WUNRN
Link to CaucAsia Magazine - May
2008 - Gender & Holidays/Holydays
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Direct Link to CaucAsia Issues:
CaucAsia - International Coalition
of Gender Journalists
ENGLISH, RUSSIAN, &
GEORGIAN TRANSLATIONS
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CaucAsia Gender
& Holidays/Holydays -
Excerpts by WUNRN
*GEORGIA - By Nino Sukhiashvili
I just hate holidays, Nelly
says. Any holiday means hard labor for me. I am a
housewife and can't have rest
on a holiday. Holidays mean long and thorough
housecleaning. After cleaning
the house, I have to cook for a holiday dinner, while
the rest of the family
relaxes. Dirty dishes and drunk men is what you have to deal
with after holiday parties.
Luckily, Georgians now tend to mark weddings and other
ceremonies at restaurants and
special ritual halls.
*TAJIKISTAN - By Rano Bobojanova
Holiday means meat for the
dinner! Tajikistan Republic is one of the poorest countries
of the post-Soviet bloc.
According to statistics, 24.2% of women and 23.4% of men
live on $1.00 per day. Women
are 54% of the officially registered unemployed -
men 46%. My neighbors and I do
not really have any holidays. Self denial and
patience are the principles
for regular Tajik women. Holidays are possibly a time
to enjoy life and have fun -
at least for rich people. But, if you don't have money,
holidays are more complicated
for you.
Many husbands work in Russia.
We have meat only when our husbands return home
from Russia, as once a year
for a month.
*AZERBAIJAN - From Ekho Newspaper
via Azerbaijan Gender Information Center
International Family Day in
Azerbaijan - The day was marked in old stereotypical
traditions as with
competitions for women in cooking and housekeeping.
The sociologists expressed
their fears, highlighting the problems Azerbaijani families
face presently, as migration,
absence of husbands working abroad, and more.
Migrating husbands are gone
for long periods, and may start new families abroad.
Their long absences may cause
family break-ups, sociologists said.
*DENMARK - By Alma
Bekturganova Andersen
In Denmark, the
immigrants held a special action on April 20. The march
was organized by the World
Culture Centre, Women's Forum and Mentor Service,
a women's NGO. Women of 15
nationalities participated in the march. Our aim was
to show society that we, the
national minorities, are an active part of the country's
women's movement.
*JAPAN
March is believed to be
women's month in Japan. Japanese also celebrate the
Girls' Holiday on March 3.
According to the ancient Japanese traditions, on that day
noble families invited
conjurers to pray for the family. A new tradition of exhibiting
dolls appeared in the 18th
century. The ceramic dolls are generally exhibited on
special shelves in the home.
The collection of dolls should pass from one generation
to another. Parents buy a new
collection of dolls each time a baby girl is born in
the family.
*FRANCE
In France, Grandmother's
Holiday is celebrated on the first Sunday of March. This
holiday is designed for all
women/grandmothers age 55 and older. The day is a
chance for the younger
generation to express their gratitude and to visit their
grandmothers.
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