know only killing, this is the reality of the conflict and the nature of the battle in Iraq today, and not portrayed as enemies of Iraq at home and abroad, as if the battle between the sons of the Iraqi people. The Iraqis may disagree among themselves on many issues, intellectual and political trends, programs and targets ... But they do not disagree on the sovereignty, independence and unity of their homeland, despite Telaouinhem multiple shadows and various meets in all democratic, pluralistic and federal Iraq. And lose all of the wagers on the battle of the people of Iraq in the face of crime syndicates and ignorant mercenaries, because history is witness to the peoples and national heroes, battles humanitarian generally fair as those who knew only the senseless death and destruction, and this is their way. The people of Iraq will be victorious inevitably, it fought and fought and the inhabitants to life, liberty and justice for all Iraqis and human

Hello CANLI
only now i know you are from Egypt
so our habit dont different on Egyptian customs, but there are very few differences in Egypt, for example, when girls marry, her family ,who are attending the marital home, while in Iraq, is the husband who is attending the marital home, family members living together within family relationships with connections love and respect, when a daughter marries she leaves her family, or son can stay with the family, and lives with his wife and small family within a big family
and some of our customs is somewhat close to the Muslim Turks, i knew that by chating some friends in Turkey

İ will PM you about it elham
İts not like that exactly.

Canli, I thought your topic "Let the West Talk" was a great topic. You were willing to at least try to understand and want to hear how our culture was depicted, rather than believing everything you hear in the media.

I also enjoyed reading your post regarding the lifestyle in Egypt. Sometimes I get a clearer picture from members here than researching on the internet. What better way to experience another culture, through members here at this site.

How about gestures? We have representation from Britain, Poland, Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, China and more...how wonderful! Pointing (first finger extended others tucked) in America is O.K., everywhere else it is not. I pointed to ask for the bread in Turkey and Cem and his brother started laughing because my thumb was apparently slightly between my first two fingers (I just told the whole restaurant f... you!). How embarrasing! Any gestures in your culture that are really rude? Making a circle with your thumb and first finger is rude somewhere...but I forgot where...in the U.S. it means "O.K".

Also what about touching...Turkish people please comment on this too please. My Kaynana has touched me pretty much everywhere...was she sizing me up or what? In America you would never touch anyone but your partner in these places! Is there a special privelege of a mother-in-law?

What about touching otherwise...here it is safe to touch people on the back of the shoulder and that is pretty much it. Young kids you can pat on the head to show affection, I know in some countries this is not ok. In Turkey I guess it is ok to give a small child a pat on the bottom, in the U.S. maybe the parents would think something and call the police! 30 years ago this would be o.k. but people in the U.S. are very worried about inappropriate touching. (look at Michael Jackson...yikes)

OK I have been away so this post is rather late, but would like to add my two cents worth (its probably worth less, but would like to say it anyway )

First I would just like to say that I absolutely HATE personal attacks on this forum. Disagree all your want, but why attack somebody personally? To me, it shows a lack of ability to defend your argument when you have to resort to attacking someone’s character, appearance or religion to make your point.

The two threads about East and West were intended to try to bridge the gap and share the positive things about our cultures and find similarities. I feel it was violated. I have been very opinionated about cultural issues in the past, but like to feel that I am always open to change my views as more knowledge is gained. There was definitely an anti-Islamic tone to some of the posts and it was uncomfortable reading to see Canli being victimised in that way and her intelligence doubted. You know, its really OK to criticise eachother’s countries – it does not have to turn into an argument always ( ), but I think it is WRONG to criticise someone for their faith, as long as it is a personal belief and that person does not try to use their faith as a weapon or for superiority.

While I understand, and share, some of the concern regarding aspects of other cultures which violate human rights and condone a patriarchal society, I do not think that targeting and blaming individuals on this forum is the answer. How arrogant to assume that WE, with our so-called democracy and economic superiority, have the right to attack other cultures in such a venomous way? Are we so arrogant that we think that members of that culture do not find fault, and will not make changes themselves? Do we have such lack of faith in human nature that we think that nobody native to those cultures can see wrong in violent or sexist acts? Frankly, I am too concerned about my own country’s violence, sexism and disregard for human rights!

I am not known for my “mild mannered” approach, but I do hate bullying and unnecessary personal attacks. Femme you know I love your posts normally, and I also know you wont take this as an insult

Finally I would just like to comment on the increasingly misogynist posts on this forum. IT IS JUST AS BAD TO CRITICISE WOMEN on this forum as it is to criticise your religion or race. Please treat us with the same respect that you ask for.

OK I finished! You can all wake up now

I am also guilty of violating this thread by writing criticism of the East - although the thread was meant to build understanding. I apologize, especially to Canli.

aenigma
offff
i thought you were kidnapped by a handsome turk! and never see you again!
but you are back!
hehehe i got your "approaches"!
well, nevermind! possibly got too thick skin to get offended that easily. im not a little princess, you know!
as for my harsh posts, dont worry, cato got deleted them all!

glad to see you back!

ps.i dont promise to turn into a princess and speak "mild".

bydand, cant recognize you! is it really you?
and of course, glad to hear someone's honest opinion.

I want you to know more about my far away country :
CHILE


I am from Chile (Şili) in Latin America.
I'd say chileans are very warm people , with a very sharp sense of humor, we love to tease and make jokes even about bad events!
Men are freak about football and most women work outside and have High Education (It wasnt like that 20 years ago) It is still a "Macho Culture" but less than fefore.
We are 16,000,000 inhabitants. The capital is Santiago and 6,000,000 people live here (yes, overpopulation problem)

Most people could think we have hot weather, big mistake, we are not a "tropical country" , in summers the max. temperature rises up to 36 degrees but never more!
Unlike Brazilians , we are a bit shy , our culture is not so "colourful" like Caribbean or central american but we share some characteristics with other latin countries :
People still are family-oriented here although getting married is not the priority for Chilean Women around my age (23) they want to finish their studies and find a good job...In the past, only women cooked and did the homeworks now almost every young men KNOWS how to cook and helps with the housework , rise their babies etc which was unthinkable decades ago!

We are the only country in Machista latin america that has A FEMALE president! her name is Michelle Bachellet which shows that people are open-minded now...especially men .
Chilean People loves TO EAT! love red meat , barbacues , and chinese , italian and fast food are very popular ! Eating is a very important thing in Chile's social life , it really brings people together ! Chilean people likes to share with family a lot and Christmas and New year are very important.

We are also a peaceful land! the last war we had was in 1879 , our economy is the 3rd most powerful of the region after Brazil and Mexico.
We have many immigrants , especially Peruvians , Ecuadorian, Arabs , Germans and Croatians ...
I hope one day you can visit the homeland of the Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda...

Şili'den selamlar!
Dilara.

Aww Gracias Dilara

It sounds wonderful. Chile has always fascinated me since I was a child and would stare at its coastline in the atlas in awe! I would love to visit some day together with Easter Island (Rapa Nui), which has great botanic significance.

Is Chile not "West" though?....

I knew it!!! Someone will break the ice.
I felt this thread was being suffocated. I thought of insisting on posting something more about the "East" that I am located in, despite the off-topic criticisms... Well, still need a little more stamina to do this. But may I try?

Food. I want to talk about the culture of eating. Not what we eat or how we cook it. But the philosophy of eating.
For us Chinese, we eat "fresh". Not the same as eating sashimi like the Japanese. We choose to eat everything fresh, from the land, from the sea or from the farm, whenever it is possible.

Tourists will find it fasinating when seeing the fish tanks in restaurants, which you can pick any fish, lobsters, crabs, etc and ask the kitchen staff to prepare your seafood meal. In all wet markets, you will see live sea creatures for selling, live poultries, ooops not live cows or pigs or sheep, but freshly butchered from central butchery. Vegetables are freshly picked from fields within one day before being transported. Frozen meat and food serve as alternatives only.

Want to try the fresh taste of food? Come and enjoy our culture of eating.

Well,i did,can you share the cake then ?

i have a temptation!
and pockets full of lemons!

Yes, I suddenly love Chile since I fell in love with a handsome Chilean ........ (in a world according to Catwoman) !

Actually, that is quite true. Have you ever read "The Secret Life of Plants" by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird?

Truly amazing. It shows us that we should have respect and reverence for whatever is sacrificed to sustain us.

As we have so much difficulty understanding other cultures, how much more difficult it is to understand different species.

Quoting girleegirl: Quoting ninja: There's life in vegetables too. They will feel the pain. Have you ever heard them screaming too? from crazy

...Oh hell! Why did I open my big mouth I will never hear the last of this from Catwoman and Femme...!!!!

No! I am not on "narcotics" and I have not spent a week with a handsome gardener.....

Well my dear Aenigma, I'm sure there are many things we agree on. I too grow much of my own food. Things like tomatoes, chard, beans, peas and many native species that are edible(all organic). Once you actually plant a seed and watch it grow, you eat with much more reverence. There is nothing like a tomato ripe andwarm from the sun, or a green bean only a second of two off the vine. Close your eyes and feel the taste as it goes through your whole body. There seems to be much more life force in food treated in this way as well.

A botanist....amazing...you have gained a new level of respect from me. In my little garden I use insects to control insects. Lady bugs, praying mantis, earthworms and such. Marigolds to control nematodes. Earthworm casings...and so forth.

Quoting AEnigma III: Quoting alameda: Actually, that is quite true. Have you ever read "The Secret Life of Plants" by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird? Truly amazing. It shows us that we should have respect and reverence for whatever is sacrifised to sustain us. Finally a subject we can agree on Alameda I work in botany and I never cease to be amazed at how clever and adaptable plants are! From plants which mimic a piece of rotting meat (in looks and smell!) to attract flies for pollination through to plants which actually stab and kill animals so that they will die at their base and fertilise the soil! I try not to think about it too much, but when we "farm" vegetables we are preventing them from fulfilling their "life destiny"!!! The real devotees of plants become "fruitarians" who only eat vegetables which have fulfilled their seeding cycle and fruit which has fallen to the ground naturally I could not take things THIS far, but do try to eat only organic vegetables, and ones that I grow in my garden are never stripped of all their fruit or seed ! Even the most cynical of the gardeners I work with have been known to cry when chopping down a tree. There is something very spiritual about trees... All forms of life deserve respect....

Well, feel free to lose your new found respect for me Alameda because I am not a Botanist!!! I work with very clever Botanists and it's a subject close to my heart, but I am not one myself!

Oh well, that's close enough.

i dont know if this is related to this thread but i would like to talk about it...

in Turkey if there is a much older person (like father,uncle, aunties or grandparents) in the room , it would be very rude and disrespect of you to lie down.

and i dont know why but we generally dont smoke when daddy is in the same place:-S it is not be afraid..just a kind of respect

and ermmmm henna night!! the night before the wedding..all female friends and female relatives of the bride come together in her house and they all wear henna and sing some traditional songs and dance..and cry and again sing

and and ouh i could write too many thing about Turks

drivers honk to thank eachother in traffic , for example you should honk if someone gives way to you..

Ciko,your description here is very similar to that of traditional Chinese custom. The bride wears red from head to toe, even the bed sheets and quilt are preferrably red. Red colour indicates happiness and luck. White is always used in funerals. However with the cultural shift from straightly traditional to more international, we have both red and white wedding now. Brides wear white gowns when going to church or the banguet and wear red when going home to pay respect to the inlaws. The act of which is serving tea to the parents and elder generations while kneelign down.

By the way, glad to see the real "East" talking now. It has been quite a long time that the west keep talking.

No offence, AEnigma, and I don't see any need to improve relationship which I personally have no problem with. It is my expectation that we focus more in the topic that you have started in this thread. Besides, we have many other threads for discussing some other things, right? Or you want to start a new thread of "how to improve relationships between TC users"? (just kidding)

AEnigma, please don't use the posts for personal attack. Send me private messages if you have any complains.

Sorry for the rest of the users here. This is a waste of the space here, I apologize.