Fasting: For Him Not Her

Kareena Kapoor made news in India today as she declared that she will not be starving herself tomorrow in order to prove her love to her husband, Saif Ali Khan.  What’s so special about tomorrow you ask? Well…tomorrow is Karwa Chauth – a one day festival whereby women fast from sunrise until sighting of the full moon (through a flour sieve…) of that same evening and it’s all to ensure the safety and long life of their husbands. Some women also include their sons in this ritual.

Religion is funny business if you ask me and every religion seems to have their few eccentric laws/traditions/customs that remind women they are worthless,

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The Queen’s Izzat

During the fabulous Jubilee Weekend the Queen delighted all, even the most hardened Republicans – no one could resist her charm.  Looking incredibly elegant and glamorous she must have had so much fun dressing up in her dazzling embellished dresses.

A South Asian tradition for women is that we must all carry a scarf when leaving the house as it protects our izzat or honour.  

Would You Propose?

It’s a leap year and ever since its introduction some 2000 years ago, the 29th February has been associated with folklore and traditional customs, especially proposals.

End Of Christmas

Victorian tradition is to take down Christmas decorations on the 5th January. Today!

Apparently it is bad luck to leave them any longer than the twelfth night of Christmas.

The Poppadom Posse

It’s summer and my mum is waiting for the hot days to arrive so that she can make her year’s supply of poppadoms. This dying tradition that my mother so duly carries out reminds me so much of youth.

Strawberries And Cream

Wimbledon has started, the debate continues of why England cannot produce a Wimbledon champion and the nation tucks into a fortnight of strawberries and cream.

Such is the association of strawberries and cream with this event, that every year, supermarkets report a considerable rise in the sale of strawberries and cream. Once Wimbledon is over, sales go back down to normal levels.

Bring A Bottle

I have just been to my first “Bring a Bottle” wedding and I am not so sure if the idea really works or is even acceptable at a wedding.

Usually, you would bring a bottle when you go to someone’s house for dinner or maybe a party, but does this translate to a wedding where you have already paid for flights, accomodation, presents etc…?

With This Ring, I Thee Wed

When Prince William announced that he wouldn’t be wearing his wedding ring after he got married, at first I thought who cares. But then, I began to wonder why women are so obsessed with wedding rings and why men couldn’t care less.

Jilted by a Period

A year ago I was told of a bride who had to cancel her wedding because she was on her period. A year long preparation had to be called off at the last minute. The poor groom was left standing. The brides family were extremely religious and believed that a girl could not go under the Mandap (Hindu wedding alter) when she was menstruating, it was bad luck and the marriage would be doomed.