April 13, 2012
Tbilisi, Georgia A boy jumps through a fire during the Chiakokonoba folk festival. According to legend, fire leaping purifies the spirit of participants (via guardian.co.uk)

Tbilisi, Georgia

A boy jumps through a fire during the Chiakokonoba folk festival. According to legend, fire leaping purifies the spirit of participants (via guardian.co.uk)

5:19pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxJbRRTA
(Notes: 10)
  
Filed under: Georgia Tbilisi Tradition Custom Festivals Chiakokonoba Folk Festivals Fire Photography 
February 22, 2012
Binche, Belgium Revellers perform a traditional dance while dressed as ‘Gilles of Binche’ during a carnival parade (via guardian.co.uk)

Binche, Belgium

Revellers perform a traditional dance while dressed as ‘Gilles of Binche’ during a carnival parade (via guardian.co.uk)

1:20pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxGqye_h
(Notes: 3)
  
Filed under: Binche Belgium Customs Tradition Dance Gilles of Binche Carnival Photography 
January 13, 2012
Sweden’s teachers free to ban Islamic veils Teachers in Swedish schools can, in certain situations, prohibit students from wearing Islamic veils that reveal only their eyes, the country’s school’s agency has ruled. The ban covers clothing that could hinder interaction between students and teachers or which could pose a specific risk, such as in a laboratory. However, a general ban on headscarves isn’t possible. Teachers will have the power to decide whether or not to require students remove their headscarves, although schools should attempt to be as accommodating as possible, according to updated guidelines issued by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skollverket) on Wednesday. The guidance comes in response to a 2009 case in which two women sued an adult education centre in Spånga north of Stockholm after they were banned from class for wearing niqabs. (via The Local)

Sweden’s teachers free to ban Islamic veils

Teachers in Swedish schools can, in certain situations, prohibit students from wearing Islamic veils that reveal only their eyes, the country’s school’s agency has ruled.

The ban covers clothing that could hinder interaction between students and teachers or which could pose a specific risk, such as in a laboratory.

However, a general ban on headscarves isn’t possible.

Teachers will have the power to decide whether or not to require students remove their headscarves, although schools should attempt to be as accommodating as possible, according to updated guidelines issued by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skollverket) on Wednesday.

The guidance comes in response to a 2009 case in which two women sued an adult education centre in Spånga north of Stockholm after they were banned from class for wearing niqabs. (via The Local)

7:24am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxEhovSa
(Notes: 13)
  
Filed under: Sweden Education Schools Religion Islam Custom Tradition Dress Niqab Skollverket Swedeish National Agency for Education 
December 22, 2011
Should the Nazi flag have a place in Sweden’s Christmas traditions? On Christmas Eve, it seems as if nearly every television set in Sweden is turned in to the Sveriges Television (SVT) broadcast of ‘Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons Julafton’ (‘The story of Karl-Bertil Jonsson’s Christmas Eve’). Made in 1975, the animated movie follows a Robin Hood style theme whereby a young Karl-Bertil Jonsson takes packages destined for wealthy Stockholmers and instead hands them out to the city’s poor and destitute, much to the dismay of his father. Karl-Bertil’s angry father takes his son around town to apologize in a taxi cab featuring an antenna decorated with string of small flags which wave in the breeze as the boy and his father ride about town. Included among the flags and clearly visible is the flag of Nazi Germany. As the story is set in Sweden during World War II, including the Nazi flag does lend to the programme’s historical accuracy, some might argue. However, considering the programme was created in the mid-1970s, one could also question whether or not it was really necessary to include such a provocative symbol in a Christmas programme aimed at children. (via The Local)

Should the Nazi flag have a place in Sweden’s Christmas traditions?

On Christmas Eve, it seems as if nearly every television set in Sweden is turned in to the Sveriges Television (SVT) broadcast of ‘Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons Julafton’ (‘The story of Karl-Bertil Jonsson’s Christmas Eve’).

Made in 1975, the animated movie follows a Robin Hood style theme whereby a young Karl-Bertil Jonsson takes packages destined for wealthy Stockholmers and instead hands them out to the city’s poor and destitute, much to the dismay of his father.

Karl-Bertil’s angry father takes his son around town to apologize in a taxi cab featuring an antenna decorated with string of small flags which wave in the breeze as the boy and his father ride about town.

Included among the flags and clearly visible is the flag of Nazi Germany.

As the story is set in Sweden during World War II, including the Nazi flag does lend to the programme’s historical accuracy, some might argue.

However, considering the programme was created in the mid-1970s, one could also question whether or not it was really necessary to include such a provocative symbol in a Christmas programme aimed at children. (via The Local)

8:05pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxDdz_Rz
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: Sweden Tradition Christmas Eve Television Cartoons Animation Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons Julafton Nazis Nazi Flag 
November 18, 2011
Sattel, Switzerland A group of men with pikes march through the fog as part of a procession to mark the Battle of Morgarten in 1315 (via guardian.co.uk)

Sattel, Switzerland

A group of men with pikes march through the fog as part of a procession to mark the Battle of Morgarten in 1315 (via guardian.co.uk)

12:01pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxC4nveE
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: Sattel Switzerland Pilgrims Procession Tradition Pike Pikes Battle of Morgarten Photography 
November 3, 2011
Salgótarján, Hungary Candles burn on graves to mark All Saints Day in a cemetery (via guardian.co.uk)

Salgótarján, Hungary

Candles burn on graves to mark All Saints Day in a cemetery (via guardian.co.uk)

1:39pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxBS8db_
(Notes: 11)
  
Filed under: Salgótarján Hungary All Saints Day Tradition Observances Festivals Religion Catholicism Catholic Photography 
November 3, 2011
Casabermeja, Spain A woman cleans the grave of a relative in the cemetery (via guardian.co.uk)

Casabermeja, Spain

A woman cleans the grave of a relative in the cemetery (via guardian.co.uk)

12:43pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxBS4hq2
(Notes: 10)
  
Filed under: Casabermeja Spain All Saints Day Tradition Obsservances Festivals Religion Catholicism Catholic Photography 
November 3, 2011
Cordoba, Spain A man works during All Saints Day in a cemetery (via guardian.co.uk)

Cordoba, Spain

A man works during All Saints Day in a cemetery (via guardian.co.uk)

11:46am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxBS11L5
Filed under: Alll Saints Day Cordoba Festivals Observances Photography Spain Tradition Religion Catholicisim Catholic 
November 3, 2011
Ronda, Spain A woman visits the tombstone of a relative on All Saints Day in the cemetery of San Lorenzo (via guardian.co.uk)

Ronda, Spain

A woman visits the tombstone of a relative on All Saints Day in the cemetery of San Lorenzo (via guardian.co.uk)

9:53am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxBRwRRt
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: All Saints Day Cemetary Festivals Observances Photography Ronda San Lorenzo Spain Tradition Religion Catholicism Catholic 
November 3, 2011
Dutch circumcision ban call opposed by Jews and Muslims Religious groups in the Netherlands have opposed a call from the Royal Dutch Medical Association (RDMA) for male circumcision to be banned. Male circumcision is legal in the Netherlands but the body representing the country’s doctors want to end the practice. The association is urging politicians to put it on the political agenda. It is asking parents to think twice before having their sons circumcised because it regards the procedure as dangerous and unnecessary. Yet others see it as the latest reflection of a political shift in a country that is increasingly pressuring religious groups to stop practising what they preach. (via BBC News)

Dutch circumcision ban call opposed by Jews and Muslims

Religious groups in the Netherlands have opposed a call from the Royal Dutch Medical Association (RDMA) for male circumcision to be banned.

Male circumcision is legal in the Netherlands but the body representing the country’s doctors want to end the practice.

The association is urging politicians to put it on the political agenda.

It is asking parents to think twice before having their sons circumcised because it regards the procedure as dangerous and unnecessary.

Yet others see it as the latest reflection of a political shift in a country that is increasingly pressuring religious groups to stop practising what they preach. (via BBC News)

9:36am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxBRvZR-
(Notes: 26)
  
Filed under: Circumcision Freedom of Religion Health Male Circumcision Medicine Netherlands Politics Religion Royal Dutch Medical Association Society Penis Genitalia Judaism Islam Jewish Islamic Tradition Custom Religious Practices 
Liked posts on Tumblr: More liked posts »