Official Costa Rica Holidays:

Folkloric music: 
The country of Costa Rica has many kinds of music.

Folkloric Costumer:
Costa Ricans love to celebrate, throughout the year there are various national and regional festivals, holidays, and celebrations. Whether religious, historical, or region-specific these occasions typically include parades, music, dancing, food, and traditional costumes.
Women
The traditional Costa Rican costume for women is quite beautiful. Women wear long vividly colored skirts (golas), white flounced or ruffled blouses with trimming in different color combinations, and leather sandals. The finishing touch is typically
braided hair adorned with a flower. Some women wear an apron that matches their blouse trimming too.
Men
The traditional dress for men is simple, classic and masculine. Men wear a white brimmed hat, a neckerchief with the knot tied in front, a white or light colored shirt, a bright red belt, long pants, and leather sandals (caite). Some men even carry a machete.

Currency: The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies);  is the official currency of the United States and its territories. The Coinage Act of 1792 introduced the U.S. dollar at par with the Spanish silver dollar, divided it into 100 cents, and authorized the minting of coins denominated in dollars and cents. U.S. banknotes are issued in the form of Federal Reserve Notes, popularly called greenbacks due to their historically predominantly green color.
Official Language: There is no "official" language at the federal level for the United States. Although the most commonly used language is English, more than 300 languages are spoken or signed by the population. Some individual states list English as their official language.

National Holidays: 

Folkloric Music: Traditional / folk songs for United States of America

Folkloric Costumes: A folk costume (also regional costume, national costume, traditional garment, or traditional regalia) expresses an identity through costume, which is usually associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. It can also indicate social, marital or religious status. If the costume is used to represent the culture or identity of a specific ethnic group, it is usually known as ethnic costume (also ethnic dress, ethnic wear, ethnic clothing, traditional ethnic wear or traditional ethnic garment). Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear.

 

2. Bannock
Delicious and versatile, bannock is a simple bread that was once a key staple in the diets of Canada’s Aboriginal people. Modern takes on bannock include baked versions (which are heavy/dense) and fried versions (which are crispy and fluffy on the inside).
3. Butter tarts

Butter tarts are so simple, but oh so good. They’re made by taking flaky pastry shells and filling them with a butter, sugar and egg filling. This is traditional Canadian food at its best.
4. Nova Scotian Lobster Rolls
Canada is a massive country, with spectacular seafood from coast to coast. Include Atlantic and Pacific salmon, smoked salmon, arctic char, and of course, East Coast Lobster. Nova Scotian lobster rolls are a Canadian favourite.
5. Montreal-style Bagels: Montreal’s bagels are the unsung heroes of great Canadian food. Sweeter, denser and thinner than their NYC counterparts, Montreal bagels are baked in wood fire ovens and are often covered in poppy or sesame seeds. The two heavyweights in the Montreal bagel game are St. Viateur and Fairmount Bagel, both of which (we can confirm) are amazing.
6. Saskatoon berry pie: The Saskatoon berry is often described as having a sweet and almondy flavour, which makes it an ideal candidate for the perfect pie.
Currency: The Canadian dollar (symbol: $; code: CAD; French: dollar canadien) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or sometimes CA$, Can$[1] or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents (¢).
Official Language: French and English are the languages of inclusion.
French 22.8%
English 75.4%
Neither English nor French 1.8%

Canada's two official languages, English and French, are a fundamental characteristic of Canadian identity.
Places of Interest: 1. Banff National Park : Lakes with stunning backdrops of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. There is no limit to the outdoor activities you can enjoy! Hike in the summer or ski in the winter, Banff has you covered.
2. Whistler
Just north of Vancouver, you’ll find the former home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Whistler is known as one of the largest (and world-class) ski resorts in Canada. Besides skiing and snowboarding, you can enjoy tons of other winter activities. If you’re visiting in the summer, enjoy many of the nearby hiking trails and lakes.
3. Niagara Falls: Located in Southern Ontario, this natural wonder is said to be over 12,000 years old. The area has become pretty commercialized with attractions, restaurants, and a casino. But the sight of these massive cascading falls is worth the hype, which makes this one of the best places to visit in Canada.
4. Quebec City: Charming cobbled streets, rich Canadian history (dating back to the 1600s) and European-style architecture. Quebec City is one of the best places to visit in Canada.
5. Whitehorse:
The most iconic place to see the Northern Lights in Canada has to be Whitehorse. They are visible between August and April, but the best chance of seeing them is at the beginning of winter.
6. Vancouver:
No trip to British Columbia is complete without a visit to the bustling city of Vancouver. Surrounded by mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and rainforests. Vancouver has a rich First Nations culture and is known for its arts scene.
7. Ottawa : The capital city of Canada and home to Parliament Hill!. beautiful Gothic architecture and discover the Rideau Canal.
8. St. Johns : Canada’s most easterly, and oldest, city in Canada. In fact, St. Johns has about 500 years of it! Besides that, the city has a bustling nightlife and unique culture.
9. Toronto : Culturally diverse, with great nightlife, and awesome food. Toronto is a major Canadian city  unique neighbourhoods like the bohemian district of Kensington Market.
10. Tofino :  Ancient rainforests and tons of wildlife, topped with gorgeous scenery. Located on Vancouver Island, Tofino attracts many surfers along Chesterman Beach, Long Beach, and Cox Bay.
National Holiday:
Public holidays for 2021

Folkloric Music: Canadian folk music has a long history, dating from the 16th and 17th century, mostly derived from the music of early settlers; much earlier for the music of indigenous people. Folk music thus differentiates between traditional and contemporary. Many of Canada's most influential folk artists emerged in the contemporary folk music era, notably Bruce Cockburn, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ferron, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Leonard Cohen, Murray McLauchlan, Stan Rogers, Valdy, Penny Lang, The Rankin Family and Wade Hemsworth. In the 1970s, chansonniers grew steadily less popular with the encroachment of popular rock bands and other artists, and many of the folk clubs, such as the Montreal Folk Workshop, and groups such as The Raftsmen, the Mountain City Four and.
Folkloric costumes: There is No Official National Dress of Canada. Folk dress for females and males Considered as a National Dress In Canada. Canadian peoples lived in a very beautiful but also rather harsh environment. Warm houses and warm clothes were among the most important things for Canadian indigenous tribes.
Fashion in Canada today still depends much on the weather and climate conditions. That’s why people wear parkas, long john’s (an undergarment, basically long underwear), earmuffs, scarves, gloves, mittens, tuques (woolen caps), various jackets made of linen and leather, leggings, Ojibwa shirts, trousers, and moccasins. These are unisex clothes, good for both men and women.

Food: 1-Tafelspitz:

The name refers to the cut of meat which is known as the tri-tip. Tafelspitz is generally considered to be the national dish of Austria, and it a boiled beef broth which is then served with horseradish, root vegetables, spices and minced apples.
2-Wiener schnitzel:
This dish is a dish of fine, breaded and fried meat, usually made from veal. The veal is made into a butterfly and is beaten together with the eggs and the breadcrumbs to make it light. Then it is fried until crisp. The traditional Wiener Schnitzel in Austria is usually served with kopfsalad or another form of salad, such as cucumber or potato salads.
3-Wiener Würstchen:
This is a unique Viennese sausage and is customary as fast food in the country. Readily available everywhere, the sausage was originally invented by a butcher in Vienna, and are similar to the hot dogs that you can find in America. These long, thin and tasty snacks truly are delicious.
4-Apfelstrudl
 It is a traditional apple strudel, and is a thin apple filled pastry, which includes cinnamon, sugar and raisins. This is the perfect breakfast or dessert dish and is often accompanied with a cup of coffee. Not only is this popular in Vienna and Austria as a whole.
5-Kaiserschmarrn
This dish consists of fluffy, caramelized pancake that is torn up and sprinkled with sugar and some form of hot fruit compote (usually made from plums).
Currency: As part of the eurozone, the official currency in Austria is the euro and has been since 1999. The country also produced a series of coins to proudly showcase the country. Among them are Alpine flowers on 1,2 and 5 cent coins, and Vienna’s impressive St. Stephan’s Cathedral on 50 cent coins.
Official Language: Australia legally has no official language. However, English is by far the most commonly spoken and has been entrenched as the de facto national language since European settlement.
Places of Interest: Austria is famous for its castles, palaces, cathedrals, and other ancient architecture. Many of them were built during the reign of Habsburg. Belevedere and Schönbrunn are the two most famous palaces. Both of them are in Vienna.
      1-Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna.
      2-Ringstrasse in Vienna.
      3-Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna.
      4-Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg.
      5-Mozart's Birthplace in Salzburg.
      6-Schlossberg Hill & Clocktower in Graz, Styria.
National Holidays:

Folkloric Music: Some of traditional dances in Austria are schuhplattler, ländler, polka, waltz, zwiefacher, kontratänze and sprachinseltänze. Some of them like polka and waltz are also common in many part of Europe.
Austria is famous for its classical music, but people basically buy pop, rock and schlager – those genres account for more than 80% of all sales. The rest is basically made up of hip-hop and children's music.
Folkloric Costumes: Women wear 'Dirndls', a close-fitting bodice combined with an apron in different colors; either it is sleeveless and worn with a cotton and lace blouse, or it has sleeves and a high neck. Men wear 'Lederhosen', knee-length trousers or short-pants made from leather, worn with rustic shoes and wool socks.

Food: 

Currency: The Colombian peso is the currency of Colombia.
Official Language: More than 99.5% of Colombians speak the Spanish language; also 65 Amerindian languages, 2 Creole languages, the Portuguese language and the Romani language are spoken in the country. English has official status in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands.
Places of Interest: Caño Cristales, or “the river of five colors,” is located in the Serranía de la Macarena National Park. This unique and wonderfully colorful phenomenon is a picturesque sight located within a remote part of the country. The 62-mile (100-kilometer) stretch of river has beautiful waterfalls and natural pools.
Medellín is Colombia’s second largest city, and is famous for its flower festival, warm climate, Botero Museum and has a metropolitan feel. Medellín has a number of unique things to do and see. Nearby Guatapé, for example, has a 650-foot (198-meter) rock protruding out of the flat lands, where you can climb over 700 steps and discover the “best view in the world.” Medellín is a lively city with plazas, colorful graffiti, exceptional transportation links and unique museums.
Cali is Colombia’s third largest city and is the salsa capital of the world. Cali is filled with music, smalls bars, live bands and dancing in the street. The city is the perfect place to learn to dance salsa and take a step back in time to experience the history of the popular Colombian dance in small record stores.
Cartagena is a city located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. At the end of the 16th century the city constructed a wall to protect its inhabitants from being robbed by pirates. The wall still stands today, and has become a spectacle of the city and its colorful architecture. Cartagena’s wall is complemented by its forts, built to protect from French and British invasion.
National Holidays: Colombia has an enviable calendar of 18 public holidays per year. Twelve of these are religious based celebrations, such as Easter, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. The rest are civic holidays, like Independence Day (July 20), the Battle of Boyacá (August 7), and Labor Day (May 1).
Folkloric Music: Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" but actually holds over 1,025 folk rhythms. Some of the best known genres are cumbia and vallenato. The most recognized interpreters of traditional Caribbean and Afrocolombian music are Totó la Momposina and Francisco Zumaqué.
Cumbia began as a courtship dance practiced among the African population on the Caribbean coasts of Colombia. It is a mixture of Spanish, Native Colombian and African music. The style of dance is designed to recall the shackles worn around the ankles of the slaves. In the 19th century, slavery was abolished and Africans, Indians and other ethnic groups got a more complete integration in the Colombian culture.
Folkloric Costumes: Colombian folklore is a mix between the cultures of the South American indigenous communities, Spanish culture and imported African cultures during the colonial era. 
Atumes of the Andean Region of Colombia vary depending on each department, since each one of them has its own festivities, the truth is that there is a common garment: the so-called Ruane. It is a cape-like garment that closely resembles the typical poncho of the traditional mexican dresslthough typical cos.
An indispensable accessory is the famous paisa hat or antioqueño hat, a garment that is traditionally manufactured in the Andean region of Colombia and that has become a regional symbol, especially in the departments of the Eje Cafetero and Antioquia.
This feminine suit consists of a huge black skirt that reaches up to 20 cm above the ankle and includes multicolored ribbons, accompanied by printed fabrics in a variety of colors.
The blouse that accompanies this skirt is always white with some ornaments (embroidery, lace, ruches, tucks ), made of cotton fabric, high neck and usually short sleeves. Under the skirt, the chapolera wears one or even two boleros and always wears petticoats (women's underwear). As footwear, the chapolera wears espadrilles.

National Holiday: La Festa della Repubblica is Italy's Independence Day and one of the country's most important holidays. The day celebrates the end of monarchs and the country officially becoming a republic.
Italy has 12 national public holidays each year.
25 April | Liberation Day | Festa della Liberazione
1 May | Labour Day | Festa del Lavoro (or Festa dei Lavoratori)
2 June | Republic Day | Festa della Repubblica
15 August | Assumption Day | Assunzione (Ferragosto).
Folkloric Music: List of Italian folk songs by region

Folkloric Costumes: The women wear colorful embroidered skirts and bodices over light-weight chemises or blouses, with elaborate hats decorated with flowers or fruit. Men's traditional clothing tends to be simpler, but doesn't lack from attention to detail, with embroidery and metal buttons and pins.

National Holiday: January 1 New Year’s Day.
January 9 Honour the student demonstrators during the Flag Incident in 1964.
4 Days before Ash Wednesday  Festivities before the Lenten Season.
July 1 (Every 5 years) | Newly elected president is formally inducted to the office.
May 1 International Workers’ Day Labor Day
November 2 Celebrate and honor the dead.
November 3 Separation Day (from Colombia).
November 4 Día de la Bandera Formal Adoption of Flag of Panama.
November 5 Commemorates the persuasion of the Colombian forces in Colon not to contest and battle Panama’s separation from Colombia.
November 10 First cry of Independence in the Villa de Los Santos against Spain.
November 28 Independence Day (from Spain).
December 8  Día de la Madre Mother’s Day.
December 25 Día de Navidad  Christmas Day.
Folkloric Music: Panamá is rich in folklore, and her music and dances include local and foreign very particular and interesting issues. The local folkloric music is what locals call "típico".  Típico is mainly done with accordion, drums and "bajo".  It´s very cheerful and usually invites you to dance, and you can spend hours singing and dancing. 
famous song "Panamá Viejo", by Lucho Azcárraga, is the best known and most popular musician in Panamá, is a tribute to the  old city of Panamá that was established under King. Each culture in Panama has its own music.  What is traditionally known as Tipico is a generic term applied to the popular peasant music most people of Panama listen and dance to.  Tipico is derived from more traditional forms like cumbia, mejorana, decima and tamborito. Some of the best known artists of Tipico are Samy and Sandra Sandoval and Yin Carrizo, to mention just a few. In the more traditional styles, there are Tamboreras, Cantaderas, Saloma, which are more folkloric traditional styles of singing which can be heard usually in small towns in the countryside during festivals or local. 

Folkloric Costumes: The Panamanian pollera is considered one of the most beautiful traditional dresses in the world. It is synonymous with tradition, luxury and splendor. However, its origin is not well known, currently it is believed that it is an adaptation of the costumes used by Spaniards during colonial times. There are basically three types of pollera-The formal highly decorated version: “pollera de gala.” Then there is the everyday type the: pollera montuna and finally there is the wedding pollera.
Panamanian men’s traditional clothing consists of white cotton shirts, trousers and woven straw hat. The traditional women’s clothing is the pollera. It originated in Spain in the 16th century, and by the early 1800s it was a typical in Panama, worn by women servants, especially wet nurses.
Panama’s culture is a blend of African, American Indian, North American, and Spanish influences, which are expressed in its traditional arts and crafts, music, religion, sports, and cuisine. Panamanian music is popular throughout Latin America, and the country is known as well for its many festivals.

Food: Spanish cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices from Spain. Olive oil (of which Spain is the world's largest producer) is heavily used in Spanish cuisine. It forms the base of many vegetable sauces (known in Spanish as sofritos).Herbs most commonly used include parsley, oregano, rosemary and thyme. The use of garlic has been noted as "common to all Spanish cooking." The most used meats in Spanish cuisine include chicken, pork, lamb and veal. Fish and seafood are also consumed on a regular basis.

Currency: The currency in Spain is the Euro.
Official Language: The official language is Spanish, also called Castilian, and is the first language of over 72% of the population. Galician is spoken in the region of Galicia and Basque by increasing numbers of the population of Euskadi, the Spanish Basque Country.
Places of Interest: Barcelona is the country’s second city but it is Spain’s most popular destination.
Madrid: The city is famous for its world-class museums, such as the El Prado Museum as well as one of the liveliest nightlife scenes in the world.
Seville is the capital of Spain’s southern Andalusia region and it is famous for sunny weather, flamenco dancing, and a some of Spain’s most historical landmarks. These include the exquisite Alcazar Castle complex (built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty) and the Gothic Seville Cathedral where Christopher Columbus’ tomb lies, there are also some sensational museums, art exhibitions, theatres, and theme parks.
Palma de Mallorca: The beaches are the main attraction, and they are magnificent, but the city also has some other landmarks worth visiting such as the Royal Palace of la Almudena and the cathedral.
Granada: The city is famous for its stunning medieval architecture which dates back to the Moorish occupation, the most famous example is the Alhambra. The city is also renowned for its electric atmosphere. The streets are packed with tapas bars, restaurants, bohemian cafes, and flamenco clubs. It has one of the biggest student populations in the country, as well as being one of the most visited places.
National Holidays:
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to have a maximum of 14 public holidays per year; a maximum of nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally, including patronal festivals. If one of the "national holidays" happens to fall on a Sunday the regional governments — the autonomous communities of Spain — can choose an alternate holiday or they can allow local authorities to choose. In practice, except for holidays falling on a Sunday, the regional governments can choose up to three holidays per year; or they can choose fewer to allow for more options at the local level. A puente (bridge) is sometimes made between weekends and holidays that fall on Tuesday or Thursday. The puente will then create a long weekend.
January 1  New Year's Day.
January 6  Epiphany.
February 28 Andalusia Day.
March 19 St. Joseph's Day.
March or April Maundy Thursday. Good Friday Easter Monday Lunes de Pascua.
May 1 Labour Day.
May 2 Regional Day
May 17 Galician Literature Day.
June 13  St. Anthony's Day.
June 24  John the Baptist.
July 25  Galician National Day.
August 5 Santa Maria of Africa.
August 15 Assumption  Asunción.
September 2 Ceuta Day.
September 17  Municipal Day.
October 9  Day of the Valencian Community.
October 12  National Day of Spain.
November 1 All Saints' Day.
December 6 Constitution Day.
December 8 Immaculate Conception.
December 25 Christmas Day Navidad.
December 26  St. Stephen's Day.
Folkloric Music: Spanish music is often associated with traditional styles such as flamenco and classical guitar.
Tango is an intense genre of music that is one of the most popular in dance.
Folkloric Costumes: Most traditional Spanish clothing is reserved for special events and celebrations. The most common pieces, still used today, include: the mantilla, the peineta, and the gilet. The mantilla is a traditional Spanish veil piece that is often worn during religious celebrations such as Spanish weddings. The traditional men's dress of Spain reflects the style of the bandoleros, or outlaws and vaqueros, or cowboys. The high-waisted pants compliment a short jacket, or traje corto, sometimes embroidered. These were linked together by a wide, colored scarf at the waist.

Iceland has prominently been called by three names in Latin: Islandia directly from Icelandic language "Ísland" Snelandia a Latinization of the more poetic name Snæland. Insula Gardari literally meaning "Island of Garðar". One Norwegian Viking named Floki traveled to the island with family and livestock and settled in the western part of the country. The story goes that after his loss, he climbed a mountain in the spring to check the weather where he saw drift ice out in the water and, hence, changed the island's name to Iceland.
What is Iceland's nickname?
"The land of fire and ice".
So, in a nutshell, the reason why Iceland gets the nickname of 'the land of fire and ice' is simply down to the volcanic and glacial terrains that continue to shape Iceland's nature
Location: Island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Lying on the constantly active geologic border between North America and Europe, Iceland is a land of vivid contrasts of climate, geography, and culture.
Weather: Iceland, near the Arctic Circle, actually has a cold, temperate climate due to the North Atlantic Current that carries Gulf Stream warm water north. That means that even though winters are cold, Iceland generally experiences higher average temperatures than other places in the world located at a similar latitude.
Iceland's climate includes conditions typical for a Nordic country, but there are are some variations between different parts of the island: The south coast tends to be warmer, wetter, and windier than the north, and snowfall in winter is more common in the north than in the south. Known as the Land of Ice and Fire due to its many volcanoes, Iceland is always subject to the possibility of volcanic activity.

Food: The Icelandic Yogurt.

Slow Roasted Lamb.

Hákarl - Fermented Shark.

Icelandic Lamb Soup - Kjötsúpa.

Icelandic Fish.

Icelandic Hot Dog.

Rúgbrauð - Dark Rye Bread from a Hot Spring.
Lamb. 
Ice Cream. 

Bakery Products. 
Dried Fish/Hard Fish. 
Icelandic Meat Soup.
Icelandic Traditional Bread: Rúgbrauð, Flatkaka & Laufabrauð 

Currency: The króna or krona (sometimes called Icelandic crown; sign: kr; code: ISK) is the currency of Iceland.
Official Language: Iceland has been a very isolated and linguistically homogeneous island historically, but has nevertheless been home to several languages. Gaelic was the native language to many of the early Icelanders. Although the Icelandic or Norse language prevails, northern trade routes brought German, English, Dutch, French and Basque to Iceland. Icelandic is not only the national language, but is now “the official language in Iceland” by virtue of Act No 61/2011, adopted by parliament in 2011.
Places of Interest: 1. The Blue Lagoon:  some 40 kilometers from the island’s capital at Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon hails in as one of Iceland’s most visited tourist attractions. Despite its volcanic nature, the site is actually very young; formed from the leftover plugholes of a geothermal power plant in the 1970s.
2. Gullfoss Waterfall: It’s famed as one of the most dramatic cataracts in the world, and cascades over a series of stepped rocks and terraces before plunging over the 32-meter high crevice that gives the fall its distinct appearance of disappearing into the Icelandic subterrane. The falls themselves can often be found arched over by rainbows or shrouded in plumes of mist, while by summer, the surrounding hills and ridges come dressed in a verdant covering of grass that makes a fine backdrop for hiking around the banks of the Hvita River.
3. Grundarfjordur: Itself is known for its earthy summer folk festivals courtesy of the local Viking Foundation.
4. Landmannalaugar: A deep-cut valley set in the very midst of south-western Iceland’s famous Fjallabak Nature Reserve, the Landmannalaugar is a hidden gem of a destination that comes complete with everything from bubbling volcanic hot springs to ochre-coloured mountain ridges.
5. Reykjavik: Its charming downtown of painted timber homes is watched over by the soaring and unforgettable needle-like spire of the Hallgrimskirkja – now a veritable icon of the Icelandic city – while oodles of hearty Scandinavian vodka bars and taverns coalesce between the streets. Nearby, the beautiful Tjornin pool adds an aquatic edge to the town, while the Alpingi parliament building oozes 19th-century charm and the centre pulses with the likes of the National Gallery of Iceland, the Hafnarhus and the fascinating ancient ruins of the 871±2.
National Holiday: New Year‘s Day January 1
Maundy Thursday April 1
Good Friday April 2
Easter Sunday April 4
Easter Monday April 5
First Day of Summer April 22
Labour Day May 1
Ascension Day May 13
Whit Sunday May 23
Whit Monday May 24
National Day June 17
Bank Holiday Monday August 2
Christmas Eve (from noon) December 24
Christmas Day December 25
Boxing Day December 26
New Years Eve (from noon).
Folkloric Music: Icelandic folk music includes a number of styles that are together a prominent part of the music of Iceland. When speaking of traditional Icelandic vocal music, there are two prominent vocal performance styles, one using the term kveða and the other syngja. The first is a performance practice referred to as kveðskapur or kvæðaskapur. Kveðskapur is also the generic Icelandic term for poetry. Traditional Icelandic folk music remained widely performed into the last decades of the 19th century, when folk collecting began in the country. For centuries, Icelandic folk music was the long-standing popular music of the country. Its unique rhythm, caused by putting stress on the last word of the phrase, is called Hákveða. Today, Iceland's most popular music (and popularly exported music, too) is rock.
Folkloric Costumes: The Faldbúningur is an older type of costume worn by women since at least the 17th century and well into the 19th. In its most recognized form it incorporated a hat decorated with a curved sheet-like ornament protruding into the air and exists in two variants. One of which is the krókfaldur and the other is the spaðafaldur.
The Peysuföt: are black woollen clothes commonly worn by women in the 18-19th century. They usually consisted of a twill skirt and a jacket of fine knitted woollen yarn with a black tail cap. It is believed that this costume was invented when women, desiring simpler working clothes than the faldbúningur, started to use male articles of clothing. This includes both the tail-cap and the peysa which originally was a jacket with a single row of buttons, but evolved into this costume and eventually discarded with the buttons.
Men's costume
Þjóðbúningur: The one considered most traditional consists of woolen breeches or trousers, a usually double buttoned vest and a double buttoned jacket called treyja. Sometimes a peysa with a single row of buttons is used in lieu of the vest and treyja. On the head is a tail cap, though historically different hats were also used. This costume was usually black, navy blue or dark green.
Fornmannaklæði
In the middle of the 19th century, when many Icelandic men had taken to using continental clothing, Sigurður Guðmundsson, an Icelandic artist, designed a costume for men which closely resembles 10th century Nordic clothing. While it attained some popularity at the time, it eventually disappeared until at the end of the 20th century when Viking culture and traditions have enjoyed increased popularity.

Currency:  China’s currency is the renminbi (RMB, people’s currency) or yuan.
Official Language: The official language of China is standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, which means standard speech, based on the Beijing dialect). Other major dialects are Yue (Cantonese),
Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, and Hakka
(Kejia). Because of the many ethnic groups in China, numerous minority languages also are spoken.
All of the Chinese dialects share a common written form that has evolved and been standardi.
Places of Interest: 

National Holidays:
There are currently seven official public holidays in mainland China.^[1] Each year's holidays are announced about three weeks before the start of the year by the General Office of the State Council. A notable feature of mainland Chinese holidays is that weekends are usually swapped with the weekdays next to the actual holiday to create a longer holiday period.
1 January | 1 day | New Year's Day.
1st day of 1st Lunisolar month | 3 days (Chinese New Year's Eve, 1st and 2nd days of 1st Lunisolar month) | Spring Festival^[e] (aka Chinese New Year).
5th solar term (4 April, 5 April or 6 April) | 1 day | Tomb-Sweeping Day.
1 May | 1 day | Labour Day.
5th day of 5th Lunisolar month | 1 day | Dragon Boat Festival.
15th day of 8th Lunisolar month | 1 day | Mid-Autumn Festival.
1 October | 5 days | National Day.
Folkloric Music:  There are dozens of styles of folk music in China. Along with the Han folk music, the ethnic folk music that tourists might hear and most like includes the Tibetan, Uighur, and Dong folk music. The Miao are famous for their singing.
About 92% of China's people are Han Chinese, and there are various regional styles of Han folk music. Han folk music is the music of common people who live in the country. The Han people have several languages and many dialects, and there are many regional styles of folk music also.
Until recently, Chinese people were mostly peasant farmers. You might hear folk music being played during weddings, funerals, or festivals such as the New Year Festival.
Though most young people opt for modern music at their wedding dinners, you may still hear the traditional suona (a wind instrument) played or the clanging of gongs. There are several regional styles.
Folkloric Costumes: The emperor wore 'dragon robes'(lóngpáo) in court and for daily dress as a symbol of his supreme status and absolute sovereignty. Dragon embroidery and dragon related patterns were exclusive to the emperor and royal family in China.
Chinese costumes include hair ornament, jewelry, pendant, and outfit, together they show a person's social status, age, occupation, and religion.
Changshan are traditionally worn for formal pictures, weddings, and other formal Chinese events.
The Hanfu, Zhongshan suit (Mao suit), Tang suit, and cheongsam (qipao) are the four most distinctive types of traditional Chinese clothing.