
They Do What?
A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from around the World
Javier A. Galvan(Editor)
ABC-CLIO (Publisher)
Published on 19. June 2014
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-1-61069-341-7 (ISBN)
Description
This single-volume work covers many traditions, customs, and activities Westerners may find unusual or shocking, covering everything from the Ashanti people's funeral celebrations to wife-carrying competitions in Finland.
In Maharashtra, India, a tradition exists to throw newborn babies off the tops of buildings. At the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand, some people ritualistically pierce their cheeks and faces with swords and knives. How did these surprising customs come to be? From camel wrestling to cheese-rolling competitions to a tomato-throwing festival, this fascinating single-volume encyclopedia examines more than 100 customs, traditions, and rituals that may be considered strange and exotic to U.S. readers.
This work provides high school and undergraduate students with a compelling and fascinating exploration of world customs and traditions. Comprising entries by anthropologists, religious leaders, scholars, dancers, musicians, historians, and artists from almost every continent in the world, this encyclopedia provides readers a truly global and multidisciplinary perspective. The entries explore the origins of the custom, explain how it was established as a tradition, and describe how and where it is practiced. A thematic guide enables readers to look up entries by the type of tradition or custom, such as birth, coming of age, courtship and wedding, funeral, daily customs, holidays, and festivals.
In Maharashtra, India, a tradition exists to throw newborn babies off the tops of buildings. At the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand, some people ritualistically pierce their cheeks and faces with swords and knives. How did these surprising customs come to be? From camel wrestling to cheese-rolling competitions to a tomato-throwing festival, this fascinating single-volume encyclopedia examines more than 100 customs, traditions, and rituals that may be considered strange and exotic to U.S. readers.
This work provides high school and undergraduate students with a compelling and fascinating exploration of world customs and traditions. Comprising entries by anthropologists, religious leaders, scholars, dancers, musicians, historians, and artists from almost every continent in the world, this encyclopedia provides readers a truly global and multidisciplinary perspective. The entries explore the origins of the custom, explain how it was established as a tradition, and describe how and where it is practiced. A thematic guide enables readers to look up entries by the type of tradition or custom, such as birth, coming of age, courtship and wedding, funeral, daily customs, holidays, and festivals.
Reviews / Votes
What a delight this title is and how fun to browse through it. . . . This volume is highly recommended for generalreference, human geography, cultural anthropology, international studies and sociology collections. * Reference Reviews *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
50 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 260 mm
Width: 183 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
945 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61069-341-7 (9781610693417)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Javier A. Galvan, PhD, is professor of Spanish and history at Santa Ana College. His published work includes ABC-CLIO's Culture and Customs of Bolivia.
Content
List of Entries
Geographic Guide to Entries
Thematic Guide to Entries
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Entries A-Z
Selected Bibliography
Index
Contributors
About the Editor
Geographic Guide to Entries
Thematic Guide to Entries
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Entries A-Z
Selected Bibliography
Index
Contributors
About the Editor