1. This is my Georgia

2. Mikhail Javakhishvili N124 public school of Tbilisi class-VIII-b
Georgian language and literature teacher Manana Bakradze

3. Georgia is a country of rich traditions

4. Wedding in Georgia
Real Georgian wedding is a beautiful, entertaining and rich holiday with observance of all original customs of Georgian people. The first rule of Georgian wedding is abundance of invited guests. Sometimes the number of guests reaches several hundreds. By the way, it is impossible to refuse to come to a wedding since it is a big insult for the inviting party; sometimes a long-term enmity of two families might begin for this reason.
Family creation in Georgia has three stages: marriage proposal, betrothal and wedding. Although today parents frequently do not participate in the choice of the bride or the groom for their children as it used to be, the family role remains very high. Marriage should be necessarily approved by relatives. Both families are very responsible in taking this step and try to find out as much as possible about their potential relatives. Only then they give consent to marriage proposal. When all formalities are observed there comes time for betrothal ceremony.

5. Tamada - Georgian tradition
tamada, or toastmaster, one person who introduces each toast. Georgians like to say that the tamada is dictator of the table, but it would be more appropriate to compare him to a leader or even a teacher. Tamada traditionally ought to be eloquent, intelligent, smart, sharp−witted and quick−thinking, with a good sense of humor since very often some of the guests might try to compete with him on the toast making. At the Georgian table, a tamada is considered to help bridge the gap between past, present and future, toasting ancestors and descendants as well as the other guests at the table. A toast can be proposed only by a tamada; the rest are to develop the idea. Some toasts take a traditional form; for example, for some toasts all men have to stand up and drink wine in silence. In many cases, however, the guests vie to say something more original and emotional than the previous speaker, and the whole process grows into a sort of oratory contest.

6. Georgian folk song
The folk music of Georgia consists of at least fifteen regional styles, known in Georgian musicology and ethnomusicology as "musical dialects". According to Edisher Garaqanidze, there are sixteen regional styles in Georgia. These sixteen regions are traditionally grouped into two, eastern and western Georgian groups.
The Eastern Georgian group of musical dialects consists of the two biggest regions of Georgia, Kartli and Kakheti (Garakanidze united them as "Kartli-Kakheti"); several smaller north-east Georgian mountain regions, Khevsureti, Pshavi, Tusheti, Khevi, Mtiuleti, Gudamakari; and a southern Georgian region, Meskheti. Table songs from Kakheti in eastern Georgia usually feature a long drone bass with two soloists singing the top two parts. Perhaps the most well-known example of music in Kakhetian style is the patriotic "Chakrulo", which was chosen to accompany the Voyager spacecraft in Known performers from the north-eastern region Khevsureti are the singers Dato Kenchiashvili and Teona Qumsiashvili (-2012).
The Western Georgian group of musical dialects consists of the central region of western Georgia, Imereti; three mountainous regions, Svaneti, Racha and Lechkhumi; and three Black Sea coastal regions, Samegrelo, Guria, and Achara. Georgian regional styles of music are sometimes also grouped into mountain and plain groups. Different scholars (Arakishvili, Chkhikvadze, Maisuradze) distinguish musical dialects differently, for example, some do not distinguish Gudamakari and Lechkhumi as separate dialects, and some consider Kartli and Kakheti to be separate dialects. Two more regions, Saingilo (in the territory of Azerbaijan) and Lazeti (in the territory of Turkey) are sometimes also included in the characteristics of Georgian traditional music.

7. Georgian folk dance
Kartuli The dance Kartuli many times reminds the audience of a wedding . Kartuli is a truly romantic dance. It is performed by a dance couple and incorporates the softness and gracefulness of a woman and dignity and love of a man. It shows that even in love, men uphold their respect and manners by not touching the woman and maintaining a certain distance from her. The man focuses his eyes on his partner as if she were the only woman in the whole world. He keeps his upper body motionless at all times. The woman keeps her eyes downcast at all times and glides on the rough floor as a swan on the smooth surface of a lake. The utmost skill, which is necessary to perform Kartuli, has earned the dance a reputation of one of the most difficult dances. There were only a few great performers of Kartuli. Some of these are Nino Ramishvili, Iliko Sukhishvili, Iamze Dolaberidze and Pridon Sulaberidze.

8. Georgian folk dance
Khorumi This war dance has originated in the region of Achara, which is located in the southwestern region of Georgia. The dance was originally performed by only a few man. However, over time it has grown in scale. In today’s version of Khorumi, thirty or forty dancers can participate. Although the number of performers changed, the content of the dance is still the same. The dance brings to life Georgian army of the past centuries. A few men who are searching the area for a campsite and enemy camps perform the initial "prelude" to the dance. Afterwards, they call the army onto the battlefield. Its strength, simple but distinctive movements and the exactness of lines create a sense of awe on stage. The dance incorporates in itself the themes of search, war, and the celebration of victory as well as courage and glory of Georgian soldiers. Since Georgia has seen many wars throughout its history, Khorumi is a call from the past and reminds us that in order to have peace, we must have war.
Acharuli has also originated in the region of Achara. It is where the dance gets its name from. Acharuli is distinguished from other dances with its colorful costumes and the playful mood that simple but definite movements of both men and women create on stage. The dance is characterized with graceful, soft, and playful flirtation between the males and females. Unlike Kartuli, the relationship between men and women in this dance is more informal and lighthearted. Acharuli instills the sense of happiness in both the dancer and the audience.

9. Georgian traditional cuisine
Khinkali is a Georgian dumpling, which originated in the Georgian mountain regions of Pshavi, Mtiuleti and Khevsureti. Varieties of khinkali spread from there across different parts of the Caucasus.The fillings of khinkali vary with the area. The original recipe, the so-called khevsuruli, consisted of only minced meat (lamb or beef and pork mixed), onions, chili pepper, salt and cumin. However, the modern recipe used mostly especially in Georgian urban areas, the so-called kalakuri, uses herbs like parsley and cilantro (also called coriander). Sacivi is a Georgian dish with a thick sauce containing onion, garlic, walnuts, spices and herbs. Although this is a pretty easy dish to make, it requires plenty of time. The dish must be prepared in advance and chilled for 24 hours before serving. So it’s a good one to serve at a dinner party (particularly if you are serving a tapas or mezze style dinner) as it can all be prepared in advance and all you need to do before putting it on the table is add some garnish. Although this recipe uses chicken, a firm white fish such as monk fish or halibut are viable alternatives. Khachapuri is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise, and is shaped in various ways. The filling contains cheese (fresh or aged, most commonly suluguni), eggs and other ingredients.

10. Georgian traditional cuisine
Churchkhela is a traditional Georgian candle-shaped candy. The main ingredients are grape must, nuts and flour. Almonds, walnuts, hazel nuts and sometimes raisins are threaded onto a string, dipped in thickened grape juice or fruit juices and dried in the shape of a sausage.
Shashlik (meaning skewered meat) was originally made of lamb. Nowadays it is also made of pork or beef depending on local preferences and religious observances. The skewers are either threaded with meat only, or with alternating pieces of meat, fat, and vegetables, such as bell pepper, onion, mushroom and tomato.

11. Traditions of Georgian Winemaking
For many centuries winemaking was not only the basis of economic riches of Georgia but also a part of its spiritual culture. Wine for a Georgian is not just a drink. Wine is more like a religion there. Wine strengthens the national spirit, and unites guests of traditional Caucasian feasts. Grapevine is mentioned in the Georgian legends, stories and songs. Wine in Georgia is the national asset attracting tourists from all over the world. Historically Georgia was the territory where winemaking cult prospered. Today nobody can tell when and where from the first grapevine appeared there, but the climate reigning there promoted the amber grape bunches growth. The grape leaves traces related to past geological epochs found on the territory of Georgia; the jugs with the remains of grape seeds found in ancient burial places testify to the fact that Georgia was one of the progenitresses of winemaking.

12. New Year’s traditions in Georgia
Georgian folk rituals of various parts of Georgia differ from each other. People meet New Year differently in different parts of Georgia. December 31 in Racha is known as Kalandoba. On that day one member of the family went to the forest to bring a sledge of wood at home. There were some Badzagari (evergreen tree with thorns) on the sledge. The sledge of wood was placed in the threshing-floor and faced the East. In the evening a pig was slaughtered (Sakalando Pig). Qada was baked in lard. It was called “Pig’s charm”. Before supper a boy or an elderly man of the family took a glass of wine to the pigsty to pray there: Let St. Basil grew pigs. They made a Gvergvi from cane, baked a big Lobiani-Qadiani in lard. A piece of Lobiani-qadiani was put on a Gvergvi with honey, apples and silver changes. Bread was baked the same amount as family People in Samegrelo called the New Year’s Eve Lej-Khvama. The elder member of the family made a Chichilaki, Special New Year’s greeting was prepared and was put on a trough. A bunch of flowers was made with Ivy and Nut-tree. Lejkhvama started at moonrise. People paid much attention on the moon and telling fortunes by moon. people in Guria called the day “Cut Tskhemli”. People collect Tskhemli wood for that day. They fed their hens well for 3-4 weeks and boiled them cold for that day. Early in the morning a pig was slaughtered, it was cut into pieces and boiled then. People bake Sakvakvavo for women on that day. They made Chichilaki. Special bread was baked for Chichilaki. Four big loaves of bread was baked for Basila. They started praying then

13. New Year’s traditions in Georgia
People tried to wear new and clean clothes on New Year’s Day. They tidied their houses, took their lent things back and met New Year’s Day in happiness and peacefulness. At sunset the elder member of the family went out, brought some snow and threw to the first foot on his feet saying the words: Let this year be a year of peace, happiness, wellbeing and wealth. They drank some vodka. In Khevsureti the elder member of the family went out at sunrise and rang the bell. Then he gave some beer to the first foot. Sometimes first foot took some barbeque with beer from Khati. Sometimes in Phavi people slaughtered a wether brought by a first foot. A foreman (in Kopala) went to the spring. He took some bread and cheese with him and put them in the water. Then he brought some water which was blessed. While people were eating, a foreman said prayers for dead, especially he prayed for homeless. The feast lasted the whole night. Sometimes a family invited their neighbor especially a child. It meant an angel in the family.

14. EASTER IN GEORGIA
Easter is a very important festival for Orthodox Christian world. Its celebration in Georgia is special.
Easter is preceded by Passion Week. In more than churches special services are held on each seven days of the week. The services are dedicated to the remembrance of Christ`s last days of life.
Most important of all are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
The Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II commits the Washing of the Feet ceremonial after warship evensong of Maundy Thursday. He washes the feet of 12 church servants, like Jesus had done.
Good Friday is the hardest day for all Orthodox Christians. The very important and interesting ceremony of Deposition of Christ is conducted in the churches. This symbolizes human death of Christ, his descent from the cross and burial.
Each family paints the eggs in red on Good Friday, also connected with Crucifixion of Jesus.
On the evening of Holly Saturday just before Easter comes, all churches conduct services of worship. Churches are crowded, often making it difficult to access them.
A lot of people attend the special Easter Service conducted by Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II in the central church of Tbilisi.
On Easter Georgians greet each other with the words “Christ is Risen!” instead of saying “hello”. The answer comes “Indeed”. On this day the doors of all houses are open to guests. One can taste home-made Paska (Easter cake) and Easter red eggs in each family.

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