CULTURE

SHOCK
GROUP 1

BS ARCHITECTURE – 5C
 TOPICS

Culture
Ftou Ftou

Nudity in Public

Shock Cockroach Races

Famadihana

Muharram Mourning
FTOU FTOU
• The evil eye, is an apotropaic visual device, is known to have been a fixture in Greece
dating back to at least the 6th century BC, when it commonly appeared on drinking
vessels.

FTOU FTOU
• In Greece, the evil eye is cast away through the process of xematiasma, whereby the
"healer" silently recites a secret prayer passed over from an older relative of the
opposite sex, usually a grandparent.

• Such prayers are revealed only under specific circumstances, for according to
superstition those who reveal them indiscriminately lose their ability to cast off the evil
eye.

• There are several regional versions of the prayer in question, a common one being:
"Holy Virgin, Our Lady, if this person is suffering of the evil eye release him/her of it"
repeated thrice.
• According to custom, if one is indeed afflicted with the evil eye, both victim and
"healer" then start yawning profusely. The "healer" then performs the sign of the cross
three times, and spits in the air three times.

• Another "test" used to check if the evil eye was cast is that of the oil: under normal
conditions, olive oil floats in water, as it is lighter than water. The test of the oil is
performed by placing one drop of olive oil in a glass of water, typically holy water. FTOU FTOU
• If the drop floats, the test concludes there is no evil eye involved.

• If the drop sinks, then it is asserted that the evil eye is cast indeed

• The Greek Fathers accepted the traditional belief in the evil eye but attributed it to the
Devil and envy. In Greek theology the evil eye or vaskania is considered harmful for the
one whose envy inflicts it on others as well as for the sufferer. The Greek Church has an
ancient prayer against vaskania from the Mega Hieron Syenekdymon book of prayers.
NUDITY IN PUBLIC
• There are currently no laws against nudity in public in Spain, which means that
one can go anywhere in the country naked.

NUDITY
• Nudism is only really practiced on Spain's nude beaches which are mainly in
Catalunya, and around Sitges where Mar Bella, Playa de las Balmain, and
Playa Muerto are located.

• While toplessness isn't really considered taboo in Spain as a whole, some parts
IN
of the country are a bit more reserved when it comes to full nudity.
PUBLIC
• The local government in Cadiz, Andalusia, has raised the possibility of fining
people caught naked on their beaches, and many family beaches around
the country would frown upon going naked. Restaurants, bars, shops, and
business also generally refuse service to people without clothing, so you won't
be able to travel everywhere naked.

• Among the top nudist resorts and beaches in Spain are Costa Natura in
Estepona, Costa del Sol; Barinatxe Nude Beach in Sopelana, Basque County;
Playa del Hombre Muerto (Dead Man's Beach) in Sitges; and the Alicante
Nudists Bed and Breakfast.
COCKROACH
RACES
• The racing of cockroaches, is a club gambling activity which started in
1982 at the Story Bridge Hotel in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
• The event is held on 26 January, Australia Day, and is given the title
"Australia Day Cockroach Races.”
• This type of racing has spread to many parts of the world including the
COCKROACH
United States. In North America, cockroach racing has recently become RACES
a popular feature for money, prizes, or just for its entertainment value, it is
held in exhibitions promoting entomology where the public and
entomologists participate.
• In the first-ever event held in 1982, the winning cockroach was called
'Soft Cocky’.
• Cockroaches are brought to the races by the participants but the roach
could also be bought at the venue of the races; the preferred option is,
however, to bring one's own cockroaches, from the stable.
• The proceeds from the event are given away to charity.
• The racing event in Australia generates a feverish pitch and the event held annually is
given the hyperbole as "the greatest gathering of thoroughbred cockroaches in the
world.”

• Every year, seven such events are held in Australia, which is known as the sprint, while
the steeplechase and main event held at the Story Bridge Hotel is called the Gold Cup

COCKROACH
event.

• The race arena is 6 metres (20 ft) ring; the roaches kept in glass bottles are let out in the
middle of the ring. The cockroach which reaches the edge of the ring first is declared a
RACES
winner.

• There is an entry fee to participate in the event; the winners listed so far in the Hall of
Fame of this Australian event are unusual names such as "Soft Cocky, Cocky Balboa,
Cocky Dundee, Drain Lover, and Priscila-Queen of the Drains".

• Cockroaches are known for their fast speed of movement, second only to the speed of
tiger beetles.

• They can generate speeds up to 50 body lengths per second which in a sprinter's
language is of the order of 322 kilometres per hour (200 mph) or equivalent to
completing a 91-metre (100 yd) sprint in less than 1 second.
FAMADIHANA
• Famadihana is a funerary tradition of the Malagasy people in Madagascar.

• It is known as the turning of the bones, people bring forth the bodies of their ancestors
from the family crypts and re-wrap them in fresh cloth, then dance with the corpses
around the tomb to live music.

• The custom is based upon a belief that the spirits of the dead finally join the world of the
ancestors after the body’s complete decomposition and appropriate ceremonies.
FAMADIHANA
• In Madagascar this became a regular ritual usually once every seven years, and the
custom brings together extended families in celebrations of kinship.

• The practice of Famadihana is on the decline due to the expense of silk shrouds and
belief by some Malagasy that the practice is outdated.

• Early missionaries discouraged the practice and Evangelical Christian Malagasy have
abandoned the practice in increasing numbers.

• The Catholic Church, however, no longer objects to the practice because it regards
Famadihana as purely cultural rather than religious.
MUHARRAM
MOURNING
• Muharram is the Islamic month and this marks the beginning of the new year of Islam religion.

• In 10th Muharram, Muslims celebrate mourning in memory of Hazrat Imam Hussain. It is

believed that Imam Hussain was martyred on the 10th of this month, due to which this day is
called Roz-e-Ashura.

• On this day, Hussain’s martyrdom is remembered by taking out a procession. There is also a
tradition of fasting on the 10th Muharram.

• The month of Muharram is from 01 September to 28 September.

MUHARRAM
• It is believed that Hazrat Imam Hussain gave up his life to protect Islam on the day of 10th
Muharram. MOURNING
• Hazrat Imam Hussain, a Nawase of Prophet-e Islam Hazrat Mohammad, was martyred in
Karbala along with family and friends. The month Hussain and his family were martyred was
the month of Muharram.

• Muharram is a day to celebrate mourning and remember the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam
Hussain, who protects religion.

• In the month of Muharram, Muslims mourn and give up their happiness.

• Hussain’s objective was to eradicate himself and keep Islam and humanity alive. This religion
became a permanent record on the pages of war history.

• Muharram is not a festival but it is the day that symbolizes the victory of religion over
unrighteousness.