Asian Culture

BY: LAURA XIMENA PERILLA GAMBOA
is a major celebration worldwide, but
This
and manners change depending on
traditions
is a very large country, full of diversity, with
Japan
culture in which respect is more important than
a
New Year, also known as Shogatsu, is
Japanese
by one main tradition, followed by
characterized
that symbolize the same amount of worldly
rings
committed by the human race. These bell
sins
also mean that those sins, if committed
rings
the year that is about to end, are forgiven,
during
that people can start the new year being free
so
any bad behavior, and may continue their path
of
in order for everyone to share. This
displayed
is developed on December 31st, as well as
ritual
more different than what we are used to in
way
westernized world. For starters, not receiving
the
is considered a very rude act, because it
food
that you reject them and their culture.
means
families on new year´s eve gather around
When
table, everyone´s legs are covered by a sort of
the
that comes from underneath the table, so
blanket
everyone is comfortable. This is used mostly
that
that time of the year, because of winter´s cold
at
There´s no such thing as an
temperatures.
plate for each person at this table, all
individual
are arranged so that everyone shares, and
plates
a wide variety of food displayed. The only
there´s
that are served individually, for obvious
things
reasons, are beverages. But, you must never serve
own beverage, it must be poured onto your
your
by someone else, as well as you are
glass
to serve others. To serve one´s beverage
expected
not considered polite nor thoughtful. This rule
is
for house-held meals, as well as those
applies
at restaurants.
held
interesting fact that Pablo shared, is that
Another
must never offer a bite of the food you´re
you
to someone else. Meaning, you cannot pass
eating
from your chopsticks onto someone else´s,
food
this symbolizes death. This is due to the
because
that when someone dies, at the ceremony
fact
person´s ashes are passed around, hand by
the
in order to say goodbye – so to do that with
hand,
food, is not just rude, is to wish for that person´s
JAPANESE
NEW YEAR
FOOD AND MANNERS
the territory, especially when we talk about Asia.
Or at least that´s how I heard it from
anything.
a young Colombian who had the pleasure
Pablo,
from what he told me about food and every
Now,
that comes along with it, their traditions are
ritual
of living there for five years.
People usually visit temples and
others.
in the ritual that involves 108 bell
participate
towards reincarnation.
Pablo told me about the importance of
Also,
visits to the family. This is made by going
paying
every single house of the family, and eating -
to
receiving the food is considered extremely
not
but we´ll talk about that later on. Every
rude,
hold prepares the same dishes, and food is
house
on January 1st.
death.
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