England

Art

The Hay Wain by John Constable is an archetypal English painting.
English art was dominated by imported artists throughout much of the Renaissance, but in the 18th century a native tradition became much admired. It is considered to be typified by landscape painting, such as the work of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable. Portraitists like Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds are also significant.

Pictorial satirist William Hogarth pioneered Western sequential art, and political illustrations in this style are often referred to as "Hogarthian". Following the work of Hogarth, political cartoons developed in England in the latter part of the 18th century under the direction of James Gillray. Regarded as being one of the two most influential cartoonists (the other being Hogarth), Gillray has been referred to as the father of the political cartoon, with his satirical work calling the king (George III), prime ministers and generals to account.

Cuisine

Since the early modern era, the food of England has historically been characterised by its simplicity of approach, honesty of flavour, and a reliance on the high quality of natural produce. This has resulted in a traditional cuisine which tended to veer from strong flavours, such as garlic, and an avoidance of complex sauces which were commonly associated with Catholic Continental political affiliations. Traditional meals have ancient origins, such as bread and cheese, roasted and stewed meats, meat and game pies, and freshwater and saltwater fish. The 14th-century English cookbook, the Forme of Cury, contains recipes for these, and dates from the royal court of Richard II.

A full English breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, and half a tomato.
Modern English cuisine is difficult to differentiate from British cuisine as a whole. However, there are some forms of cuisine considered distinctively English. The Full English Breakfast is a variant of the traditional British fried breakfast. The normal ingredients of a traditional full English breakfast are bacon, eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or toast, and sausage, usually served with a cup of coffee or tea. Black pudding is added in some regions as well as fried leftover mashed potatoes called potato cakes or hash browns. Another well known English dish, English Christmas dinner traditionally consists of turkey which first appeared on the English Christmas dinner table in 1573, and is often accompanied with roast beef or ham, and served with stuffing, gravy, roast potatoes and vegetables.

Tea and beer are typical and rather iconic drinks in England, particularly the former. Traditionally, High Tea would be had as a separate meal. Cider is produced in the West Country and, more recently, East Anglia and the south of England has seen the reintroduction of vineyards producing white wine on a small scale.

Roast beef is a food traditionally associated with the English; the link was made famous by Henry Fielding's patriotic ballad "The Roast Beef of Old England", and William Hogarth's painting of the same name. Indeed, since the 1700s the phrase "les rosbifs" has been a popular French nickname for the English.

Folklore

Morris dancing is one of the more visible English folk traditions, with many differing regional variations.
English folklore is the folk tradition that has evolved in England over the centuries. England abounds with folklore, in all forms, from such obvious manifestations as semi-historical Robin Hood tales, to contemporary urban myths and facets of cryptozoology such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor. The famous Arthurian legends may not  originated in England, but variants of these tales are associated with locations in England, such as Glastonbury and Tintagel.

Religion

Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Church of England. It was the property of the Roman Catholic Church before the English Reformation.
In England, Christianity became the most practiced religion centuries ago. Polytheistic religions, often referred to as paganism, were practiced before Christianity took hold. These religions include Celtic polytheism, Norse paganism, Roman polytheism, and others. Some were introduced by the Anglo-Saxons, who had their origins in ancient Germanic tribes.

Symbols

The English use as their national flag the red cross of St George. The three golden lions on a red background was the banner of the kings of England derived from their status as Duke of Normandy and is now used to represent the English national football team and the English national cricket team, though in blue rather than gold. The English oak and the Tudor rose are also English symbols, the latter of which is (although more modernised) used by the England national rugby union team.

Science

The English have played a significant role in the development of science and engineering. Prominent individuals have included Roger Bacon, Francis Bacon, William Harvey, Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, Henry Cavendish, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Francis Crick, Abraham Darby, Michael Faraday, Charles Darwin, James Chadwick, Joseph Swan, Barnes Wallis, Alan Turing, Frank Whittle, Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Stephen Hawking. Furthermore, it is home to the Royal Institution, the Royal Society, the Greenwich Observatory and its associated meridian.

By Fiorella Fernandez

Colombia

Colombia

Identification.

Since declaring independence on 20 July 1810 and achieving it in 1819, Colombia has changed its name seven times. Regional cultural traditions are diverse, with a broad range of distinct groups that have unique customs, accents, social patterns, and cultural adaptations. These groups are classified into three cultures: those in the interior, the countryside, and the coastal regions. Only during elections, sporting events, and beauty pageants do the regional cultures unite for a common goal.

Food in Daily Life.

Most middle-class families eat elaborate meals that reflect Spanish and indigenous traditions. A typical meal is identified by size rather than content, such as a light breakfast, a substantive midday lunch, and a lighter meal in the early evening. Dinner consists of fresh fruit, homemade soup, and a main dish with meat or fish accompanied by rice and/or potatoes. Lower-income people eat a more carbohydrate-rich diet. Meals usually end with a very sweet dessert, frequently made from panela, a type of brown sugar.

There are regional differences in foods. In the interior rural regions, a hearty breakfast consists of a strip of pork, rice and beans, sweet plantains, and a large steak with fried eggs. Dinner is similar, except for the eggs. In the coastal region, the emphasis is on seafood. In Cartagena, the typical lunch consists of rice with coconut, fried plantains, and shrimp. Colombians enjoy a variety of national and international cuisines.

Holidays of Colombia

Date              Holiday
January 01 New Years Day
January 12 Epiphany (observed)
March 23  St Josephs Day
April 02   Maundy Thursday
April 03  Good Friday                            
1/05/2015  May Day
10/05/2015  Mothers Day
18/05/2015  Ascension Day (observed)
June 08   Corpus Christi (observed)
June 15   Sacred Heart
June 21  Fathers Day
June 29  Saint Peter and Saint Paul
July 20  Declaration of Independence
August 07  Battle of Boyacá
August 17  Assumption Day (observed)
October 12  Columbus Day
November 02  All Saints Day (observed)
November 16  Independence of Cartagena
December 08  Immaculate Conception Day
December 25  Christmas Day

  

By Diego Almeida

Ecuador

Ecuador

Culture:

The first thing to realize about Ecuadorian culture is that it is not one single culture. Instead it is a whole range of cultures mingled together, representing every level of this very stratified community.
Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua - an Incan language - is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourism service providers and professionals.
The Afro-Ecuadorians that are present in Ecuador today are famous for their marimba music and many music and dance festivals. Long before the Spanish conquered Ecuador and even before the rise of Incan civilization, the diverse native cultures of the region had rich musical traditions. Music played an important role in the ancient Andean people’s lives and archaeologists have found some very old instruments, such as, drums, flutes, trumpets and other musical artifacts, in ancient tombs.
The Ecuadorians have a distinctive type of dress code. The men and especially the woman in each region of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be easily identified by their dress as it is displays specific cultural diversities that are characteristic of that particular region. A major aspect of Indian identity is present in Ecuador. People that are familiar with the native dress can often tell roughly where an Indian is from, based on what they wear.
Ecuador has some very tasty and very strange combinations in their cuisine. You can expect to find some lemon marinated shrimps, toasted corn on the cob and a huge variety of pastries filled with all types of different stuffing.
As with all other places in the world, Christmas is celebrated in Ecuador. If you want the best and most original Christmas celebration, you should go to Cuenca on the 24th of December where the Pase Del Nino is held.

Art:
Much of the art in Ecuador is traditional and usually the skills involved are passed down from generation to generation. Most of the locals make no distinction between fine arts and crafts. Most of the art is therefore not only beautiful but has a practical use. Some of the items you will find in cities are commercialized and are poor quality but if you make your way down to some of the craft markets, such as the ones found in Otavalo or Salcedo, you will find some really good genuine han crafted goods at decent prices.

Education:

Education in Ecuador is a subject that has been debated and improved dramatically over the years. The greatest concern, however, is still the education of the children located in rural areas and authorities are working hard to promote a bilingual education system. There are many Spanish schools in Ecuador as this is the most predominant language. However in the interest of development, governments are enthusiastic to popularize the teaching of various languages.
Government started to seriously address the issues of education in Ecuador in the 1980’s. Literacy in the rural areas was at dangerously low numbers and the lack of public schools also posed a problem. Most parents were not able to pay the fees required at private institutions and only a few of the teachers that were available in the rural communities were accredited. The number of scholars that were enrolling into the educational programs was not acceptable and many rural communities are not Spanish speaking.

Language:

Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua, an Inca language, is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourist providers and professionals.
More people come to Ecuador daily in order to learn Spanish. It's more fun to travel if you know the language of the country. First of all, it's cheaper than studying in Spain and Ecuadorian Spanish is the least dialect-influenced Spanish in South America. And language schools in Ecuador have professional experience.

Sport:

When it comes to local sports, the most popular activity is generally soccer (football). Tourists are often welcome to join in on local games, but remember that many of the locals play the game often and display quite impressive skill. Soccer in Ecuador is something of a national pastime and local soccer heroes are celebrated with enthusiasm. In fact, the national soccer team has made waves all over the world, with Ecuador displaying some outstanding soccer talent that perhaps some parts of the world were completely unprepared to receive. In Ecuador, soccer is so popular that it is considered to be the national sport. Sometimes you will find locals playing more unusual games such as the “paddleball” which is played in Ibarra. These two, can be joined in on, but it is a good idea to watch for a while first and learn the rules of the game. Many of the locals along the coast also enjoy a good game of volleyball.

Folklore:

As with many countries, Ecuador is a country rich in culture, legends and folklore. Folklore in Ecuador takes on many forms and there is different folklore connected to individual areas, cities and even buildings. Some folklore in Ecuador has inspired festivals while others are dedicated to legends and cultural beliefs.
When traveling through Cuenca, you will be able to hear the stories of the Enchanted Stone, the Gargoyles, the Lamp of the Widow, the Chained Dog and the Witches. Some Ecuadorian Folklore was created to keep children from wrong doing, as is the case with the story of the Enchanted Stone. The Enchanted Stone, it is said, had great powers and closed the city off from a dark and mysterious part of the metropolis. Located in the Working District, it could grant wishes and was a wealth of information. Out of fear for the stone, no-one dared to talk to it. It also had the power to punish children who did not listen to their parents and of course this is the power that is emphasized the most in the story. The story was created to keep children away from this specific part of the city, as it was a place where young lovers were known to meet. It is said that Gargoyles cry like children when they come into contact with love affairs, while the story of the Lamp of the Widow originates in the El Vado District. It is said that the widow took the form of a haggard old woman as a disguise to travel to her lover unnoticed. Quito overflows with Ecuadorian Folklore and you can hear a different legend or story on almost each street corner. According to legend, the indigenous foundation of Quito revolves around the story of the King and a falling star that he and his people followed on the insistence of the gods. The star took them to the Pichincha Volcano, where they relocated and established the city of Quito. You will also hear the tale of the Cathedral Rooster and the insulting wealthy man that passed the cathedral every day on route to his favorite watering hole. And there are many other stories and legends just like these. Cantuna also has its own folklores. One of the most popular is the story of the building of the San Francisco Atrium. It is said that a man by the name of Cantuna was falling behind schedule on the building that he was being paid for. After many prayers and hours of work, Cantuna thought he would never finish. One day, Satan stopped by to offer Cantuna help in exchange for his soul. A deal was made on the condition that not one stone was to be out of place. The devil’s workers built the church, but in their haste forgot a stone and Cantuna was able to keep his soul.Each story and legend is part of the intricately woven fabric of folklore of Ecuador. These stories serve to enrich each city and town with culture and history. When traveling through Ecuador, be sure to ask the locals about their folklore and legends, as they are guaranteed to be fascinating and give you a little insight into the history and culture of the country.

Food:

• Local dishes in the different regions of Ecuador are always worth a try.  The traditional recipes are handed down through families with subtle variations in different towns.  Don't miss these typical regional Ecuadorian dishes:
  
  Typical Ecuadorian dishes in the highlands (sierra)
  Traditional foods of the highland region of Ecuador are often based around
• potatoes
• sweetcorn
• cheese
• avocadoes.

Typical highland Ecuadorian dishes include

• llapingachos, delicious little fried patties of mashed potato and cheese, often served with a fried egg, avocado, and beetroot and sometimes sausage or pork as well.  Without the meat, llapingachos make a good meal for veggies, one of the easier to find options for vegetarian food in Ecuador.  
• Locro is a filling potato and cheese soup.
  Traditional foods of Ecuador's costa or coastal region

• Typical Ecuadorian dishes in the costa makes use of local ingredients such as plantain (savoury banana), yuca (a type of yam), coconut and rice.  There are also a wide variety of subtropical and tropical fruits (papaya, pineapple, starfruit and many more) though these do not often appear on restaurant menus other than as fresh juices.

• Typical seafood dishes in Ecuador
  Ecuador's seafood is, of course, at its best and freshest on the coast.  Esmeraldas province, in the north, is rightly famous for its fantastic "encocados" - fish or prawns in a rich coconut sauce, usually served with rice and patacones.  

• Encocados are difficult to find outside of Esmeraldas, but are of the finest traditional Ecuadorian dishes, so don't miss them if you are visiting the beach resorts of Atacames or Sua

• Traditional holiday foods
  Certain public holidays and festivals in Ecuador also have special foods associated with them.  For example on 2nd November, All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead, decorated bread babies (guaguas de pan) are eaten.  Colada morada is drunk at this time, a purple drink made from a huge list of ingredients including black raspberries, blueberries, dark maize flour, pineapple and a range of different herbs and spices.  If your visit coincides with any local festivals or holidays, ask around to be sure you don't miss the associated seasonal Ecuadorian dishes.

http://www.ecuador.com/culture

http://www.ecuadortravelsite.org/traditional_dishes_ecuador.html

By Guillermo Chang

French

French

Most people associate French culture with Paris, but life outside of the City is very different.
French is the dominant language of the country’s 66 million residents.
Religion:
Catholicism is the predominant religion of France.

Food:
Food and wine are central to life at all socioeconomic levels, and socializing.

Clothes:
Paris is known as the home to many high-end fashion houses, such as Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Many French people dress in a sophisticated, professional and fashionable style. Typical outfits include nice dresses, suits, long coats, scarves and berets.

Art:
Art is everywhere in France  particularly in Paris and other major cities, Romanesque Rococo and Neoclassic influences can be seen in many churches and other public buildings.Many of history’s most renowned artists, including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro, sought inspiration in Paris. The Louvre Museum in Paris is among the world’s largest museums and is home to many famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

Holidays and celebration:
The French celebrate the traditional Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter. They mark May Day, also known as Labor Day, on May 1. Victory in Europe Day on May 8 commemorates the end of hostilities in Europe in World War II, Bastille Day, on july 14.

http://m.livescience.com/39149-french-culture.html

by Paula Salazar