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Why is it important to keep traditions?

According to About.com, it is important to keep traditions because they help an individual to establish an identity. For children, this is very important to positive emotional development. Traditions help to tether learning individuals to their family and place of origin, giving them a sense of security and continuity from one year to the next. Often, this includes religious traditions. Religious traditions include holidays, rituals, rites of passage and values. Keeping religious traditions alive helps to maintain a sense of connection to the past, as many religious traditions have been alive ..

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What is the main religion of Australia?

A very small percentage of Australia's population follows religions other than Christianity while nearly a fifth of Australians do not practice any type of religion, nor do they identify themselves with any type of religion. While only a very small percentage of Australia's population practices non-Christian religions, Hinduism is actually the fastest growing religion in Australia. Practitioners of Hinduism in Australia have grown by more than 50 percent since 2002.

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What is food insecurity?

Food supplies can be affected by natural factors including water shortages, agricultural degradation and crop diseases. Politics, war and economic instability also affect access to food. In countries where food insecurity exists, there are higher instances of infant mortality, shortened life spans and higher rates of disease and illness, among other health problems. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one in six people are food insecure in the United States as of 2014.

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What is the difference between a temple and a synagogue?

In Hebrew, the structure in which a congregation meets for worship services is called a "Beit K'nesset." This translates as "place of assembly." The Hebrew term isn't commonly used among English speakers. Orthodox and Hasidic believers sometimes use the word "shul" to describe their place of worship. This word is Yiddish and derives from the German "schule," meaning school. Its use is a clue to the educational role Orthodox Jews see for their religious services.\n"Synagogue" is derived from the Greek translation of Beit K'nesset, and is fairly neutral. The word is favored by Con..

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What is your zodiac sign if your birthday is in November?

Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac and is represented by the scorpion symbol. Scorpio is a fixed sign and is associated with water. Common traits of Scorpio individuals include being ambitious, determined and passionate. Sagittarius is the ninth sign in the zodiac and is represented by the archer symbol. Sagittarius is a mutable sign and is associated with fire. Common personality traits of the Sagittarius include being extroverted, optimistic and honest.

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What gift did Melchior bring?

The Bible says that after Jesus was born, wise men from the east came to visit him bearing three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Over time, the story of the Three Wise Men developed, and they received names: Melchior, Balthasar and Caspar. Bede states that Melchior was an old man, Balthasar was a middle-aged man and Caspar was a young man. Other traditions assign other identities and gifts to the names. For example, the J. Paul Getty Trust website states that in Andrea Mantegna's masterful painting "Adoration of the Magi," Melchior is the middle-aged visitor bearing frankincense.

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What do butterflies represent?

Butterflies often represent change and transformation due to their metamorphosis from a caterpillar. In Eastern religions, they are a symbol of enlightenment. The imagery of the apparent death of the caterpillar and emergence of the butterfly is the reason they represent resurrection in Christian art.\nButterflies are regarded as a symbol of good luck and happiness by cultures around the world. They are also often associated with femininity. In Japan, they are particularly associated with young women, and in China, they also represent a happy marriage. A Japanese legend states that before a ma..

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Are ladybugs good luck?

There is a folkloric tale, attributed to the European Middle Ages, that says ladybugs were sent in response to farmers' prayers for help controlling pests. When the ladybugs arrived, they ate all the insects that were destroying crops. It is therefore suggested that the ladybug, bird or beetle was named in honor of the Virgin Mary, or "Our Lady."

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What are some names of goddesses of ancient Egypt?

Most of the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt were depicted as similar to humans, but having animal parts as well. For example, Bast, also known as Bastet, was often depicted as a cat or as a woman with a cat's head or cat's ears. This was to show that the cat was her sacred animal. She was the daughter of the sun god Ra, and the Egyptians considered Bastet a protective goddess.\nHathor was another daughter of Ra and represented the Milky Way. She was depicted as a cow goddess.\nNeith was a weaver and also a war goddess, similar to the Greek goddess Athena. She is often depicted we..

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What does an upside-down cross symbolize?

The Cross of St. Peter is a representation of humility in the Catholic tradition because upon his execution the Apostle Peter is said to have requested his crucifixion be performed upside-down. It is believed that he felt he was not worthy to suffer the same execution as Christ. As of 2014, the Cross of St. Peter is a symbol commonly associated with the Papacy, as the Pope is believed to be Peter's spiritual successor on earth.\nOther common symbols associated with both the Pope and St. Peter are the Keys of Heaven. This is because, according to the Bible, Peter was to be the cornerstone ..

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