Culture of Sri Lanka: Difference between revisions
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{{main|Cuisine of Sri Lanka}} |
{{main|Cuisine of Sri Lanka}} |
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[[Image:Hoppers.jpg |right|thumb|250px|Hoppers]]The cuisine of Sri Lanka draws influence from that of India, as well as colonists and foreign traders. Rice, which is usually consumed daily, can be found at any special occasion, while spicy curries are favorite dishes for dinner and lunch. A very popular alcoholic drink is toddy, made from palm tree sap. Rice and curry refers to a range of Sri Lankan dishes. |
[[Image:Hoppers.jpg |right|thumb|250px|Hoppers]]The cuisine of Sri Lanka draws influence from that of India, as well as colonists and foreign traders. Rice, which is usually consumed daily, can be found at any special occasion, while spicy curries are favorite dishes for dinner and lunch. A very popular alcoholic drink is toddy, made from palm tree sap. Rice and curry refers to a range of Sri Lankan dishes. Sri Lankans also eat Hoppers which can be found anywhere in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankans eat short eats as a snack which is a variety of [[hamburgers]], [[hot dogs]], chinese rolls, patties and [[pastries]]. |
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Revision as of 23:57, 19 March 2006
Sri Lankan Culture has been influenced by many things in the past. Mostly it has been influenced by religion and colonialization by the Dutch, Portugese and the British.
Globalization
Throughout the, past centuries Sri Lanka has been going through a dramatic make over. A vast majority of the Sri Lankan community were only influenced by their own traditional food and nothing more. But, due to economical growth and intense competition in developed countries, companies have taken themselves overseas to developing nations, in an attempt to achieve a positive global presence (competitive advantage). Consequently, this method has caused a major ripple effect in countries like Sri Lanka like never before. Currently in some of the major cities in Sri Lanka you should prepare yourself to be dazzled (some may say loss of identity) by the assimilation/influence of western culture into Sri Lankan community. You can now find the presence of American taste represented by McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dominos Pizza and so on.
Tea Culture in Sri Lanka
Being one of the largest producers of tea in the World, Sri Lankans drink a lot of tea. Many Sri Lankans drink at least three cups a day. Sri Lanka is also one of the best tea producing countries in the World and the Royal Family of the United Kingdom has been known to drink Ceylon tea. Tea is served whenever a guest comes to a house, it is served at festivels and gatherings. It is served almost anywhere in Sri Lanka.
Religion in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's culture also revolves around religion. The buddhist community of Sri Lanka observe Poya Days, once per month according to the lunar calender. The hindus and muslims also observe their own holidays. Sri Lankans are very religious because the history of the island has been involved with religion numerous times. There are many buddhist temples in Sri Lanka and many mosques, hindu temples and churches all across the island. The religious preference of an area could be determined by the number of religious institutions in the area. The North and the East of the island has many mosques and hindu temples because a large tamil and muslim population resides in those areas. Many churches could be found along the southern coast line because many living in those areas are Roman Catholic or Christian. The interior of the island is mostly the buddhist population and there are many buddhists residing in all parts of the island because they are the largest religious group in Sri Lanka.
Sports Culture in Sri Lanka
Sports plays a very big part in Sri Lankan culture. Sri Lanka's main sport is Cricket. Every child knows how to play cricket in Sri Lanka and there are many cricket fields scattered across the island for children and adults to play the sport. The biggest past time of the Sri Lankan population other than playing cricket is watching the Sri Lankan National Team playing cricket. Most of the time, business shutdown when there is a very big match on the television. This was the case in 1996 when the Sri Lanka team made the Cricket World Cup. The whole country shut down as if there was a curfew imposed upon the whole island.
Music of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island of the Southern coast of India. Its population is mostly Sinhalese, as well as minorities of Tamils, Burghers and the last remnants of the Veddas, the forest-dwelling aborigines of Sri Lanka.
The two single biggest influences on Sri Lankan music are from Buddhism and Portuguese colonizers. Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka after the Buddha's visit in 300 BC, while the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars, along with African slaves, who further diversified the musical roots of the island. These slaves were called kaffrinha, and their dance music was called baila. Traditional Sri Lankan music includes the hypnotic Kandyan drums - drumming was and is very much a part and parcel of music in both Buddhist and Hindu temples in Sri Lanka.
Cuisine of Sri Lanka
The cuisine of Sri Lanka draws influence from that of India, as well as colonists and foreign traders. Rice, which is usually consumed daily, can be found at any special occasion, while spicy curries are favorite dishes for dinner and lunch. A very popular alcoholic drink is toddy, made from palm tree sap. Rice and curry refers to a range of Sri Lankan dishes. Sri Lankans also eat Hoppers which can be found anywhere in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankans eat short eats as a snack which is a variety of hamburgers, hot dogs, chinese rolls, patties and pastries.
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