This document provides an introduction to the concept of family and family traditions. It discusses the roles of family members, traditions around food, baptism/christening, bar/bat mitzvahs, marriage/weddings, and funerals. It also includes quotes about the influence of family history and ancestors. The document is intended to teach about identity and family as well as different cultural traditions. It provides sources and credits for the images used.
Carolina Friends School and Durham Academy Lower School Libraries, in collaboration with Eno River State Park, invite families to hike the 0.5 mile Eno Trace Trail on October 17th between 2-4pm and read a story along the way as part of a StoryWalk project. Attendees should park near the picnic area and follow signs to read pages from a story book posted along the trail. The StoryWalk project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT to encourage reading and being active outdoors.
This powerpoint presentation was created with material from the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America. It covers a little known and oft overlooked program in the history of our nation. This movement led to the implementation of child labor laws, as well as other important developments in the protection of our youngest citizens.
The document discusses the role of family in consumer decision making. It notes that the family is influential in both consumption and purchase decisions, and that marketing strategies should consider the family unit. It then describes how consumer behavior patterns change over the family lifecycle as individuals age and have children. Various family lifecycle stages are outlined. The document also discusses different family member roles in purchase decisions, and how those roles may change depending on factors like gender. It provides an example of how targeting women can influence male product purchases. Finally, it examines the significant influence children have on household consumer behavior and spending decisions.
Consumer Behaviour -Family, social class & life cyclerainbowlink
Family is defined as two or more related individuals living together. There are two types of households - family households consisting of related individuals, and institutional households like hostels. Families provide economic support, emotional support, social relationships, morals/values, and more. There are traditional family types like nuclear families and extended families, as well as new types like blended families and single parent families. A family's purchasing decisions are influenced by its stage in the family life cycle, which includes stages like newly married, parenthood, and post-parenthood. Roles in family decision making include influencers, deciders, buyers, and users. Decisions are made through processes like bargaining, authority, or reasoning.
This presentation discusses family decision-making. It defines a family as two or more related persons living together. It outlines the traditional family life cycle stages from bachelor to solitary survivor. It also discusses modernized life cycles. Family purchasing decisions are influenced by roles, power structures, stage in the family life cycle, and characteristics like culture and location. Marketing implications are that understanding the family life cycle helps with segmentation, promotions and effective channels. Studying the family life cycle provides insights into consumption at different stages.
This document discusses consumer buying behavior and the factors that influence it. It outlines the consumer buying decision process which includes problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post-purchase evaluation. It also describes types of buying behavior like routine response, limited decision, and impulse buying. Key factors that influence consumer behavior are personal factors, psychological factors, social factors, cultural factors, and groups or family. The stages of the consumer buying process and examples of psychological versus functional motives are also summarized.
This document discusses the effects of globalization on different nations studied in an anthropology course. While globalization helped improve healthcare and reduce poverty through education, it also encouraged nations to adopt foreign traditions, leading to the loss of their cultural identities. The document also examines the hard lives of Mexican immigrants in the US who face discrimination and health issues due to poor living conditions.
Ask Deliberate Questions, Act More MeaningfulTransform EHDI
Powerpoint Presentation #1 at the Transform EHDI Now Conference 2018 in Colorado Convention Center on March 18, 2018. To see video, go to https://youtu.be/CW44PVsUrxw
Carolina Friends School and Durham Academy Lower School Libraries, in collaboration with Eno River State Park, invite families to hike the 0.5 mile Eno Trace Trail on October 17th between 2-4pm and read a story along the way as part of a StoryWalk project. Attendees should park near the picnic area and follow signs to read pages from a story book posted along the trail. The StoryWalk project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT to encourage reading and being active outdoors.
This powerpoint presentation was created with material from the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America. It covers a little known and oft overlooked program in the history of our nation. This movement led to the implementation of child labor laws, as well as other important developments in the protection of our youngest citizens.
The document discusses the role of family in consumer decision making. It notes that the family is influential in both consumption and purchase decisions, and that marketing strategies should consider the family unit. It then describes how consumer behavior patterns change over the family lifecycle as individuals age and have children. Various family lifecycle stages are outlined. The document also discusses different family member roles in purchase decisions, and how those roles may change depending on factors like gender. It provides an example of how targeting women can influence male product purchases. Finally, it examines the significant influence children have on household consumer behavior and spending decisions.
Consumer Behaviour -Family, social class & life cyclerainbowlink
Family is defined as two or more related individuals living together. There are two types of households - family households consisting of related individuals, and institutional households like hostels. Families provide economic support, emotional support, social relationships, morals/values, and more. There are traditional family types like nuclear families and extended families, as well as new types like blended families and single parent families. A family's purchasing decisions are influenced by its stage in the family life cycle, which includes stages like newly married, parenthood, and post-parenthood. Roles in family decision making include influencers, deciders, buyers, and users. Decisions are made through processes like bargaining, authority, or reasoning.
This presentation discusses family decision-making. It defines a family as two or more related persons living together. It outlines the traditional family life cycle stages from bachelor to solitary survivor. It also discusses modernized life cycles. Family purchasing decisions are influenced by roles, power structures, stage in the family life cycle, and characteristics like culture and location. Marketing implications are that understanding the family life cycle helps with segmentation, promotions and effective channels. Studying the family life cycle provides insights into consumption at different stages.
This document discusses consumer buying behavior and the factors that influence it. It outlines the consumer buying decision process which includes problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post-purchase evaluation. It also describes types of buying behavior like routine response, limited decision, and impulse buying. Key factors that influence consumer behavior are personal factors, psychological factors, social factors, cultural factors, and groups or family. The stages of the consumer buying process and examples of psychological versus functional motives are also summarized.
This document discusses the effects of globalization on different nations studied in an anthropology course. While globalization helped improve healthcare and reduce poverty through education, it also encouraged nations to adopt foreign traditions, leading to the loss of their cultural identities. The document also examines the hard lives of Mexican immigrants in the US who face discrimination and health issues due to poor living conditions.
Ask Deliberate Questions, Act More MeaningfulTransform EHDI
Powerpoint Presentation #1 at the Transform EHDI Now Conference 2018 in Colorado Convention Center on March 18, 2018. To see video, go to https://youtu.be/CW44PVsUrxw
Cultures are integrated and influenced by history, trade, and globalization. Anthropologists conduct fieldwork using naturalistic and participatory methods like observation, interviews, and cultural documentation to understand societies from an emic perspective. However, fieldwork presents ethical challenges regarding disturbing cultures, imposing outside values, and protecting community anonymity after publication. Overall, fieldwork aims to examine cultures relativistically without judgment.
The document summarizes the author's experience working as a receptionist at an international hostel located in the former Carleton County Gaol jail in Ottawa, Canada. Some of the cultural interactions observed include differences in attitudes towards authority figures, drinking cultures, communal dining, and changing expectations of hostelling. Working at the hostel has provided the author unique insights into how people from various cultures interact on a daily basis under one roof.
The document discusses culture shock, describing its characteristic symptoms like anxiety, frustration, and withdrawal. It outlines the phases of culture shock from initial wonder to acceptance of a new culture. Tips are provided for helping families move through culture shock, such as making one parent available, creating structure and stability, and controlling technology use.
Presentation on Worldschooling - a way of exploring the world, no matter where you are! Please feel free to find us at http://www.WanderingEducators.com
The document discusses multicultural education. It defines multicultural education as promoting equity for all students regardless of background. It aims to provide students with skills to function in diverse societies. The goals of multicultural education are to create a safe learning environment, increase awareness of global issues, strengthen cultural understanding, teach multiple perspectives, encourage critical thinking, and prevent prejudice.
1. The presentation discusses the horrific conditions and treatment of children at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War 2. Over 1.5 million children under 16 were killed at the camp.
2. Upon arrival, children were immediately separated from their families and faced cruel experiments, torture, starvation, and abuse. If under 150cm tall, they were sent directly to the gas chambers.
3. Life for most children at Auschwitz was short and marked by constant terror, malnutrition, disease, and brutal labor until their deaths. Only a small number survived the atrocities.
This document summarizes research on the relationship between gender and reading. It finds that while research shows few meaningful differences in reading abilities between boys and girls, teachers and students still view reading as a gendered activity. The study interviewed high school students and teachers and found that teachers choose texts they think will appeal more to boys, focusing more attention on reluctant male readers, and students also tend to choose same-sex protagonists. However, students' individual text preferences varied and were not strictly defined by gender. The study recommends providing more text choice and encouraging students to read across gender boundaries.
This document summarizes research on the relationship between gender and reading. It finds that while research shows few meaningful differences in reading abilities between boys and girls, teachers and students still view reading as a gendered activity. The study interviewed high school students and teachers and found that teachers choose texts they think will appeal more to boys, focusing more attention on reluctant male readers, and students also tend to choose same-sex protagonists. However, students' individual text preferences varied and were not strictly defined by gender. The study recommends providing more text choice and encouraging students to read across gender boundaries.
The document discusses a study on using the social networking site Edmodo to support student collaboration in a 10th grade English class. Students used Edmodo to discuss assigned readings, post questions, and respond to each other's comments. The study found that Edmodo encouraged participation from all students and facilitated thoughtful, multi-turn discussions. Using a familiar social platform helped promote a student-centered approach over a traditional teacher-centered method.
Phs carp powerpoint presentation final versionceholland
This document summarizes a research project that aimed to determine if explicitly teaching test-taking skills would improve students' abilities on tests. The researchers taught two test-taking strategies - circling key words and rephrasing test questions - to students in various classes over 3-4 weeks. Pre- and post-tests were administered to measure any effects. While some individual classes saw significant improvements, the overall results across all 256 students were not significant, showing the treatment was not clearly effective. Observations found mixed and limited use of the strategies by students. The researchers concluded the study design and data collection needed improvement to better understand any impacts.
Powerpoint presented to Content Investigations class. Contains an overview of my Holes and Goals project and the products that make up that assignment.
A short powerpoint that goes "Around the World in 8 Pages" as far as geography and literature is concerned. Also addresses common themes among world literature.
This document lists various apps and tools that can help with writing, reading, organization, and accessibility for students. It includes links to apps for pronunciation, dictation, vocabulary, grammar, verb tenses, flashcards, word prediction, mind mapping, outlining, graphic organizers, pencil grips, and optical character recognition. It also mentions tools like highlighters, picture communication symbols, living books, audiobooks, and digital readers. Photos are provided for some of the tools.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Main Java[All of the Base Concepts}.docxadhitya5119
This is part 1 of my Java Learning Journey. This Contains Custom methods, classes, constructors, packages, multithreading , try- catch block, finally block and more.
The simplified electron and muon model, Oscillating Spacetime: The Foundation...RitikBhardwaj56
Discover the Simplified Electron and Muon Model: A New Wave-Based Approach to Understanding Particles delves into a groundbreaking theory that presents electrons and muons as rotating soliton waves within oscillating spacetime. Geared towards students, researchers, and science buffs, this book breaks down complex ideas into simple explanations. It covers topics such as electron waves, temporal dynamics, and the implications of this model on particle physics. With clear illustrations and easy-to-follow explanations, readers will gain a new outlook on the universe's fundamental nature.
Cultures are integrated and influenced by history, trade, and globalization. Anthropologists conduct fieldwork using naturalistic and participatory methods like observation, interviews, and cultural documentation to understand societies from an emic perspective. However, fieldwork presents ethical challenges regarding disturbing cultures, imposing outside values, and protecting community anonymity after publication. Overall, fieldwork aims to examine cultures relativistically without judgment.
The document summarizes the author's experience working as a receptionist at an international hostel located in the former Carleton County Gaol jail in Ottawa, Canada. Some of the cultural interactions observed include differences in attitudes towards authority figures, drinking cultures, communal dining, and changing expectations of hostelling. Working at the hostel has provided the author unique insights into how people from various cultures interact on a daily basis under one roof.
The document discusses culture shock, describing its characteristic symptoms like anxiety, frustration, and withdrawal. It outlines the phases of culture shock from initial wonder to acceptance of a new culture. Tips are provided for helping families move through culture shock, such as making one parent available, creating structure and stability, and controlling technology use.
Presentation on Worldschooling - a way of exploring the world, no matter where you are! Please feel free to find us at http://www.WanderingEducators.com
The document discusses multicultural education. It defines multicultural education as promoting equity for all students regardless of background. It aims to provide students with skills to function in diverse societies. The goals of multicultural education are to create a safe learning environment, increase awareness of global issues, strengthen cultural understanding, teach multiple perspectives, encourage critical thinking, and prevent prejudice.
1. The presentation discusses the horrific conditions and treatment of children at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War 2. Over 1.5 million children under 16 were killed at the camp.
2. Upon arrival, children were immediately separated from their families and faced cruel experiments, torture, starvation, and abuse. If under 150cm tall, they were sent directly to the gas chambers.
3. Life for most children at Auschwitz was short and marked by constant terror, malnutrition, disease, and brutal labor until their deaths. Only a small number survived the atrocities.
This document summarizes research on the relationship between gender and reading. It finds that while research shows few meaningful differences in reading abilities between boys and girls, teachers and students still view reading as a gendered activity. The study interviewed high school students and teachers and found that teachers choose texts they think will appeal more to boys, focusing more attention on reluctant male readers, and students also tend to choose same-sex protagonists. However, students' individual text preferences varied and were not strictly defined by gender. The study recommends providing more text choice and encouraging students to read across gender boundaries.
This document summarizes research on the relationship between gender and reading. It finds that while research shows few meaningful differences in reading abilities between boys and girls, teachers and students still view reading as a gendered activity. The study interviewed high school students and teachers and found that teachers choose texts they think will appeal more to boys, focusing more attention on reluctant male readers, and students also tend to choose same-sex protagonists. However, students' individual text preferences varied and were not strictly defined by gender. The study recommends providing more text choice and encouraging students to read across gender boundaries.
The document discusses a study on using the social networking site Edmodo to support student collaboration in a 10th grade English class. Students used Edmodo to discuss assigned readings, post questions, and respond to each other's comments. The study found that Edmodo encouraged participation from all students and facilitated thoughtful, multi-turn discussions. Using a familiar social platform helped promote a student-centered approach over a traditional teacher-centered method.
Phs carp powerpoint presentation final versionceholland
This document summarizes a research project that aimed to determine if explicitly teaching test-taking skills would improve students' abilities on tests. The researchers taught two test-taking strategies - circling key words and rephrasing test questions - to students in various classes over 3-4 weeks. Pre- and post-tests were administered to measure any effects. While some individual classes saw significant improvements, the overall results across all 256 students were not significant, showing the treatment was not clearly effective. Observations found mixed and limited use of the strategies by students. The researchers concluded the study design and data collection needed improvement to better understand any impacts.
Powerpoint presented to Content Investigations class. Contains an overview of my Holes and Goals project and the products that make up that assignment.
A short powerpoint that goes "Around the World in 8 Pages" as far as geography and literature is concerned. Also addresses common themes among world literature.
This document lists various apps and tools that can help with writing, reading, organization, and accessibility for students. It includes links to apps for pronunciation, dictation, vocabulary, grammar, verb tenses, flashcards, word prediction, mind mapping, outlining, graphic organizers, pencil grips, and optical character recognition. It also mentions tools like highlighters, picture communication symbols, living books, audiobooks, and digital readers. Photos are provided for some of the tools.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Main Java[All of the Base Concepts}.docxadhitya5119
This is part 1 of my Java Learning Journey. This Contains Custom methods, classes, constructors, packages, multithreading , try- catch block, finally block and more.
The simplified electron and muon model, Oscillating Spacetime: The Foundation...RitikBhardwaj56
Discover the Simplified Electron and Muon Model: A New Wave-Based Approach to Understanding Particles delves into a groundbreaking theory that presents electrons and muons as rotating soliton waves within oscillating spacetime. Geared towards students, researchers, and science buffs, this book breaks down complex ideas into simple explanations. It covers topics such as electron waves, temporal dynamics, and the implications of this model on particle physics. With clear illustrations and easy-to-follow explanations, readers will gain a new outlook on the universe's fundamental nature.
How to Add Chatter in the odoo 17 ERP ModuleCeline George
In Odoo, the chatter is like a chat tool that helps you work together on records. You can leave notes and track things, making it easier to talk with your team and partners. Inside chatter, all communication history, activity, and changes will be displayed.
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
Odoo 17 CRM allows us to track why we lose sales opportunities with "Lost Reasons." This helps analyze our sales process and identify areas for improvement. Here's how to configure lost reasons in Odoo 17 CRM
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
हिंदी वर्णमाला पीपीटी, hindi alphabet PPT presentation, hindi varnamala PPT, Hindi Varnamala pdf, हिंदी स्वर, हिंदी व्यंजन, sikhiye hindi varnmala, dr. mulla adam ali, hindi language and literature, hindi alphabet with drawing, hindi alphabet pdf, hindi varnamala for childrens, hindi language, hindi varnamala practice for kids, https://www.drmullaadamali.com
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
"Learn about all the ways Walmart supports nonprofit organizations.
You will hear from Liz Willett, the Head of Nonprofits, and hear about what Walmart is doing to help nonprofits, including Walmart Business and Spark Good. Walmart Business+ is a new offer for nonprofits that offers discounts and also streamlines nonprofits order and expense tracking, saving time and money.
The webinar may also give some examples on how nonprofits can best leverage Walmart Business+.
The event will cover the following::
Walmart Business + (https://business.walmart.com/plus) is a new shopping experience for nonprofits, schools, and local business customers that connects an exclusive online shopping experience to stores. Benefits include free delivery and shipping, a 'Spend Analytics” feature, special discounts, deals and tax-exempt shopping.
Special TechSoup offer for a free 180 days membership, and up to $150 in discounts on eligible orders.
Spark Good (walmart.com/sparkgood) is a charitable platform that enables nonprofits to receive donations directly from customers and associates.
Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
11. “Family: A social unit where the father
is concerned with parking space, the
children with outer space, and the
mother with closet space.”
~Evan Esar
18. “We all grow up with the
weight of history on us. Our
ancestors dwell in the attics of
our brains as they do in the
spiraling chains of knowledge
hidden in every cell of our
bodies.” ~Shirley Abbott
20. I owe a ton of credit to wikipedia.com for general information about traditions and customs. The following credits are for the pictures used in
this presentation.
Slide 1: N/A
Slide 2: http://www.mridukhullar.com/journal/2010/01/books-that-became-movies/; http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/09/10/muslim-
persecution-of-hindus-in-india-the-story-you-wont-see-in-the-western-mainstream-media/
Slide 3:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sramihouse.com/gallery/event_1_Annaprasan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sramihouse.co
m/gallery.php%3Fid%3D3&usg=__ciCGWPTIHpspoBLccUBvKkzgcV8=&h=250&w=375&sz=154&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ERTk7x0pEd
T4BM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dannaprasan%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1229%26bih%3D494%26t
bs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=265&vpy=71&dur=595&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=150&ty=117&ei=m1r0TLjZOoT7lwfo-
9yQCg&oei=m1r0TLjZOoT7lwfo-9yQCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
Slide 4: http://www.marigoldevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gold-bangle-set.jpg; http://oil.otago.ac.nz/oil/module1/Know-about-
information/Types-of-information/Book-Chapter/mainParagraphs/00/image/red%20book%20white%20background.jpg ; http://cache4.asset-
cache.net/xc/89743397.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=9E7D312EDC8D63D02EC2EAB9CF3E3EEE398B3920DAC2E2E288A2E6ECC71B6FC9 ;
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tKnjNSvFboo/TLpZYk8vIWI/AAAAAAAABMA/lpZR4gWA3TM/s1600/Mont+Blanc.jpg
Slide 5: http://images.imagestate.com/Watermark/1270231.jpg ; http://www.reefviewapartments.com/Library/map_carib.jpg
Slide 6: http://home.iprimus.com.au/sphil/taro/taro.jpg ;
http://ezfun.coa.gov.tw/graph/news/L_prongs_20070828101245/L_prongs_20070828101245_general_000001s2.jpg
Slide 7: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/LangstonHughes.jpg/240px-LangstonHughes.jpg
Slide 8: http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2006/07/05/PH2006070501759.jpg
Slide 9: http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2006/07/05/PH2006070501759.jpg
Slide 10: http://www.chathamhillgames.com/images/family-tree2.jpg
Slide 11: N/A
Slide 12: http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery_images/0709/0000/0010/familygeorgian_edited1_mid.jpg
Slide 13: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/spoon-taste-food-1.jpg
Slide 14: http://andreasblom.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/baptism_immersion_1.jpg
Slide 15: http://kbyonline.org/sulamyaakov/BarMitzvahStockPhoto.jpg;
Slide 16: http://www.weddingaces.com/wp-content/uploads/wedding-toast.jpg
Slide 17: http://www.robertamsterdam.com/funeral.jpg
Slide 18: N/A
Slide 19: N/A
References
Editor's Notes
This was created to expose you all to the essential texts that we will be studying during our upcoming unit. We will be looking at common themes that novels written about families tend to contain, as well as some of the different customs and rituals that take place within families around the world.
We will read a short passage from Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake. The story is about an immigrant Bengali family living in Boston, Massachusetts. Bengal is a region in India, and the children in the Ganguli family have difficulty forging identities that merge their Indian heritage with their American upbringing. Next to a picture of the book jacket, you can see a map of India. The red portion is the region known as Bengal from which the fictional Ganguli family hails.
Names are very important within the novel. In Bengali culture, children are supposed to have two names: a “pet” name that friends and family can call a person by, as well as a “good” name that is used in school, in writing, and in more formal circumstances. The section you’ll be reading describes an annaprasan, or First Rice ceremony. This is when an infant is ritualistically fed payesh, rice made with sugar and milk. This is the child’s first food other than milk.
The feeding ceremony is often followed with a game, in which the child is presented with a tray containing a number of objects. These will include a bangle or jewel (symbolising wealth), a book (symbolising learning), a pen (symbolising career) and a clay pot or container of earth/soil (symbolising property). The child's future direction and prospects in life are indicated by the object which it prefers to hold and play with.
After that, you will read a prose-poem entitled “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid. The poem is a monologue of an Antiguan mother giving her daughter advice on how to be a proper woman. The mother dominates the conversation, as you will find out when you read it, and her daughter hardly gets a word in edgewise. The street in the picture is in St. John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda. There is also a map of Antigua and Barbuda on this slide.
In “Girl”, the mother gives her daughter advice about the impropriety of singing benna on Sundays. Benna is an uptempo folksong that is usually scandalous or bawdy in nature and was used to spread gossip. The poem also mentions growing dasheem, a plant that is used in cooking (and pictured above), and doukona, a kind of pudding made from starchy food which is sweetened, spiced, and traditionally wrapped in plantain or banana leaf.
You will also read a poem entitled “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes. He was a very influential writer during the Harlem Renaissance – a movement in which black artists and writers developed their own distinct style. The mother in this poem is very different from the one in “Girl” and she’s telling her son about the hardships that she has overcome throughout her life – this is where the line “Life ain’t been no crystal stair” comes from.
You will also read “Why I Live at the P.O.”, a short story by Eudora Welty. Welty is a Southern writer who is famous for her eccentric characters, sly humor, and accurate reproduction of authentic Southern dialogue and colloquialisms. The main character of the story is never given a name other than “Sister”, and she lives in the shadow of her younger sister, Stella-Rondo. The sisters share an intense rivalry that starts up anew when Stella-Rondo shows up at the family home with a daughter whom she claims is “adopted”, although Sister believes she’s actually Stella-Rondo’s biological daughter.
You will also read The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The book is made up of a series of “vignettes”, which are a cross between long poems and short stories. The main character’s name is Esperanza, and it is from her point of view that we learn about growing up female in a strictly patriarchal Hispanic barrio neighborhood.
During this unit, you’re also going to be learning and thinking about your own families as you read these books, poems, and stories. Families often play a huge role in the formation of our identities. We often read about families with sibling-rivalry and parent-child tension. That’s because these stories are often the most interesting. Another important aspect of our identities is our cultural heritage, and the extent to which we maintain ties to the countries that we’ve migrated from. Family trees, like the one pictured, can provide insight about a family’s history.
American families look much different than they did historically. The following facts are taken from the 2000 U.S. Census: Less than 7 percent of American families today are of the traditional nuclear type. In the 1950s the median age of first marriage for women was 20.3; by the end of the 1990s it was 25.1. Married couples with children comprise just 24 percent of all households.
Every family has its own particular customs or traditions. Often these traditions stem from their particular cultural or religious upbringing. Some secular traditions include family board game night, eating cake and giving presents on someone’s birthday, eating a big meal with a main dish of turkey on Thanksgiving Day, drinking champagne and counting down to the new year on New Year’s Eve, and setting off fireworks and grilling on the Fourth of July.
Food is often the link between parents and their children, as prized recipes are passed down from one generation to the next. As you saw with the Indian First Rice ceremony, food, its taste, and how its prepared are some of the first forms of knowledge that are passed down from parent to child. “Secret” recipes are valuable to the family and are often carefully guarded to prevent unwanted cooks preparing that coveted dish.
Most branches of Christianity initiate new members as infants through what is called christening. Christening, or baptism, is a ceremony in which a new member of the church is immersed or splattered with holy water. This is to demonstrate membership to the Christian faith. This is the New Testament’s take on the Jewish tradition of circumcision, in which the foreskin is removed from infant males in order to demonstrate belonging to Judaism.
Bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs are Jewish ceremonies that are celebrated when boys (bar) are 13 and girls are 12 years old. Contrary to popular belief, they do not signify becoming an adult. They signify that the individual is now bound by the Ten Commandments and responsible for his or her actions. Mexican girls have a special fifteenth birthday called a quincenera. The birthday girl wears a pink or white dress to symbolize her purity. The ceremony is a little like a debutante ball – most of the ceremony involves learning to and performing various waltzes and doing choreographed dancing. The girl undergoes the ritual of the shoe, where her father changes her flat shoes to high heels, which symbolize her maturity.
As you learned earlier, fewer and fewer couples choose to get married. For those that do, however, weddings are a time when two families join to recognize either a legal or religious union. Married couples have special legal rights. Some wedding traditions are very old. For example, carrying the bride over the threshold comes from a time when a man from one tribe would literally have to go “steal the bride” from another tribe; carrying her with one hand and fighting off her family with the other. Historically, marriages were often arranged by the bride and groom’s parents for political or financial gain.
Christian funerals usually include three parts: the wake or viewing, the memorial service, and the burial service. Funerals are meant to be a chance to remember and celebrate the life of the deceased. It is a chance for family and friends to say good-bye to a loved one. Jewish funerals are a bit different. The body is meant to be prepared for a speedy burial, since Jews do not believe in embalming the deceased and do not have a customary wake or viewing period. There is a seven-day mourning period following the interment of the coffin. There are certain customs to follow, like ripping or tearing clothing after hearing news of someone’s death. Mirrors in the house are often covered, as well.
“We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies.” This quotation refers to our DNA, the genetic material that is passed down through families. That’s why doctors will ask if your family has a history of certain illnesses or diseases. It’s not all bad. Families pass on good looks, as well…
Whether it’s traditional or not, everyone has a family. You come from somewhere. You’re first socialized by your family – you know that saying, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? That’s because you not only possess similar genetic material to your family members, but you also grow up around family members who teach and practice certain traditions. This presentation is meant to expose you to the texts that you’ll be reading as well as some of the traditions commonly practiced by families so that you’ll start thinking about the ways that your family has influenced you. You can decide for yourself how unique or common your experiences with your family are.
So here you can see my photo credits. Let me know if you have any questions about the presentation. I hope you enjoyed my pecha kucha!