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IraqReligionMost of the people in Iraq are Muslims, or followers of Islam. Islam is a monotheistic religion, meaning Muslims believe in only one God, named Allah. Muslims study their holy book named the Qur’an. They believe God spoke to the prophet Mohammad through the angel Gabriel. Muslims pray five times a day and fast (don’t eat or drink) during the month of Ramadan between sunrise and sunset. At least once in their lives, Muslims are expected to go on the Hajj. This means they must make a trip to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

HolidaysThere are two major Muslim holidays celebrated in Iraq. Eid al-Fitr is a three-day celebration that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. It is a four-day holiday at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. People do not work on either holiday (except for necessary services). They spend the time visiting, picnicking, and relaxing. Kids enjoy both of these holidays because they receive gifts and money. Also, they get to go to small amusement parks, where there are play areas, rides, and treats.

FoodPeople in Iraq eat three meals a day. Ghidaa' (lunch) is the largest meal of the day. It often includes rice and vegetable stew and sides of salad and yogurt. Popular dishes include kebab (beef and vegetables cooked on a skewer) and masgouf (a whole fish grilled over an

outdoor barbecue). For dessert, they enjoy baklava, a flaky pastry filled with honey and nuts. Kids enjoy fruit and snacks such as cookies and chocolate. Breakfast is usually just tea and eggs or cheese and bread. All meals include khubuz (a traditional, round flatbread) and end with a serving of dark, sweet tea.

All documents are excerpts from CultureGrams.com

LanguageThe official language of Iraq is Arabic. Different forms of Arabic are spoken in Iraq, which sometimes makes it hard for people from different regions to understand each other. Modern standard Arabic is the traditional written form. Several common English words have come from Arabic, including sofa, giraffe, algebra, and magazine.

Daily LifeThere aren’t many organized after-school programs in Iraq, so some kids help their parents with work, especially if they run a small business or family restaurant. Other kids spend their time playing different games and sports. Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Iraq. Children usually practice their football skills after they get home from school and on weekends. If no fields are available, they play in narrow alleys or courtyards. Kids can play outside all year round because the weather is mild in the winter. A growing number of kids play video games, Nintendo, and other computer games. After dinner they usually do their homework, watch TV with the family, and go to bed.


China

ReligionThe ancient Chinese believed in many gods and spiritual ideas. They believed spirits could be found in all of nature, including mountains, rivers, wind, and stars. These spirits were thought to control health, weather, and peace. Spirits of ancestors (earlier family members such as great grandparents) were also considered very important. Holy men and women, as well as Chinese rulers, were in charge of communicating with spirits.

One of the most famous holy men was Confucius. He lived during the Zhou Dynasty 2,500 years ago. Confucius taught kindness, mercy, and respect, especially for elders. His followers passed on his ideas, known as Confucianism.

There are two other popular religions in China. Daoism began about the same time and taught that all answers come from nature. These spiritual beliefs were passed down for centuries. Buddhism came to China from India in the first century.

Today, the Chinese government encourages atheism (the belief that there is no God), but millions of Chinese have at least some religious faith. Temples, mosques, and churches are open to the public, but public worship is discouraged. Participating in unauthorized religious activities can lead to imprisonment or other penalties.

HolidaysEach year during the Spring Festival, China turns into one big party. The Spring Festival is a celebration of the New Year, which usually falls sometime in January or February because China uses the lunar calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon. The festivities can last up to two weeks. Everyone goes home to be with family, and together they light off fireworks, join in colorful parades, and prepare huge feasts. Kids get red envelopes filled with money, new clothes, and other gifts. Dragon dances are performed across China to bring luck in the new year.

National Day is celebrated around the first week of October and marks the founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Citizens show their patriotism with flags, fireworks, and parades and by paying respect to military heroes.


FoodThe Chinese diet includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many Chinese enjoy a piece of fruit at the end of a meal. Kids like sunflower and pumpkin seeds and nuts for a quick snack. Rather than forks and knives, Chinese eat with long, thin sticks, held in one hand, called chopsticks.

Chinese food is served all over the world, but there are many different types. Each region (area of China) has its own flavors and style of cooking. In the south, rice farmers grow rice in wet fields called rice paddies. Here, rice is eaten almost every day. It is put in soup, covered with sauce, or served with cooked vegetables. In northern China, people eat a lot of noodles, dumplings, and steamed wheat bread. Meat like pork, beef, duck, or chicken is popular, but it’s also expensive.

LanguageChinese is the national language. But each region of China has its own dialect (a way of pronouncing and speaking), so the Chinese government named the Mandarin dialect the official language. Instead of an alphabet where letters are used to form words, Chinese is based on characters (written symbols). One character represents an entire word or idea. There are over 50,000 characters, but only 8,000 are used today. A beginning reader has to learn at least 1,500 characters. In addition to characters, Chinese students learn to write Pinyin (a simplified alphabet of letters) to communicate globally. Tone of voice is important when speaking Chinese. Different tones give words a different meaning.

Daily LifeChildren in rural (countryside) China have very different lives from those in the cities. Before and after school, kids in rural areas have to help out on the farm or at home with chores. They don’t have much free time to play. Kids in the cities usually take language, art, music, or sports classes on the weekends. Wealthier children in the cities often have computer and video games and more free time to play. But whether in the country or city, Chinese kids have to study a lot. The government passed a law that most families can only have one child, so Chinese kids have few or no brothers and sisters.


Egypt

ReligionMost Egyptians are Muslims, but there is a small population of Christians known as Coptic Christians, or Egyptian Christians. Coptic churches are built facing the east, and Sunday is the most important day of worship. Coptic church services can last up to four hours. Muslims consider the Qur'an (Muslim scripture) to be the final, complete word of Allah (God). It influences such matters as dress, diet, and prayer. On Friday, the Islamic day of worship, men gather in the mosque to offer a midday prayer and to hear a sermon. Women pray at home or in a separate part of the mosque. During the rest of the week, prayers may be performed elsewhere (at home, at work, or even in public places).

The lives of all Muslims around the world are governed by five basic duties or principles. First, Muslims must declare their faith that there is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet. Second, they are required to face Mecca, Saudi Arabia, five times each day to offer prayers to Allah. Third, they are asked to give a portion of their income to the poor. Fourth, they must fast (go without food and drink) from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. And fifth, if they are able to travel, Muslims must make a pilgrimage, or journey (called a Hajj), to Mecca at least once in their lives.

HolidaysBecause most Egyptians are Muslim, they celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Muslims believe Ramadan is the month when the prophet Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur'an (Muslim scripture) from Allah (God). During Ramadan, people don’t eat or drink during the day. They wait until the sun sets to eat their meals. At the end of the Ramadan, Muslims spend

three days celebrating Eid al-Fitr, or “the Little Feast.” Egyptians decorate their houses with flowers, and kids receive gifts of candy and clothing. Recently, Christmas became recognized as an official Egyptian holiday as well.


FoodMost Egyptians eat a dish called foul just about every day. It is a paste made with stewed fava beans, oil and butter, lemon, spices, and tomatoes. People eat it by using pieces of soft, flat bread (called aish) to scoop up the foul from a big bowl. Egyptians like to eat meats such as lamb, beef, and chicken. Among the lower classes, however, meat is very expensive, so they mainly eat vegetables, bread, and rice. But among the middle and upper classes, meat is eaten daily.

LanguageThe official language of Egypt is Arabic, the language spoken by the other nearby nations of the Middle East. But Egyptians speak a special kind of Arabic called Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, which encompasses a wide variety of regional dialects (ways of speaking or pronouncing). It has different words and pronunciations from other forms of Arabic. Arabic is written from right to left (instead of from left to right as in English). Arabic letters are always cursive.

Daily LifeFamily ties in Egypt are very strong, and Egyptian kids often grow up near many relatives. Because most Egyptian families are religious, children must start learning about their religion at an early age. When they are old enough, they are expected to participate in family prayers and to attend prayers at their mosque or church.

Both girls and boys go to school, but afterward, boys from the countryside work in the fields, while boys from the city help in their family’s business or play in the streets. Girls help take care of younger children and learn such household skills as cooking, cleaning, and sewing. In addition, many children spend their after-school time doing homework, studying with a private tutor, or preparing for exams.

Egyptian kids also find time to have fun. They play hide-and-seek and soccer. They also enjoy computer games, if they are lucky enough to have a computer at home; otherwise, they spend many hours playing in an Internet café. They also spend time with friends. Traditionally, starting at about age eight, Egyptian girls and boys were not supposed to be alone together or even talk with each other very much except at school. However, this is changing fast, and it is becoming more acceptable, especially at younger ages.


India

ReligionIndia is the birthplace of four religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Walking down a street in India, it is common to see Christian churches, Muslim mosques, and Hindu temples all in one block! More than 80 percent of Indians are Hindu. Hinduism is not just a religion but also a way of life for most Indians. Reincarnation (the belief that a person's soul has many lives on earth) and karma (the belief that a person's circumstances in life are determined by his or her actions) are fundamental to Hinduism. Cows are considered sacred in the Hindu religion, and Hindus do not eat beef. Rama, Krishna, Shiva, and Vishnu are just a few of the most important Hindu gods.

Close to 13 percent of Indians are Muslims. They follow the teachings found in the Qur‘an (Muslim scripture) and regard Muhammad as the last messenger of Allah (God). Around 2 percent of the population is Christian. Nearly 2 percent are Sikhs. Sikhism stresses simple teachings, tolerance, and devotion.

HolidaysIt seems like India has a thousand festivals. People dance, sing, prepare feasts, and wear colorful costumes. People of different religions often celebrate each other’s holidays, and they are a time of coming together despite people’s differences. One fun festival is Holi, or the Festival of Colors, which celebrates the end of the cold season. Children throw colored powder and water on strangers and friends. They also light bonfires and tell the story of King Prahlad and his defeat of his evil aunt Holika. Some people throw dolls of Holika on the bonfires. The ashes are considered good luck. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is popular among Hindus and Sikhs. People celebrate it by putting up lights in their homes and businesses, buying new clothes (if they can afford them), setting off firecrackers, and giving sweets to their kids, family, and friends. At this time, special offerings are made to the goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to bring happiness and plenty.

New Year celebrations differ depending on which region you are from. In the north, the holiday is called Baisakhi, and it falls at the same time as the harvest season. People visit their places of worship and give thanks for the harvest and offer prayers for the future. Folk dancers and acrobats take to the streets and perform at fairs. In the south, the


holiday is called Ugadi. On this day, people wrap and give gifts to their friends and family as well as visit temples to pray. They also prepare by cleaning their homes and decorating with mango leaves.

FoodFor religious reasons, Hindus don’t eat beef and Muslims don’t eat pork, so many people don’t eat meat at all. Instead, they eat vegetables such as green bell peppers, squash, cabbage, potatoes, and onions. In the north, most meals include roti (a flat, circle-shaped wheat bread) and lentils (like beans and peas). In the south, they eat rice. Spicy curries (a spice mixture) are used in many Indian

dishes. Desserts like kheer (rice pudding) with raisins, almonds, and milk are favorites.

LanguageSeveral hundred languages are spoken in India! And that’s not counting different dialects (ways of pronouncing or speaking). In fact, there are 22 official languages in India. Many states have their own official languages as well. Sometimes Indians have a hard time communicating with each other, but most speak Hindi or English or both. Hindi (spoken by about 41 percent of the population) is written using the Devanagari alphabet. Quite a few Hindi words have become common in the English language, including jungle, loot, pajamas, and shampoo. English is important as the language of government, business, science, education, and national communication.

Daily LifeWhat life is like in India depends on a person’s religion, caste (social class), income, and hometown. But some things are common across the country. Families are usually large, and extended families (including aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins) are very important. Children from poor families have to work on farms or in shops, or even have to beg on the streets. There isn’t a lot of time to study. Children from upper-class families might come home from school and play video games, spend time on their computers, watch television, or play with friends. American movies are very popular with many Indian kids. Movie theaters are also favorite places to hang out with friends.


Greece

ReligionThe Greek Orthodox Church, a Christian church independent of the Roman Catholic Church, is the official church in Greece. The constitution guarantees the people's right to belong to any religion, but the government supports the Orthodox Church with tax money. Though about 98 percent of the population is believed to be Greek Orthodox, most people do not attend church regularly, except on holidays or other special occasions. Older people tend to go to church more frequently than young people, and women tend to go more than men. About 1 percent of the population (mostly those of Turkish origin) is Muslim. There are also small groups of other Christians, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, pagans (followers of the Greek gods), and atheists (people who believe there is no God).

HolidaysEaster is one of the most important holidays in Greece. It is celebrated with special church services, feasts, and a parade. On 1 January, Greeks celebrate St. Basil’s Day to mark the New Year. St. Basil is similar to Santa Claus. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, a special cake named vasilopitta with a coin in it is cut into pieces and shared. Whoever gets the coin is supposed to have good luck during the coming year.

Other holidays include Independence Day (25 March) and Ochi Day (28 October). Ochi Day commemorates the day in 1940 that the country’s leader said Ochi (No) to Mussolini, the Italian dictator, when he wanted to put Italian soldiers in Greece. It is considered a brave decision because the German and Italian armies greatly outnumbered the Greek army.

FoodThe foods people eat in Greece depend somewhat on where they live, but most Greeks eat lamb, fish, olives, and cheese. Olive oil, lemon juice, and tomatoes are also common ingredients in Greek cooking. Ladherà (dishes cooked with olive oil) are especially popular. Whenever possible, Greeks use fresh ingredients. Some popular dishes that Greeks share with the Turks are souvlaki (a meat shish kebab), moussaka (a baked dish made with layers of eggplant and ground meat), and gyros (pita bread stuffed with meat, onions, and a yogurt sauce). Feta is a traditional Greek cheese made from goat's milk.


Crumbly and soft, it is used in everything from salads to pastries. Salads are often eaten with the main meal. For Easter, Greeks enjoy roast lamb and kokoretsi (lamb liver, lungs, and spleen wrapped in intestines and roasted on a spit). Baklava, a Greek dessert, is a thin, flaky pastry filled with honey and nuts. Kids eat chocolate, candy, potato chips, and other snacks, which are sold at kiosks on nearly every city street corner. Hamburgers and other fast foods are especially popular with kids.

LanguageGreek, the country’s official language, has been spoken for more than three thousand years! Today, many Greeks speak English and French in addition to Greek. Some minorities speak Turkish, Albanian, or Romany. The letters of the Greek alphabet are different from those of the Latin alphabet, which is used for English. There are 24 letters in the Greek alphabet. Some of the letter names may be familiar, such as alpha, beta, or gamma. English words such as bicycle, geometry, telescope, and biology are

based on Greek words.

Daily LifeFamily life is very important in Greece. Not only do parents and children live in the same household in Greece, but grandparents often live with them as well. The grandparents help take care of the children while the parents work. Greek kids like to hang out in large groups. These groups often include their cousins as well as friends.

After school, Greek children play computer games, watch television, and play sports. They also like American movies and TV series. Greek children often stay up late, especially in the summer and on weekends, when they eat dinner at around 10 p.m. and don’t go to bed until midnight. American music is very popular; Greek pop singers and groups are extremely popular among children and young people. Traditional and Greek folk music are also widely listened to.


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