The Melting Pot

[Melian]

We Tolkienologists seem to be quite an international mixture.
Inspired by Lhun's thread, "The Tower of Babel", this one is meant to give chance for a deeper cultural interaction. If you can think of any typical customs, songs, holidays, fairy tales, fables, proverbs and so on and so on, characteristic of your country and hometown, please post it here!
I hope we get as much as possible of different flavours!

[Anamatar IV]

It's when I read threads like this that I regret the lack of culture America has....except for the prolific supply of fast food:D

[FoolOfATook]

It's when I read threads like this that I regret the lack of culture America has....except for the prolific supply of fast food

If you want uniquely American food, folklore, songs, customs, proverbs and so forth, just head to the south (am I right Grond? ;)). Just in North Carolina we have our unique set of fairy tales and folklore- the "Jack" stories from the Appalachian mountains, stories about pirates (Blackbeard lived in Bath, North Carolina), ghost stories, legends from the Cherokee tribe that still lives in the western part of the state, the folklore surrounding the famous "Lost Colony" in Dare County, the story of "The Devil's Tramping Ground", and much more. We have unique food- As any North Carolinian will tell you, the ONLY place you get can real barbeque is in eastern NC.

New England and Texas also both come to mind as American regions which have their own unique cultures.

[Anamatar IV]

Hmmm I live in New England....have for all my life. Maybe I just haven't noticed that much culture. Well I see a lot more Dunkin' Donuts here than in say California (I only notice the food:rolleyes: )...I suppose camping and swimming and all those other outdoorsie type events are New England Culture.

[Lhunithiliel]

Oh, Mel! Such a wonderful idea!
I'll think of sth. and I'll post it...

Hey, why wait?!

Tomorrow, YOUR St.Valentine Day concides in fact with one of the oldest traditional custom in our lands - the Day of the wine and the wine-makers.

For those of you from other countries - a brief description.
People in the village (noone actually keeps the traditions in the big cities) pronounce whose wine was the best last year. The proud wine-maker then has the right to be the first to cut a vine.
So, people get dressed in their best clothes, women prepare delicious meals and they all go to the vine-yards. There the winner cuts a vine and a lot of speeches and songs are then sung for the wine to become good this year too. And people have great feasts.

This is it! Our St' Trifon Zarezan. ;)

Of course, Gate will understand this tradition! Wine-making is one of the oldest crafts in this part of the world!
*******

I'd like to hear some fairy stories from Ireland.

As for USA, I grew up with the stories about Indians and cowboys.... My father joked that I was his second son :D...
But the culture of the Indians is very ancient and so mystic!

[gate7ole]

And I guess Lhun that after the speeches and songs, everyone's so drunk that the songs lose their "phonetic value":D
We have some similar traditions concerning wine and they have great fun.

But let me tell you one of our religious traditions. Every 15th of August (when St. Mary has her birthday), the people of my island have the tradition to walk a distance of 25km on foot (a sort of pilgrimage). Of course, the younger ones have changed the whole religious concept and we do this just for fun! Now, I guess you wonder how fun it is to walk for 6 hours.

One more think. Our traditional drink is called "uzo", sth like sampuca but MUCH better (of course;) ).

[Lhunithiliel]

Originally posted by gate7ole
And I guess Lhun that after the speeches and songs, everyone's so drunk that the songs lose their "phonetic value":D

LOL :D :D
But that's the point....You see, wine is to be cellebrated!
It's actually a very very old tradition, coming much before Christianity came to these lands. And once it was a feast to honour the young God Dionisius.

One more think. Our traditional drink is called "uzo", sth like sampuca but MUCH better (of course;) ).
Have you tried Bulgarian rakia? ;) :D

[gate7ole]

Originally posted by Lhunithiliel
Have you tried Bulgarian rakia? ;) :D
Actually, we also have a drink named "raki". Definitely the same root. I wonder if it's greek or bulgarian.

[Beleg]

Have you tried Bulgarian rakia

Actually Rakia is the name of a local actress here.
:p

Well, there are a number of custom's here that are rather peculiar and exciting.

The most recent and popular one is the Kite-Flying, basant
Everyyear its celebrated at the start of Spring, (in the months of February and March). basically people fly all types of kites with different type of stings, their main aim being to cut the opponents kite. Its great fun and I usually end up tearing my kite in an attempt of flying it. :mad:
The strings used are very special and they are highly dangerous too. Just a slight stroke can be highly poisonous and can deal a person a heavy cut. That's why the mother's dont like children to go out flying kites. Loads of people from different countries come to celebrate this occasion. The sky is virtually filled with every types of kites and songs and well we usually have lots of fun. The festival is this weekend and we wear yello cloths and scarfs and fly kites from our roofs.

There is a drink called lassi which is mighty heavenly and refreshing and more importantly a jug of that can keep a person on his feet for a whole day!

Well then their is the Religious festival shabratwhich had taken a bit of a commercial touch. we spend the whole night firing fireworks and crackers of everytype. its preety dangerous.

But the real, real humorous and great customs can be observed on a traditional Wedding!!!

I hope i didn't bore you out with the tales of my country Pakistan.

[Lhunithiliel]

Bore us?! NO!!!!!
It was sooooo interesting!
Beleg, I have never known that you come from Pakistan!
How interesting!!!!

And tell us about the weddings! ;) :)

[Melian]

Hm! Before the weddings, I have something to say!
Lhun, how couldn't you describe our Trifon Zarezan tradition more clearly!
There's a great story behind this holiday,actually.
Trifon, the patron saint of wine-makers, got quite 'merry' on Feb 14. He was so drunk and dizzy... He decided to go out and prune the grapevine. However, you can imagine his zig-zag pace and awkwardness in his condition. And instead of cutting the vine, he cut off HIS NOSE with the pruning-shear!!!!
That's why they call him Zarezan, which translates approximately as "Cut-off".

Now, you see, Orthodox Christian tradition can always come up with such fascinating legends :) ;) :)

[Beleg]

And instead of cutting the vine, he cut off HIS NOSE with the pruni
LMAO! I guess everyone has made a joke or two about ST. Valentines day.

Now about the weddings.

They usually are a grand affiar. Not less then 500 people are invited.
There are four parts of a Wedding.

1. Mainu

2. Mehendi

3. Nikah/Barat/Shadi

4. Walimah

about 3 days before the actual Nikah the Bride is ordered to remain in a sperate room and she isnt allowed to go outside and no one but Girls can enter it. (It becomes quiet annyoing if the bride is a close cousin of us male guys:mad: ) There the bride is massaged with a special yellow paste known as Ubtan. The UBTAN is sprawled all over her face and legs and body and a pic of her is taken. Now the Groom tries to get this pic before the Nikah at every cost. This tends to cause a lot of accidents. The pic is usually in the custody of a close friend of the bride and she and her friends first inform the Groom about the pic and then ask him to make a deal if he wants to get the pic. In this way they bribe out a lot of money from the Groom and even then they usually provide him with a false picture.

Now on the Night when the Bride (Dulhan) goes in Maiun, there are parties in bride's and groom's houses (one if they are cousins) which is attended by the family and close friends. Now in the party a lot of Old Traditional songs are sung and as the Girl's arew singing the boys dance. But late in the night, the girls suddenly attack the guys with Ubtan and try to sprawl it all over their faces hands. This usually get really rough with all the guys getting in one room of the house, locking it and refusing addmitance. Cloths usually get roughened up with Ubtan *(this ubtan is different from Bride's ubtan, its more of a thick, smelly paste which seems to stink)* if any poor guy is caught and cornered by the girl's then the guy has a mighty bad time. When the girls finish with him, it often gets that the guys own mother refuses to recognise him. So we feel it very safe to be out of their reach when the ceremony starts. it type of a hide and seek game. If they corner no one and all are safely tuckedup in a house, they try to lull and bribe out the peeps outside.
i know of a party which i attended as a child in which the room was not properly locked up and a whole retune of girl's broke in and we guys/children had to wash till morning to get ourselves clean. During that time new pairs are made, jokes are set about various girls/guys that seemed attracted to each other and if someone is caught blushing at the mention of any particular guy/girl, he/she is teased unmercifully. it usually ends up late in the morning. When i was a child, we children were usually ordered to go to bed at 12-00 nclock under a maid supervision but i often used to slip outside and watch the whole drama with envoy. But i wasn't as thrilled when i underwent the same proceddure myself. its the time for the girl's to get even with the guys.

Anyway, the next day on the day of Mehndi (The tags arent working for me so i have to type normally) we wake up pretty late. on that day guests from Other cities began to come and the scene is set up. The old people gather in a seperate room, (when i mean old, i mean really old, Ah but should i say 40 is old?;) ) and discuss old memories. The youngone's, tweens and married people are gathered in seperate/respective places and plan fun things all the day. Usually the boys/men play Cricket (the most popluar game here) or comment on politics while the girl's examine the bride's dresses and *Jehaze*. The whole day is spent in fun making and preparing for the functions in both houses. Now as the evening approaches, the saga began's to liven up and by the evening prayer everyone starts to get ready for the evening function of Mehndi.

[Melian]

Oh my! ALL THAT is done during a single wedding?!?!
It must be exhausting for the families to prepare for 500 guests... And how does the bride feel, being the central figure of that auspicious ceremony?...

We have, too, a custom which requires much freaky outfits, noise and mobs....It's called kukeri, but I'll tell you about it next time --I need to arrange my narration:)

[Beleg]

Melian that all is done in only one day of the four day wedding ceremony!!! Yes it's really costly and it has often been criticized and not all the families celebrate the four day weeding but its fun. I'll type more about the rest of the three days after Melian has sent her post. Erm I kinda tried asking My Aunt how it felt to be the bride but she waved me off..:rolleyes: So i guess i have to ask someone younger....how she felt on her wedding. Its usually a very teary partition between father and daughter, son and mother.:o

[Melian]

Oh my! Fathers, hold your daughters tight for it's a crying time (wedding)!:)

Well, before the kukeri, I'll tell you about an approaching Bulgarian holiday so that you can be ready and celebrate with us.
On Mar 1st, we will calebrate our Baba Marta fest. (or Granny March).
Woven threads, red and white, are twisted to make simple bracelets, broches, necklaces and so on. These are called the martenitzi. Friends give them each other, tie them round wrists or pin them on their clothes. The martenitzi are worn until one sees the first stork for the year, i.e. spring's arrival. Then you take it off and tie it on a blossoming tree, or put it under a rock. You wish health (symbolized by the red color) and happiness and fertility (white).
On Mar 1st. you can see that mass red-and-white superstitition round everyone's wrist.It's pretty, and meaningful, and cheap after all. You can make martenitzi yourself or buy them (there are millions of models). Simply red and white and such a cheerful spring fest.
They say it has Barbarian origins...but I'm not quite aware of the history behind it. Maybe Lhun can tell you more.

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Lhunithiliel

Have you tried Bulgarian rakia? ;) :D
Yes I have!Mmmmmmm you know what I think about it.But I believe foreigners shouldn't drink it cause it's too strong for them.My friends from The Netherlands have tried it and they were knocked out in the literally meaning of the word.

[Beleg]

Yes I have!Mmmmmmm you know what I think about it.But I believe foreigners shouldn't drink it cause it's too strong for them.My friends from The Netherlands have tried it and they were knocked out in the literally meaning of the word.


Oh My, Oh My....

WoW Melian the Martenitzi you described was really a sweet event. We the heardhearted people here sadly have no such event (not any that i am aware off) here in my region. Friendship is usually symbolizied by a hug and that's it.

Err what's the Kukeri? Is it the Wedding?

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Beleg_strongbow

Err what's the Kukeri? Is it the Wedding?
No kukeri are people who wear special monster costumes with rings on them. They dance and dance and jump and jump and make an awful noise.They do that cause in the end of every winter the evil ghosts and spirits should be driven away from the lands,houses,etc.
Actually see these pages:http://www.plovdivcityguide.com/Traditions/Kukeri/
http://www.iearn.org.au/food/kukeri.htm
http://www.xs4http://www.stefansdom.com/ShowPhoto_eng.asp?photo_id=146all.nl/~gweshuis/foto10.htm

[Finduilas]

I want to ask if 2nd February is an International Holiday?:)

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Finduilas
I want to ask if 2nd February is an International Holiday?:)
Yes it is.

[Lhunithiliel]

You two, BEHAVE!!!!! :D

[Beleg]

Lost??:confused:

[Mrs. Maggott]

I think it is very shortsighted to say that Americans do not have a unique culture. Indeed, we have had it since our colonial days. Benjamin Franklin was scheduled to speak to the British Parliament to comment on the depredations of the Sons of Liberty in Boston after the Boston Tea Party. It had been Franklin's intention to defend the colonists as "Englishmen" when, quite suddenly, he realized that in fact, they were "Americans". He cancelled his appearance and sailed home to help plan and carry out the War of Independence. Up until that time, Franklin had been against any call for independence but he realized that this was in fact a new nation with a new culture in spite of the fact that most of those living in it had come from England or Northern Europe.

However, remember that the United States is huge compared to most other countries. Only countries like China, Russia and India have the size to create sub-cultures within the whole as do we. We have regional cultures (South, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest, Midwest etc.) but, unlike other large countries, we also have the cultures that have been brought with wave after wave of immigration. Thus we have places like "Chinatown" and "Little Italy" which represent not American culture so much as cultures within America. And, of course, New York is a culture unto itself because it has been for the most part the "doorway" for each of these succeeding waves of immigration. Other big cities - Chicago, New Orleans - also have "cultures" which reflect their immigrant population base.

America has a culture and it isn't McDonald's. It is a culture of caring when there is a catastrophe anywhere in the world. Even hard-hearted New Yorkers respond when something happens and they learn about it. (Although, of course, you aren't allowed to talk about it! It ruins the image, you know!)

What many people forget is that at the end of WWII, the world lay in ruins; Europe was almost destroyed, Britain had been impoverished by her war effort (she is only a little country, after all). The Soviet Union (and all that implies) was also facing ruin. Only America was not only untouched by war at home, but had a thriving economy, a huge standing army and navy and a weapon that guaranteed it military supremacy world wide and there was absolutely not one country in the world who could have stood against us had we decided to "take over". And what did America do? Instituted the Marshal Plan (named after a General who wanted to help the suffering people of Europe) which rebuilt the economies of Germany and Japan (as opposed to what happened after WWI when the U.S. was not a central part of the peace process), and quite literally fed the rest of the world (read about things like "Bundles for Britain").

America has a culture - in fact, it has a lot of little cultures, but a country-wide one as well. For those who want to see it in action, I suggest you go back and look at the films and read the books about what happened after September 11th. It says it all.

[Melian]

I was glad to read that at least one American escaped the McDonald's convention. Sure, you do have a culture. It doesn't have to be necessarily ancient, you have given a lot to modern culture.
But, Mrs. Maggot, I wanted this post to be somehow...less political. Don't get me wrong, but I know that besides war, America has much more subjects of interest. Can you please tell of a rite or a tradition or a recipe or describe a place...etc.?!:)

[Mrs. Maggott]

Originally posted by Melian
I was glad to read that at least one American escaped the McDonald's convention. Sure, you do have a culture. It doesn't have to be necessarily ancient, you have given a lot to modern culture.
But, Mrs. Maggot, I wanted this post to be somehow...less political. Don't get me wrong, but I know that besides war, America has much more subjects of interest. Can you please tell of a rite or a tradition or a recipe or describe a place...etc.?!:)
Well, of course. As I noted, America is so large that like other large countries, she has "sub-cultures", which I mentioned in my post. And, of course, many of our ethnic minorities have added to our culture (most people don't realise that delicatessen - which is so familiar to us in New York - can't be found elsewhere in the country but is the result of Jewish immigration into this city!).

I come from a very "split" background. On my mother's side, there are actually Mayflower folk and one of my ancestors is the famous Col. Glover who ferried Washington and his troops over the Delaware on Christmas Eve. On the other side of my mother's family are friends of Simon Bolivar who were forced to flee Argentina and come to the United States during that country's revolution. And there are also Irish immigrants "on me fahther's syde" (Hughes) and English (Cornell) etc. Our family has receipes from near and far, old and new AND "cultural traditions" including some I have a sneaking suspicion we made up! My husband is second generation Greek (his father was born in Greece and his mother in the U.S.), so those traditions have been added to "our" family - and that's how it goes in this country!

But as far as my comments about the war (which, by the way, weren't "political" but simply historical in nature): many Americans (young and not so young) are woefully ignorant of their heritage. But I will tell you that many countries remember. We had a friend who went to Moscow under the old Soviet Union. He had been one of the Merchant Marines who had brought supplies into Murmansk during WWII (a very dangerous trip!) and when that fact became known, he found himself surrounded by greatful Russians who remembered those efforts - and still appreciated them! Every nation has reasons to be proud - AND ashamed. I just thought that it would be good especially for young Americans to hear something positive about their country once in a while. They certainly hear enough on the other side in our schools and through the so-called "mainstream media".

[Melian]

Good for you!:)
Well, I'm certainly impressed by your ancestors! And hasn't there been any story,legend,song etc.,that has been passed on to the generations? You can share it, if you like.

And, yes, you are right that young people shouldn't forget history.
Btw,I am one who doesn't. I'm an Ancient and Medieval History maniac:) ...and I'm only 18!(Hopefully, a future archaeologist).

[Mrs. Maggott]

Originally posted by Melian
Good for you!:)
Well, I'm certainly impressed by your ancestors! And hasn't there been any story,legend,song etc.,that has been passed on to the generations? You can share it, if you like.

And, yes, you are right that young people shouldn't forget history.
Btw,I am one who doesn't. I'm an Ancient and Medieval History maniac:) ...and I'm only 18!(Hopefully, a future archaeologist).
History is an incredibly interesting subject; indeed, it is hard to find a more interesting one! Any history teacher/professor who makes it boring should be taken out and shot, in my humble opinion! And, after all, we who love Tolkien should remember that history is what the man was writing about - albeit, a "history" that never took place in a place that doesn't exist! Furthermore, I believe it was Santayana who said that those who "fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" (a paraphrase, not the actual quote). The lessons of history are quite clear and nowhere is that more obvious than in Tolkien's writings where - allegory or not - many of the bitter lessons he learned in his own life about power and politics, found expression.

Good luck with your future of the past! The more we understand, the better off we are. ;)

[Beleg]

The question has been troubling my mind for a while now.
i would like to ask all of you that whether your country celebrates a National Day and if it does, is their a special reason, a special event, a special story behind it?

[Melian]

That's a great question!

My country, Bulgaria, has about three National holidays of an importance, but the greatest one is celebrated on 03.03.
There is a special reason for it. My people was among those on the Balkans who fell when the Ottomans invaded in Europe. For about 500 years it was ruled over as a part of the mighty Ottoman empire. It was a time of violence and massacres. Bulgarians were discriminated, under the yoke the Turks tried to impose the Islam on them,but they sacrifised their lives, bore the tortures and never gave in. The 500 years of oppression were our Dark Ages of isolation from the world and ignorance and peril.
However, the spirit of past grandeur was never lost. We are an old civilization, descendants of Thracians, Slavs and proto-Bulgarians...and such blood, I believe, is never wasted. We had revolts, we had brave heroes who died and died...
And at last, in 1877-1878 there was a Russian-Turkish war which ultimately led to our freedom. On March 3, there was a crucial battle for a mountain pass. If we had lost it, who knows...we might have never earned our independence. It was a bloody act, the Ottomans were so much more in number...but the heroes held--without weapons,under hte scorching heat,days and nights...they threw tree-trunks and rocks and dead bodies instead of bullets.
Well, that's why we commemorate this day.

[Mrs. Maggott]

Your battle was the Bulgarian equivalent of the Battle of Thermopylae wherein 300 Spartans (and a number of Greeks from other city-states) held off the entire Persian army until they were betrayed and slaughtered to the last man. However, they held the pass for three days which was time enough for the Athenian fleet to put to sea and eventually intercept and destroy the Persian supply line, an event which forced the Persians to retreat from Greece. But had the Spartans not held the pass, Western civilization as we know it would never have come to pass.

I have the greatest admiration for your courageous ancestors who gave all that they had to defend their homeland and their faith. Your celebration is a most worthy one.

God bless.

[Gil-Galad]

ok,here are some sites about Shipka:
http://www.plovdivcityguide.com/Shipka/
http://90.1911encyclopedia.org/S/SH/SHIPKA_PASS.htm
http://www11.brinkster.com/reldavis/shipka4s.jpg -this is the monument of Shipka.

[Lhunithiliel]

Well, Easter is coming and I thought it would be interesting to learn how people from the countries we come from celebrate it.

The first difference comes from the fact that Orthodox Easter differs from the Catholoc one by one week. We celebrate it at the last weekend of the month of April...or sth. like that ...I don't know too much about these religios things...

Anyway, the traditions of the holiday are that matter.

Well, to start with it, long before the day of Easter our tradition requires a period of very severe fast. It's religios, but on the other hand, people say it comes from more ancient times even before Christianity had come to our lands. People used to have such a period of time in order to clear the organism out of all the "heavy" substances accumulated in it during the long months of the winter... And I believe it is so!

Exactly one week before Easter we celebrate the day of the flowers and all people having names of flowers have the so called "name-day". It in fact is to celebrate the moment when Christ enters Jerusalem and people then met him with olive-palm leaves and flowers.

Anyway, the real fun starts on Thirsday when the easter eggs are to be dyed. The first egg should be red and while the paint is still wet on it, the hostess of the house takes from this paint at the tip of the finger and draws little crosses on the foreheads of the children making a "spell" for them being healthy all the year.

Then on Friday we make a special sweet bread with raisins called [kozunak] ;) :) :D which is dellllllllicious!

And then on Saturday we finish up all the preparations for the great day.

On Saturday night people go to the church and there is a great ceremony there and when it is midnight comes the culmination of the event. People light big candles from each other and greet each other with the words: One says: "Christ has resurrected!" Another person answers : "Yes Indeed he has!" Well this is a translation of course of this traditional greeting but all Easter-day long when people meet they greet each other not by the usual "How are you?" or 'Hi!" but this way.

Well, immediately after midnight, all the people go out of the church and go around it three times and then the ceremony continues for about an hour or so and then people go home.

On Sunday morning = Easter, we have a traditional breakfast - the sweet bread and eggs. Each one picks up an egg and then we play a game. We knock our eggs each against the another and see whose egg will stay unbroken - this means that this person will be healthiest of all the family in the house! :)

During the day of Easter people go to church and visit friends. The usual gift that day is that sweet bread and eggs. Sometimes i have about 30 eggs at home! Then I swear I won't eat any more eggs in my life! ;) :D

Well, out in the villages there are much more traditional events taking place but they are too many in order to tell you about.


Well, now it's your turn! :D

[Gil-Galad]

Lhun,we should meet around Easter and have some "fight"with eggs.:p

[Melian]

Well, it's Friday before Easter here. We call it Crucifixion Friday. Today you're sinner if you work (I mean, housework), and all in all it is considered to be a very Holy day. In fact,the whole week from Palm Sunday (the flower holiday of which Lhun told you)preceding Easter is seven days of specific customs. Just like we painted the eggs on Great Thirsday, Friday is connected with some quaint traditions. For example, you go to church at night and evrybody has to go under a huge table in the church (it is believed you'll be healthy if you do this),and the table is hardly seen for the piles of flowers people leave on it. And then you go round the church three times and pluck some grass and bring it home...
That's what I'll be doing tonight.But I won't go to one of those crowded city churches. We're heading to the mountains in a picturesque country church where you can go back in time observing the old native women who still paint eggs by boiling them in water with onion skins to obtain the red colour;sing in the church choir and fast meticulously for 50 days...

[Finduilas]

Now since there are no holidays around...why don't we find something else to tell about?:)
Since we have so many this-year-graduating people here,I suggest that they tell us about their greatest experience,show photos,etc. (I personally will show you photos of GG ;) )
What do you say?

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Finduilas
Now since there are no holidays around...why don't we find something else to tell about?:)
Since we have so many this-year-graduating people here,I suggest that they tell us about their greatest experience,show photos,etc. (I personally will show you photos of GG ;) )
What do you say?
Excuse me?!Am I cool enough to show photos of me?!!:eek: I don't think so,and at the same time we have Forum Photo Album,where we can post our photos.

[Finduilas]

Originally posted by Gil-Galad
Excuse me?!Am I cool enough to show photos of me?!!:eek: I don't think so,and at the same time we have Forum Photo Album,where we can post our photos.

OK,I'm sorry,don't be mad at me.:(
I just wondered that you and Melian could tell us something about your experience...:(

[Beleg]

Gil-Galad I think you are cool enough and I feel that many other ladies and ladies also think that way. :cool:
But talking about experiences I would love to listen to any unique school/everyday experiences experienced by anyone.
Come on! Anyone!
I hope Gil-Galad is ready to share some of his "Unique" episodes with us when he comes back.:)

[Gil-Galad]

ok,when I come back I'll tell you a unique story with lots of alcohol in my Bulgrian Literature Lessons.Just wait till the next week.

[Melian]

OK, we are back!
We graduates are strange and easily recognizable folks. Now, if you see someone with red eyes on the streets with a seasaw walk and loss of memory--that's certainly one of us.
Well, it has been gorgeous and we scarcely got any sleep the last 5 days. It was the prom night first and then on the next night we caught the train and had a night 5-and-a half-hour trip to the seaside. There, still dizzy, malnurtured but well drunk, we continued the endless party for some four days and nights.
G-G. surely has to tell you much about his macho experience...and I've had some affairs too...
Really, you should see the photos any day now--here and in the album.Let us only get some sleep and take a time to remember the way to the photo studio! :)

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Melian
OK, we are back!
We graduates are strange and easily recognizable folks. Now, if you see someone with red eyes on the streets with a seasaw walk and loss of memory--that's certainly one of us.
Well, it has been gorgeous and we scarcely got any sleep the last 5 days. It was the prom night first and then on the next night we caught the train and had a night 5-and-a half-hour trip to the seaside. There, still dizzy, malnurtured but well drunk, we continued the endless party for some four days and nights.
G-G. surely has to tell you much about his macho experience...and I've had some affairs too...
Really, you should see the photos any day now--here and in the album.Let us only get some sleep and take a time to remember the way to the photo studio! :)
MACHO ?!! ME?!!
Actually she is right we need some time to have a rest from the whole mesh,casue for the last 7 days I have slept only 20 hours,and there was too much alcohol in our blood to be able to remember something

[Finduilas]

G-G. surely has to tell you much about his macho experience...and I've had some affairs too...
Really, you should see the photos any day now--here and in the album.Let us only get some sleep and take a time to remember the way to the photo studio!

Actually she is right we need some time to have a rest from the whole mesh,casue for the last 7 days I have slept only 20 hours,and there was too much alcohol in our blood to be able to remember something

OK......:D
Now a lot of time passed......
We saw some pictures but we (or at least the others) didn't hear about any of the macho experiences .....;)
So should we keep waiting.....;)

[Gil-Galad]

hhmmhmhm Findi,please,we are waiting for the happy end of the story,it's still developing.

[Lhunithiliel]

Chrismass is coming .....
So, I thought that this thread will finally get its chance of reviving.

Let's think about the Christmas traditions in our respective countries and tell the others about them.

But even before that, could someone tell us more about Halloween?

[Gil-Galad]

I celebrated my first Halloween in Belgium and it was very interesting,though I had some problems with my costume and I had to change it with ordinary clothes in the very beginning of the party.I promise to post some pictures if you want!!

[Gil-Galad]

I decided to show you some pictures from my first Halloween!!!I had really bad luck because five minutes after I put on my costume ( an extremely sweet condom) I had to change myself.That didn't disturb me much and I really enjoyed myself.
The first pic is with a friend of mine from Turkey,a chinese boy,pretending to be chinese women :D :D :D and me(with the blue jacket).

[Gil-Galad]

hmhm the second one is while I'm trying to take an apple!!!I was the first and the fastest one!!
Hooray for the High King!!!

[Gil-Galad]

Who will be faster?!!
I was faster of course!!!!

[Starbrow]

My friend and I took our kids Trick or Treating on Halloween. My children are 6 and 3 years old and my friend's son is almost 2. It was his first time Trick or Treating. It was funny to see how quickly he learned to go up to strangers' homes and get free candy. Some of the houses are very elaborately decorated and a little bit frightening to the youngest kids. This holiday is certainly celebrated more since I was a little kid.

I'd include a picture of my kids in their costumes if I knew how to attach it (hint, hint).

[Lhunithiliel]

Hehehe ... Pigs! :D

But you know... It was strange to see those photos...I mean... We here in Bulgaria used to have a similar tradition.
On Christmas (the Orthodox one - 6-th January) there used to be such funny "competitions" for kids. I remember we had to take out a coin out of a tray full of flour! :D

And... Who can tell us more about the Halloween as a holiday - some historical facts, some data, some...thing :)

[Gil-Galad]

Actually the who celebration seemed new and unknown for me,except for the drinking part ;) :D :cool: .
Lhun,I we too have a similar celebration with masks nad costumes,bua as you know it is in the end of the winter and in the beginning of the spring.We call them
kukeri .at the moment I am too lazy to provide any information about them,can you do it for all Bulgarians here?
;)

[Starbrow]

Here's the little bit I know.

The name Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve. It is the night before All Saints Day, the day in the church calendar when we remember those who died before us. It is also related to a pagan festival held in the fall.

Many of the traditions started as ways to frighten away evil beings. Large vegetables were hollowed out and carved with faces to scare away the spirits. Now we carve pumpkins, called jack-o-lanterns, put a candle inside and set it on the porch.

[Gil-Galad]

This is basic information at all.But can tell us some more about Hallloween.When was celebrated for first time,when and etc. ...

[Finduilas]

Here's some information for our so called Mummer's Day (yes in English it is 'mummer' while in Bulgarian it is 'kuker'..;) ):

The masquerade games and customs in Bulgaria have ancient origin and could be observed as inherent to the ancient heathendom. They are connected to the eternal circle of the nature – birth, bloom, death and resurrection as well as to the daily routine and social life.
Cheerful, deeply implanted in the mode of life of the people, the winter
Sourvakar’s and pre-spring Mummer’s games and customs have survived and have reached us, the modern people.
With their strange clothes made of fur, cut shirts or women’s clothes, sewed up of bands, mixture of national costumes and animal masks and horrifying faces, with continuous ringing of different in size and sound bells, these masquerade games and customs with their lively dancing ritual steps reflect the eternal fight between Light and Darkness, Good and Evil. They are really amazing with their local colors, whims of the people’s imagination and originality.
One of the most important holidays of the Bulgarians are the New Year’s holidays. The winter Sourvakar’s holidays according to their origin are Slav. Their names in separate regions of Bulgaria are different – “sourvakare”, “nevesta”, “vasilchare”, “mechkare”, “starzi”. The animal masks are typical for the Sourvakar’s customs.
The Mummer’s pre-spring customs have Thracian base and are connected with seeing the New Year in the first Sunday before Lent or the first week of Lent. The so called “gugli” (“hoods”) are typical for the mummer’s masks. They can be peaked or truncated, magnificently decorated with beads, ribbons, woolen braids, pieces of mirror and flowers The participants in the games are called “kukeri”, “kukove”, “babugeri” etc. These customs are spread mostly in Thrace, Southeast and Northeast Bulgaria.
The Municipality of Pernik took a decision for holding the masquerade festiva\l called “Pernik Winter” in April 1965. The first festival took part in April 1965. The second festival in 1967 already turned into “national”. It rose a great interest and since 1979 regional reviews are hold. The festival become international since 1990.

[Finduilas]

And here are some pictures of Mummers' masks:

[Finduilas]

More:

[Finduilas]

And more...

[Finduilas]

Now more...:)

[Finduilas]

More..:P no end a?;)

[Finduilas]

The last one:
:)

[Gil-Galad]

Great pictures Findi,they really made me homesick................:( :( :(

[Finduilas]

:(
Here I'll attach one picture in order to remind you of us...:)

I hope it will make you less homesick:).

[Finduilas]

Sorry for the double post but it turns out that the photo is too little. :( Here it is:

[Gil-Galad]

As usual you are amazingly beautiful ;)!!!!

[drjekil_bg]

How can someone disagree.always making everyone around you happy with your incredible look.

[celebdraug]

who is who in the photograph? :confused:

[Finduilas]

Nice avatar draug;)! Congratulations!:)

I am the one with the black jeans and brown top, who is lying in in the girl with the green shirt and wide smile...;):)

The two other girls are both my classmates and the boy, Atanas, is a pupil from the other class.
The girl in who I am lying is called Rados ( for short, it comes from Radoslava) and the other one is Hristomira.
:)

[celebdraug]

Cheers! :D

You're pretty!
Whatkind of names are Radoslava and Hristomira. They both sound really nice! :)

[Finduilas]

Hoho...you want Rados's MSN? ;):D

Anyway, they are both Bulgarian names, but unfortunately, the 'male versions' are more spread in BG: Hristo/ Hristomir and Radoslav. But the female ones indeed sound better! :p

*Waiting for the-shy-Draug's picture...* :rolleyes: :D

[celebdraug]

Yea, i wouldnt mind!

(if anyone wants my msn it celeb_draug@hotmail.com )

Finduilas, i see what i can do about some GOOD pictures! there are some summer ones but i still havent got them developed! (im too lazy...)
:)

[Lhunithiliel]

Kids, behave, will you! :p

There is a thread for posting pictures - "Meet the Guild"
And there's another one where you can have a friendly chat about whatever is on your wild hearts! - "I'll be there for you"

Respcet order! ;) :D

[Scatha]

Always the wraith to spoil the fun. ;) :p :D

[Lhunithiliel]

****The wraith flyes away on her beast.... a wicked laugh echoing from afar...chilling the blood...shadowing the eyes... filling the hearts with despair....****:p :D :D :D

[Finduilas]

Originally posted by Lhunithiliel
****The wraith flyes away on her beast.... a wicked laugh echoing from afar...chilling the blood...shadowing the eyes... filling the hearts with despair....****:p :D :D :D

Hmm...Should GG move this post to the I'll be there for you Thread...;)...ha Mom?;)

Keep the order, Mom! ;):D

*Shuts up*...:)

[Gil-Galad]

Well,this time the King will be good and merciful(one of our Wraiths did a wonderful job ;) ),but I would like to ask you to try to post the right post in the right threads.And there are some things and information which can be sent through pm s :) ;)

[Eledhwen]

Different parts of Britain have different traditions. I have just come back from Scotland where I went for Hogmanay (New Year). We had haggis (don't ask!) with tatties and neeps (potatoes and swede) and sang Auld Lang Syne at the stroke of midnight (this song has filtered further south now, but without the understanding). Variations on 'first footing' involve a man leaving the party and not coming back in until he has found a sprig of evergreen and a lump of coal, or taking said items to another party. Traditions are disappearing, however, as people get more fearful of leaving their homes open. However, if you live in London, there's always Trafalgar Square. In my younger days, I managed to scale a barrier, run between the police cordon and scale the second pedestal tier of Nelson's column before being caught by the foot (more sensible than dipping in the fountains). Aaah tradition!

The town I now live in seems to have forgotten its old traditions, which seem to have been mainly market based (hiring fairs, etc), but that's not altogether a bad thing, as one of them involved a 'cucking stool' for ducking garullous women in the local pond. But where I was brought up (Cumbria) there are still rushbearing ceremonies and beating the parish bounds on Rogation Sunday. The local Morrismen perform Mummas plays (medieval) and of course their traditional Morris dances. The Grasmere Sports are a local highlight, with the Cumberland wrestling in highly embroidered white long-johns, fell running and donkey derby among other sports.

Though this country is small, there are many other strange local customs unheard of outside their own regions involving flowers, cheeses, pancakes, eggs, etc., depending on the time of year.

And in November, of course, we all set fire to Guy Fawkes.

[celebdraug]

haggis is sheeps stomach right?
eurgh!"!!

[celebdraug]

Hello? Um... do you know how to intrest more people to come to join here?
http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?t=13038&page=3&pp=15

[Barliman Butterbur]

... If you can think of any typical customs, songs, holidays, fairy tales, fables, proverbs and so on and so on, characteristic of your country and hometown, please post it here! I hope we get as much as possible of different flavours!

On New Year's Eve in Los Angeles (a small but wild and wooly part of the Southfarthing avoided by the wise), we shoot off guns in the air...

Lotho

[Eledhwen]

On New Year's Eve in Los Angeles (a small but wild and wooly part of the Southfarthing avoided by the wise), we shoot off guns in the air...

LothoYou'd be arrested in seconds if you did that here, and your gun licence would be revoked.

[Barliman Butterbur]

You'd be arrested in seconds if you did that here, and your gun licence would be revoked.

These folks don't bother with licenses.

Lotho

[Úlairi]

Americans and their lethal toys. sheeeesh. ;)

[Barliman Butterbur]

Americans and their lethal toys. sheeeesh. ;)

That is NOT funny! Do not tar all of us with the same brush! If I knew what country you were from, I'm sure I'd find something to make a similar and equally stupid stereotype about. But I wouldn't.

Lotho

[Eledhwen]

That is NOT funny! Do not tar all of us with the same brush! If I knew what country you were from, I'm sure I'd find something to make a similar and equally stupid stereotype about. But I wouldn't.

LothoWe have the same sort of clowns here, but they wouldn't get away with shooting off guns because a small island like Britain is easier to police.

We have in the past been very hobbitlike - for instance, we believe ourselves to be the only nation in the European Union that enforces all the rules (some of them pretty stupid) and a greengrocer now has a criminal record for selling bananas by the pound instead of the kilo.

[Barliman Butterbur]

we believe ourselves to be the only nation in the European Union that enforces all the rules (some of them pretty stupid) and a greengrocer now has a criminal record for selling bananas by the pound instead of the kilo.

Would that we had similar problems instead of the ones we have!:eek:

(By the way, I notice that something is happening to the green skin on the website — it seems to be getting a kind of ghastly grey to it — something like I'd imagine the color of water in the bogs and swamps in and around Gorgoroth...)

Lotho

[Eledhwen]

(By the way, I notice that something is happening to the green skin on the website — it seems to be getting a kind of ghastly grey to it — something like I'd imagine the color of water in the bogs and swamps in and around Gorgoroth...)

LothoIt's verdigris. Someone left the server out in the rain.

Sometimes I think I would rather have problems with hotheads than be in a system that criminalises someone for not weighing their fruit and veg in the right units. Which problem is the most insidious?

On a lighter note, I'd like to mention the Cumberland Gerners. Here is a news item on this quaint English custom The World Gurning Championships is taking place at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria.

Contestants are required to wear a horse collar while they pull their best grotesque and extraordinary faces.

Reigning World Gurning Champion Peter Jackman is hoping to defend his title at the show today.

The championships are thought to date back to the days when the village idiot was invited to pull funny faces in exchange for a few pints of beer.

Other attractions at the fair, which dates back 730 years, include Cumberland Wrestling, Morris Dancing and a ferret show.

[elffriend]

As i live in Wales on St Davids day we have Eisteddfod, which is a type of competition, were choirs, and people sing, and recite poetry. One custom that only occurs in this part of wales is called Primrose day, this occurs on the sunday nearest to 21st of april, tradtionally children would go and pick a large bunch of Primroses and give to their mother, then in the evening the bunch of primroses would be put in the window and a candle lit, so that the spring planting would grow to a good harvest.
New years eve we have first footing, were a dark heade male with alump of coal would tap your door, to give you good luck for the coming year, and we also would open the back door to let out the old year and then open the front door to let in the new year.

[Úlairi]

That is NOT funny! Do not tar all of us with the same brush! If I knew what country you were from, I'm sure I'd find something to make a similar and equally stupid stereotype about. But I wouldn't.

Lotho

I never wanted it to be funny! Go ahead! I'm an Aussie, bet you can't tell me one I haven't already heard. You Americans classify all of us with the most close-minded and simplitic comments I've ever seen, and not a single American I've talked to hasn't said something of an idiotic nature about my country. Do they teach evolution over there? We're all a bunch of friggin' yobbos who have zero IQ, and like to eat out of the palm of the hand of America. Take your best shot!

[Eledhwen]

Do they teach evolution over there? I'm English, and I don't believe the theory of evolution - too many holes.

[Barliman Butterbur]

I'm English, and I don't believe the theory of evolution - too many holes.

What holeless theory do you believe?:)

Lotho

[Barliman Butterbur]

I never wanted it to be funny! Go ahead! I'm an Aussie, bet you can't tell me one I haven't already heard. You Americans classify all of us with the most close-minded and simplitic comments I've ever seen, and not a single American I've talked to hasn't said something of an idiotic nature about my country. Do they teach evolution over there? We're all a bunch of friggin' yobbos who have zero IQ, and like to eat out of the palm of the hand of America. Take your best shot!

Not THIS American! So don't lump me in with the few American morons who have denigrated Australia.

Lotho

[Eledhwen]

What holeless theory do you believe?:)

LothoNot holeless, holy; but this is the sort of stuff that won't easily melt in the pot.

[Melian Le Fay]

In every nation you always have stupid, close-minded, stereotype-prone people, as you too have intelligent, open-minded people like us! :p
No, I'm serious. Every culture, every country has it's funny, unecessary or intriguing custom. And every country (or people) has flaws and traits.
Let's not argue about our differences and let's not do this "my countri/people" is in superior to yours in this and that... There' s no need to be arrogant on national basis...
Let's talk about positive stuff in our societies...

I noticed there are plenty of people here who are not from English - spoken countries... quite a lot from southern Europe... Like me! :D

I personally enjoy "talking" to people from USA, Uk, Aussie... I get to correct my english grammar! :p :D

[Finduilas]

Hehe...:p

Ok, let's not argue about our differences...;)

So, you're from Serbia..?;)
Hail, neighbour!:D
Tell us about some of your costums..for example, in Bulgaria on 14th February we celebrate not only St. Valentine Day but also the Day of Wine - Trifon Zarezan...:D So it's kinda merry and joyful on the 14th...:D

[Starflower]

In Finland Feb 14th is a day for friends more than lovers, it is a day when you remember your friends, especially those who live far away. It is a time to celebrate the people who are there for you when you need them, who you can turn to and who turn to you . Now that I'm in England I find Valentine's Day a bit forced, everywhere you see adverts about Valentine's Day, it is about roses and cards and pink champagne.... it is as if you have to be romantic, if you are single you have to find yourself someone to spend Valentine's with otherwise you are 'strange'. I have told my fiancee that of course it would be nice to receive roses and chocolate for a present on Valentine's Day, but it mustn't be the only time of the year for those... and he shouldn't give me presents just because 'it's the thing to do'. I much preferred the Finnish version, where you really appreciate your friends.

:)

[Manveru]

Tell us about some of your costums..for example, in Bulgaria on 14th February we celebrate not only St. Valentine Day but also the Day of Wine - Trifon Zarezan...:D So it's kinda merry and joyful on the 14th...:D
Yeah, I've heard about that (is that your nose, Trifon?--hope I recall well... :p:D ).

BTW: Here in the beautiful (;)) land of PL, St. Valentine is a patron of the sick (not only lovers, who are sick of love;)), if I recall well--epilepsy in specific. This came from our neighbours, Germans, who sought the meaning of his name in the etymology of their language (ger.verb. fallen--to fall--padac(in PL), hence padaczka--epilepsy is called St. Valentine's disease in PL). Oh, it's a religious-tradition-matter, don't know if I'm right about it (if there are no "loud nays";), guess I'll be right then:D).

[Melian Le Fay]

In Finland Feb 14th is a day for friends more than lovers, it is a day when you remember your friends, especially those who live far away. It is a time to celebrate the people who are there for you when you need them, who you can turn to and who turn to you . Now that I'm in England I find Valentine's Day a bit forced, everywhere you see adverts about Valentine's Day, it is about roses and cards and pink champagne.... it is as if you have to be romantic, if you are single you have to find yourself someone to spend Valentine's with otherwise you are 'strange'. I have told my fiancee that of course it would be nice to receive roses and chocolate for a present on Valentine's Day, but it mustn't be the only time of the year for those... and he shouldn't give me presents just because 'it's the thing to do'. I much preferred the Finnish version, where you really appreciate your friends.

:)

I agree with you on that "forced holiday spirit"... Nothing kills my holiday spirit like advertising and mass-consumption... It's the same with Christmas - it's all turned into buy, buy, buy...

Since we're Orthodox, we don't celebrate St. Valentine, but St. Trifun (just like you guys, Findi). Except our's isn't "cut-off" ;) :p Here too, St. Trifun is wine patron, but he is also patron of those in love, those who love, and those out of love - but searching for it... And like in Finland, he's also patron of friends... But recentrly, due to globalisation, and great popularity of Anglo-American culture, more and more people started bothering about roses, chocolates, romantics... It's really getting forced now to do something special on this day... Like you can't do anything special any other day! :D

As for some Serbian customs... For example, we celebrate St. patron's day. Each family has a saint (biblical or later) who is taken as a patron of the family. In church calendar, there is a day of each saint patron, so all families who celebrate it gather home and have a special dinner. We bake (or nowadays, buy) a special "saint-day" bread which is actually sweet and decorated with little bough-made figurines of birds, fruit, amblems, etc. Then, before dinner, the bread is cut, then the host pours some wine in it (symbols of Christianity) and they lit a special candle. Then family says prayer and then comes a rich dinner. The old custom says this should be celebrated for three days, 'cause the next two days we invite friends, distant relatives, etc. But nobody has that much free time... One doesn't have to be religious to celebrate this, it's more the matter of tradition and a family holiday. The cool part about this, for us, "kids" is that we don't have to go to school... :D

[Lhunithiliel]

Guys, I need some help here! :)

My daughter, who's studying tourism, is working on a project - An entertaining programme for foreign tourists ... And now, we need to learn about some popular indoor games ... You know ... such games people like playing while being with friends ... having fun...

Can you share with me some info on such games in your countries ... PLEASE! :)

wraithfully yours :)

[Manveru]

chess? oh, i forgot it should include fun :p well, who told it isn't? it's funny (and amusing, as whole PL :rolleyes: ) when you make it funny...

isn't the best option? oh, need to think a little on that... as they say here: indoor (esp. house) people just... die (out of boredom, of course)

*thinking hard*

[Inderjit S]

Hm...indoor? Table tennis and ping pong are two great options.

Snooker and pool may be good options too, though more costly then the former.

[Lhunithiliel]

Thanks, guys! :)

What would really entertain and amuse you very much?
Cards, chess... they could be but not for a bunch of people gathered in one place for a short time....

Inder, what is "Snooker and pool "???

[Gil-Galad]

Snooker is the one of the greatest games I've seen.

Hey,Inder,what would you say about Ronny O'Sullivan?I love him ;)

Well,Pool and Snooker are quite good games.But they are difficult.Darts is also good decision.

She can also make a kind of indoor karaoke.I have a friend of mine who works in tourist industry in "Albena" and according to him that is probably the best way for indoors entertainment.

Some board games too....like RISK :)-I am addicted to RISK :)

Lhun,pool is billiard,and snooker is a kind of pool,but much more difficult and interesting.

[Inderjit S]

Cards, chess... they could be but not for a bunch of people gathered in one place for a short time....

I don't know cards...may be fun....chess is a lot more bookwormish...not as "fun" or group involving as table tennis, pool etc. and a lot more healthy.

Hey,Inder,what would you say about Ronny O'Sullivan?I love him

I haven't bothered watching the Crucible this year....but from what I hear he has stole the show.

She can also make a kind of indoor karaoke.

hahaha! karaoke is as cool as hell! I always end up embarassing myself and my freinds with my rather teribble singing voice.

[Manveru]

Snooker is the one of the greatest games I've seen.
no kidding... at first year of studying english (oh, my... it was so long ago :rolleyes: ) i learnt better how to play snooker than all those english grammar stuff (which almost cost me too much nerves in the end--oh, well... risky students' life;))
Well,Pool and Snooker are quite good games.But they are difficult.
how come? you take a stick, aim... hit a ball into a pocket... easy as ABC (grr, still struggling with the continuation of that...:p)
best way to spend time while having "one small..." ;) cool atmosphere... especially in a pub (that's indoor, right?)

as for darts... it's dangerous, maaaaan! (tho good for "i hate you!" *throw* -- especially for people with huge imagination -- whatever you do, don't try this at home :D)

----------
try here (for snooker) (http://www.billiardworld.com/snooker.html) & here (for pool) (http://arseweb.com/rupe/pool/uk_rules.html), wraith :) have fun

[Lhunithiliel]

Ah! :rolleyes: ... Now I understand why you, people, when coming to my country are having such a great fun... We just know how to entertain you!!! :p :D :D :D

...snooker, pool.... Nah! Not appropriate... And as for karaoke - we have incluided that already; we've also included folk dance and several other games... but I was hoping to learn about a very entertaining game people in your country usually enjoy.

Hmm... imagine you are in a restaurant or some other place inside the hotel where you are on a vacation ... What show would you like to watch and IF possible - participate in?

[Finduilas]

Ah! :rolleyes: ... Now I understand why you, people, when coming to my country are having such a great fun... We just know how to entertain you!!! :p :D :D

...snooker, pool.... Nah! Not appropriate... And as for karaoke - we have incluided that already; we've also included folk dance and several other games... but I was hoping to learn about a very entertaining game people in your country usually enjoy.

Hmm... imagine you are in a restaurant or some other place inside the hotel where you are on a vacation ... What show would you like to watch and IF possible - participate in?

Well, let's see....my country? :rolleyes: :p

Seriously, in Turkey (Kushadasa, not sure of the spelling... ), there was a great child-game...but it was quite interesting for older ones too. Every evening there was a schedule. The DJ plays one and the same music (children's of course) and there's a particular dance which you have to perform during each song. They show you the dance and all the children start dancing...ping-ponging... :D .
After that there's a presenter, who invites some of the children to sit in his lap and he asks them questions about their country and then asks them to sing something.
That's quite entertaining.... :rolleyes: :p

If I think of something else, I'll tell you..;)

[Gil-Galad]

Ah! :rolleyes: ... Now I understand why you, people, when coming to my country are having such a great fun... We just know how to entertain you!!! :p :D :D :D

...snooker, pool.... Nah! Not appropriate... And as for karaoke - we have incluided that already; we've also included folk dance and several other games... but I was hoping to learn about a very entertaining game people in your country usually enjoy.

Hmm... imagine you are in a restaurant or some other place inside the hotel where you are on a vacation ... What show would you like to watch and IF possible - participate in?

POP FOLK MUSIC?heheh with lots of alcohol?and the famous beautiful bulgarian women??

hmhmhm .........;I want back in Bulgaria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Inderjit S
I haven't bothered watching the Crucible this year....but from what I hear he has stole the show.

Indeed.He was amazingly perfect.In the final game he was hopelessly behind- 0:5 after the first 5 frames,but he won!!!!!!

[Lhunithiliel]

ALL TTF-ers INVITED ! :)