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Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social institutions > Customs & folklore > Customs
This is an examination of human encounter with death in Germany
from the eve of the Reformation to the rise of Pietism. The
Protestant Reformation transformed the funeral more profoundly than
any other ritual of the traditional church. Luther's doctrine of
salvation by faith alone made the foundation of the traditional
funeral, intercession for the dead in Purgatory, obsolete. By
drawing on anthropological interpretations of death ritual, this
study explores the changing relationships between the body, the
soul, the living and the dead in the daily life of early modern
Germany.
Designed for both academic and lay audiences, this book identifies
the characteristics of ritual and, via multiple examples, details
how ritual works on the human body and brain to produce its often
profound effects. These include enhancing courage, effecting
healing, and generating group cohesion by enacting cultural-or
individual-beliefs and values. It also shows what happens when
ritual fails.
Each year, thousands of communities across the United States
celebrate their ethnic heritages, values, and identities through
the medium of festivals. Drawing together elements of ethnic pride,
nostalgia, religious values, economic motives, cultural memory, and
a spirit of celebration, these festivals are performances that
promote and preserve a community's unique identity and heritage,
while at the same time attempting to place the ethnic community
within the larger American experience. Although these aims are
pervasive across ethnic heritage celebrations, two festivals that
appear similar may nevertheless serve radically different social
and political aims. Accordingly, The Dutch American Identity
examines five Dutch American festivals-three of which are among the
oldest ethnic heritage festivals in the United States-in order to
determine what such festivals mean and do for the staging
communities. Although Dutch Americans were historically among the
first ethnic groups to stage ethnic heritage festivals designed to
attract outside audiences, and despite the fact that several Dutch
American festivals have met with sustained success, little
scholarship has focused on this ethnic group's festivals. Moreover,
studies that have considered festivals staged by communities of
European descent have typically focused on a single festival. The
Dutch American Identity thus, on the one hand, seeks to call
attention to the historical development and current sociocultural
significance of Dutch American heritage festivals. On the other
hand, this study aims to elucidate the ties that bind the five
communities that stage these festivals together rather than
studying one festival in isolation from the others. Creatively
combining several methodologies, The Dutch American Identity
describes and analyzes how the social, political, and ethical
values of the five communities are expressed (performed, acted out,
represented, costumed, and displayed) in their respective
festivals. Rather than relying on familiar, even stereotypical,
notions of "the Midwest," "rural America," "conservative America,"
etc., that often appear in contemporary political discourse,
Schoone-Jongen shows just how complex and contradictory these
festivals are in the ways they represent each community. At the
same time, by placing these festivals within the context of
American history, Schoone-Jongen also demonstrates how and why each
festival is a microcosm of particular cultural, social, and
political developments in modern America. The Dutch American
Identity is an important book for sociology, performance studies,
folklore, immigration history, anthropology, and cultural history
collections.
Shortlisted for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award 2000.
Relationships between dress and the body have existed in European
and Anatolian folk cultures well into the twentieth century.
Traditional cultures have long held the belief that certain
articles of dress could protect the body from harm by warding off
the 'evil eye,' bring fertility to new brides, or assure human
control of supernatural powers. Ritual fringes, archaic motifs, and
colors such as black and red were believed to have powerful,
magical effects. This absorbing and interdisciplinary book examines
dress in a broad range of folk cultures - from Turkey, Greece, and
Slovakia to Norway, Latvia, and Lithuania, to name but a few.
Authors reveal the connection between folk dress and ancient myths,
cults and rituals, as well as the communicative aspects of folk
dress. How is an individual attired in a specific ensemble located
within a community? Is the community the gendered one of women, the
village of residence, the larger geographical region or the nation?
The intriguing connections between dress and the supernatural
beliefs of agrarian communities, as well as the reinvention of such
beliefs as part of nationalism, are also discussed. This book
represents a significant contribution to the growing body of
literature on the cultural meanings of dress, as well as to
material culture, anthropology, folklore, art history,
ethnohistory, and linguistics. Nominated for Millia Davenport award
The first text of its kind to trace the combined history of Latino
groups in the United States from 1500 to the present day. Latinos
have lived in North America for over 400 years, arriving decades
before the Pilgrims and other English settlers. Yet for many
outside of Latino ethnic groups, little is known about the cultures
that comprise the Latino community ... surprising considering their
increasing presence in the U.S. population-over 50 million
individuals at the latest census. This book explores the heritage
and history of Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, and
Central and South Americans. Unlike similar history surveys on
these communities, this book places the 500 years of Latino history
into a single narrative. Each chapter discusses the collective
group within a particular time period-moving chronologically from
1500 to the present-revealing the shared experiences of community
building and discrimination in the United States, the central role
of Latinas and Latinos in their communities, and the diversity that
exists within the communities themselves. Features a timetable of
major events in Latina/o history Emphasizes the bonds between
different groups rather than their differences Includes images and
illustrations to reinforce learning Connects the shared histories
of various Latino communities
With great care and judicious inclusion of noteworthy material,
Gunde has provided a one-stop reference on the contributions of the
Chinese and their way of life. In one volume, the essence of
China--past and present--is brilliantly captured. The extensive
coverage includes chapters on the land, history, and people;
thought and religion; literature and art; music and dance; food and
clothing; architecture and housing; family and gender; and holidays
and leisure activities. The volume is further enhanced by a
chronology, guide to pronunciation, glossary, suggested readings,
numerous photos, and volume map.
China is ever-important on the global stage as the world's
second-largest and most populous country. Up-to-date and written
with warmth, eloquence, and authority, "Culture and Customs of
China" will be a popular source for students and the interested
reader seeking to understand the modern people and culture in the
context of an ancient history.
There are no recipes for what the Indians ate in Colonial times,
but this cookbook uses period quotations to detail what and how the
foodstuffs were prepared. The bulk of the cookbook is devoted to
what the European immigrants cooked and what evolved into American
cooking. The first colonists from England brought their foodways to
America. The basic foods that Americans of European descent ate
changed very little from 1600 to 1840. While the major basic foods
remained the same, their part in the total diet changed. Americans
at the end of the period ate far more beef and chicken than did the
first colonists. They used more milk, butter and cream. They also
ate more wheat in the form of breads, cakes, cookies, crackers and
cereals. The same was true with fruits. Over time the more exotic
vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, and numerous
root vegetables including both sweet and white potatoes became
common vegetables. By the end of this period, many Americans were
even eating foods like tomatoes, okra, and sesame, which were
unknown to their ancestors. In addition, Americans, like their
relatives in Europe, incorporated coffee, tea, and chocolate into
their diets as well as more sugar. Along with them came new
customs, such as tea time, and, for men, socializing at
coffeehouses. Also, distilled beverages, particularly rum, which
was often made into a punch with citrus juices, were increasingly
used. Basic cooking technology also remained the same throughout
the period, and the cookbook gives a sense of how meals were
prepared. The open hearth provided the major heat source. As time
passed, though, more and more people could afford to have
wood-fired brick ovens in theirhomes. Although the recipes
presented here from the first century of colonization come from
cookbooks written for people of upper status, by the end of the
time period, literacy rates were much higher among men and women.
European and American authors published numerous cookbooks that
were relatively inexpensive and available, so it is reasonable to
assume that those recipes were representative of actual American
cookery practices. Many changes occurred to cookbooks and recipes
during this period. The recipes became more detailed and more
reliant on standard measures, and the recipes were for foods that
are less complicated and expensive to prepare. This fact is more a
sign that cookbooks were being written for a less wealthy group of
readers than that tastes and appetites had changed. The trend
toward simple and frugal foods continued up to 1840 and beyond, a
sign that readership had expanded as well as an indicator of what
the bulk of Americans were eating. As well, recipes that were
considered American were developed. All of these recipes are in
their original form and have been taken from contemporary published
or private cookbooks. The explanations after the recipes give
historical information and suggestions if the recipe is vague or if
it calls for an unusual ingredient. Dining tips are included as
well. Period illustrations complement the recipes.
Food is not only something we eat, it is something we use to define
ourselves. Ingestion and incorporation are central to our
connection with the world outside our bodies. Food's powerful
social, economic, political and symbolic roles cannot be
ignored--what we eat is a marker of power, cultural capital, class,
ethnic and racial identity. "Bite Me" considers the ways in which
popular culture reveals our relationship with food and our own
bodies and how these have become an arena for political and
ideological battles. Drawing on an extraordinary range of
material--films, books, comics, songs, music videos, websites,
slang, performances, advertising and mass-produced objects--"Bite
Me" invites the reader to take a fresh look at today's products and
practices to see how much food shapes our lives, perceptions and
identities.
From Martin Luther King Day to Waitangi Day, this collection
surveys the gamut of national holidays. The celebrations analyzed
include anniversaries of independence, religious observances, and
government holidays. The analysis of each national day revolves
around the role that communications play in uniting a country's
citizenry. Entries cover individual countries but intertwine to
provide a holistic view of the topic of national days. Countries
covered: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the Ukraine, and the United States.
This book offers an interpretation of Yoruba people's affective
responses to an adult Yoruba male with a 'deviant' hairstyle. The
work, which views hairstyles as a form of symbolic communicative
signal that encodes messages that are perceived and interpreted
within a culture, provides an ontological and epistemological
interpretation of Yoruba beliefs regarding dreadlocks with
real-life illustrations of their treatment of an adult male with
what they term irun were (insane person's hairdo). Based on
experiential observations as well as socio-cultural and linguistic
analyses, the book explores the dynamism of Yoruba worldview
regarding head-hair within contemporary belief systems and
discusses some of the factors that assure its continuity. It
concludes with a cross-cultural comparison of the perceptions of
dreadlocks, especially between Nigerian Yoruba people an d African
American Yoruba practitioners.
Alcohol is not only big business, it has become an essential part
of social relations in so many cultures that its global importance
may be outdistancing its critics. Despite grim health warnings, its
consumption is at an all-time high in many parts of the developed
world. Perhaps because drinking has always played a key role in
identity, its uses and meanings show no signs of abating. What does
sake tell us about Japan or burgundy about France? How does the act
of consuming or indeed abstaining from alcohol tie in with
self-presentation, ethnicity, class and culture? How important is
alcohol to feelings of belonging and notions of
resistance?Answering these intriguing questions and many more, this
timely book looks at alcohol consumption across cultures and what
drinking means to the people who consume or, equally tellingly,
refuse to consume. From Ireland to Hong Kong, Mexico to Germany,
alcohol plays a key role in a wide range of functions: religious,
familial, social, even political. Drinking Cultures situates its
consumption within the context of these wider cultural practices
and reveals how class, ethnicity and nationalism are all expressed
through this very popular commodity. Drawing on original fieldwork,
contributors look at the interplay of culture and power in bars and
pubs, the significance of advertising symbols, the role of drink in
day-to-day rituals and much more. The result is the first
sustained, cross-cultural study of the profound impact alcohol has
on national identity throughout the world today.
Names such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been emerging in the world's
eye over the past decade as exotic hotspots, wealthy from oil
production and advanced in the means of technology. However, at the
same time, the Arab Gulf States have managed to maintain their
traditional culture, adapting it to modern life. With complete
coverage on Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab
Emirates, Culture and Customs of the Arab Gulf States is a
must-have for every high school and public library shelf. Clear and
vivid descriptions of contemporary life in the Arab Gulf help
students discover how traditions of the past have evolved into
customs today. This exhaustive volume covers topics such as
religion, festivals, cuisine, fashion, family life, literature, the
media, and music, among many others. Up-to-date and comprehensive,
this volume offers a unique and contemporary depiction of culture
in some of the world's wealthiest, up-and-coming nations.
Why are we so ambivalent about alcohol? Are we torn between our
love of a drink and the need to restrict, or even prohibit,
alcohol? How did saloon culture arise in the United States? Why did
wine become such a ubiquitous part of French culture? Alcohol: A
Social and Cultural History examines these questions and many more
as it considers how drink has evolved in its functions and uses
from the late Middle Ages to the present day in the West. Alcohol
has long played an important role in societies throughout history,
and understanding its consumption can reveal a great deal about a
culture. This book discusses a range of issues, including domestic
versus recreational use, the history of alcoholism, and the
relationship between alcohol and violence, religion, sexuality, and
medicine. It looks at how certain forms of alcohol speak about
class, gender and place. Drawing on examples from Europe, North
America and Australia, this book provides an overview of the many
roles alcohol has played over the past five centuries.
A group of Chagga-speaking men descend the slopes of Mount
Kilimanjaro to butcher animals and pour milk, beer, and blood on
the ground, requesting rain for their continued existence.
Returning Life explores how this event engages activities where
life force is transferred and transformed to afford and affect
beings of different kinds. Historical sources demonstrate how the
phenomenon of life force encompasses coffee cash-cropping, Catholic
Christianity, and colonial and post-colonial rule, and features in
cognate languages from throughout the area. As this vivid
ethnography explores how life projects through beings of different
kinds, it brings to life concepts and practices that extend through
time and space, transcending established analytics.
Written for high school students and general readers alike, this
insightful treatment links the storied past of various Apache
tribes with their life in contemporary times. Written for high
school students and general readers alike, Culture and Customs of
the Apache Indians links the storied past of the Apaches with
contemporary times. It covers modern-day Apache culture and customs
for all eight tribes in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma since the
end of the Apache wars in the 1880s. Highlighting tribal religion,
government, social customs, lifestyle, and family structures, as
well as arts, music, dance, and contemporary issues, the book helps
readers understand Apaches today, countering stereotypes based on
the 18th- and 19th-century views created by the popular media. It
demonstrates that Apache communities are contributing members of
society and that, while their culture and customs are based on
traditional ways, they live and work in the modern world. Takes an
in-depth look at the Apache language today Discusses modern-day
Apache artists, writers, musicians, and tribal leaders Contains an
assortment of historical and modern photographs as well as charts
and illustrations Provides a chronology of major historical events
Don't just see the sights-get to know the people. Peru's
distinctive Spanish and indigenous cultures that first encountered
each other five hundred years ago have progressively integrated.
However, the ongoing process of mixing raises questions about the
nature of Peruvian identity, and Peruvian society remains
economically and culturally divided. Culture Smart! Peru introduces
you to the changing realities of modern Peru. It describes
contemporary values and attitudes, key customs and traditions, and
reveals what people are like at home, in business, and in their
social lives. Peruvians are outgoing, sociable, and laid-back; get
to know them, and they will respond with warmth and generosity.
Have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better
understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes,
customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit,
while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate
unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.
Winner of the Society for Economic Anthropology Annual Book Prize
2008. Belize, a tiny corner of the Caribbean wedged into Central
America, has been a fast food nation since buccaneers and pirates
first stole ashore. As early as the 1600s it was already caught in
the great paradox of globalization: how can you stay local and
relish your own home cooking, while tasting the delights of the
global marketplace? Menus, recipes and bad colonial poetry combine
with Wilk's sharp anthropological insight to give an important new
perspective on the perils and problems of globalization.
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