Describe a Tradition in your Country
You should say
- What is it?
- Who takes part in it?
- What activities there are?
- And explain how you feel about it?
Note: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.
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Sample Answer 1:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Touching the feet of elders
When a custom continues from generation to generation it becomes a tradition. If I talk about my country India its culture and traditions are something which has now become renowned all across the world. There are several reasons in India.
Here I would like to talk about one nation is that touching the feet of elders for a blessing. This is one such tradition which is followed almost everywhere in the nation. It is an age-old tradition where teachers used to give blessings to their students when they touch their feet in order to show respect and value to them.
It is still in practice not only for teachers and discipline but also among elders and the younger generation. In my country, India, this is a very ubiquitous and well practice tradition that is taught by every parent to their wards. Apart from this, this helps the children to understand the importance of giving admiration to seniors.
Whenever elder people visit our home or if there are any occasions like a festival or events celebrated it is a custom to touch elder’s feet to make them valued. Furthermore, also students before going for exams they seek the blessing of parents’ grandparents and teachers by following this tradition.
Unfortunately these days many families are getting detached from the tradition as modern parents are not always teaching their kids about these values. It is paramount to put effort to keep this tradition alive otherwise it can be a huge loss for the nation if these become obsolete as these are the things that think keep the country united and its values high. ieltsxpress
Sample Answer 2:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Namaste
India is a diverse country with numerous traditions and cultural practices. A very popular tradition that every citizen follows is that of joining one’s hands together and bowing the head slightly in order to greet or welcome someone. It is called ‘Namaste’.
Usually, people use this gesture while they meet guests and elders. It is considered as a sign of respect especially as per Indian tradition. Across all ages and genders, religions and backgrounds, every citizen is accustomed to this popular practice. It is a sign of welcoming guests into homes, showing reverence to elders in the community, as well as prayer and gratitude.
The gesture is a simple movement of joining hands together with a bowed head. Indians use it so commonly and one may notice this tradition being understood and followed by even little children. You are reading this cue card on ieltsxpress.
It is quite essential in India to show love and respect to family members and elders in society. Being such a culturally bound nation, people share strong bonds and relationships with each other. Even the young and old people are closely bonded with one another. So, this tradition of Namaste is considered epitome to display respect and consideration towards elders.
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Sample Answer 3:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Chinese Man Carry Handbags
Though I am originally from China, I currently live in the UK. Having lived in China for more than 18 years, I have had great exposure to various Chinese traditions and among them, some are quite interesting and unique. China, as a large country with a huge population, has some really unusual traditions that people in other countries would think distinctive, and sometimes strange.
One such tradition is that ’Chinese men carry handbags’, and China has the highest percentage of male handbag careers in the world. I am sure people who are not accustomed to seeing men carrying handbags of various colours and designs, would find it really peculiar.
Traditionally men have to carry a large amount of money, and cheques are not widely used in China. This is why men need to carry handbags in our country. The highest denomination of Chinese yen is hundred and that is why business people need to carry such bags to take large wads of cash. Also, Chinese men cheerfully carry their wife’s handbags and purses. You are reading this cue card on ieltsxpress.
I am not sure exactly how old this custom is but I believe this must be at least several hundred years old. I often wondered what western tourists think when they see that Chinese men carry colourful handbags as Western women do! Top brands like Gucci and Prada should target these Chinese men and expand their business market in China, and who knows maybe they have already targeted them!
Yes, most of the Chinese men follow this tradition and it has a practical purpose than its fashion value.
As a Chinese, I find it quite natural. In fact, before I left China, I thought men in other countries also carry handbags but after I reached the United Kingdom, I realised that this is not the case. I personally believe that there is nothing wrong in carrying a handbag when it has many practical utilisations. However, men in most of the countries find it hilarious and funny. As a Chinese, I respect this tradition, nevertheless.
Sample Answer 4:
Describe a Tradition in your Country –Diwali
Well, India is a diverse country, and people over here follow different religions. Every religion has its traditions, and they celebrate them with zeal and zest. I belong to the Sikh religion, and here I would like to talk about Diwali that is celebrated in every state of India with full enthusiasm.
Diwali is a festival that people of India celebrate with alacrity. People also call this as the festival of lights. As this festival is celebrated by both Sikhs and Hindus, so many rituals and beliefs are connected. Both religions have different historical importance to celebrate Diwali. The Hindus celebrate it because on this day their God Ram Chandra came back to his house after 14 years. You are reading this cue card on ieltsxpress.
Moreover, People start cleaning and decorating their houses some days before. There is a holiday that day, and people visit their relatives, exchange gifts, make delicious cuisines, distribute sweets, and donate money to needy ones.
Diwali’s most exciting thing is that people burn candles and oil lamps on the walls of their houses, and the Diwali’s night is full of lightning. Apart from that, individuals burn firecrackers and enjoy the whole day with their families.
I also celebrate Diwali every year and it is my favorite festival. we decorate our houses with electric lights and candles.
Overall, that is a tradition in India which is most celebrated.
Sample Answer 5:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Karva Chauth
There are many traditions in India. But today I would like to talk about a tradition which is quite popular especially in North India.
The tradition is called ‘karvachauth’.
It is actually a tradition in which women keep a fast from sunrise to moon rise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. It is celebrated on a special day based on the Hindu Lunar Calendar. It is mainly a Hindu tradition but some women from Sikh religion also celebrate it. Its origin is based on military campaigns of the past. The men would go to wars, and women would keep a fast for their safe return.
In today’s time, it is seen as a symbol of love and affection between a husband and wife. In fact, nowadays even men keep a fast along with women to support them. Women begin preparing for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by buying adornments jewelry, and other prayer items. On the day of Karva Chauth, women dress up and at night they do a small prayer along with husbands with the moon in the backdrop. After this, they break their fast.
Earlier, I saw this tradition as a symbol of patriarchy in some sense, where only women are meant to keep a fast. But now I see it more as a symbol of love and sacrifice I think as long as there is no compulsion on women to do this and they do this on their own, there is nothing wrong with it.
Sample Answer 6:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Holi
India, my native land, has so many diverse traditions that it will probably take a whole year to talk about them. But, thankfully, I have been asked to talk about only one of those traditions. This is indeed an intriguing topic to talk about, and I would like to thank you for that.
Anyway, this interesting tradition, I am talking about, is popularly known as “Holi” or the “festival of colours” in just plain English. It is a popular ancient “Indian” tradition (many prefer to call it a festival also) which heralds the arrival of the spring season after the winter.
Even though it is a predominantly Hindu tradition, it is being celebrated by non-Hindu communities of my country as well for centuries, dating back from as early as 4th century CE. Celebrated in the month of March every year, it signifies the victory of good over evil and is celebrated as a day of spreading happiness and love. You are reading this cue card on ieltsxpress.
The festival is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. So, no wonder that people in my country like to follow this tradition like a “religion” because it very much defines who we are as people – people that value their religious traditions from their heart. Anyway, even though, this tradition is very much about smearing each other with “colours” (mostly “red”), different people from different parts of India observe this tradition by trying significantly different things or customs. For example, while women beat up their men with sticks in “Uttar Pradesh”, the men in “Maharashtra” get busy in breaking the “clay made pot by climbing on top of each other.
Anyway, I would like to say that I feel really good about this tradition that creates a sense of solidarity among many different groups of people in my country who are otherwise divided into many different customs and cultures. Besides, this tradition also offers our people an opportunity to enjoy their life a little.
Sample Answer 7:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Ganesh Visrajna
Traditions are those features of every community, culture or a nation which give them their unique identities. These are the rituals which are inherited by the younger generations from the older one. Hence, these help to connect people, give them the reasons to celebrate and create memories. India is a country renowned for its traditional and cultural diversity, where the traditional values vary from one part to another and these matter a lot to its people. Being a devotee of Lord Ganesha, today I would like to share the tradition of Ganesh Visarjana.
It is celebrated as a ten days festival to mark the birth of this deity in the month of August or September every year. Ganesha is considered as the god of new beginnings. So in Hindu traditions, people seek his blessings before starting any new venture. The excitement can be seen a week ago when the market is flooded with clay idols of the deity in different postures and sizes, made especially by the artisans on pre-booking basis.
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Coming back to the tradition, on the first day, people place his idols in their homes and worship him for the rest of the days by offering fruits, flowers, sweets and prayers, especially in the mornings and evenings. On the concluding day, devotees carry the idols and come out in processions to perform the visarjana which is the immersion of the idol in water bodies such as rivers or seas. The people bid a farewell with the hope that after this pleasant stay, the lord would return back to Mount Kailash to join his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and will visit next year to see people on the same time.
Nowadays, it is being celebrated almost everywhere in India with huge zest and zeal. People dance a lot on the beats of drum while carrying the beautiful statues for immersion.
Sample Answer 7:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Ear Piercing
India is recognised in the world for its culture, heritage and traditions. There are numerous traditions followed by Indian like fasting, wear jewellery and so on. Even in this modern era, Indians have preserved their traditions and beliefs. Here, I would like to talk about an ancient tradition ear piercing. This tradition is followed in every province in India. Ear piercing signifies cultural heritage. Apart from this, it enhances the personality when people wear jewellery in ears, it has also some beliefs. According to Hindu mythology, girls and some boys can pierce their ears before they are five years old.
I faint memories when ears piercing of my sister was carried out. A small function was organized at our home. I was about 10 years old at that time. Some relatives and close friends were invited to this ceremony. My sister was weeping loudly because it really hurt when her ears were pierced. However, it was a memorable day for our family. I was also excited for this event.
There are numerous benefits of this tradition according to Ayurveda, such as it maintains a female’s reproductive health, it improves children’s brain development, it helps to maintain the flow of energy in the body and lastly, it improves the hearing capability of children. There are also some drawbacks of this procedure like loss of tissues by tearing and potential skin disorder.
All in all, this tradition is quite common in Indian society and nowadays, many males love to pierce their ear for fashion apart from women.
Sample Answer 8:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Henna – Turkey
I would love to talk about a fascinating tradition in Turkey. I was born and bought up in Istanbul, and it is one of the oldest cities in the world. Since my childhood, I am aware of the tradition of henna-night. It is a beautiful ceremony celebrated among the bride and her female relatives and friends before the wedding.
During this traditional ceremony, the older women of the family paint henna on the bride’s arms, hands, and feet. Not only this, but they also sing the traditional songs. Henna enhances the beauty of the woman. You are reading this cue card on ielts xpress.
Henna is an Arabic word, and it is prepared from a plant. Once, the women apply henna on the bride’s arms and feet. They let it there for a few hours to let it dry. My aunt says the longer you leave it on to absorb into the skin, the darker it will be. The darker it is, the longer it will last.
After that, the girl has to remove the henna with water. After the henna is washed with water, the mesmerizing designs appear on the skin like temporary tattoos. The henna design might start fading away after one week and completely disappear in the second week.
I love this ritual because I get the chance to wear beautiful designer clothes such as Pakistani suits and Lenhgas. Last month, I attended a henna ceremony and enjoyed it a lot. Also, I danced to traditional songs with my cousin sisters on occasions. This is one of the best customs of my country.
Sample Answer 9:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Burning Fake Money Tradition – Vietnam
Vietnam is well-known for having rich tradition so there are numerous interesting traditions that I can think of off the top of my head. There’s one particular tradition that I think is really intriguing and strange at the same time which is “burning fake money tradition” and I can’t wait to share with you more details.
From my knowledge, the tradition of burning fake money is deeply rooted in East Asian culture especially China and Vietnam for thousands of years. It often occurs on the first and 15th of every month based on the lunar calendar. These rituals are also performed at funerals and on death anniversaries of loved ones throughout the years and it is especially grand during the Tet holiday. IELTSXpress.com
I am sure all Asian people, especially Vietnamese people follow this tradition in a very serious way. They believe this is an essential way of showing respect to the dead and wishing for their ancestors to start their new year with plenty of money in their spiritual bank.
Alongside burning fake money, Vietnamese people also buy various types of paper models such as multi-storied houses, motorbikes, servants and other valuable items. They all burn them on the sidewalks for the death anniversary because they believe their beloved ones can receive these gifts and have a happy afterlife. Interestingly, most families spend a lot of money burning paper money on special occasions with the belief that it will bring more prosperity, luck and good health in return for their generosity.
For Western people, this is a bit of a superstition because they don’t share the same belief. They even think that it will damage the environment because the burning of large quantities of this paper emits harmful substances into the air. You are reading this cue card on ielts xpress.
All in all, this tradition has become an important part of our culture and I am sure it will never disappear. That being said, I think we should treat our close family wholeheartedly when they are alive rather than burning lots of fake things after they have passed away.
Sample Answer 9:
Describe a Tradition in your Country – Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan
India is a country of various customs and traditions. I love to take part in almost all festivals. Because it always includes delicious food and fun. On this specific occasion, I’d like to talk about Rakhi. It’s also known as rakhi or Raksha Bandhan. Rakhi is a Hindu tradition and basically celebrated in north India however, many Sikhs also celebrate this.
It’s celebrated on the full moon of savan i.e. august. On this day sister tie a thread on her brother’s wrist as a reminder of his responsibilities toward his sister. In return, he gives her gifts such as clothes, jewelry, etc. The types of rakhis vary and depend upon culture and monetary value. Some sisters tie rakhi made of precious metals such as silver or golds as well. But in the end, Like every other tradition, rakhi is also had great importance. If the sister is married she would visit her brother’s house to celebrate. This is a great occasion for family reunions and get-togethers. You are reading this cue card on ielts xpress.
This occasion is a symbol of love and care between brother and sister. I also have a younger brother and we used to celebrate rakhi since childhood every year. My aunt used to come to our house to tie rakhi along with two cousins. We danced a lot and ate homemade sweets. But since I’m here in Canada and I didn’t see him in the last three years Rakhi doesn’t remain the same for me. We used to have so much fun and I miss those golden days.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 :
Describe a Tradition in your Country Follow up Questions
Here some examples of follow up questions that you may asked during your speaking part 3 by examiner related to cue card “describe a tradition in your country”.
1. What is the importance of traditional festivals?
Traditional festivals are significant because it brings family and friends together. Moreover, people forget all their tensions and feel very happy and relaxed while celebrating festivals.
2. What’s the difference between festivals now and in the past?
I think now people forget the history of festivals, which means there is a story or a historical fact behind the festival. People are celebrating festivals for enjoyment. However, if we talk about the past, people, even every child was known the meaning and story/reasons for the celebrations.
3. Do you think western festivals like Christmas are replacing traditional festivals in your country?
Well, people are indeed adopting western culture, and they are celebrating festivals like Christmas with their friends and families. But it does not mean people do not celebrate their traditional festivals. They celebrate both types of festivals with the same energy.
4. Do you think it is wrong for children not to celebrate traditional festivals?
I believe that festivals spread happiness. However, today’s generation shows less interest in traditional festivals, and it is because of the busy routine and technology. They are busy on their mobile phone instead of spending time with family and friends and celebrating festivals.
5. Do you think teenagers should learn about traditions?
Yes. they should know about traditions because traditions are our roots, and it is good and very beneficial if they are staying in contact with their roots.
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