Connected through culture and customs - brochure

CONNECTED THROUGH CULTURE AND CUSTOMS Erasmus+ Youth Exchange Prilep, 10-16.11.2016

Into the project The multilateral youth exchane "Connected through culture & customes took place in Prilep, Macedonia, from 10 - 16.11.2016.

Theme: To show the young people that culture and customs can connect the youngsters coming from different countries, backgrounds and religions and to educate the young people about their and others cultures and customes.

Objectives: -To inform and educate the young people how to get to know cultures/customs -To give information to young people about their own and others cultures and customs To get know the foreign cultures -To overcome the lack of information wich generates intolerance -To overcome the prejudices about other cultures and religions because exactly they are the reason for intolerance -To find and to point out the similarities in the customs -To show that many geographically distant countries share same/similar customs and traditions -To show that culture and customs can bridge the gap between nationalities -To show that the customs, traditions, cuisines should be the reason to make the people comfortable, to break the ice, to connect them and not to fight whom does it belong to

Macedonian Culture • Languages -Macedonian -Albanian -Turkish -Serbian and other dialect • Symbols -Just one kiss to greet someone -Traditional pattern -The Sun -After a dinner, lunch or coffee, we are saying “НА ЗДРАВЈЕ” and “ПОВЕЛИ” when we give something -Folk music 7/8 rhythm

• Norms -Orthodox norms -Christmas and Easter celebrations with family -Not alcohol after 7.00 pm -You cannot smoke inside a place, just outside -You must finish primary and high school, otherwise your parents will pay, since it's mandatory • Values -Respect, especially the elders -Superstitious • Beliefs -God -Karma

Turkish Culture • Language -Latin Alphabet -Ural-Altayic Language family • Symbols -Star of David (Seljuks) -Two headed Eagle -Crescent -Wolf -Tughra (Sultan signature) • Characteristic -Heroic -Warrior -Fearless -Brave

• Traditions -Turkish tea and coffe -Huge breakfast -Farewell -Chaput -Knocking on wood -Pour lead (to repeal evil eye) -Gold -Red ribbon -Hospitality -40 -Fortune-telling -Evil's eye and Nazar

Greek Culture • Language -Many greek words have been used globally in humanitarian and science.

• Symbols -The cross -The Greek flag -The ship • Values -Strong bond among family members -Filoxenia- Hospitality: The word Filoxenia derives from the words filos and Xenius Deus.

• Architecture - New clasicism: Most buildings date from 19th - 20th century, we thank Ernst Ziller, a german architect.

-Houses in islands, especially in Cyclades, are blue and white, in order to attract the eye.

-Ancient castles from the Middle- East period run all over the country. • Traditions -Local fests: folk music, traditional dance, food and wine -Small churches, chapels as dedications- tamata to the God -We follow the tradition, the customs and the rituals

Hungarian Culture • Language -Hungarian, Roma -synonyms, 2nd hardest language -longest ABC 44 letters -lots of swearwords • Values -respecting old people -respecting pets and animals (very few stray dogs) -taking national events seriously -great gastronomy -inventions (Nobel prizes) -sport (FB, HB, WB…) -history - historical buildings -literature -art: composers ,painters ,singers

•Culture Customs -Eating a lot (Mangalica pig, cutting down swine) -Wedding -Drinking -BUSOJA’RA’S -BUSCU/FALUNAP -Not clinging glasses -Beer -Grape harvesting -Greetings • Symbols -Matyo (embroidery) -Turul bird -Csodasz arvas

Bulgarian Culture • Language Bulgarian is a Slavic language with complicated grammar and rich vocabulary • Bulgarians may wear the martenitsa (мартеница) — an adornment made of white and red yarn and worn on the wrist or pinned on the clothes — from March 1 until the end of the month.

Alternatively, one can take off the martenitsa earlier if one sees a stork • Religion Most Bulgarians are born into the Bulgarian Orthodox church.

• The Rose is the symbol of Bulgaria.

Rose picking, one of the oldest and traditional customs of Bulgarians, has become primarily a tourist attraction.

• The Bulgarian lyutenitsa (лютеница) comprises a spicy mixture of mashed and cooked tomatoes, aubergines, garlic, hot peppers and vegetable oil, seasoned with salt, pepper and parsley • The ancient Bulgarian ritual of kukeri (кукери), performed by costumed men, seeks to scare away evil spirits and bring good harvest and health to the community.

Latvian Culture • Values -History -Keeping traditions alive -Respect other people -Respect for food -Keeping the environment clean -Sports (hockey, basketball) -Plants as medicine • Languages -Latvian -Russian -English -Latgalian (dialect) -Multilingual (Many people know at least 2 or 3 languages)

• Culture-Customs -Using alternative traveling options -Trying to be the best -Focus on the evolution and leading edge ideas, technologies and concepts -More and more alternative learning techniques -Exponentially growing changes in education system -Health as one of the priorities

Similarities, tips and advices from the participants Don't be cold to each other. Try wearing the traditional knitted wool socks.

Don't fight over issues. Try to solve everything in a conversation over a cup of coffee. It's a social moment in our countries and it can last for minimum one hour.

If you go and visit our countries, don't worry and don't be afraid about the food.

We all share similar pastries, we all have stuffed cabbage or leaves with minced meat, nice salads, dumplings, meat stews etc. You won't stay hungry.

If you feel like singing, feel free. Our countries are famous for great music.

Don't be afraid to dance the traditional dances, even though they look difficult at the beginning. We're sure you know some similar moves.

Don't you feel great when you realise that we use similar or even the same words? Even though our languages are different.

If you find yourself in a strange situation where you have to argue, don't be a hothead. Leave the hotness for the amazing pepper spreads that we have.

Winter is the perfect time for eating that... with a slice of amazing cheeses.

If you happen to visit our countries in late winter, prepare your masks and costumes - it's carnival time!

But if you visit on Midsummer day, you can walk on hot amber or jump over fire.

If you argue over symbols, why not trying creating amazing art with them?

Who is Loesje?

Loesje is a international movement who wants to make the world a more positive creative place. It was born in The Netherlands in 1983 and since 1994 it's a foundation - Loesje International. It is about freedom of speech, expression and humanistic values.

Loesje turns words and ideas into posters. Loesje texts are about everything happens in society. They are positive, funny, criticals and invite you to do your own interpretation.

Loesje texts are mostly positive and funny, and at the same time critical, wanting to stimulate the viewers to see things from new perspectives, and take action in their own lives. Loesje texts are not trying to tell you what to think; instead they often invite to many different interpretations.

Anyone is welcome to join making the posters in text writing workshops, and to join other creative activities and projects.

Partners MK- Youth association Info front - Prilep BG- Narodno chitalishte "Bratstvo 1869" GR- Hellenic Youth Participation HU- Lélektér Alapítvány LV- Latvijas jauniesu attistibas centrs TR- KASIF GENCLIK VE SPOR KULUBU DERNEGI

The articles contained in the publication reflect the personal points of view of the authors and don't reflect the opinions or the points of view of the members of the organisations or the organisations themselves.

"The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."