Imagine this: in a small town in Northern England, people with heritage and lineage stretching across the world  live together. Only they don't, they live in different parts of the town clustered together with people with similar heritage and lineage. In each of those clusters are people who love football; there are people who love knitting; there are people who love cooking and they gather together in their neighbourhoods to talk about their interests and share experiences.

They get bored. They know there are probably people right across the town who do the same things they do, and they'd love to talk with them about knitting patterns; or about how to add the skills demonstrated by Man City at weekend to their own team training ideas; or about each others favourite recipes.

The thing is, some of those people who have the same interests look a bit different, from each other, and it's, well, awkward - and besides, if you listened to what people said about them maybe you wouldn't get on, would you?

What if there was some way that these groups could share stuff with each of their members but then share their groups stuff with other groups using the same space. Maybe they'd find that they have more in common than they think. Maybe they would start to enjoy each others company, conversation and interests.

That space is Experience My Culture.

If you want somewhere to share your interests register your profile here: start a group, or maybe just a conversation. We'd love to see you.

"The things we have in common have far more potency than the differences between us"

Barack Obama

Hairdressers, neighbours, or strangers at the bus stop - whenever we start a casual conversation it always seems

to start with the weather doesn't it? This national obsession was immortalised in the catch phrase of George Formby who knew a thing or two about humour and the way the British have the capacity to laugh at themselves: "Turned out nice again..." he'd say. 

The thing is, it is only a cultural obsession because of our Geography - we sit on the globe just below the jet stream, nicely placed to catch its  kinks and bumps. This is what gives us such variety of weather - and gives us something to talk about.

But how does that national culture affect someone who arrives to the UK from somewhere with boring weather? Or just generally nicer weather, what does that do to their culture?

This poem by Andrew Salkey sums up that coming to terms with a new place, and says much about how we come to terms with changes in culture, absorb them and assimilate them into our own individual culture. This is it:

A Song for England

An' a so de rain a-fall
An' a so de snow a-rain

An' a so de fog a-fall
An' a so de sun a-fail

An' a so de seasons mix
An' a so de bag-o'-tricks

But a so me understan'
De misery o' de Englishman.

So a conversation with a stranger always starts with the things we have in common - in the UK that's easy: the weather. If you are still wondering about Experience My Culture and what it is about, think of it like the place you can stop by and talk about the weather, and find out what else you have in common with everyone else.

'Turned out nice again...'

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Here's a thought: the way that media portray national events has more effect on our collective response to the event than our culture.

It's been snowing in the UK recently, quite a lot for our little isle with its temperate changeable climate. This has meant it's big news – snow related items abound, from tragedies, to forecasting, to fun in the snow, and snow related trivia. We've even branded the event The Big Freeze, and doubtless will tell our grandchildren about it when winters are all but forgotten as the world warms in the future.

But does the high-volume and high intensity of the reporting whip us in to a kind of mass hysteria that gets in the way of our just-getting-on-with-it? Why do we need to highlight acts of neighbourliness or kindness as we help each other through the 'snow-mergency'?

Isn't it enough to base our response to such events on the values and roots each of us has? Or do you think our cultural identity is so homogenised as to need guidance from the various media? Are you helping out your friends and family because that's what you do in your culture, or just because it's right?

What's your view? Share with us.

(The image shows the UK blanketted in snow - taken by NASA's Terra satellite)

We were invited to an event showcasing the Christmas traditions of Poland and Ukrania today. This was great because it was our first official event as Experience My Culture, but it couldn't have been more emblematic of what this site is all about. 

Traditionally Polish and Ukranian people have had a fairly cool relationship with each other - like many other near neighbours across the globe, historical enmity has passed from generation to generation with many people forgetting why. In the case of these two near neighbours, more recent political events have meant at least an official thawing.

But even with official permission to be friends it takes more than a signature on a document to unpick historic hostilities that run deep.That is why today's event was so special. It was organised cooperatively between Ukaranian and Polish people and featured a choir from each culture. It reinforced the power of reconciliation that exists whereever people are prepared to come together and share.

That is what Experience My Culture is all about. 

Guests were treated to an account from each of what constituted Christmas for each of them - and again it was the similarities that made the difference. Each culture were proud of their own traditions - the more so for sharing them with others. 

I was fascinated at how the Christmas celebrations for each culture start on different days: Polish on December 24th, Ukranian on January 6th, one following the Gregorian calendar, the other following the Julian calendar of the Orthodox church.

Both cultures give presents, but on St Nicholas' Day, December 6th, and both cultures share the sense that Christmas is a family time. I was struck by the tradition of always leaving an empty place setting at the table for people who could not be, or who were no longer, there.

We've added a few photographs of the two choirs at the event, but we mustn't close without mentioning the other highlight of the day: the food. Again there was pride in the traditional baking of each country - including Honey cake made to a family recipe. I was introduced to pickled Herrings - despite my wariness they were absolutely delicious. 

Watch this space - we intend to pursue recipes for our new Experience My Culture food group!

When we had the idea of a web site where people could share experiences of their culture with each other we weren't too sure how it would work. Then we started thinking about our own cultural experiences and just between us we were suddenly enjoying a wealth of tales that weaved between things we held in common - but didn't know we did, or assumed we wouldn't - and exciting, fascinating accounts of growing up in different places, or simply the way we live our lives.

We were telling each other stories, and that is what Experience My Culture is about: a place to share our stories and the things we collect around us as we enjoy them - the music we like, the things that make us laugh - or cry - and the small things from our lives that make us who we are.

Already we've seen blogs about Christmas - but this ranges from tradition we might have heard of, to tradition we've built up in our workplaces.

Sometimes we take for granted many of the freedoms we have in the UK, and it sometimes makes us suspicious of people who come here to escape bad things in other parts of the world - 'surely it can't be that bad, can it?...'

We heard some of the tales from people who escaped horrific conditions across the world recently and, as our parents taught us, you only have to look into the eyes to feel the depth of the truth in their stories.

The Beating Wing Orchestra is a fabulous collaboration of musicians from around the world who each fled persecution - they share that sense of escape, and they share a love of music, their stories are their own.

We've uploaded a video from The Guardian that explains a little more about The Beating Wing Orchestra, and you can see them later this month at the Exodus event at 'the Band on the Wall (check the calendar).

In the meantime share some of your own stories with us - on your blog, in pictures, or by sharing some of the things you love in videos.

It's funny how cultural festivals and traditions get mixed up isn't it? Take Christmas for example, we all know what Christmas is about, don't we? And Eid's just the end of Ramadan isn't it. And what about Divali - dancing and light?

Ask most people for a list of things they associate with Christmas and they'll probably include things like the Christmas Tree, the pudding, Holly, Misteltoe, and of course the presents.

Many Christians take exception to what they describe as the commercialisation of what they consider a predominantly religious festival, but the origins of this winter festival are far more obscure. What we consider a traditional North European Christmas actually has its origins in Scandanavia - including the giving of gifts wihich, according to authorities, were brought by Joulupukki, a goat like creature accompanied by an elf (who brought porridge - suits me, I like my oaty breakfast, but for Christmas?...)

The Christmas tree tradition apparently has its origins in the fifteenth century when St Boniface used the triangular shape as a means of demonstrating the mystery of the trinity.

So what does that rich mix of historic and religious reference mean to us today - should Christmas be a simple religious festival - whether based on pagan mythology or christianity - or should we accept that Christmas as we know it is simply a cultural tradition for cheering up an otherwise dull, damp, cold and dark season and accept all efforts to do that - christmas lights and all?

Certainly some Muslims complain at the commercialisation of the Eid festivals, should we accept that festivals develop - just like they always have - or should we try to hang on to their historical credibility?

Share with us.

Thanks to www.candlegrove.com for the holly image, go to their site for more fascinating facts about our Christmas origins.

We tweeted this news item this morning, it's from a US newspaper and heralds the introduction of a more racially diverse range of childrens toys, dolls mainly. The article supports major toy manufacturers like Mattel in giving their doll range different skin colours other than the generic plastic pink flesh tones meant to represent white people.

My experience of raising children suggests that they don't notice differences in skin colour until they are about nine or ten years old - I'd be interested to learn what the scientists have to say - by then my own two sons had stopped being interested in action figures. So for little girls playing with Barbie it is more likely to be their parents who are offended by the fact that the doll's skin colour isn't the same as theiir own. But in the case of dolls for girls there are other equally serious issues about body image to think about.

So, does that mean we should aspire to have a range of Barbies with a wider range of dress sizes too, to suit the full range of diversity of body shape, or, come to think of it, disability too.

What do you think, should we expect our toys to represent the full range of society - or are they just toys?

When it was Eid, Divali or when you are doing your Christmas Shopping, was the diversity of the toys you bought your kids in the forefront of your mind?

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment and join our poll here.

There are two anniversaries of events today, each 100 years apart from the other, but each equally earth shattering.

One hundred and fifty years ago today Charles Darwin published his book The Origin of Species and the theory of evolution was born and ripped into the heart of the traditional creationsist view of the human race.

Firty years ago a scandal errupted in the pop music world that destroyed the reputation and career of Alan Freed, the inventor of Rock 'n' Roll. The hugely influental Freed took back-handers from music industry  pluggers to get their music aired on his ground breaking rock n roll radio shows.

Freed shocked America with his persistance at thrusting 'race music', as the music played by black Americans was known, on white radio stations, even the tag that Freed gave to this music was shocking - if only decent Americans had realised that Rock 'n' Roll was a euphemism for sex among black Americans (thank goodness it wasn't discovered in the UK or we could have been listening to Rumpy Pumpy music).

Darwin was a scientist and presented his findings objectively despite knowing what the implications would be to the traditional Christian establishment; Freed was purely a business man who spotted rising trends and promoted them - he got caught out doing exactly that and resented the fact that it was promoted as corrupt.

Both men stretched the boundaries of the current thinking of their time and pushed at the culturally accepted norms until new cultures emerged.

Why do we mention these anniversaries here?

We hope that Experience My Culture will be a space where cultures are shared, challenged, defended and evolve. You don't have to be famous to push at the boundaries.

(By the way, have a look at the videos we've uploaded to get an idea of what we're talking about)

If you've decided that making Christmas Pudding on Stir Up Sunday is for you, here is our selection of places to go for help:

Traditional English Puddings: a pudiding is for life not just for Christmas! This website features a host of lovely homely puddings including a great Christmas recipe:

http://www.traditionalenglishpuddings.co.uk/#

The Vegetarian Society: Christmas Pudding and more recipes for a meat-free Christmas

http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/christmas.html

Review Centre: If you've decided you can't be bothered and (like Crofty) are going to buy a pudding, here's a site to help you choose one based on other people's reviews:

http://www.reviewcentre.com/products3219.html

Enjoy Stir-up Sunday no matter how you spend it!

One of the things that set us off thiking about culture some time ago was that our culture is as individual as we are. So when people make assumptions about our thoughts, views or characteristics based on what they know about what they asume about our culture they miss out on alot. They miss out on us - the essence of the person they are speaking to.

When we learnt that this coming Sunday - the last Sunday of the Christian Church's year and the one before Advent starts - is known Stir Up Sunday and attached to Britisih cultural traditions we decided to investigate.

Here are some Christmas Pudding facts:, courtesy of the excellent Woodlands Junior School web site

Stir-up Sunday is the traditional day for everyone in the family to take a turn at stirring the Christmas pudding, whilst making a wish.

Before Christmas puddings were sold ready-made in foil containers, they were always made at home. They were made a month before Christmas day so the flavours had plenty of time to develop before Christmas.

Lucky Stir and a Wish

On Stir-up Sunday families returned from Church to give the pudding its traditional lucky stir. The pudding mixture was always stirred from East to West in honour of the three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus. Whilst stirring the pudding mixture, each family member would make a secret wish.

On their way back from church, children were often heard chanting the following rhyme:

Stir up, we beseech thee, the pudding in the pot;
And when we get home we'll eat the lot.

These words were an adaptation of what they had heard in church on this day.

Why is it called Stir-up Sunday?

The name 'Stir Up Sunday' comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer of 1549 and later (The collect is the prayer of the day that “collects” up the themes of the readings during a church service). 

The originally collect (prayer) has today been adapted into more modern language and is now the Church of England's prayer after communion for Stir Up Sunday:

"Stir-up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people;
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

And here's some Christmas Pudding trivia:

Christmas Pudding Traditions

A Christmas pudding is traditionally made with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and His Disciples.

A proper Christmas pudding is always stirred from East to West in honour of the three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus.

Every member of the family must give the pudding a stir and make a secret wish.

A coin was traditionally added to the ingredients and cooked in the pudding. It was supposedly to bring wealth to whoever found it on their plate on Christmas Day. The traditional coin was an old silver sixpence or threepenny bit.

Other traditional additions to the pudding included a ring, to foretell a marriage, and a thimble for a lucky life

 

Of course that is the accepted tradition and custom, but as Crofty nicely points out in his blog post, that is not the same for everyone - far from it. Crofty's cultural heritage gives him quite a different stance on the pudding - click here to see what he says

What are your experiences of the Christmas build-up, maybe your culture doesn't celebrate Christmas? What's it like living in a place when you are less involved with the cultural festivities of the day?