western europe culture and mask?
157276
The ancient peoples of Europe were more fond of masks and religious ritual than you would suspect if you saw Europeans today. Mask wearing and shamanism was part and parcel of everyday life in ancient Western European tradition. \n\nThere are stories abound about African and North American tribal shamans but not a lot is known about ancient European peoples' involvement with masked ritual or the practice of magic. That is why finding out about similarities between the ideas behind masks from around the world and those originating from European soil, is a discovery of intriguing and yet no less real beliefs. \n\nThe less obvious link of European societies with shamanism or religious ritual than for instance the North American native Indian customs or magic activity in the past is due to the more 'sanitised' way Europe has developed because of church interference in people's lives. The church dominance virtually stamped out any pagan ritual. It was not until after 1960, when the Americans experienced a revival of the interest in shamanism, that much has become known about the European version of the practice of magic and mask wearing. There is more verifyable information about the true roots of Western European civilisation than initially suspected. \n\n"The spirit if not the exact practise of shamanism has been passed on through Europe's generations", one authority on the subject, Leigh Ann Hussey, believes. The earliest recordings of ceremonies involving masks were found in the caves of the Trois Freres (Three Brothers) in France where paintings of a Paleolithic scene depicting European animism of the first order. \n\nIan Bracegirdle, a mask expert, describes the cave: A central figure stands wearing the head and antlers of a deer. He stands, shaman like, surrounded by animals. Animals that are important to the culture he represents. Some of the animals no longer exist in this area. Ibex, reindeer, bison, stag and horses. The shaman, for that is what he seems to be, stands, a human figure amongst the potential food. \n\nIt is believed that the paleolithic cave served as a place where hunters were initiated. The sorceror or shaman was symbol to sympathetic magic. He wore ears and horns of a stag, the eyes and beak of an owl, the bearded face of an old man, the tail of a wolf, the paws of a bear and the legs of a dancing shaman. He stood in front of painted hunting murals. The Shaman served as mediator between humans and their venerated animal kin. \n\nThis is pretty much the best evidence in tangible form that we have of our ancestors' animistic beliefs. It dates back 10,000 years and is accompanied by an abundance of myths and stories showing our ancestors had plenty of similar ideas. A close analogy exists in the stories of Kernunnos, forest god of the later Celts. The masks express animism to some extent. \n\nHis information is confirmed by Ms Hussey, who went on a hunt in European shamanism and found when she examined ancient sources, that she did not need to borrow from other traditions. "It is clear that tribal Europe had as strong a shamanic tradition as, for example, any of the American Indian tribes," she said. \n\nSumming up the general symbolism that unites masks from around the globe, Bracegirdle says that there are many striking similarities between the ancient cultures of the Pacific West Coast of North America and the tribal traditions of Africa. Symbols that all these cultures share are relating to fertility, the hunted animal, ancestors, initiation into rites, circumcision, cannibalism real and symbolic, healing and crossing over into the spirit world for guidance and healing powers or to appease the gods or ancestors are the accompanying ideas behind masks. \n\nNot a lot has been passed on from generation to generation in any overtly recognisable form or shape, but among the most powerful links is the seasonal nature of many traditions we still know about. In the UK,
913094
any pilgrims in europe?\n\nOf course not dumbass
762544
It just depends on where you are and how you've been raised! I know plenty of europeans, and they seem just fine. Go any where in the u.s. and i'm sure that some state will have an issue with another state. Like kansas and arkansas. Now they don't think to highly of each other. It's not about the country, but the people and how they've been raised.
745756
I don't think you will have any trouble. I think you would be surprised at just how many immigrants and workers there are of your own culture. The media takes things out of proportion. Also, you dress western style, so you'll fit right in.
925335
Europe & North America \n\nyou can check the link belwo
633950
try with german culture.....
257592
Well, it was not known in Europe until after the discovery of America. There explorers encountered tobacco and the odd sight of people with smoke coming out of their mouths and noses.
798764
we have a Anglo stance to our world view possibly the question could read what influence the world has from french fashion, I believe modern culture started in France and sadly their influence has declined over the years. So I have not answered the question - please do not report me.
174788
Mostly Europe and Japan.
761281
Face Masks only for women is cruelty and uncivilized. We in 21st century welcome ban of such a medieval practice. In Turkey, Muslim women do not use burqa, why the Muslims who protest against Netherlands go there and insist, since it is an Islamic state.
1157247
If she misses her culture try putting Czech into a london search engine..  I think there is a bar where eastern european people meet and you may even find a Czech restuarant.  And if you want to make her laugh see if you can hire/borrow a Czech National Costume and wear that as well!!!!\n\nIf not try getting some Czech recipes and cook for her.\n\nEnjoy.
292769
Good luck on that one.  The french are notorious for demanding you know the french language if you are going to participate in their snobby society.\n\nBest bet is to learn the language or sleep with a fashion designer.
569225
we have a lot of men here in Holland trying to act all gangsta like. (whatever the term is) I'm used to seeing European men dressed clean cut and neat.  And here we have men dressing in baggie clothes with bandannas on their heads. sigh.\nAnd furry boots.  Why? I haven't a clue.  But women are wearing boots covered in fur.  Some even have a furry ball dangling on the side.  i personally think they are hidious but that seems to be the fashion.
959143
Europe, Asia and Africa
86243
I think the main thing that characterizes the western world in comparison to the eastern is the idea of the sanctity of the individual.  Possibly because of Christianity, or possibly for more esoteric reasons, individualism has been more important that collectivism throughout western history.  Freedom is more important that tradition and structure.  These are basic judeo-christian values which spring from a belief in free will and the responsibility of the individual to live up to a moral standard that started with the Ten Commandments.  Coupled with curiosity, imagination, ambition and even greed, it has created much of what we consider to be western culture.
92391
Well, most of western Europeans speak German.\nThe biggest economy is Germany.\nThe most influential philosophies, music, and innovations are in Austria, Switzerland and Germany..\n\nI am not biased!.. hopefully :P\n\nSearch podcast.yahoo.com for "deutsch lernen" or "learn german".. you'll find some helpful audio lessons..\n\nViel Glueck! (Good luck!)
967506
The biggest threat to culture and tradition is not immigration but slavish adherence to the USA. For the last 40-50 years something has encouraged the English to denigrate their own customs and culture, taking the mickey out of folk singing, morris dancing, anything uniquely rooted in our own past. Go into any record store, there'll be a handful of English folk-based CDs probably filed under 'Irish'. There'll be hundreds of C&W discs many by English/Irish/Welsh bands who think their ability to imitate yanks makes them praiseworthy.\nI've been at Fairport Convention (never heard of them? How very English!) gigs where there's been 30 or 40 rastas bopping away merrily, right at the front. Far from being a threat this suggests that cultures are enhanced when shared. Culture is that which rises from within a people not that set of values chosen to enhance a shop-bought lifestyle. English culture is becoming little more than spraying US style graffiti while wearing US branded (though made in China) clothes while drinking imitation lager with US rap/house music on your headphones. If that's the culture that is under threat I want to help threaten it. There can be no pride in  a nation that seems to despise everything that welded it into a nation. It wasn't foreigners who, in  the 40s and 50s, decided Elgar's music was too jingoistic to be listened to by the politically sensitive - it was the English themselves, even though it was also them who attached the jingoistic values to Elgar's music in the first place!\nDon't fear the loss of a culture; do something yourself to maintain it. If you'd sooner go jogging (USA originated) or Line Dancing rather than join a Morris Dancing team then then it's really not English/British culture you are defending is it?