Posted on 11/24/2003 9:30:01 AM PST by knighthawk
Georgians play rugby, eat tripe and garlic for breakfast and have ousted their President after 12 years
Georgia achieved independence from the old Soviet Union in 1991. It has a population of five million and average annual income is US $590 (£341)
A mostly forgotten civil war has been fought in Georgia for more than a decade. The province of Abkhazia has had semi-autonomous status since 1993, but 10,000 people died in the fight for independence and the conflict continues with sporadic violence.
The US and Russia are vying for influence in Georgia. The country is a thoroughfare for oil and gas coming from Central Asia and the Caspian Sea. Any trouble could threaten a planned oil pipeline linking Azerbaijan to Turkey.
Georgia’s rugby team, which competed in the last World Cup, are known as the Lelios after a game native to the country. Competitive rugby union has been played in Georgia only since 1964, but their qualifier against Russia attracted a crowd of 70,000.
St George is the country's patron saint, an position he shares with England, Portugal, Moscow and Catalonia. His feast day is celebrated on November 23 in Georgia, the day of the same day as the “Velvet Revolution” that ousted Eduard Shevardnadze.
Georgia’s most famous son is Stalin, whose name means steel in Russian. His real name was Joseph Vissarionovitsh Dzhugashvili.
The Georgian language is unique and does not bear any resemblance to any other. It also has its own alphabet and writing style, which is totally different to the Cyrillic script used by surrounding countries.
In ancient time Georgia was known as Colchis. It was here that Jason came to get the golden fleece.
Georgia is one of the few countries in the world that spans two continents. The western half is in Europe, the eastern half in Asia.
One of the most venerated spots in Georgia is the site of a cedar tree in the capital Tiblisi. Legend has it that a young Georgian Jew named Elias took back Jesus’s tunic after his crucifixion. He gave it to his sister who died at the spot still clutching the tunic.
Georgians often have a soup called khachi for breakfast. It consists of tripe, cow hoof and lots of garlic.
Georgian hospitality is best exemplified by the Supra, a gargatuan meal of multiple courses presided over by a toastmaster (tamada).
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
Yummy!!!(/sarcasm)
They throw the tripe in there to hide the taste of the cow hooves........
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