Chinese Calligraphy Sijin Chen and Hongfei Finley Zhang

CHINA

Calligraphy is the quintessence of Chinese culture. It was first used to record events and what

people wanted to say. In writing, people strive to make the scripts look beautiful and elegant. To

meet special needs, they are written in artistic styles. The writing of Chinese characters has been

developed into a special high-level art. Chinese calligraphy has flourished for several thousand

years. Like painting, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, and opera, it is a full member of the family of

the arts.

Brush

The brush is the traditional writing implement in Chinese calligraphy. The body of the brush can

be made from bamboo, or rarer materials such as red sandalwood, glass, ivory, silver or gold. Calligraphy brushes are considered as an extension of the calligrapher’s arm. Today, a pen may be

used.

Ink and Inkstick

The ink is made from lampblack (soot) and binders, and comes in inksticks which must be rubbed

with water on an ink stone until the right consistency is achieved. Cheaper, pre-mixed bottled inks

are now available, but these are used primarily for practice as stick inks are considered higher

quality and chemical inks are more prone to bleeding over time, making them less suitable for use

in hanging scrolls.

Learning to rub the ink is an essential part of calligraphy study. Traditionally, Chinese calligraphy

is written only in black ink, but modern calligraphers sometimes use other colours. Calligraphy

teachers use a bright orange or red ink with which they write practice characters for students to

trace, or to correct students’ work.

Made from stone, ceramic, or clay from the banks of

the Yellow River, inkstone is used to grind the solid

inkstick into liquid ink and to contain the ink once it

is liquid. Chinese inkstones are highly prized as art

objects and an extensive bibliography is dedicated to

their history and appreciation, especially in China.

Oracle Script

Bronze Script

Large Seal

Small Seal

Clerical Script

Cursive Script

Shuka Ya Kufuma (Bedsheet)

Victoria Mugisha and Divine Ngunyanya

CONGO

Instructions

Step 1: Take a plain fabric of the size you want to make as a bedsheet (or cushion).

Step 2: Draw the kind of art you want on it.

Step 3: Choose the colour of wool cotton you want to use on it.

Step 4: Insert the cotton into a needle then you start sewing, following the pattern of art you have

designed on the bedsheet.

Dances in Ethiopia Israel Mohammed and Anan Adam

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has one of the oldest and best preserved cultural dances in the world. There are well over 80 ethnic groups each with its own languages and dances. Today, I will share some of the major cultural dances that include the Guraghe, Amhara, Somali, and Tegre ethnic groups.

Eskista: This is a traditional Ethiopian dance performed by both men and women.

The dance is known for its unique emphasis on intense shoulder movements. It is

characterized by rolling the shoulder blades, bouncing the shoulders, and jilting

the chest.

Wolaita: People living in Southern Ethiopia dance with distinctive waist

movements. Compared to Northern Ethiopian dances like Amhara, which mainly

require moving upper body (e.g. neck, shoulder, and chest), the further people

go to Southern Ethiopia, the more movement of lower body their dances require.

Guragigna: The Gurage people are famous for their hard work, and their

dancing portrays an image of hard working people. Different from other

dances, women dance with long pants and cover their hair with a scarf for this

fast tempo dance. With upbeat music, dancers keep steps without rest like a

marathon runner.

Oromia: Oromia dance styles differ from place to place. Some of its

famous dances are “Shoa Oromo” and “Halar Oromo.” Shoa Oromo has

unique clothing as well as dance steps. Women wear two-piece

leather decorated with shells. Men wear animal fur like lion’s mane on

their heads and use sticks for dancing. Most surprising about this

dance is the women’s very fast and sharp neck motion. You will never

forget it once you watch it!

Hong Kong Comics

Brian Hui, Samuel Mok, and Jacqueline Wong

HONG KONG, CHINA

We chose four characters of the comics because all the authors who created these comics were

from Hong Kong. They all use Hong Kong as the background for their stories. As Hongkongers, we

feel a sense of belonging to the comics because we lived in the same place as the authors.

Therefore, we chose these four comics to represent Hong Kong and we would like to share them

with people around the world.

McMug is a set of comics about Hong Kong. It was written by Brain Tse and

drawn by Alice Mak. The story surrounds a cartoon pig called McMug, and was

published in 1988 in Hong Kong. The set of McMug comics uses a simple way to

present the local characteristics of Hong Kong. In addition, most of the

conversation in this comic is written in Cantonese. The theme of this comic is the

current trends (the ills of the day) of Hong Kong. Therefore, this set of comics is popular among

the people who grew up in Hong Kong. In other words, it means that it is not easy for non-

Cantonese speakers to understand the content since it has a lot of Cantonese idioms.

Ms. Alice Mak Ka-pik is the author of McMug. Mr. Brian Tse Lap-man (her husband and business

partner), is a long time children’s literature writer. She did not receive any formal training, except

watching her older brother take drawing lessons. She considers herself an illustrator because she

draws only the pictures, but does not write the stories.

Panda-A-Panda, a character in the comics, is a panda with an adorable outlook.

It does not have any hearing impairment, but sometimes it pretends to be deaf. It

loves to use a humorous way to present the irony of the ills of Hong Kong.

Jiang Zaixuan (Siu Hak), the painter of Panda-A-Panda, was born in Hong Kong.

He graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, one of the world’s 25

best design schools, with a Bachelor in Graphic Design in 1996. He works as a local illustrator,

comic writer, animator, and screenwriter.

Manday Cat describes the daily life of youth and the amazing fun she

experiences when she gets into society.

Manday Cat (also called Mandy) is a famous local Illustrator. She graduated from

Hong Kong Baptist University program in Journalism and worked as a reporter

and editor. She drew comics for magazines and newspapers. Her books describe

the funny things that happen in the life of boys, girls, and cats.

Lobintan (Street Vendor) comics are about the lifestyle of Lobintan, which is

always related to her family and friends. For example, last year, Lobintan had her

own child, and her whole book of comics was all about how she and her husband

take care of their baby.

Lobintan called herself Lobintan because she loves to shop in the store beside the

street. Since she has had her blog, her goal is that when people look it up and they love it, they can

stay and read or just go to the street vendors.

Bollywood Joan Cherian and Noor Chhatwal

INDIA

Bollywood is the name given to the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film

industry in India. It is considered to be the largest in the world in

number of films produced, and maybe also the number of tickets sold.

Bollywood films are usually musicals. Indian audiences expect a

melodramatic movie that includes songs, dances, love interest, comedy,

and dare-devil thrills, all mixed up in a three-hour long extravaganza with intermission. Such

movies are called masala movies.

1900-1920: Silent Beginning

As the 20th century rolled in, Bollywood began creating motion pictures. The

films began, as most did, completely silent. The first official movie and featured

film was Raja Harishchandra created in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke. Dadasaheb

continued to create movies and is well-known for helping pave the path to movie

success.

1930s: Movies are Heard

More than 200 movies a year were being produced by the 1930s. In 1931, Alam Ara

was directed by Ardeshir Irani. This film became the first Indian film to have sound.

The film was a great success and the demand for musicals and talkies began to grow.

This era was filled with sound; most films were musicals with dozens of songs,

sometimes up to 40 songs in one movie.

1930-1940: The Depression

Musicals and romantic themes became popular, but a new theme emerged that aimed at societal

issues and the fight for India’s independence. Opinions, beliefs, and

stories about life were expressed in hopes of bringing about change. A

popular and heart-breaking film was Devdas produced by Pramathesh

Barua and released in 1935. Movies continued to improve in quality and in 1937 Kisan Kanya was created as the first coloured film.

1940-1960: Golden Age

Surprisingly, black and white was still common and colour didn't gain popularity until

the 1950s. India gained independence on January 26, 1950 and this freedom played a

major role in Bollywood movie themes. Referred to as the "Golden Age" people now

felt free to express their opinions and attack societal issues. As the 50s progressed,

people produced films aimed at the largest group of people: the working class. During

this time, some of the most famous and inspiring movies were produced, such as Pyaasa (1957),

Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), and Awaara (1951).

1960-1980: Action and Adventure

In the 1960s and 1970s, movies became more action packed

featuring fights between bandits and gangsters. This was a time for

huge growth as Bollywood competed against producers from around

the world. Competing in film festivals placed additional pressure on

producers and original storylines filled with action and excitement were made. Around the 1980s,

there was a sudden change in themes as people craved more happy family-oriented films. Musicals

were once again a popular style. Comedies were continually loved and were a steady genre for

many films.

1990-2000: Technology Growth

By the 1990s, there was a huge forward leap in the film industry with more

advances in technology. Storylines were still important, but having better aesthetics

took over and movies now focused on impressing audiences with visual quality.

Sound effects were added along with several special effects and animation.

2000-2016: Globalization

With advanced technology, movies

produced in India could reach all

around the world and movie sales

skyrocketed. Bollywood box

offices increased substantially and

companies began to invest in their

production. Typical Hollywood

studios, such as Sony Pictures and

Warner Brothers, reached out to Bollywood to invest and be a part of its success.

Bollywood Dance Styles

The dancing in Bollywood films, especially older ones, is

primarily modelled on Indian dances: classical dance

styles, dances of historic northern India, or folk

dances. In modern films, Indian dance elements often

blend with Western dance styles (as seen on MTV or in

Broadway musicals) though it is usual to see Western

pop and pure classical dance numbers side by side in the

same film. Many dance forms include Bhangra, Giddha,

Garba, Dandia, Lavani, and Kathputli.

Carnival Masks Ajmer Singh Nijjar, Jaspreet Kaur Nijjar, and Jasonpreet Singh

ITALY History

Carnival is regarded as a rite of passage from winter to summer: a fertility

celebration, the first spring festival of the New Year. All the food that had

survived the winter had to be eaten to assure that everyone was fed enough to

survive until the coming spring would provide new food source.

In the Christian tradition, the Carnival event was set before the fasting. Fasting is to commemorate

the 40 days (from Ash Wednesday to Easter) that Jesus Christ fasted in the desert according to

the New Testament. Carnival comes from the Latin “carnem levare” which means “eliminate meat.”

Some people after this date don’t eat meat until Easter when they celebrate Christ’s resurrection

from the dead.

Carnival dates

The main events typically occur during February or early March. The main festivities take place on

Carnival Thursday and Shrove Tuesday, the last Thursday and the last Tuesday before Lent.

During the festival, there are fashion shows of masks, masquerade balls, and parades of floats.

Materials

Printable card stock; Markers or crayons; Scissors; Glue stick; Popsicle sticks or disposable chopsticks; Feathers; Glitter glue; Decorations: feathers, rhinestones, ribbons, paper strips, etc. Instructions

1. Cut out the mask, including the eye holes. 2. Colour the mask.

4. Use a Popsicle or chopstick

as the handle for the mask.

3. Decorate your mask and add sparkle

with Glitter glue.

5. Glue the handle at the back in the

middle or along edge of the mask.

6. Complete your mask by gluing on some

feathers, ribbons, paper strips, pipe cleaners,

and other materials to accent the handle.

Beaded Bracelets Tyreace Belnavis, Craig Johnson, Romario Melbourne, and Romeika Melbourne

JAMAICA

The original inhabitants of Jamaica are believed to be the Arawaks. They named the island

Xaymaca, which meant “land of wood and water.” Columbus explored it in 1494 and in 1509 the

first Spanish colonists arrived. It remained under Spanish rule until 1655 when it became a British

colony. In 1962, Jamaica gained political independence from Britain.

Bracelets and necklaces with the colours of the Jamaican flag are popular in Jamaica.

The symbolism of the colours:

Yellow is for sunshine and natural resources.

Black depicts the strength and creativity of the people.

Green is for agriculture and hope for the future.

“The sun shines, the land is green and the people are strong and

creative.”

Materials

Beads (black, green, yellow); Scissors; Beading elastic or cord; Tape or binder clip

Instructions

1. Measure your wrist and cut the beading elastic one-and-a-half times longer (you make it

slightly longer so that you can tie it into a knot later).

2. Fold some tape over one end of the elastic to prevent the beads from sliding off. If you do

not have tape, use a binder clip.

3. String the beads directly onto the elastic.

4. Keep adding beads until you have the length you want (wrap the bracelet round your wrist

from time to time to check the length).

5. Take the tape or clip off and tie the ends of the elastic tightly with a square/surgeon knot.

Dabke Abdul Rahman Abu-Hendi

JORDAN

History According to Yazbec, the Phoenicians were the first teachers of the dance in the world. The Dabke is a

representative descendant of the Phoenician dances. In one tradition, Dabke originated in the Levant

where houses were built from stone with a roof made of wood, straw and dirt. The dirt roof had to

be compacted and required stomping the dirt hard in a uniform way to

compact it evenly. This event of cooperation is called ta’awon and from

here comes the word awneh, meaning “help.” This developed into the

song Ala Dalouna (Arabic: على دلعونا), roughly translated, “Let's go and

help.” The Dabke and the rhythmic songs go together in an attempt to

keep the work fun and useful.

In Jordan there are around 19 types of the Jordanian Dabke. Habel

Mwadea’ (حبل مودع) is the Jordanian Dabke of any type performed by

men and women.

Dabke Song Genres There are numerous kinds of songs that are sung specifically for Dabke by both men and women,

depending on the occasion, song, and audience. Some of the most

popular of these songs, such as Dal Ouna (دلعونا), Al Jafra (الجفرا),

Al Dahiyya (الدحية), and Zareef il-Tool (ظريف الطول), are actually

entire genres in themselves, in the sense that lyrics can vary

significantly in each performance, but the basic rhythm of the

music is consistent and recognizable. Even though one might have

heard Ala Dal Ouna sung previously telling a different story in this

famous love song, people will still call another song ascribing to

the same rhythm and theme as Dal Ouna.

Dabke World Records

In August 2011, a group in Dhour El Choueir, a village in

Lebanon, set a new world record. Organized by Dhour El Choueir

Summer Festival, a human chain of 5,050 was made and currently

holds the world record.

This Dhour El Choueir event broke the record set by Tollab,

Lebanese Student Federation in Montreal, with the participation

of “La Troupe Folklorique Les Chevaliers du Liban.” They had

made a human chain of 4,475 people dancing the Dabke for more

than five minutes straight at Montreal’s Marcelin Wilson Park.

Weaving Manoj Neupaney, Sangita Subedi, Sumitra Subedi, and Badal Tamang

NEPAL

Weaving is a textile art and the loom is a tool for weaving yarn into textile. It is an ancient but highly

refined machine!

Looms are simple machines that work by holding two sets of parallel threads within a frame that

alternate with each other as a cross thread is filtered through them carried by a shuttle (a wooden block

in which thread can be stored pre-weave). By doing this, cloths and fabrics can be woven on a large

scale quickly and in far greater numbers than if undertaken free form by hand.

Although the art of weaving is very old, the basic mechanics of looms have remained unchanged. The

most notable addition was the introduction of a drive-shaft power source, allowing for mechanized

looms to be mass produced and slowly evolved to the point of complete automation.

Woven cloths can be plain (in one color or a simple pattern), or they can be woven in decorative or

artistic designs. Traditional Nepali cloths are made by weaving on looms.

Mummering Emma Ramsay and Stephanie Tuck

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Mummering is a Christmas-time house-visiting traditional art form practiced

in Newfoundland and Labrador and in isolated areas of Ireland. Also known as

“mumming” or “janneying,” it typically involves a group of friends or family who

dress in disguise and visit homes within their community or neighbouring

communities during the twelve days of Christmas.

If the mummers are welcomed into a house, they often do a variety of informal

performances that may include dance, music, jokes, or recitations. The hosts must

guess the mummers’ identities before offering them food or drink. They may poke and

prod the mummers or ask them questions. To make this a real challenge for the hosts,

the mummers may stuff their costumes, cross-dress, or disguise their voices. Once the

mummers have been identified, they remove their disguises, spend some social time

with the hosts, and then travel as a group to the next home.

An old Christmas custom from England and Ireland, mummering in a

version of its modern form can be traced back in Newfoundland into the

19th century. Although it is unclear precisely when the tradition was

brought to Newfoundland by the English and Irish, the earliest record

dates back to 1819. The tradition varied, and continues to vary, from

community to community. Some formal aspects of the tradition, such as

the mummers’ play, have largely died out, with the informal house visiting remaining the predominant

form.

The ugly stick is a traditional Newfoundland musical instrument fashioned out

of household and tool shed items, typically a mop handle with bottle caps, tin

cans, small bells, and other noise makers. This instrument can be played with

a drum stick and has a distinctive sound.

In outports and remote villages, social gatherings such as kitchen parties and

mummering were an important part of the rural culture. The principal melody

instruments were accordions and fiddles with rhythmic accompaniment from the

ugly stick.

Newfoundland Folk Dance Sarah Lander and Carrie Wheeler

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR Newfoundlanders have a lot of well-known traditions in their culture, one being the famous Folk Dance. Having a lot of influence from the Irish, this traditional dance has been created and changed many times being passed down through generations and generations; however, it will still contain the basic steps known in the Newfoundland dance. The folk dance, also known as the “Newfie Waltz” is most commonly practiced at Kitchen parties with groups of people or even just a couple. Its rich cultural moves are fun for all ages and have had a big impact on the Newfoundland way of life. Folk Dance Steps Step 1: Everyone starts in a circle, guys face center of the circle and girls having their arms crossed face the outside of the circle, everyone spins. Step 2: Everyone breaks away from the circle swinging the right leg and forward, and then same for the left. Step 3: Everyone does one spin. Step 4: Everyone gets in partners of two, partners hold hands and run to the opposite side, with connecting hands either up or down (depending on where they are standing). Step 5: Swing dance with your partners for a few moments. Step 6: Everyone will get back in the original circle and repeat the five steps.

Gele (Head wrap) Kelechi Owasi

NIGERIA Origin Head wraps have been part of Africa’s history and cultures for many years, starting as early as the 1700s. Head wraps come in many shapes and sizes. Nigerian Gele head wrap is made of colourful fabrics. You can get any colour or design you want, as long as it is the correct material for Gele. I believe the Gele is a wonderful way of connecting with my culture and history.

The colours of Head wraps have different meanings and for a man to wear a head wrap is different from a woman. Both have different meanings. It is believed that some cultures used head wraps or Gele before the days of slavery so that men could show off their wealth and the level of their social status and women could prove that they were prosperous and spiritual.

How to tie a Gele 1. Start by folding in opposite ends of the Gele; this will ensure a smooth

base at the front (crown of the head). 2. Take the Gele and wrap it around the head from the back to the front

(towards your forehead) ensuring that the ends at the front are equal. This is very important.

3. Take one side of the Gele, the left side, and wrap it towards your right all the way round to the left ear and secure with your hands. At this point, the left side of the Gele will be shorter than the right side.

4. Take the right side and cross it over the left side of the Gele. Then take the right side (the longer side) round the head to the back, wrapping it and securing it with your hands at the back.

5. At the side and back of the Gele, begin to arrange the Gele, measure around the head in levels and layers, begin to squeeze the ends to form a fan from the middle of the layout, ensuring that the left over at the end closest to you is enough to grip.

6. At this point there will be two layers at the top of the Gele piece. Start arranging the layer at the back, first making sure the highest point of the Gele is in the middle.

7. Then move to the layers at the front. Start making lines and pleats forming layered steps at the front of the Gele with your fingers. Be sure to try to make them as defined as possible.

8. Push the Gele back as desired away from the face to give the face a lift. Do not push back excessively as to prevent the Gele from falling off your head. Also be sure not to pull your ears out of the Gele.

Pakistani Truck Art Manaal Afridi, Mehar-Un-Nisa Dar, Habeeba Mansoor, Myra Saeed, and Neha Sheikh

PAKISTAN

Origin Pakistani truck art originated with the decorations of horse-driven carts for the Moghul Kings, who always wanted something of value and colour for themselves. This suited their grandiose lifestyle. Background Pakistani truck art is renowned the world over for its attraction and unique sense of artistic taste. Trucks in Pakistan are decorated with paintings all over the body from local folk lore that gives them a Pakistani look instead of a plain vehicle – it makes them look pretty. Pakistani truck art is Pakistan’s cultural identity – one look at a truck with artistic work all over it and the first thing which comes to mind would be Pakistan! The use of multiple colours is the hallmark of Pakistani truck art. This is pleasing to the eyes and creates a positive image to the observer. How it is decorated There are three parts to truck art decoration: decoration on the front, sides, and towards the back of the truck. The place over the windshield is reserved for religious symbols and texts. The area below the windshield represents any popular sayings related to the culture. On the sides of the truck, the space is used for advertising for different companies. The back of the truck is where the catchiest decorations are done, including giant-sized paintings of personalities or colourful pictures of animals. The truck drivers keep “updating” their truck art depending on the mood of the society. Empty spaces are covered with coloured lights and small mirrors. Trucks look very attractive and the passenger is more than happy to have had a high value for his money.

Henna Body Art Marah Hegazy and Amina Mahmood

PALESTINE

The use of henna for body art has been practiced for over 5,000 years! The people of ancient Egypt and India used this form of temporary tattoo for religious ceremonies, weddings, and simply for body adornment. It is a time-honoured tradition among various cultures of the world. Intricate designs symbolize passages of life.

How Henna is made Henna is a plant which grows in the tropical climates of Africa, northern Australia, and southern Asia. Its leaves contain a pigment called Lawsone, which combines with proteins to cause staining. Because of this staining quality, henna has been used throughout the ages to dye hair and create body art designs. History It is thought that henna originated in the deserts of India when the people living there discovered that covering their hands and feet with coloured paste from the henna plant helped them to feel cooler.

Then people began making creative designs with the coloured paste instead of just putting it on. The complexity of designs grew and began to take on meaning. Eventually brides began to decorate their feet and hands with henna as part of their wedding rituals. Getting a henna tattoo is preferred by many people over a regular tattoo because it is not painful at all! There is less chance of adverse reactions, and it is not permanent. Being temporary is appealing to many people because it allows them to change designs.

Just because a henna tattoo is temporary does not mean that it is quick and easy to apply. It takes just as long as a regular tattoo especially if the design is intricate and drawn freestyle by the artist. Health Risks of Henna Body Art The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved henna only for use on the hair. Henna has not been approved for use on the skin. Although henna comes from a natural substance, henna as body art sometimes causes complications. Contact dermatitis is the most common health risk. This is usually caused by unsafe additives in the henna to produce different colours. Black henna in particular has a colouring additive which causes allergic reactions in many people.

Romanian Painted Eggs Rachel Acatincai and Matei Angan

ROMANIA Whether it is a small or intimate gathering or a big get-together, Romanians like to celebrate Easter in the family. The art of hand-painted eggs has been passed down in Romanian families for generations. One egg can take hours or even days to complete.

The most readily recognizable examples of Romanian art are the famed painted eggs, especially prominent around Easter time. Painting of real hollowed-out eggs was an integral part of preparations for this festival of renewal.

While a lamb dish called drob de miel (a variety of lamb haggis) is the traditional centerpiece of many Easter tables, a bowl or basket with coloured eggs in a “nest” of grass or wheat will also have its place of honour throughout the celebration. There are a variety of specialty egg dyes available on the market today, but Romanians like to do things their own way. Easter eggs can be dyed using nothing but boiling water and a selection of natural, organic materials for a faded, natural look: Red: from boiling peels of red onion or red beets Yellow: from carrots or lemon peels Brown: from walnut leaves Green: from spinach or green rye

Tibetan Prayer Flags Tenzin Palmo Palden and Ellen McKay

TIBET Tibetan prayer flags are used almost everywhere in Tibet. They are seen hung on trees, stupas, monasteries, doorways, and altars. Flags are called “darcho” in Tibetan. “Dar” means to increase life, fortune, health, and wealth. “Cho” means all sentient beings. “Darcho” is written as དར་ཅ ོin Tibetan scripture writing. Prayer flags are said to

bring happiness, long life, and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity. The prayers are blessings spoken by the breath of nature. All the prayer flags have a specific colour and a specific order. The order is blue, white, red, green, and yellow. An easy way to remember is that blue is the highest in the five colours as it is the sky and space, then white for the clouds, red for fire, green for water, and then yellow for earth. The vertical flag has the yellow at the bottom and blue at the top. The horizontal flag flies from East to West.

BLUE is the colour that represents the element of sky and space. WHITE is the colour that represents the element of air. RED is the colour that represents the element of fire. GREEN is the colour that represents the element of water. YELLOW is the colour that represents the element of earth.

The prayer flags have ancient Buddhist prayers, mantras, and powerful symbols on them. They produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the area. There is also a horse on the flag. The horse is usually in the centre with four other animals on cardinal directions: a garuda and a dragon on the upper corners and a white tiger on the lower corners. These animals are usually on the horizontal flags more than on the vertical ones. The common but powerful mantra of Tibetan Buddhism is OM MANI PADME HUM. Om is said to purify pride but symbolises generosity, Ma purifies jealousy but symbolises ethics, Ni purifies desire but symbolises patience, Padme purifies ignorance but symbolises diligence, renunciation, and greed, and Hum purifies aggression but symbolises wisdom. OM MANI PADME HUM is not usually on the prayer flags used for tradition but on small ones for decoration. རླུང་རྟ (Lung ta) is the horizontal prayer flag, the direct translation in Tibetan is “Wind Horse.” These

flags have a square or rectangular shape and have a long thread or string connecting the flags together. Wind horses are mostly seen hung on Mount Everest or hung between trees or altars and high places. Wind horses are the traditional prayer flags of Tibet.