tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73140047853138855492024-03-18T18:23:07.945-04:00David Victor VectorAn overview of religious observances around the world and of cross-cultural business... and a bit more.David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-74086786675946355112024-03-18T18:19:00.001-04:002024-03-18T18:19:45.923-04:00Naw-Rúz, Nowruz, Newruz -- The Bahá'í, Zoroastrian and Persian New Year<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /> <br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP59RxoDeN4nSNSQxQZ5Lt2iz5tKVUliAqDPqUxm0Q2tOEFSRydPPiNxNbIGL7OW03c7om1IZ22ZpbuG4Vq5SY5athwb_qncFYECrG3og0SdfBsDj_2Qn1EfyKQ8vv9w4Hu_BGqHDW7on8/s1600/Naw-Ruz.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP59RxoDeN4nSNSQxQZ5Lt2iz5tKVUliAqDPqUxm0Q2tOEFSRydPPiNxNbIGL7OW03c7om1IZ22ZpbuG4Vq5SY5athwb_qncFYECrG3og0SdfBsDj_2Qn1EfyKQ8vv9w4Hu_BGqHDW7on8/s320/Naw-Ruz.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introduction</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Vernal Equinox has religious significance for several religions. In <b>Bahá'í</b> and <b>Zoroastrianism</b>, it marks the major holiday of<b> </b><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;"><b>Naw-Rúz </b>(or <b>Nowruz, Newroz, </b>or <b>Novruz</b>)</span>. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In <b>Islam</b>, in the <b>Alawite Shiite</b> tradition, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is a minor holiday. The holiday is also a minor holiday in the <b>Sufi Islamic </b>traditions of <b>Alevism</b> and <b>Betashism</b> where it is called <b>Nowruz</b> and <b>Sultan Nevruz, </b>respectively.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For the Baha’i and Zoroastrian (or Parsee) religions as well as Alawite, Alevi and Betashist Muslims, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> begins for 2024 at sunset on Tuesday March 19 and ends at sunset Wednesday March 20. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Additionally, Naw-Rúz is additionally a national holiday observed in nine countries as a cultural observance (as of 2024), although at varying days, as explained below. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Additionally, throughout the Kurdish-speaking world, as researcher <a href="https://www.ejecs.org/index.php/JECS/article/view/318/pdf" target="_blank">Hewa Salam Khalid (2020)</a> Newroz is "seen as the celebration of Kurdish national identity by the Kurds." </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This is the second of two posts. The earlier post dealt with the related holiday of the vernal equinox called Ostara. This is a major holiday for those practicing Wicca, Neo-Druidism and Neo-Paganism. You can read this post on Ostara at </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/ostara.html">http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/ostara.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />This post deals with the religious holiday of Zoroastrianism, Baha’iism, and of certain Islamic sects. This post also describes the central Asian quasi-religious folk holiday of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>.<br /><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span> A Note About the Name</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Because ancient Persian does not transliterate well into Latin letters, a great number of alternative spellings for the same holiday. Within the Baha’i faith, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is the preferred spelling. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In Zoroastrianism, there is no preferred English spelling. Indeed, there is. for that matter, no consistency as to whether the two words are hyphenated, combined or left separate. K.E. Eduljee on the Nowruz page of the Zoroastrian Heritage website found 24 spellings for the holiday on Google.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DGyx2fAFDVz6ukhGzzRd8W8k57H_kXZfopFFZTEkSvdMyw46c_5C8SHqJQaTw1mbDGMmJ0IHfRJfdCQqKMmxqlBp-e7uTlC5NIC8hCcsMukQRzXMKbIa_V9Oa7PZIRMe0BviX8NCNA8x/s1600/UNESCO+HQ+celebration+of+Nowruz,+2001.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DGyx2fAFDVz6ukhGzzRd8W8k57H_kXZfopFFZTEkSvdMyw46c_5C8SHqJQaTw1mbDGMmJ0IHfRJfdCQqKMmxqlBp-e7uTlC5NIC8hCcsMukQRzXMKbIa_V9Oa7PZIRMe0BviX8NCNA8x/s320/UNESCO+HQ+celebration+of+Nowruz,+2001.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2011 Norooz celebration </b><br /><b>UNESCO headquarters, Paris</b><br /><b>had performers from Afghanistan, </b><br /><b>Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, </b><br /><b>Russia and Uzbekistan </b></td></tr></tbody></table>In 2009, UNESCO formally categorized what was spelled in English as Nowrooz as an official “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity event. This is the Farsi spelling of the holiday used in <place w:st="on">Iran</place>. The UN, however, listed several other spellings as well.<br /><br />Baha’is point out that, significantly, the meeting <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">the Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage took place in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</place></city>, UAE. Ironically, the UAE openly persecuted Baha’is through most of the 1980’s and 1990’s, and, although things have improved since a change of policy in 1999, the UAE continues to block internet sites associated with the Baha’i faith. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Some of the most common spellings and the language associated with the spelling are Navroz (Uzbek), Novruz (Azeri), Nowruz (Arabic, Pashto, Turkmen, Kurdish), Navruz (Tajik), Nauryz or Nauriz (Kazakh, Kyrgyz), Nevruz (Turkish) and Novruzit (Albania).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For the purposes of this article, for no reason other than consistency sake,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have kept to the Baha’i spelling of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> in Baha’iism</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63z7vwVAcivilg_xZbs5XgMJ8HfEjx5zJpPnzAfFDpAtqq_RufabNU20N6n9RAQzfurLqO-i_g_2sPxYAvvgoeV8EYa1K2yuDYxWIBcTBYw6Dk8ZESVOmHlkBMDgxq1C7iKcdq2VSia6a/s1600/Bahai+Star.png" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63z7vwVAcivilg_xZbs5XgMJ8HfEjx5zJpPnzAfFDpAtqq_RufabNU20N6n9RAQzfurLqO-i_g_2sPxYAvvgoeV8EYa1K2yuDYxWIBcTBYw6Dk8ZESVOmHlkBMDgxq1C7iKcdq2VSia6a/s200/Bahai+Star.png" uda="true" width="200" /></a></div>In the Baha’i religion, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> marks the beginning of the New Year and is among the most significant of their Holy Days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While Baha’i scripture indicates that <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> falls on March 20, some Baha’is alternatively observe the holiday on March 21, especially in the United States, Canada, western European countries and India where March 21 is often considered to be the vernal equinox. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is the first day of the Baha’i calendar. On <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>, Baha’is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are prohibited from working; this includes the prohibition of attending classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Baha’is,. <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> marks the end of a 19-day fast in which no healthy adult eats from sunrise to sunset (similar to the practice of Moslems during Ramadan).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Baha’is,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is spent in celebrations, although the traditions change from country to country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />For most of the world’s 6-7 million Baha’is though, it remains customary on the <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> holiday to gather as groups to read from the Baha’i holy writings, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wear new clothing, and to decorate with flowers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the <place w:st="on">United States</place>, Baha’is traditionally hold pot-luck gatherings where festive foods are exchanged and people read from Baha’i scripture.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>in Zoroastrianism</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Zoroatrianism, as with Baha’iism, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> marks the beginning of the New Year and is among the most significant of their Holy Days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Who are the Zoroastrians? A Brief Background</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">At this point, it may be worth pointing out who t<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">he Zoroastrians are. Zoroastrians are also called Parsees or Parsis, reflecting their origin in <country-region w:st="on">Persia</country-region> (modern-day <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Iran</place></country-region>). Zoroastrianism is an ancient faith founded by the prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) in the 6th Century BCE. </span>Zoroastrians worship the uncreated Creator called Ahura Mazda (literally Light and Wisdom). For centuries, Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion of ancient Persia and the surrounding countries.<br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the arrival of Islam, the fortunes of Zoroastrianism began to decline precipitously. The Zoroastrians were forced to leave Persia in the wake of major persecutions by Moslems beginning in the 10<sup>th</sup> Century CE. By the 12<sup>th</sup> Century, most Parsees, faced with a choice of conversion to Islam or death, chose to fell to what is now the Indian state of <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place>, which is still the center of the Parsee population. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the whole, Zoroastrians are not a large group, with perhaps a million followers, primarily in <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> and the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Zoroastrians have a strong influence beyond their numerical size on the culture around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaly9WQH461ipBsRO3tS-0MFayVfJprAmUFZtH-M8qx5dAE7XAP5EsVg9fC6-rjlpmmC0e0p7ErWMubbNvb6Jm-iTuN3jMLbPy-HV1m5aJiGNQ67PjXM13ealyl-_6YvpLEFl5SUox-rAX/s1600/Tata,+Mercury,+Mehta,+Taraporevela.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaly9WQH461ipBsRO3tS-0MFayVfJprAmUFZtH-M8qx5dAE7XAP5EsVg9fC6-rjlpmmC0e0p7ErWMubbNvb6Jm-iTuN3jMLbPy-HV1m5aJiGNQ67PjXM13ealyl-_6YvpLEFl5SUox-rAX/s400/Tata,+Mercury,+Mehta,+Taraporevela.png" uda="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Notable Zoroastrians (right to left)</b><br /><b>Jamsetji Tata, Freddy Mercury, Zubin Mehta, Sooni Taraporevala</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many famous people are Zoroastrians including the conductor Zubin Mehta, the rock band Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury, the US Civil Rights leader and Boston University professor Farhang Mehr, Oscar-nominated screenwriter<b> </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sooni Taraporevala,</span> the father of India’s nuclear program Homi Jehangir Baba, several Bollywood actors and directors. <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>’s most prominent business family -- the Tatas -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are also Parsees. The Tata Group controls a vast empire of 114 different companies ranging from the world’s second-largest tea producer Tetley to south <place w:st="on">Asia</place>’s largest automaker Tata Motors (which recently took over Land Rover and Jaguar). The Tata family is also credited with founding modern <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>’s university system. </span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zoroastrian Observance of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">All Zoroastrians observe <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>, although those of the Fasli sect celebrate a spring <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> (or Jamshedi <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>) and a summer <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, while the three main sects of Zoroastrianism have separate calendars (which actually aligned for the only time in 1992, but again have unaligned), the dates of most holidays are a point of controversy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet regardless of sect, all Zoroastrians recognize <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> as the vernal equinox (which may fall on March 19, 20 or 21, varying by particular year). On <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>, Zoroastrians refrain from work including school attendance. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTZikKNulAogKVVPi0j-MMwk98yO8SBvGkaeE3x08-hf3vJ7C5JbjQ0f9hdiBYLjqhnD77pJa77_JlwWH4hrIpEXUkwCSn0Cl-wcrRBGipBtRmWxUFW5xBhElxS5DNzL4Leowsz1mqI-5/s1600/Naw+ruz+fire.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTZikKNulAogKVVPi0j-MMwk98yO8SBvGkaeE3x08-hf3vJ7C5JbjQ0f9hdiBYLjqhnD77pJa77_JlwWH4hrIpEXUkwCSn0Cl-wcrRBGipBtRmWxUFW5xBhElxS5DNzL4Leowsz1mqI-5/s200/Naw+ruz+fire.jpg" uda="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;"><b>Naw-Rúz</b></span><b> Fire</b> </td></tr></tbody></table>Traditionally, Zoroastrians light seven small bonfires on the eve of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to symbolically burn away pain and sickness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />On <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> Eve, children dress up in white sheets representing the souls of the departed. Parallels to the western traditions of Halloween are evident. Children are also give spoons to bang on pots and pans symbolically to chase out the old year and herald the new.<br /><br />Also on <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> Eve, Zoroastrians traditionally tie a knot in a handkerchief or cloth and ask the first person they see on the holiday to untie the knot, symbolically unraveling one’s misfortunes of the previous year and setting them free. Zoroastrians also wear new clothing and gather at people’s houses to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Many Zoroastrians visit the houses of friends and give gifts on </span>Naw-Rúz day itself. In preparation, people awake early, bathe and put on new clothing (often their best outfits) to symbolize starting anew. Women wear elaborate sari draped in Parsi-specific style. Many people hold large gathering in their homes where guests received pastries, nuts and dried fruits. One food specific to the holiday is <i>Ajil a Chaharshanbeh</i>. This is made of unsalted hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews, almonds and walnuts together with roasted chickpeas and dried raisins and <i>toot </i>(dried white mulberries).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1JTTGqIW0uzPuuu05nz_0fODKSw5cQDt7cjR7_DsCmsEn71G6GoR4Q84WkAGRCkBZZcdRW9zU4vj9QQC0MkPo9vUHdIbmswA4VNuqRvOH7dVaFnNp_bfyNiHaa2csxVZve_QrbY6H0kn/s1600/Ajil+a+Chaharshanbeh.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="816" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1JTTGqIW0uzPuuu05nz_0fODKSw5cQDt7cjR7_DsCmsEn71G6GoR4Q84WkAGRCkBZZcdRW9zU4vj9QQC0MkPo9vUHdIbmswA4VNuqRvOH7dVaFnNp_bfyNiHaa2csxVZve_QrbY6H0kn/s320/Ajil+a+Chaharshanbeh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i style="text-align: left;"><b>Ajil a Chaharshanbeh</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Another major symbol of the Zoroastrian Naw-Rúz is growing of <i>sabzeh nowruz </i>-- newly sprouted wheat grass. Young women then offer small patches of <i>sabzeh nowruz </i>as a symbol of renewal and new life.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGd81PO0UEKI3NcqPH7FIQPLadicvvJcLB5y3kSCO1xMK45qTRWscqUfuseIh11Np2anwrKSbQkC-OJ-4Yd9HLhyphenhyphena0TdFUh-3dbMnA1t69qQd5qYF34PmDvRz7eDVRpoBjjgOr1ipMhTO/s1600/Sabzeh+nowruz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGd81PO0UEKI3NcqPH7FIQPLadicvvJcLB5y3kSCO1xMK45qTRWscqUfuseIh11Np2anwrKSbQkC-OJ-4Yd9HLhyphenhyphena0TdFUh-3dbMnA1t69qQd5qYF34PmDvRz7eDVRpoBjjgOr1ipMhTO/s320/Sabzeh+nowruz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Offering <i>sabzeh nowruz</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Many Parsis in India decorate the thresholds of their doors and entry halls with <i>rangoli.</i> <i>Rangoli</i> are traditional Indian decorations and patterns made of colored powder.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarQWebNoBags2uGBrpAkvZkVHXLwWH_xNQpMh-niCAdu0yoKTA-H_Ft5u8HxzB3C4ytDUd4zwVTQJLE747TCGNW3frw90VgiLOmeztKhUuV76WTiTYYGp2WOFyBqaCO59tJyxf7RcynlD/s1600/Rangoli+Naw+ruz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarQWebNoBags2uGBrpAkvZkVHXLwWH_xNQpMh-niCAdu0yoKTA-H_Ft5u8HxzB3C4ytDUd4zwVTQJLE747TCGNW3frw90VgiLOmeztKhUuV76WTiTYYGp2WOFyBqaCO59tJyxf7RcynlD/s1600/Rangoli+Naw+ruz.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Nowruz Rangoli</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>Farvardigan Days and Pateti</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Observances actually begin before the holiday actually begins. Beginning ten days before <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> starts what are called the Farvardigan Days or (in <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region>) Muktad. This can be seen as somewhat equivalent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the Roman Catholic All-Souls’ Day tradition (for more on All-Souls’ Day, please see my blog post at</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/10/samhain-all-saints-day-dia-de-los.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/10/samhain-all-saints-day-dia-de-los.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BCrlgVKwPSQcWSBeJKLaVfOFrKmm_98YBmkTtN372cvovQw59D_vxUGZ2Z9XQD63r0G-tSXcGMWzM9FfGydGa_sqOsx8bS1PuATdWCW7VXPjYFsK6087aQB7jc-Lwi0M6EDKdggrOIdA/s1600/560px-Faravahar_svg.png" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BCrlgVKwPSQcWSBeJKLaVfOFrKmm_98YBmkTtN372cvovQw59D_vxUGZ2Z9XQD63r0G-tSXcGMWzM9FfGydGa_sqOsx8bS1PuATdWCW7VXPjYFsK6087aQB7jc-Lwi0M6EDKdggrOIdA/s200/560px-Faravahar_svg.png" uda="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> <i>Fravashi</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table>During the Farvadigan Days, prayers are offered at the temple for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fravashis</i>, the souls of the departed. It is believed at this time that the souls of the dead are near at this point and that deceased loved ones provide blessings to those offering them such prayers. In time, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fravashis</i> can become guardian angels or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">farvards</i> (hence the name Farvardian Days). The <i>fravashi </i>is one of the central symbols of Zoroastrianism but is also well-associated with ancient Persian culture. Because of this, until the overthrow of the Shah in Iran's Islamic Revolution, the symbol of the Pahlahvi dynasty there featured a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fravashi. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />During the Farvadigan days, it is traditional to clean one's house. The source of the tradition of Spring Cleaning comes from this ancient tradition.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The day before <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is called Pateti. On Pateti, Zoroastrians are supposed to think deeply on all of the wrongdoings they have done over the past year. By repenting on these bad behaviors, believers hope to start the new year afresh.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u>The <i>Haft Seen</i></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MRM4Y5-UyfyC5M2ZQ37qfZ5xF3Dyv4WAlqTdTeYT5W-AkFO0lGT8c5_xXVTNEqMsxoph5K80JzroEb5RxslXm4wzJ2ZdVsVx3EMGY5og-tX1Lzush8ApY_3CVCNlq2SuhhgEX-6gVNku/s1600/haftsinn_table_a.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MRM4Y5-UyfyC5M2ZQ37qfZ5xF3Dyv4WAlqTdTeYT5W-AkFO0lGT8c5_xXVTNEqMsxoph5K80JzroEb5RxslXm4wzJ2ZdVsVx3EMGY5og-tX1Lzush8ApY_3CVCNlq2SuhhgEX-6gVNku/s400/haftsinn_table_a.jpg" uda="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Haft Seen Table Spread</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Perhaps the most central symbol for Zoroastrians – particularly among the Parsees of India – is the table spread known as the Haft Seen.<br /><br />The phrase means the seven – “haft” -- things beginning with the Farsi letter “s” or “seen”(in other words, the Seven Esses).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">These seven items are highly symbolic although some disagreement from group to group surrounds what the actual seven items are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In general the Haft Seen are </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> <i><b> </b></i></span></span><i><b>sabzeh</b></i> (barley, wheat or lentils for rebirth)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i>samanu</i></b> (wheat germ pudding) or <b><i>sekkeh </i></b>(coins) which symbolize wealth)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><b><i>senjed</i></b> (a Middle Eastern red date) symbolizing love</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><i><b>seer</b></i> (garlic) or <b><i>seeb </i></b>(apples) symbolizing health and beauty</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><b><i>somaq</i></b> (sumac berries, which by the way is the source of the English word, symbolizing the new day dawning or sunrise)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> <b> </b></span></span><b>serkey</b> (or vinegar) symbolizing patience and gaining old age)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><b><i>sonbol </i></b>(or hyacinths) symbolizing the coming of Spring itself, which the holiday marks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Additionally, most Zoroastrians light candles at the table of the Haft Seen (again as the symbolic purification of fire). </span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is customary as well to have a bowl of water with an orange floating in it (symbolizing the earth floating in space) and/or a goldfish (symbolizing life within life, as well as representing the sun leaving Pisces at this time). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u>The Egg: A Link Between Christian Easter Practices and Zoroastrian <span color="windowtext">Naw-Rúz</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eggs are an important symbol of rebirth used for </span><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>.<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Three, five or seven eggs are often added to the Haft Sin table. These eggs are decorated for the holiday. For some idea of the type of patterns – traditional and new – used to decorate </span><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> eggs, please see the “Magic Nowruz Egg” website at</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://magicnoruzegg.com/"><span style="color: purple;">http://magicnoruzegg.com/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Click on the dots beneath the eggs to bring up new selections. The video is also worth watching as it shows how to make the egg patterns (but unfortunately is not in English). Some decorated <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> egg examples from the site are shown below.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyUdT55QdLyDVRlIy62J0-eAS77FWt7KMY_vkZe9Df96e029OGARO4TiQ-tc6nR6nBHYMfW3SfWgmeubekz3DRNmq2Rp-BAO6syp59T6AfTsGwQtyYyW7TSN3GLP_MKolhCakeouxuPZa/s1600/Egg+with+goldfish.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyUdT55QdLyDVRlIy62J0-eAS77FWt7KMY_vkZe9Df96e029OGARO4TiQ-tc6nR6nBHYMfW3SfWgmeubekz3DRNmq2Rp-BAO6syp59T6AfTsGwQtyYyW7TSN3GLP_MKolhCakeouxuPZa/s200/Egg+with+goldfish.jpg" uda="true" width="188" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: currentcolor; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yz_ibq_UPShne1wGr9ytWv7GgqbrVK32j8tMkRsJVHSRCXHEhoCxUxDU1trGyX1QVgj6-sJ81JgQhiQjduTwUJmILMbIyuS-FA2WZ_OiiwsNn2fKly1QodRHdHNDlONE18z4UywQhopm/s1600/Egg+with+hyacinth.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yz_ibq_UPShne1wGr9ytWv7GgqbrVK32j8tMkRsJVHSRCXHEhoCxUxDU1trGyX1QVgj6-sJ81JgQhiQjduTwUJmILMbIyuS-FA2WZ_OiiwsNn2fKly1QodRHdHNDlONE18z4UywQhopm/s200/Egg+with+hyacinth.jpg" uda="true" width="188" /></a><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> eggs – called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tokhme morgh </i>– have multiple symbolic values. On one level, they represent people. The word for egg in ancient Persian is tied to the words for “person” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mardom</i> and “mortal” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">martiya. </i>Indeed, it is from the same etymology that the English word “mortality” derives. In Zoroastrianism, the eggs represent a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">martiya tauxman</i> meaning “the mortal seed.”</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">For at least 2500 years and more likely 3000 years, the </span><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> egg has symbolized fertility. It is unclear whether the Zoroastrian association of the egg with fertility led to the association of the egg with the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar or vice versa. The association of the egg with fertility in the two religions present in ancient <place w:st="on">Mesopotamia</place> in any case reinforced each other. As the cult of Ishtar died out with the fall of the Assyrian Empire, most Zoroastrians would argue that their association with the springtime egg would be the truer one.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">While some Christians have observed that Zoroastrian </span><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> egg decoration<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> parallels the Easter egg tradition, it is noteworthy that it is really the Easter egg that is derived from the Zoroastrian tradition, not vice versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, the Christian custom of decorating and eating eggs at Easter is generally viewed as having had its origins in the Zoroastrian traditions of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Persia</place></country-region> which predated it by a millennium. The custom of decorating eggs was introduced to <place w:st="on">Europe</place> by the soldiers of Alexander the Great after their return from their military campaigns there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In another interesting parallel, the name Easter in English and several other languages is tied etymologically to the ancient Persian fertility goddess Ishtar, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, the Hebrew name Esther also has its origins in the fertility goddess Ishtar’s name. It is not coincidental that the Book of Esther around which the springtime Jewish holiday of Purim is centered took place in the Persian <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">kingdom</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Xerxes</placename></place> I. For more on the holiday of Purim, please see my blog post at</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/02/purim.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/02/purim.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> far predates Christianity, and has its origins in the religions of Ancient Persia. There are records of Zoroastrians observing <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> that go back at least 3000 years. The holiday in some Zoroastrian traditions is believed to have been first observed in its present form by the religion’s founder Zoroaster. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Around the World</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The celebration of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is among the oldest cultural practices in the area once ruled by the <place w:st="on">Persian Empire</place>. Far predating Islam, the holiday’s rituals are so deeply engrained over 3000 years of practice that it is still celebrated in <country-region w:st="on">Iran</country-region> and several bordering areas. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The people of these regions celebrate <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> as a semi-secular holiday, with some practices conducted in secret since many Islamic leaders in <country-region w:st="on">Iran</country-region> have condemned it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, Norooz (the Farsi name for <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>) is an official, public secular holiday in <country-region w:st="on">Iran</country-region>. Norooz lasts for four days with schools and universities often giving 13 days as a sort of spring break period. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXxvHkC2imdHuVqTonIm1p35_pCiDugYTuX2S-eWecbEUeS-zlJoe5uU4KHUL9gZTNCLM373jwio_AZnZ5JvidR7EQyD4qA7ZKlq527RcqFmftQtdnALEGqw0Q4MXQfr5L-qfPogEZio6/s1600/afghangirls.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXxvHkC2imdHuVqTonIm1p35_pCiDugYTuX2S-eWecbEUeS-zlJoe5uU4KHUL9gZTNCLM373jwio_AZnZ5JvidR7EQyD4qA7ZKlq527RcqFmftQtdnALEGqw0Q4MXQfr5L-qfPogEZio6/s320/afghangirls.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Afghan girls with Naw-Rúz flowers</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is also a public holiday in several other countries. In <country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</country-region>, the holiday was banned under the Taliban rule. Since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, Naw-Rúz is now once again an Afghan public holiday (lasting for four days as in <country-region w:st="on">Iran</country-region>). <br /><br />Other countries that make <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> a four-day public holiday are <country-region w:st="on">Albania</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Kazakhstan</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Tajikistan</country-region> and <place w:st="on">Turkmenistan</place>. <country-region w:st="on">Azerbaijan</country-region> has the longest period for the holiday as <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> there lasts a full week, and officially is a seven-day public holiday. <br /><br />Additionally, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is recognized as a one-day public holiday in <city w:st="on">Kosovo</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Kyrgyzstan</country-region> and <country-region w:st="on">Uzbekistan</country-region>. Finally, in the Kurdish portion of <country-region w:st="on">Iraq</country-region> and in the <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> state of <place w:st="on">Kashmir</place>, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is an official, one-day, public holiday.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In <country-region w:st="on">Iran</country-region> and the surrounding areas, the practice of spring house-cleaning has its origins in <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>. This is the same tradition of “spring cleaning” practiced even in the West (from which several traditions adopted it during the influence of the Zoroastrians on the upper class of the military during the <place w:st="on">Roman Empire</place>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pWbQ3iAYkhvRdH3TURoMS9BjxsoqSXmleHN3H475y-F5ilu9EWr6zPvfhtVdhYTLC2I0cpA0nymLYXFWINEqkEnXAq8HWo_lMb99HV4XQgyprrqrqtassQl1OvJxQYJn3t8ccy7hdqbz/s1600/hyacinth_mixture__31541.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pWbQ3iAYkhvRdH3TURoMS9BjxsoqSXmleHN3H475y-F5ilu9EWr6zPvfhtVdhYTLC2I0cpA0nymLYXFWINEqkEnXAq8HWo_lMb99HV4XQgyprrqrqtassQl1OvJxQYJn3t8ccy7hdqbz/s200/hyacinth_mixture__31541.jpg" uda="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hyacinths have been a symbol</b><br /><b>of </b><span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;"><b>Naw-Rúz</b></span><b> in Iran for centuries</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Other traditions include wearing newly bought clothes and decorating with hyacinths remain as the only remnant of practice for some Iranians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other Iranians – particularly in rural <place w:st="on">Iran</place> -- continue to practice the setting of the Haft Seen and other practices.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Even where it is not a state holiday, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> is widely celebrated in much of central Asia and the <place w:st="on">Eastern Mediterranean</place> and is a major holiday of celebration among the Iranian and Kurdish diasporas around the world. <br /><br />Indeed, it was the importance of the holiday to Iranian and Kurdish groups in <country-region w:st="on">Canada</country-region> that led it to recognize <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> (although not as a public holiday in <place w:st="on">Canada</place>) by requiring since 2009 that all official Canadian calendars include the date for <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In 2009, President Barack Obama sent an official <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> video message from the White House both recognizing the holiday and calling for better ties with <place w:st="on">Iran</place>. To see President Obama’s <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> video message, see <a href="http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1971">http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/1971</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">President Donald Trump also wished observers "a beautiful and blessed Nowruz" then, in 2018, took a different tack from his predecessor, famously condemning Iran as a nation where, "deceit has become official state policy. President Trump acknowledged the holiday saying:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote><i>“The history of Nowruz is rooted in Iran, where for millennia a proud nation has overcome great challenges by the strength of its culture and the resilience of its people... Today, the Iranian people face another challenge: rulers who serve themselves instead of serving the people.” </i><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/politics/donald-trump-persian-new-year-nowruz-message/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/politics/donald-trump-persian-new-year-nowruz-message/index.html </a></blockquote><p>President Joe Biden struck a chord somewhere between the conciliatory Obama and combative Trump remarks in 2023:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>Today, Jill and I send our best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz across the United States and around the world—from the Middle East, to Central and South Asia, to the Caucasus, to Europe.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Then following this with a call for support </p><p></p><blockquote>"for the women of Iran who are fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United States will continue to stand with them, and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction and courage. And together with our partners, we will continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people." <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-marking-nowruz/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-marking-nowruz/</a></blockquote><p></p><p></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Islamic Observances of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While three sects of Islam – the Alawis of Syria, the Alevis of Turkey and the primarily Albanian Sufi Bektashis —recognize <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> as an Islamic holiday, it is important to note that this is not widespread in other Islamic traditions. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Indeed, during the Taliban’s control of <country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</country-region>, <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> was officially designated a “pagan” holiday and banned. Since 2001, though, the holiday has been officially recognized by <place w:st="on">Afghanistan</place> as a national holiday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><b>Alawite <span color="windowtext">Naw-Rúz</span></b></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Alawite Muslims of Syria (the faith to which the ruling Assad family belongs) also celebrate <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>. For the Alawis, this is a time of renewal and is marked with a feast. During the ongoing civil war in Syria, there has been considerable concern regarding sectarian violence directed against the Alawite community in Syria. In part motivated by the fact that President Bashar al-Assad is an Alawi, violence has led to multiple attacks against the community both politically-based from those opposed to the Assad regime as well as religiously-based from Sunni Muslims who are intolerant of Alawite beliefs. This has meant that many Alawite Muslims have fled their homes to other countries or into the mountains and that open Alawite religious observance is increasingly dangerous in Syria. For more on the targeted attacks on the Alawis in Syria, please see the NPR coverage back in 2012 at<br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/06/13/154904208/in-syrias-sectarian-battle-who-are-the-alawites">http://www.npr.org/2012/06/13/154904208/in-syrias-sectarian-battle-who-are-the-alawites</a> The issue remains unresolved, because the Alawite community were seen as loyal to the Assad side of the conflict, they were particularly targeted by those fighting against it. The situation worsened as the Assad government called on Russian and Iranian support in the Civil War. </div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><b>Alevi <span color="windowtext">Naw-Rúz </span></b></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVHYbVjFyEZ37QLNLq392YVzLOybiCQ7KIO5w6B-BDUG2kNqko_zXSY4Sg6bsyzNfG_mB2vgegjbNe1o5v8XM0uxXRu-nf8_vbj78imi4LMRYBpvh7rFS7icyOGSj4cdTSfdcyVhY53QP/s1600/Alevi+Nowruz_Turkey.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVHYbVjFyEZ37QLNLq392YVzLOybiCQ7KIO5w6B-BDUG2kNqko_zXSY4Sg6bsyzNfG_mB2vgegjbNe1o5v8XM0uxXRu-nf8_vbj78imi4LMRYBpvh7rFS7icyOGSj4cdTSfdcyVhY53QP/s1600/Alevi+Nowruz_Turkey.jpg" uda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Alevi man walks over Newruz </b><br /><b>bonfire to purify his soul</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The Alevi Moslems, located primarily in <place w:st="on">Turkey</place>, celebrate what they call Newruz both as a new year festival and as a time of reconciliation. The Alevis have added to the Zoroastrian traditions their own overlay, using the day to honor the birth of Imam Ali and his marriage to Fatima, and the saving of Yusuf (the Biblical Joseph) after his brothers abandoned him.. A special Nawruz <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cem</i> (the Alevite worship service) is held for the day. Alevis have a custom of walking over the Newruz bonfire to purify their souls as the new year begins.<br /><br />Following the founding of the Republic of Turkey until the early 1990's the Alevis in Turkey were officially discouraged from celebrating <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> in public. Part of this was based on concerns that the lighting of bonfires caused a safety hazard. Many Alevis, however, argued that this was because a large number of Alevis are Kurdish and the government was concerned that <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> would be used as as an opportunity for anti-government activism. In any case, since the 1990's, Alevi public celebrations, including bonfires, have been entirely allowed. Indeed, Alevi dancing and other programs for <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> are frequently organized by local and municipal government officials in areas with a high Alevi population.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u>Bektashi <span color="windowtext">Naw-Rúz</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Bektashi Sufist of <place w:st="on">Albania</place> also celebrate <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> as the birthday of the Imam Ali. In addition to the housecleaning and similar cultural rituals followed in most secular celebration of <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span>, the Bektashi recite a mystical prayer used only on <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> day. The prayer is centered on the image of “the light of divine reality”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Quite apart from the religious significance of the Bektashi <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span> prayer, the language is poetic and beautiful. It opens as follows:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #333333;"><i><b>May god give his blessing, O friends <br />Nawruz the faithful </b></i><b><i>has come, <br />That is the anniversary of the king of kings, <br />of palace and of the brightness of day, <br />The wisdom of God has now become evident - -<br /><br />The high mercy of God becoming manifest, <br />Verily all earth and heaven became filled with light.<br /><br /><br />The light of Divine Reality <br />has covered all the world. <br />Heaven scattered light like the dawn. <br />An angel came and saluted me, <br />He raised my fame above the exalted ones, <br />He said: "This night the king of religion <br />is being born,<br /><br />The dweller in the highest throne is awaiting'</i></b></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The rest of the prayer goes on to hope that the birth of Imam Ali be always remembered and that his relationship to the Prophet Mohammed be recalled forever. The second half of the prayer describes the symbolic importance of light and ties the divine light of guidance shown to Adam that was shared through each of the prophets of Islam through the Prophet Mohammed and the Imam Ali. This light is seen as the gateway to divine knowledge and reaching God.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>e </span></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As with all of my posts on this site regarding religious holidays, this overview is in no way intended to suggest what is or is not proper observance. The sole purpose here is to inform. If you would like to share your own views of the holiday, please do leave a comment. I would welcome hearing from you.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Happy <span color="windowtext" style="text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz </span></div></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Want to learn more?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>General information</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sara Al Shurafa (March 21, 2019), "Nowruz: People Across Asia Celebrate Persian New Year," <i>Gulf News</i>, <a href="https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/nowruz-people-across-asia-celebrate-persian-new-year-1.1553161899422">https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/nowruz-people-across-asia-celebrate-persian-new-year-1.1553161899422</a><br /><br />Farina Amini (March 21, 2011), “The Grass is Green: Nowruz Celebrated at UDEL,” <a href="http://www.payvand.com/news/11/mar/1100.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.payvand.com/news/11/mar/1100.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />BBC News (March 21, 2019), "Nowruz: How 300m people celebrate Persian New Year," <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-47643267/nowruz-how-300m-people-celebrate-persian-new-year">https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-47643267/nowruz-how-300m-people-celebrate-persian-new-year</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Catherine Beyer (February 6, 2018),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<span class="fn">Naw-Ruz – The Baha'i and Zoroastrian New Year,” About.com:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://altreligion.about.com/od/holidaysfestivalsevents/p/nawruz.htm">http://altreligion.about.com/od/holidaysfestivalsevents/p/nawruz.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Hewa Salam Khalid (Nov. 1, 2020), "Newroz from Kurdish and Persian Perspectives –A Comparative Study," Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 116-130, <a href="https://www.ejecs.org/index.php/JECS/article/view/318" target="_blank">https://www.ejecs.org/index.php/JECS/article/view/318 </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A. Shaper Shahbazi (nd, retrieved March 19, 2020), “Haft Sin,” <a href="http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/haft-sin">http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/haft-sin</a></span><br /><br />A. Shaper Shahbazi (December 30, 2012), “Iranian Traditions and Celebrations: Haft Sin,” <i>Encyclopedia Iranica</i>, <a href="https://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Celebrations/haftsin.htm">https://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Celebrations/haftsin.htm</a><br /><br />United Nations (March 21, 2019), "International Nowruz Day."<a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-nowruz-day">https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-nowruz-day</a><br /><br />Nourish Ziabari and Afshin Marashi (April 2, 2019), "Nowruz: Celebrating History's Cycle of Birth and Rebirth," Fair Observer, <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/nowruz-celebrations-iran-culture-history-news-91912/">https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/nowruz-celebrations-iran-culture-history-news-91912/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>In Baha’iism</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>Baha’i Mosaic </i>(March 20, 2019) , “Some Baha’i Readings for a Naw-Ruz Gathering,” <a href="http://bahaimosaic.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-bahai-readings-for-naw-ruz.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://bahaimosaic.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-bahai-readings-for-naw-ruz.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>BBC Religions </i>(September 25, 2009)<i>,</i> “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naw-R%C3%BAz" title="Naw-Rúz"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Naw-Rúz</span></a>,“ <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/nawruz.shtml"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/nawruz.shtml</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>Baha'i Teachings,</i> "Naw-Ruz: It's a New Day and a New Year" (March 20, 2019), <i>Bahai Teachings.org</i>, <a href="https://bahaiteachings.org/naw-ruz-new-day-new-year/">https://bahaiteachings.org/naw-ruz-new-day-new-year/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Encyclopedia Brittanica (March 13, 2020), "Nowruz: Zoroastrianism and Parsiism,"<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Noruz">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Noruz</a><br /><br />John Walbridge (1996) , “Naw-Rúz: The Bahá'í New Year,” <i>Baha’i Library Online:</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://bahai-library.com/walbridge_encyclopedia_nawruz"><span style="color: purple;">http://bahai-library.com/walbridge_encyclopedia_nawruz</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>In Zoroastrianism:</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">K.E. Eduljee (nd retrieved March 19, 2020), “Nowruz,” Zoroastrian Heritage website: <a href="http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/nowruz/index.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/nowruz/index.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>Daily News and Analysis of India </i>(August 19, 2010),<i> </i>“<span style="color: black;">Parsis celebrate Zoroastrian New Year 'Navroz' in Mumbai,” <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_parsis-celebrate-zoroastrian-new-year-navroz-in-mumbai_1425865"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_parsis-celebrate-zoroastrian-new-year-navroz-in-mumbai_1425865</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ali A. Jafarey (March 20, 2005), “Nowruz – Zarathushrian New Year,” <span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.zoroastrian.org/articles/nowruz.htm">http://www.zoroastrian.org/articles/nowruz.htm</a></span> <br /><br />Homa (March 20, 2015), "Nowruz: Persian New Year," Persian Mama, <a href="https://persianmama.com/nowruz-norooz-persian-new-year-celebration/">https://persianmama.com/nowruz-norooz-persian-new-year-celebration/</a><br /><br />Prokeraia (March 19, 2020), "Jamshedi Nowruz 2020: Know all about the Parsi New Year 2020, and celebrations that Make a Happy Navroze extra special": <a href="https://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a1019439.html">https://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a1019439.html</a><br /><br />Caleb Wilkinson (August 19, 2016), "Parsi New Year: A Time of Renewal and Rejuvenation," Cultural Awareness International, <a href="https://culturalawareness.com/parsi-new-year/">https://culturalawareness.com/parsi-new-year/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">In Islam:</span></u><br /><br /><u></u>Turkish Daily News, "Nowruz in Turkey":<br /><a href="http://www.fravahr.org/spip.php?breve621">http://www.fravahr.org/spip.php?breve621</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><br /></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">Hunza Develpment Forum:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://hisamullahbeg.blogspot.com/2010/05/unit-3-performing-faith.html"><span style="color: purple;"><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">http://hisamullahbeg.blogspot.com</span>/2010/05/unit-3-performing-faith.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">National Public Radio, Morning Edition (June 13, 2012) "In Syria's Sectarian Battle, Who Are The Alawites?" <a href="https://www.npr.org/2012/06/13/154904208/in-syrias-sectarian-battle-who-are-the-alawites" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/2012/06/13/154904208/in-syrias-sectarian-battle-who-are-the-alawites</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div>Happy Naw Ruz opening image: <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/herbiehowsermc/Naw-Ruz.jpg">http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/herbiehowsermc/Naw-Ruz.jpg</a><br /><br />2011 UNESCO Norooz celebration: <a href="http://photobank.unesco.org/exec/fiche.htm">http://photobank.unesco.org/exec/fiche.htm</a><br /><br />Jamsetji Tata stamp <a href="http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/artifact/stamps/s310.htm">http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/artifact/stamps/s310.htm</a><br /><br />Freddy Mercury: <a href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/3858151/Freddie+Mercury++35.jpg">http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/3858151/Freddie+Mercury++35.jpg</a><br /><br />Zubin Mehta: <a href="http://www.guidaindia.com/images/stories/zubin_mehta200px.jpg">http://www.guidaindia.com/images/stories/zubin_mehta200px.jpg</a><br /><br />Sooni Taraporevala: <a href="http://im.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/12sli1.jpg">http://im.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/12sli1.jpg</a><br /><br />Naw Ruz fire: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47514000/jpg/_47514355_nz_fire_chrisdb_766x511.jpg">http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47514000/jpg/_47514355_nz_fire_chrisdb_766x511.jpg</a><br /><br /><i>Fravashi</i>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Faravahar.svg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Faravahar.svg</a><br /><br /><i>Ajil a Chaharshanbeh: <a href="https://persianmama.com/nowruz-norooz-persian-new-year-celebration/">https://persianmama.com/nowruz-norooz-persian-new-year-celebration/</a></i><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Offering </span><i style="text-align: center;">sabzeh nowruz</i><span style="text-align: center;">: BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-47643267/nowruz-how-300m-people-celebrate-persian-new-year">https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-47643267/nowruz-how-300m-people-celebrate-persian-new-year</a></span><br /><br /><i style="text-align: center;">Nowruz Rangoli</i><span style="text-align: center;">: <a href="https://culturalawareness.com/parsi-new-year/">https://culturalawareness.com/parsi-new-year/</a></span><br /><br />Haft Seen table spread: <a href="http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/nowruz/nowruz3.htm#table">http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/nowruz/nowruz3.htm#table</a><br /><br />Naw Ruz eggs: <a href="http://magicnoruzegg.com/index-2.html">http://magicnoruzegg.com/index-2.html</a><a href="http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/nowruz/nowruz3.htm#table"> </a><br /><br />Afghan girls with Naw Ruz flowers: <a href="http://www.faratarazmarzha.org/En/Culture/Nawrooze.htm">http://www.faratarazmarzha.org/En/Culture/Nawrooze.htm</a><br /><br />Hyacinths: <a href="http://www.ausgardener.com.au/plants/Hyacinth-Mixture.html">http://www.ausgardener.com.au/plants/Hyacinth-Mixture.html</a><br /><br />Alevi man walks over Newruz bonfire, Turkish Daily News:<br /><a href="http://www.fravahr.org/spip.php?breve621">http://www.fravahr.org/spip.php?breve621</a><br /><br />Imam Ali painting by Ahmad Resa Haraji: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mola_Ali.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mola_Ali.jpg</a>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-60774703794312670292024-03-17T12:24:00.000-04:002024-03-17T12:24:04.954-04:00Saint Patrick's Day and the Greening of Monuments: Rise and Demise of a Soft Power Success Story <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><u>The Greening of Monuments</u></b></h3><b><u></u></b><br /><b><u></u></b>The push for the greening (green lighting) of national icons for St. Patrick's Day was a great success. <br />Assisted in part by efforts from efforts begun in 2009 through Tourism Ireland, the Irish government encouraged nations across the globe to join in the "greening" for March 17.<br /><br />From 2009 to 2021, the worldwide "greening" of monuments grew from a mere handful to hundreds. At its height in 2021, <a href="https://www.tourismireland.com/Press-Releases/2021/March/Tourism-Ireland%E2%80%99s-12th-Global-Greening-marks-St-Pa" target="_blank">Tourism Ireland</a> and (cross-listed with <a href="https://www.belfastvibe.com/big-stories/global-landmarks-go-green-for-st-patricks-day/">Belfast Vibe</a>) <a href="https://www.tourismireland.com/Press-Releases/2019/March/Green-lights-go-global-for-St-Patrick%E2%80%99s-celebratio">announced</a> that<b> <span style="color: #38761d;">689 monuments, landmarks or buildings in 66 countries were participating in the Global Greening initiative.</span></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ9IQ4cweqm0Flc_wQ0HtnRT5k9uGZ5DLCuT6uBmi75FxgO0JWG4odF_2N7x5qmDobwNo4xwSx6nqAsoEyQlW4Wo7Y-MPkQUkHUYFIlGZ-omOYU3Z5qinOeJgiwD_Y5ieSbB4yPHFF7mBOGZKibmJJhf-dxbRlypN3zRyqreXpdRkAO-l25aaxXAKDp8E/s540/Green%20Tauron-Arena-Krakow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="540" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ9IQ4cweqm0Flc_wQ0HtnRT5k9uGZ5DLCuT6uBmi75FxgO0JWG4odF_2N7x5qmDobwNo4xwSx6nqAsoEyQlW4Wo7Y-MPkQUkHUYFIlGZ-omOYU3Z5qinOeJgiwD_Y5ieSbB4yPHFF7mBOGZKibmJJhf-dxbRlypN3zRyqreXpdRkAO-l25aaxXAKDp8E/w320-h206/Green%20Tauron-Arena-Krakow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Tauron Arena greenlit, Kraków, Poland</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />From a branding and public relations perspective, Saint Patrick's Day is also interesting as one of the most effective "soft power" campaigns of any nation. The Irish government and Tourism Ireland began its "Greening" campaign with the goal of convincing governments and organizations to honor Ireland by lighting monuments and landmarks green for Saint Patrick's Day. I personally know of no other soft power campaign that had proven to be so rapidly successful.<br /><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><b>End of the Official Irish Global Greening Campaign</b></span></div><div style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></div><div>As of January 31, 2024, Tourism Ireland officially called an end to the Greening initiative. As reported in <i>The Journal</i> (Dublin), Tourism Ireland has ended the official support for the Global Greening, noting instead that Irish missions abroad would make individual choices whether to do so. The missions were told that they could have <a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/tourism-ireland-drops-global-greening-spectacle-for-st-patricks-day-6286315-Jan2024/" target="_blank">"high profile greenings as appropriate."</a></div><div style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #666666;">For all its importance as a soft power success, the Global Greening initiative fell victim to </div><div style="color: #666666;">politicization. The great strength of the Global Greening initiative was in its <i><b>apolitical </b></i>promotion of Ireland representing perhaps the single most-recognized association of a nation with a color supporting positive feeling toward Ireland and the Irish diaspora. Within two years, this classic soft power success story had collapsed to align with the transitory current political issues of the day. However admirable the political issues of the day may have seemed at the time, the Global Greening initiative could not withstand two separate pauses in 2022 and 2023 that had nothing to do with Ireland itself.</div><div style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">The 2024 decision end of Ireland's official government support made official what unofficially had resulted from two years without support for the Greening initiative. </span></div><div style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="color: #666666;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUacBabg70A8__FNqOwZI9lbnPLHRJQcvQN9_GpXMyswUz-cniEKYfX3zi5rjr5jaUG2G1_CYJn7LHwqjMUjZsr7XkpJdcKMH7fF3GClGWQW97D413qe3LL5E4-BhW_pWVlkHG7oNoN47j7H9Vx93jK0qGtLP-J9ZLdIke9HBGGvDx4KXoocmiqE9iNA=s964" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="964" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUacBabg70A8__FNqOwZI9lbnPLHRJQcvQN9_GpXMyswUz-cniEKYfX3zi5rjr5jaUG2G1_CYJn7LHwqjMUjZsr7XkpJdcKMH7fF3GClGWQW97D413qe3LL5E4-BhW_pWVlkHG7oNoN47j7H9Vx93jK0qGtLP-J9ZLdIke9HBGGvDx4KXoocmiqE9iNA=s320" width="320" /></a>In 2022, the first Global Greening was replaced with a political message in support of Ukraine. In respect for the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Global Greening organizers demurred in coloring the monuments blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. However noble the government of Ireland felt the cause of Ukrainian sovereignty was, the fact remained that replacing the greening with blue and yellow was a political statement that had nothing to do with representing Ireland's soft power initiative. </div><div style="color: #666666;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">In 2023, missions were encouraged to pause the green-lighting to conserve energy, stating:</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><a href="https://www.irishcentral.com/news/global-greening-st-patricks-day" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">"For 2023, given the current energy crisis, Tourism Ireland has taken the decision not to promote the Global Greening initiative."</a> The irony of using energy for a campaign called "greening" had a certain irony to it, not missed on its critics. Still, cancelling the Global Greening amounted to little more than "greenwashing" on the Irish government's part because the energy involved is negligible.</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://www.newstalk.com/news/decision-to-pause-global-greening-campaign-will-do-little-to-ease-energy-crisis-1446936" target="_blank">Science Foundation Ireland's Science Director Dr Ruth Freeman</a>, interviewed on <i><a href="https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-pat-kenny-show/green-scenenew-carbon-capture-technology-stored-in-the-sea" target="_blank">Pat Kennys Green Scene</a></i> national television RTÉ, called the cancellation little more than tokenism: “I mean look, an LED light uses very, very little power... You're talking about 0.01 of a kilowatt for an hour so it is not going to be huge energy use – and these things are probably going to be lit up anyway." </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>This post is only on the greening movement and its demise.</b> For more on the holiday and how it is celebrated in terms of religion, please see my post <a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2019/03/saint-patricks-day-some-background-to.html">Saint Patrick's Day: Some Background to the Holiday</a> For how the holiday is celebrated with parades, river dying and the like around the world, please see my post <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7314004785313885549#editor/target=post;postID=2665878618730367029;onPublishedMenu=overviewstats;onClosedMenu=overviewstats;postNum=1;src=link">Saint Patrick's Day Parades and Celebrations Around the World</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>The Global Greening Movement at Its Height</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">What follows is a list of those monuments greenlit up until 2021 divided by region and country. <br />The list is in order of number of monuments in the greening with those countries with over 10, then by region for the remainder. After Ireland itself,<b> the United States leads the world with 78 </b>greenlit buildings and monuments. The remaining top six (with over 20) are as follows: <b>Poland second with 53</b> greenlit sites; <b>France third with 46</b> greenlit; <b>the United Kingdom fourth with 36, Germany, fifth with 29; </b> <b>Canada fifth with 27, and the United Arab Emirates sixth with 21. </b>Additionally, separately listed here are the nations with <b>10 or more: Italy, Australia, Spain, China, Belgium, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.</b><br /><ul></ul><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>United States (78)</b></span></div></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Arkansas</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Junction Bridge pedestrian walkway, Little Rock</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Main Street bridge, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Little Rock</span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </b><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">California</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, San Francisco</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• San Francisco International Airport (international terminal) </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJofn0dROuCmfh-0aa8jaEXTQLsZnRfzI1n08hXrTmotyYG86lA98rqQ_P0vupV9unDFx67z9MjClGThEJAB5bNqnmGEJtC2CLUe9r8flZaJaNGVK9but7zGozRvPKDVLAZO7-YNfyTlK/s1600/SF+City+hall+green.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1180" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJofn0dROuCmfh-0aa8jaEXTQLsZnRfzI1n08hXrTmotyYG86lA98rqQ_P0vupV9unDFx67z9MjClGThEJAB5bNqnmGEJtC2CLUe9r8flZaJaNGVK9but7zGozRvPKDVLAZO7-YNfyTlK/s320/SF+City+hall+green.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">San Francisco City Hall lit green </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Colorado</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Denver</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Reunion Tower, Denver</span></div><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Florida</b><br /><div><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• </b><span face=""open sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ringling Bridge, Sarasota</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif;">• </b><span face=""open sans", sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">Hillsborough River, Tampa </span></span></div><div><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Georgia</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Atlanta City Hall, Atlanta</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Woodruff Park Fountain, Atlanta</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>• </b>Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Savannah</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">City Hall, Savannah</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">• Forsyth Park Fountain, Savannah</span></span></span></div><div><b style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Illinois </span></b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Chicago Board of Trade Building, Chicago</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Civic Opera House, Chicago </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• John Hancock Center, Chicago</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Novak Construction, Chicago</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Odyssey Chicago River (cruise boat) </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• One Prudential Plaza, Chicago</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Soldier Field, Chicago</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• United Center, Chicago</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Wrigley Building, Chicago</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Maryland</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Guinness Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House, Baltimore </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><b>Massachusetts </b></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Boston City Hall</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, Boston </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Fenway Park, Boston </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• TD Garden, Boston </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge, Worcester </span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Missouri</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Kansas City Power and Light Building</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Tower Park, Kansas City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Union Station, Kansas City </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wM-bEdJr78P-7HIabacMnTagnhWVWN90nfw-riqz8XSmatBTqVjfJNMfpeugRK1w2bUDAqHYgoEx983GzGPqw86xuE2vtKtFPe4AwfTadc-X-JuJHpSkDkp1De4Oiv6YNMX9xBQjdKGt/s1600/empire-state-building.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1301" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wM-bEdJr78P-7HIabacMnTagnhWVWN90nfw-riqz8XSmatBTqVjfJNMfpeugRK1w2bUDAqHYgoEx983GzGPqw86xuE2vtKtFPe4AwfTadc-X-JuJHpSkDkp1De4Oiv6YNMX9xBQjdKGt/s320/empire-state-building.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Greenlit Empire State Building, New York</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">New Mexico</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• University of New Mexico, Albuquerque </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Wells Fargo Building, Albuquerque </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; line-height: 22.4px;"><b style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">New York</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Albany International Airport Gateway</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Alfred E. Smith Office Building, Albany</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• H. Carl McCall SUNY Building, Albany</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">State Education Building, Albany</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Main Street Lift Bridge, Fairport</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Grand Central Terminal, New York City</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Empire State Building, New York City</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Kosciusko Bridge, New York City</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• One World Trade Center, New York City</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• FDR Mid-Hudson Bridge, Poughkeepsie</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Rockland/Westchester</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• New York State Fairgrounds Main Gate and Expo Center, Syracuse</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Aisling Irish Community Center, Yonkers</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Nevada</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• ‘Welcome’ sign, Las Vegas</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• High Roller at The LINQ, Las Vegas</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• La Concha Visitors Center, Las Vegas</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Neon Museum, Las Vegas </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Palazzo, Las Vegas </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Venetian, Las Vegas</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Pennsylvania</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• BNY Mellon Center, Philadelphia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Cira Center, Philadelphia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Philadelphia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• One & Two Liberty Center, Philadelphia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Strawberry Mansion Bridge, Philadelphia</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">South Carolina</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ashley River Memorial Bridge, Charleston </span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Tennessee</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• AT&T Building (known as the ‘Batman Building’), Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bridgestone Arena, Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Grand Ole Opry, Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, Nashville</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Metro Historic Courthouse, Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Nissan Stadium, Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Parthenon, Nashville </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Tennessee Supreme Court Building, Nashville </span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Texas</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Butterfly Bridge, Austin </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Harbor Bridge, Corpus Christi</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Reunion Tower, Dallas</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Houston </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Alamo Quarry Market, San Antonio</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bank of America, San Antonio</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Tower of the Americas, San Antonio</span><br /><b> </b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Washington</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Pacific Science Center, Seattle</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Poland (52)</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">• </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">Hotel President, Bielsko-Biala </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• University Bridge, Bydgoszcz</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Kosciuszki Street Bridge, Gdańsk</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Uczniowska Street Bridge, Gdańsk</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Baszta Dorotka (Dorothy Tower), Kalisz </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Centre of Culture and Art, Kalisz </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall, Kalisz</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Spodek (arena), Katowice</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall, Kielce </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Galeria Echo (shopping centre), Kielce </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Regional Cultural Centre, Kielce </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Father Bernatek (Kladka Bernatka) footbridge, Kraków</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Lipska Street flyover, Kraków</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Tauron Arena, Kraków </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Manufaktura, Łódź </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• OFF Piotrkowska (shopping mall), Łódź</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• TME Office Centre, Łódź </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Arena Lublin</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Centre for the Meeting of Cultures, Lublin</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Museum of Malbork</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Amphitheatre, Olsztyn </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Astronomical Observatory Tower, Olsztyn </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall Tower, Olsztyn </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• National Centre of Polish Song, Opole </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Adam Mickiewicz University (main auditorium), Poznań </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Archaeological Museum, Poznań</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Bishop Jordan Bridge, Poznań</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall, Poznań</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Grand Theatre, Poznań</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Honorary Consulate of Ireland building, Poznań </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Poznań Główny (railway station) </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Raczyński Library, Poznań</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Brama Przemyska Bridge, Przemyśl </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall, Rzeszów</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall, Toruń</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Browar Bojańczyków Cultural Centre, Wloclawek</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły bridge, Wloclawek</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Centennial Hall, Wrocław</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Contemporary Museum, Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Grunwaldzki Bridge, Wrocław</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Krzesło Kantora (chair sculpture), Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Lower Silesian Governor's Office, Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• National Museum, Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Opera House, Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Stadion Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Town Hall, Wrocław </span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDJSgk0Z_VhWauWn4I39Fa7CNvY65ww9SXnVb2G4IAOokvyUh1r5Dw6IONu3ujsX66zDNamTKzcw5V_GsnqCqGt_fTn46H_4maUPZY_VbmaJyfxYauPtd8BpqlJ8NBNin7aTxfz1LpFym/s1600/opera-house-wrocklaw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1352" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDJSgk0Z_VhWauWn4I39Fa7CNvY65ww9SXnVb2G4IAOokvyUh1r5Dw6IONu3ujsX66zDNamTKzcw5V_GsnqCqGt_fTn46H_4maUPZY_VbmaJyfxYauPtd8BpqlJ8NBNin7aTxfz1LpFym/s400/opera-house-wrocklaw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Wroclaw Opera House in green</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">• University Bridge, Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• University of Wrocław </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Wrocław Główny (railway station) </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">• Szyb Maciej, Zabrze</span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">• City Hall, Zamość </span></span></div></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>France (46)</b></span></div><div><div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hôtel de Ville, Athis Mons </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mairie de Bayeux </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Arkéa Arena, Bordeaux</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Château de la Ligne, Bordeaux </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Porte de Bourgogne, Bordeaux</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hôtel de Ville, Bressuire </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Centre d’art La Malmaison, Cannes</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hôtel de Ville, Cannes </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• La Croisette, Cannes </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Musée de la Castre, Cannes </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Le Suquet, Cannes</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Pont Guilvinec-Treffiagat </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, Guingamp </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Château de Pierre II, Guingamp </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Badhus Kaysersberg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Château de Kaysersberg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mairie de Kaysersberg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Pont Fortifié, Kayserberg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Château de Beaulieu, Saumur, Loire Valley </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Astroballe, Lyon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière</span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">, Lyon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Le Palais de Justice, Lyon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Musée des Confluences, Lyon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Le Palais de Justice, Lyon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Opéra de Marseille </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• École primaire publique Pierre Jakez Hélias, Mellac </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, Mellac</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hôtel de Ville, Mellac</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Aéroport Montpellier Méditerrannée </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Fitzpatrick’s Irish Pub, Montpellier </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Opéra Comédie, Montpellier </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Beaugrenelle (shopping centre), Paris</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Château de la Muette (headquarters of the OECD), Paris </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPCd2m-Wi_KfeTNk2e4rZcAi6BuIoAPYcwg8CK_jvpeMo1LiXnVku7ogZvY1gX34q9koTA9D3rf2VKdarwQbIEkd4qsl6VDUfQc9FSLetHwIys_FGBKSLYV3s1cjTOAb0xFATzvkgiPCV/s1600/Sacre-Coeur+Basilica_stripped.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1180" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPCd2m-Wi_KfeTNk2e4rZcAi6BuIoAPYcwg8CK_jvpeMo1LiXnVku7ogZvY1gX34q9koTA9D3rf2VKdarwQbIEkd4qsl6VDUfQc9FSLetHwIys_FGBKSLYV3s1cjTOAb0xFATzvkgiPCV/s200/Sacre-Coeur+Basilica_stripped.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sacré-Coeur greenlit in Paris</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Drugstore Publicis, Paris</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Galeries Lafayette, Paris </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Irish Embassy, Paris</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Pari Roller (street skating event), Paris </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Roue de Paris (Ferris Wheel of Paris), Paris</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Sacré-Coeur, Paris</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland Paris </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• La Vallée Village, near Paris </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hôtel de Ville, Saint-Mandé </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Beatus Rhenanus bridge, Strasbourg (and on the German side of the bridge, in Kehl) </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• La Mairie, Villeurbanne</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><b>United Kingdom (36)</b></span></span></div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><b>England</b></span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh </span></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Blackpool Tower, Blackpool</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Library of Birmingham, Birmingham</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Selfridges, Birmingham</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Bournemouth Pier </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">British Airways i360, Brighton </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Leeds Civic Hall </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Leeds</span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"> Town Hall </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">National Space Centre, Leicester </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">George's Dock Building, Liverpool </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">St Luke's 'Bombed Out' Church, Liverpool </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Blue</span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"> Whale Skeleton of Natural History Museum, London </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Cutty Sark, London </span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh3PR2DNk7aus_STdSRQz7QAMxdTTW9BXQkAUxJ_abHFbO48YufmDddAhyphenhyphen4cCxcBMa1kMxaPs3tCeD2Wl-2qFJFutoVAYlxYaLXQyXlyTO4DEWleiIsV1GaMpGsrLS0YRijsEvJ8KrjeT/s1600/London-Eye_resized-635919316085708265.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1180" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh3PR2DNk7aus_STdSRQz7QAMxdTTW9BXQkAUxJ_abHFbO48YufmDddAhyphenhyphen4cCxcBMa1kMxaPs3tCeD2Wl-2qFJFutoVAYlxYaLXQyXlyTO4DEWleiIsV1GaMpGsrLS0YRijsEvJ8KrjeT/s200/London-Eye_resized-635919316085708265.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>The London Eye greenlit</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">London Eye, London</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Lord’s Pavilion, London</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span> The Old Vic, London</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"> The National Theatre, London</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Nelson’s Column, London </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Tower 42, London</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Trafalgar Square Fountains, London </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Selfridges, London </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> St. Bede's College, Manchester</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Trafford Center, Manchester</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">City Hall, Norwich </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Wollaton Hall, Nottingham</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Stoke Park Golf Club - Buckinghamshire, Stoke Poges</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">City Walls, York </span></div><div><ul></ul><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><b>Cornwall</b></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Eden Project, St. Blaizey </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">St Michael's Mount, Marazion </span></div><div><ul></ul></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><b>Scotland</b></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Caird Hall, Dundee</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span>Riverside Museum, Glasgow </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Titanic Museum, Glasgow </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><b>Wales</b></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">• Caerphilly Castle, Caerphilly</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>Germany (29)</b></span></div></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Funkturm Berlin</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Reichsburg Cochem </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Excelsior Hotel Ernst, Cologne </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Lanxess Arena, Cologne </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Lighthouse, Düsseldorf</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Kulturforum Logenhaus, Erlangen </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Altes Rathaus, Gescher</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• McKiernan's Irish Café, Gescher </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• St Antonius Kapelle, Gescher </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Rathaus, Grafenwöhr </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Stadthalle, Grafing </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">• ‘Fridolin’ the carp statue, Höchstadt an der Aisch <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK3TP26xuNrpsJhXWUrfX7fDXfAJG_WNA-MLy77b6LqqnalbrlNG5p9MHACA9ybY9krikJBYPHSI09FPofzDfjNVWJZuIZ5vpLWGMq76sAkek90utFKGEebnB5FDrdWnTqmBcdDAyqM3CVcPOjlVHVAdMHFeuYuwdaRJcfkog14jJ1-b94IQc6zVPIZ-q/s1024/2018_Fridolin-1024x768.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK3TP26xuNrpsJhXWUrfX7fDXfAJG_WNA-MLy77b6LqqnalbrlNG5p9MHACA9ybY9krikJBYPHSI09FPofzDfjNVWJZuIZ5vpLWGMq76sAkek90utFKGEebnB5FDrdWnTqmBcdDAyqM3CVcPOjlVHVAdMHFeuYuwdaRJcfkog14jJ1-b94IQc6zVPIZ-q/w228-h171/2018_Fridolin-1024x768.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>‘Fridolin’ the carp greenlit<br />Höchstadt an der Aisch</b><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span> </div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ingolstadt Village, Ingolstadt </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Irish pub, Limberg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Alten Küsterhaus, Meerbusch-Bäderich </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Allianz Arena Munich </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hard Rock Cafe, Munich </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Odeonplatz, Munich </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Olympic Tower, Munich</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Offene Kirche St. Klara, Nürnberg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Heidecksburg Castle, Rudolstadt </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hotel Bell Rock (Europa Park), Rust</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Königsbau, Stuttgart </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Maria-Ward-Schule, Würzburg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Matthias-Grünewald-Gymnasium, Würzburg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Neumünster church, Würzburg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Rathaus, Würzburg</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Riemenschneider-Gymnasium, Würzburg </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Wertheim Village, near Würzburg </span></div></div><div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Canada (27)</b></span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Alberta</b></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Calgary Tower, Calgary</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </b><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">British Columbia</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"> The Cariboo Sentinel (newspaper) shop, Baskerville </span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Sails of Light at Canada Place, Vancouver</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Whistler Ski Resort, Whistler</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Newfoundland and Labrador</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </b><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Cabot Tower on Signal Hill, St John’s </span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </b><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Nova Scotia</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Big Fiddle of the Ceilidh (Fidheal Mhor A’ Ceilidh), Cape Breton Island</span><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </b><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Ontario</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• PolarBear Habitat, Cochrane</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• World's Largest Chair, Muskoka, Gravenhurst \</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Niagara Falls (on both the Canadian and US sides)</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Big Nickel, Sudbury</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Breakfast Television Studio, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Casa Loma, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• CN Tower, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Courtyard by Marriott, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Distillery District, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Turbo the Goat, Toronto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Wawa Goose, Wawa </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Québec</b></span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Montréal</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Complexe Desjardins, Montréal</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• McGill Tower (La Tour McGill), Montréal</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• McTavish Resevoir (Réservoir McTavish), Montréal</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Olympic Stadium (Stade Olympique), Montréal</span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">• St. Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), Montréal</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">• Verdun Borough Hall (Mairie d'arrondissement de Verdun), Montréal</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif;"> </b><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif;"> </b><br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif;">Saskatchewan</b><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mac the Moose, Moosejaw, Saskatchewan</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: 700;">United Arab Emirates (21)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN7moN_ZSx2FX0iR7t0s4fcR-8SlRHvlIvRPvdZizzX4nW8RyKoHtUAy5lgOCE4b7cgQBOPdSs4lPGxmsCYKYpCAovKAMEzYaK87BxgwS_9_oEGKRYHWKepsm29rQb0XRqcol9pgGlAZQKwQ9wd_-2iLSB26G32UuAlFrz_DKgkZv8I6USJbKnvCB6KOK/s1500/The%20Arabian%20Desert%20in%20Dubai.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN7moN_ZSx2FX0iR7t0s4fcR-8SlRHvlIvRPvdZizzX4nW8RyKoHtUAy5lgOCE4b7cgQBOPdSs4lPGxmsCYKYpCAovKAMEzYaK87BxgwS_9_oEGKRYHWKepsm29rQb0XRqcol9pgGlAZQKwQ9wd_-2iLSB26G32UuAlFrz_DKgkZv8I6USJbKnvCB6KOK/s320/The%20Arabian%20Desert%20in%20Dubai.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An expanse of the desert itself lit green in Dubai</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Abu Dhabi University -- Al Ain Campus</span></div><div>• Arabian desert, Dubai</div><div>• Edition in Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi</div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• InterContinental Abu Dhabi </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Yas Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Burj Al Arab, Dubai</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Burj Khalifa, Dubai </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Cayan Tower, Dubai </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Dubai </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai</span></div><div>• Global Village, Dubai</div><div>• Emerald Palace Kempinski, Dubai</div><div>• Emirates Golf Club, Dubai </div><div>• Holiday Inn Festival City, Dubai</div><div>• Intercontinental Hotel Festival City, Dubai</div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Palm Fountain, Dubai </span></div><div>• Palm Jumeirah Monorail, Dubai</div><div>• Retreat Palm by Sofitel, Dubai</div><div>• Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Dubai</div><div>• Hilton Garden Inn. Ras Al Khaimah</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYcCPoyP0d2hthQLgIWGGPThZYaS189npeIgtf8bnaF7JlZzuqXR0oSkyJ2j4SoTkulCWy95BQW8cENNWEWiqqlxredDCiUSPZ2RzA3kw6Cx37yDXqZE3ec3FpzIOyXAtQGQDCaN9Nqyo/s1600/Burj+Khalifa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYcCPoyP0d2hthQLgIWGGPThZYaS189npeIgtf8bnaF7JlZzuqXR0oSkyJ2j4SoTkulCWy95BQW8cENNWEWiqqlxredDCiUSPZ2RzA3kw6Cx37yDXqZE3ec3FpzIOyXAtQGQDCaN9Nqyo/s400/Burj+Khalifa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Burj Khalifa, Duba -- The world's tallest building goes green</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div></div></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Italy (19)</b></span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Teatro Alfonso Rendano, Cosenza</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Cascata Isola del Liri </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Cisternino di città, Livorno </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Gazebo di Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Piazza Mercurio, Massa</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Il Palazzo ex Convento dell’Annunziata, Matera </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Fidenza Village, near Milan </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Il Palazzo del Modesta, Modesta </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Castel dell'Ovo, Naples </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Castel Nuovo, Naples </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Fortezza Albornoz, Orvieto </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Il Pozzo di San Patrizio (St Patrick’s Well), Orvieto</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Palazzo Municipale Orvieto </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Leaning Tower of Pisa</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Castello Aragonese, Reggio Calabria</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Room of the Riace Bronzes in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Reggio Calabria </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Colosseum, Rome</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Irish Embassy (Villa Spada), Rome</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mole Antonelliana, Torino</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjhc0mGHbfAwWYaIAIgelM3bGbt5dnuKGNUTMTRrNWcVnVmF90VHTs9F37E1afT18NeLEeCFTb1DCcyCzN-bGCCYN4Btc8CzO7-DpPM7YhvXgFdbGcd-YH1TH3CqVrs-lV0cNFMlntC9s/s1600/Colosseum_stripped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1180" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjhc0mGHbfAwWYaIAIgelM3bGbt5dnuKGNUTMTRrNWcVnVmF90VHTs9F37E1afT18NeLEeCFTb1DCcyCzN-bGCCYN4Btc8CzO7-DpPM7YhvXgFdbGcd-YH1TH3CqVrs-lV0cNFMlntC9s/s400/Colosseum_stripped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Colosseum greenlit in Rome</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>Australia (19)</b></span></div><br /><div><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Big Kangaroo (‘Rooey II’), Border Village </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Irish Embassy, Canberra</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The National Carillon, Canberra </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrCq956lOBOe7Dx_n00zfJz_Lg5-XK9yi_VkPZwOM5PMRT-vJlPjYldKfFhK5dwNS_fJHpGp5EyFg-8rZtZX9G8eP197Lqt5tkDL_6NU7d3ky6lS-wBo82qERl6hxFsb1HeOIMESaefrU/s1600/National+Carillon+Canberra.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrCq956lOBOe7Dx_n00zfJz_Lg5-XK9yi_VkPZwOM5PMRT-vJlPjYldKfFhK5dwNS_fJHpGp5EyFg-8rZtZX9G8eP197Lqt5tkDL_6NU7d3ky6lS-wBo82qERl6hxFsb1HeOIMESaefrU/s320/National+Carillon+Canberra.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>National Carillon, Canberra, in green</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Telstra Tower, Canberra </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Big Merino Sheep, Goldburn</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Star Observation Wheel, Melbourne </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">• Victoria State Library, Melbourne</span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bell Tower, Perth</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Council House, Perth</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Crown Perth </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Elizabeth Quay, Perth</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Matagarup Bridge, Perth </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Optus Stadium, Perth</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Perth Airport</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Yagan Square, Perth</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Sydney Opera House</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Town Hall, Sydney</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• State Library of New South Wales, Sydney</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>Spain (14 )</b></span></div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRyaRXJ-oCQUD7Fzy_wAbRvX_Wg2Jr4ULoMK1hvWPE22KMqJbDae7p_pCBDbUtt7fQttkB6ghu87mW1Q3Gj2_J8cQ6g9nLjythmpbE2q9IgDbrpcfH2JK9e2IW5PMva_msaEPYTOEFjyb/s1600/Cibeles+fountain+Madrid+greenlit.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="630" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRyaRXJ-oCQUD7Fzy_wAbRvX_Wg2Jr4ULoMK1hvWPE22KMqJbDae7p_pCBDbUtt7fQttkB6ghu87mW1Q3Gj2_J8cQ6g9nLjythmpbE2q9IgDbrpcfH2JK9e2IW5PMva_msaEPYTOEFjyb/s200/Cibeles+fountain+Madrid+greenlit.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Madrid's Cibeles Fountain shining green</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• La Roca Village, near Barcelona </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• San Mamés stadium, Bilbao </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Tower of Hércules, A Coruña, Galicia </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Cibeles Fountain, Madrid </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• La Rozas Village, near Madrid </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Marbella arches</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Fuente de los Tres Barcos, Marbella </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Puente Santo Cristo del Amor, Marbella </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Town Hall, Marbella </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Capilla de San Patricio, Pancar</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ayuntamiento, Santander </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ayuntamiento, Tortosa </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Puente del Tortosa, Tortosa</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>China (11)</b></span></div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqBD0PyOwdGyeC8LRF8xnXSInIk5JeV-5UuxmH7fh0haDEwHA0JpVqStfvNlzZ4ZjitYIKp8NRSfLqfd6Fu88CNeFA-fDv9ueDCSqjbeSHYN12dLS15f62Wz6eUBmEpyKUiCxK9dGpFbY/s1600/Great-Wall_stripped-635919315639235481.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1180" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqBD0PyOwdGyeC8LRF8xnXSInIk5JeV-5UuxmH7fh0haDEwHA0JpVqStfvNlzZ4ZjitYIKp8NRSfLqfd6Fu88CNeFA-fDv9ueDCSqjbeSHYN12dLS15f62Wz6eUBmEpyKUiCxK9dGpFbY/s200/Great-Wall_stripped-635919315639235481.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Great Wall of China greenlit</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Great Wall of China</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Canton Tower, Guangzhou</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• The Clock Tower, Hong Kong </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• ‘Niki’ Cathay Pacific DC-3 airplane, Hong Kong </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ruins of St Paul’s, Macau</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• 218 Building, Qujing, Yunnan </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Grand Kempinski Hotel, Shanghai </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Shanghai Village </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Suzhou Culture and Arts Center </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Suzhou Village </span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>Belgium (11)</b></span></div></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Burg, Bruges</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Grand Place, Brussels</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Anspach (shopping gallery), Brussels</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Royal Galleries of St Hubert, Brussels </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Manneken Pis statue, Brussels (“dressed” in Irish costume)</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Smurf Statue, Brussels</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Celtic Cross, Fontenoy </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Maasmechelen Village, Genk</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Irish College, Leuven </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Belfry, Mons</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Lille Gate, Ypres</span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Mexico (10)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 700;"></span></span></div><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, Cholula</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Los Arcos (Minerva Monument), Guadalajara </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Municipal Palace, Guadalajara </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Paseo de Chapultepec, Guadalajara </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres, Guadalajara </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">• Alvaro Obregón Monument, Mexico City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">• El Angel de la Indepencía, Mexico City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRAM3kYEIdNpgzYPckFaMvYO_Uh_1icKgVo2X48ab_MoEZh1AnFUCn2bcJJ7egNak-9e2IulyuWLbCbdOBI3v75oeDKSSGZQ8c3XxmSgCkBMjs-IuSPrFXZt2i7Q3UIcli3hj1iIJntfR/s1600/Angel+Mexico+city.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRAM3kYEIdNpgzYPckFaMvYO_Uh_1icKgVo2X48ab_MoEZh1AnFUCn2bcJJ7egNak-9e2IulyuWLbCbdOBI3v75oeDKSSGZQ8c3XxmSgCkBMjs-IuSPrFXZt2i7Q3UIcli3hj1iIJntfR/s400/Angel+Mexico+city.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>El Angel de la Indepencía</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Monument of the Niños Héroes, Mexico City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Municipal Palace, Mexico City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>Other Europe (92)</b></span></div></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Albania</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Clock Tower of Tirana </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Austria</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Burgtheater, Vienna</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bridges on the Danube Canal, Vienna</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Wiener Riesenrad, Vienna</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bergiselschanze (ski jump), Innsbruck</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• SkiWelt Söll</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae9veck27uga5Fhf6FK4PKPv30aQKD4hFNSUhnR49Ll9Il1lBJXExd10cZyLKQykQAVHANrpXT-3_CgL7Xn4G1qJduFjPxFjrmRDoauXnwiPGgQ7SY3JX1uHWrLt6zLfqdMmyck3B4QDa/s1600/burgtheater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1356" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae9veck27uga5Fhf6FK4PKPv30aQKD4hFNSUhnR49Ll9Il1lBJXExd10cZyLKQykQAVHANrpXT-3_CgL7Xn4G1qJduFjPxFjrmRDoauXnwiPGgQ7SY3JX1uHWrLt6zLfqdMmyck3B4QDa/s400/burgtheater.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Burgtheater, Vienna in green</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Bulgaria</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• National Palace of Culture (NDK), Sofia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• St Cyril and St Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Croatia</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Sponza Palace, Dubrovnik </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Molo Longo, Rijeka </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Trsat Castle, Rijeka</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Fountains in Republic Square, Split </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Church of St Donatus, Zadar </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, Zagreb </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Meštrović Pavilion, Zagreb </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Zagreb fountains, Zagreb</span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Cyprus</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Town Hall, Nicosia </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Czech Republic</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Mahen Theater, Brno </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Ostrava</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> Dancing House, Prague</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> Petrin Lookout Tower Prague</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Denmark</span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglsaVgLJNjJFAM8yMCeGeh_urHOGBMpuI5F_0ZiwmWGc0Xqn9tQeYelI9s2Ai_2yJtmJ0-TlOEI4qFPzeNTIYOZr51jM2wAixgflCYopEGFRE6ENpj9e0sRsV7amojrSw6ubvMj85M_xj/s1600/zzStPatricksDay13LittleMermaid_large.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglsaVgLJNjJFAM8yMCeGeh_urHOGBMpuI5F_0ZiwmWGc0Xqn9tQeYelI9s2Ai_2yJtmJ0-TlOEI4qFPzeNTIYOZr51jM2wAixgflCYopEGFRE6ENpj9e0sRsV7amojrSw6ubvMj85M_xj/s400/zzStPatricksDay13LittleMermaid_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Copenhagen's Little Mermaid<br />goes green for St. Patrick's Day</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bryggebroen bridge, Copenhagen </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Den Blå Planet (national aquarium), Copenhagen</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• GreenKayak clean-up, Copenhagen </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Industriens Hus (home of the Confederation of Danish Industry), Copenhagen </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">• Little Mermaid Harbor Statue, Copenhagen</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, Copenhagen</span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Estonia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Skywheel Ferris Wheel, Tallinn</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• TV Tower, Tallinn </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Vabaduse Väljak (Freedom Square), Tallinn </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Finland</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• The Drunken Sauna, Kirkkonummi<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVMudxHclZf-pXZbk_dpIyQtQP3_yIPT59olJ9_nRVNegZHycs-AJKe9IbnyYMF0fIipLoVG2BjBTXCfA-HWr31w-KqPTBsBQ19yq4P-6YHJo2NU5M94bkZhOletO1jjyUkLheU9dHZQ2QsDAR9nX12exNItMzVxc_VZpBHooYy9NTYurey21A0Qvrlec/s614/Drunken%20Sauna%20%E2%80%A2%20%20%20%20The%20Drunken%20Sauna,%20Kirkkonummi.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="614" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVMudxHclZf-pXZbk_dpIyQtQP3_yIPT59olJ9_nRVNegZHycs-AJKe9IbnyYMF0fIipLoVG2BjBTXCfA-HWr31w-KqPTBsBQ19yq4P-6YHJo2NU5M94bkZhOletO1jjyUkLheU9dHZQ2QsDAR9nX12exNItMzVxc_VZpBHooYy9NTYurey21A0Qvrlec/s320/Drunken%20Sauna%20%E2%80%A2%20%20%20%20The%20Drunken%20Sauna,%20Kirkkonummi.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Drunken Sauna, Kirkkonummi</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Radio Towers, Lahti </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Polar Bear Pitching, Oulu </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Näsinneula (observation tower), Tampere</span><br /><br /></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Georgia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• TV Tower, Tbilisi</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Greece</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Arch of Hadrian, Athens</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Stathatos Mansion of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Hungary</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Chain Bridge, Budapest </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Müpa Budapest</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Jedlik Ányos Bridge, Györ </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Felszabadulási emlékmű (Liberty monument), Szombathely</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Iceland</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Perlan, Reykjavík </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Luxembourg</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Hôtel de Ville, Luxembourg City</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Malta</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Forti Sant’Anġlu, Birgu</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Porte des Bombes, Floriana</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Love Monument, St. Julian's</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Monaco</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Prince’s Palace of Monaco</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">The Netherlands</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Museumplein </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">I "heart" Amsterdam Sign, Amsterdam</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Splendor Amsterdam</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• St Patrick’s Bike Parade, Amsterdam </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Uilenburgersjoel, Amsterdam</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• De Grote Kerk (and Statue of Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam), The Hague</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• SkyView Scheveningen Pier, The Hague</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Kissing Couple, Hempont (on bike path between Amsterdam and Zaandam)</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Windmill, Weert</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZzdXnYCZokAsfT5QqSwkNTibWExKRFHFmUfCbNmzhAZ6XbTU4FXWfdhA1jVnALl9AwoKLCi8k7jq7-3cjsR2-ThjCM-2WPvWRoC844Xkv_n4rCwV70DScPWxtf_RiOZocBYgImKtZ4n7BsYyK7KxrIZ6F5IGIx76CHdp7HD0ML8Scot0NySutg9_gYDc/s614/Kissing%20Couple%20Hempont.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="614" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZzdXnYCZokAsfT5QqSwkNTibWExKRFHFmUfCbNmzhAZ6XbTU4FXWfdhA1jVnALl9AwoKLCi8k7jq7-3cjsR2-ThjCM-2WPvWRoC844Xkv_n4rCwV70DScPWxtf_RiOZocBYgImKtZ4n7BsYyK7KxrIZ6F5IGIx76CHdp7HD0ML8Scot0NySutg9_gYDc/s320/Kissing%20Couple%20Hempont.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kissing Couple, Hempont</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Norway</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Mt. Ulriken TV Mast, Bergen</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Portugal</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Cristo Rei statue, Lisbon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, Cascais</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Castelo de Torres Vedras</span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Russia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Central Telegraph building, Moscow</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Izvestia Hall, Moscow</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">• </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"> Rossiya Theatre, Moscow </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Serbia</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ada Bridge (Most na Adi), Belgrade </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Palace Albanija, Belgrade </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Hotel Moskva, Belgrade</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Canadian Embassy, Belgrade</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Glavna Pošta (main post office), Belgrade</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• House of the National Assembly of Serbia Narodna Skupstina, Belgrade </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Narodni Muzej (National Museum), Belgrade ]</span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Slovak Republic</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Divadlo Aréna, Bratislava ]</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• New building of the Slovak National Theatre, Bratislava</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Andrej Bagar Theatre, Nitra </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Chrenovský most (bridge), Nitra </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Trnava </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Trnava University (pedagogy faculty), Trnava </span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Slovenia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Ljubljana Castle, Ljubljana</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Sweden</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Absolut Home, Åhus </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Vasa warship, Stockholm </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Switzerland</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• The Rhine Falls, near Zurich </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Smilestones (indoor miniature world at The Rhine Falls), near Zurich </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Other Asia/Pacific (19 with 3 new)</b></span></div></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Japan</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA, Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Ise Ohtorii, Ise City </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Karakora Art Studio, Matsue</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Matsue Castle, Matsue</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, Yokahoma</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Yokohama Marine Tower, Naka Ward, Yokohama </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdgU5nnDoGiBVRCu7c88sw2YvMnPLTdeW6eshE5gU1mtI7QAsYUXttRQ9kRxtGHMWdM3hCQmzRKAsO4Hy_hyphenhyphensV_V2w5n_AAJP127sr3Eiv1UCxs_s0G72YFbNw15aiJNGfun9aLx_FtMR/s1600/Matsue+castle+green.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="642" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdgU5nnDoGiBVRCu7c88sw2YvMnPLTdeW6eshE5gU1mtI7QAsYUXttRQ9kRxtGHMWdM3hCQmzRKAsO4Hy_hyphenhyphensV_V2w5n_AAJP127sr3Eiv1UCxs_s0G72YFbNw15aiJNGfun9aLx_FtMR/s320/Matsue+castle+green.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Matsue Castle greenlit</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Malaysia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Straits Quay Lighthouse, Penang</span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">New Zealand</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Sky Tower, Auckland</span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Chief Post Office, Auckland</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Eden Park, Auckland </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• War Memorial, Auckland </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Christchurch Airport, Christchurch</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• New Brighton Pier, Christchurch</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Singapore</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Chijmes, Singapore *</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">South Korea</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Busan Cinema Center, Busan </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Busan Tower, Busan *</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Seoul</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Vietnam </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Pen Monument, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Meliá Hanoi hotel, Hanoi </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Other Middle East (8)</b></span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Egypt</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• The Pyramids, Giza</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• The Sphinx, Giza</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Israel</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Water Tower, Ramat Gan</span><br /><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• City Hall, Tel Aviv</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Lebanon</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Nejmeh Square, Beirut</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Qatar</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Barahat</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Msheireb, Doha<br /></span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Turkey</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Atakule Tower, Ankara </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Other Latin America (13)</b></span></div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Argentina</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Kirchner Cultural Centre, Buenos Aires </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Lavalle Street, Buenos Aires</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Obelisk of Buenos Aires</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Brazil</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio de Janeiro</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Cathedral of Brasília, Brasília</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Teatro Amazonas, Manaus </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDslKidoCNXrRUtYn2YuxD-SPaT8k3XL7myvUvWWJqp3TR42ZptIWhgXH_34IOJs48GRIJ90rN_A2vil4vc7NrR_DsyCUteqGeoD-CAB7IsNpDNhBccX0Mx4MCnS-nONw8487X8chdrP6/s1600/Christ+the+Redeemer+greenlit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="642" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDslKidoCNXrRUtYn2YuxD-SPaT8k3XL7myvUvWWJqp3TR42ZptIWhgXH_34IOJs48GRIJ90rN_A2vil4vc7NrR_DsyCUteqGeoD-CAB7IsNpDNhBccX0Mx4MCnS-nONw8487X8chdrP6/s320/Christ+the+Redeemer+greenlit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Christ the Redeemer Statue greenlit overlooking Rio</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Chile</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Statue of the Virgin Mary, Serro San </span><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif">Cristobal</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Colombia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Santuario de Monserrate, Bogotá </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Torre Colpatria, Bogotá </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Cerro de las Tres Cruces, Cali </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Paraguay</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• López Presidential Palace (Palacio de los López), Asunción </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Asunción</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Uruguay</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Gate of the Citadel, Montevideo </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Africa (8)</b></span></div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKgSf4HyU_WWD-cXzgOafB2WKC8Pgz2zznYyT7oVJM1mNPtA0TzdF6T7gGlaXBog5mYlpkKCnZxampx1SUrtwjrYN4qqKfacWYCHN32cKK-SRxbyaFNI0Howl9SOHiDx9rwRFyhUXywf5/s1600/NEW-FOR-2016-AHMED-THE-ELEPHANT-JOINS-TOURISM-IRELANDS-GLOBAL-GREENING-684x1024.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="684" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKgSf4HyU_WWD-cXzgOafB2WKC8Pgz2zznYyT7oVJM1mNPtA0TzdF6T7gGlaXBog5mYlpkKCnZxampx1SUrtwjrYN4qqKfacWYCHN32cKK-SRxbyaFNI0Howl9SOHiDx9rwRFyhUXywf5/s200/NEW-FOR-2016-AHMED-THE-ELEPHANT-JOINS-TOURISM-IRELANDS-GLOBAL-GREENING-684x1024.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Ahmed the Elephant, Nairobi</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Ethiopia </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Lion of Judah Statue, Addis Ababa</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Bete Giyorgis (Church of Saint George), Lalibela </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Kenya</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Ahmed the Elephant Statue of the National Museum, Nairobi</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Leopard statue called ‘Chiu’ (made from re-cycled scrap metal), Nairobi </span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Sierra Leone</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• The Cotton Tree, Freetown </span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>South Africa</b></span></span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">• Nelson Mandela Statue, Johannesburg</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Uganda</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Source of the Nile Bridge, Jinja *</span></div><div><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.4px;">Zambia</span><br /><span face=""open sans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">• Victoria Falls </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Closing Comments</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As always, I am delighted to hear your thoughts on this. If you have any points I should add, please let me know for the future... or if you just want to say that you liked this (or not), I would love to hear from you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, if you would like to share a tradition in your family or just give mention to a St. Patrick's Day parade or festivity in your hometown, please feel free to add it in the comments section.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadlhInmwvjhQq-WEIGlKuFzQF3aqAN1j1bsEfOasAxKsYb7AEiHaKQAKdWsbcRNNZ049XtP4NOhUdr_ItMZqD3doayGGwq7TJ3FapIl_4Le8IjA6WkDPltoi2Vwxn9jnlUz-Zd8lZrjof/s1600/Happy+St.+Patrick%27s+Day.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadlhInmwvjhQq-WEIGlKuFzQF3aqAN1j1bsEfOasAxKsYb7AEiHaKQAKdWsbcRNNZ049XtP4NOhUdr_ItMZqD3doayGGwq7TJ3FapIl_4Le8IjA6WkDPltoi2Vwxn9jnlUz-Zd8lZrjof/s320/Happy+St.+Patrick's+Day.bmp" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Want To Learn More?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Borgna Brunner, "St. Patrick's Day: Until Recently, More Dallas Than Dublin -- A Short History of the Holiday": <a href="http://www.infoplease.com/spot/stpatsintro1.html">http://www.infoplease.com/spot/stpatsintro1.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph Caputo, "Unusual Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations," <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Unusual-St-Patricks-Day-Celebrations.html?c=y&page=2">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Unusual-St-Patricks-Day-Celebrations.html?c=y&page=2</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Catholic Saints.net, "Saint Patrick": <a href="http://www.stpatrick.name/">http://www.stpatrick.name/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mary Anne Cusack, Saint Patrick (from An Illustrated History of Ireland), Library Ireland: <a href="http://www.libraryireland.com/HistoryIreland/St-Patrick.php">http://www.libraryireland.com/HistoryIreland/St-Patrick.php</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Patrician Power," Ireland of the Welcomes, Jan/Feb 2012, pp. 14-19.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Saint Patrick," Catholic Online: <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89">http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Patricks Day.com: <a href="http://stpatricksday.com/">http://stpatricksday.com/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Saint Patrick in America/St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin," Ireland of the Welcomes, March/April 2012, pp. 14-19.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Patrick's Day Parade.com: <a href="http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/">http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/</a>\\</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tourism Ireland, "Green Lights Go Global for St. Patrick's Day Celebrations!" (March 15, 2019), <a href="https://www.tourismireland.com/Press-Releases/2019/March/Green-lights-go-global-for-St-Patrick%E2%80%99s-celebratio">https://www.tourismireland.com/Press-Releases/2019/March/Green-lights-go-global-for-St-Patrick%E2%80%99s-celebratio</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art and Photo Sources</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="text-align: center;">Tauron Arena greenlit, Kraków, Poland </span><a href="https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/poland/news-and-events/2016/st-patricks-day-greenings/" target="_blank">https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/poland/news-and-events/2016/st-patricks-day-greenings/ </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Greenlit Empire State Building, New York: <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/st-patricks-day-2019-world-landmarks-green-sydney-opera-house-empire-state-building-london-eye-a8826091.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/st-patricks-day-2019-world-landmarks-green-sydney-opera-house-empire-state-building-london-eye-a8826091.html</a></span></span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">San Francisco City Hall lit green: <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11428075/whos-behind-the-colorful-lights-at-san-francisco-city-hall">https://www.kqed.org/news/11428075/whos-behind-the-colorful-lights-at-san-francisco-city-hall</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wroclaw Opera House in green: <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/st-patricks-day-2019-world-landmarks-green-sydney-opera-house-empire-state-building-london-eye-a8826091.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/st-patricks-day-2019-world-landmarks-green-sydney-opera-house-empire-state-building-london-eye-a8826091.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><div>‘Fridolin’ the carp greenlit, Höchstadt an der Aisch: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2021/0315/1204072-the-quirkiest-greenings-happening-for-st-patricks-day-2021/" target="_blank">https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2021/0315/1204072-the-quirkiest-greenings-happening-for-st-patricks-day-2021/</a> </div><div><br /></div></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Sacré-Coeur greenlit in Paris: </span><a href="https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/">https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/</a></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The London Eye greenlit: <a href="https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/">https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/</a></span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Drunken Sauna, Kirkkonummi: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2021/0315/1204072-the-quirkiest-greenings-happening-for-st-patricks-day-2021/" target="_blank">https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2021/0315/1204072-the-quirkiest-greenings-happening-for-st-patricks-day-2021/</a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Colosseum greenlit in Rome: </span><a href="https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/" style="text-align: center;">https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kissing Couple, Hempont: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2021/0315/1204072-the-quirkiest-greenings-happening-for-st-patricks-day-2021/" target="_blank">https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2021/0315/1204072-the-quirkiest-greenings-happening-for-st-patricks-day-2021/</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">National Carillon, Canberra, in green: <a href="https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/travel/gallery/buildings-going-green-st-patricks-10039563">https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/travel/gallery/buildings-going-green-st-patricks-10039563</a></span></span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Madrid's Cibeles Fountain shining green: </span><a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/st-patricks-day-greening-2-3910255-Mar2018/">https://www.thejournal.ie/st-patricks-day-greening-2-3910255-Mar2018/</a><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Great Wall of China greenlit: </span><a href="https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/" style="text-align: center;">https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/christian-heritage/articles/global-greenings/</a><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">El Angel de la Indepencía: <a href="https://www.horacero.com.mx/vida-y-cultura/monumentos-en-mexico-que-se-iluminan-de-verde-por-dia-de-san-patricio/">https://www.horacero.com.mx/vida-y-cultura/monumentos-en-mexico-que-se-iluminan-de-verde-por-dia-de-san-patricio/</a></span></span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Burj Khalifa, Duba -- The world's tallest building goes green: </span><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-goes-green-for-st-patrick-s-day-1.163920" style="text-align: center;">https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-goes-green-for-st-patrick-s-day-1.163920</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">An expanse of the Arabian desert itself lit green, Dubai: <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/global-greening-2020" target="_blank">https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/global-greening-2020</a><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Burgtheater, Vienna in green: <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/st-patricks-day-2019-world-landmarks-green-sydney-opera-house-empire-state-building-london-eye-a8826091.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/st-patricks-day-2019-world-landmarks-green-sydney-opera-house-empire-state-building-london-eye-a8826091.html</a></span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Copenhagen's Little Mermaid </span><span style="text-align: center;">goes green for St. Patrick's Day: <a href="http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/world-goes-green-for-st-patricks-day-588243.html">http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/world-goes-green-for-st-patricks-day-588243.html</a></span><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Christ the Redeemer Statue greenlit overlooking Rio: </span><a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/galleries/2017/0317/860536-global-greening/" style="text-align: center;">https://www.rte.ie/news/galleries/2017/0317/860536-global-greening/</a><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Matsue Castle greenlit: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/galleries/2017/0317/860536-global-greening/">https://www.rte.ie/news/galleries/2017/0317/860536-global-greening/</a></span><br /><br />Ahmed the Elephant, Nairobi: <a href="https://www.belfastvibe.com/big-stories/global-landmarks-go-green-for-st-patricks-day/#jp-carousel-23045">https://www.belfastvibe.com/big-stories/global-landmarks-go-green-for-st-patricks-day/#jp-carousel-23045</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Parting "Happy St. Patrick's Day": <a href="http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2009/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html">http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2009/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html</a></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-26054644125860607642024-02-09T10:41:00.000-05:002024-02-09T10:41:03.847-05:00 Pre-Lenten Festivities and the Lenten Season 2024<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276418000&usg=AOvVaw17-HyCYrNf9Zook4NfUKSE" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/bVXVlml4ftyxwM48R1EaFPS3kJA-5xMv2HfCSQet6ITJAAx5tYv6uMo2QYfeqyl6OkAdYGyFfMsW87NHQGS9v72m81ZRIdPvykWME3eMZUoXpLl8tRJz5JtZxpYHQLh_koGAgTIWBRT6vKEQTzvuOPmyyKXrpPs8OOdGfNhRHXXqCWg66GXcoP-LSYBcLGd92xA25jceqDciLChA1xu11-xeKdGXhNVs9bjAaQAI2w3afO16YLH6eTjq90nFo_eE4bWAuEptPKtrd1jRcY6eyp1Mexk4FdnB6tp7yge7Yj-o3Irt5ktzu97jey4g7x-ltavCkw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJLt1lRdfY3Ww8s_Lyu7424UoJW2TsKytBf2Ov0T8dWLsDwfXCkx4H50KmxltmQhbxvdbCjD-tRN-2-BWUpBiobYtZQ1QL4n1_6qnyAoaAS1WzUb-jz1MZvA-4-orFhhq6bwhkh7ymxl/s200/Ash_Wednesday.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="135" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Praying woman with </b><br /><b>ashen cross on her forehead</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Introduction and Religious Significance</u></span></b></div><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">As part of my ongoing posts about religious holiday observance, I would like to share another religious tradition that starts this week: the Christian Lenten season.<br /><br />In 2024, for Christians in the Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Anglican, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and several other Western Christian traditions, the season begins on February 14 with Ash Wednesday.<br /><br />For Christians in the Eastern Orthodox traditions using the Julian calendar, the season begins on March 18 with Clean Monday. For those in the Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches, Great Lent (in the latter two churches known as Abiy Tsom), the Lenten Season begins on March 11 as well.<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br />Ash Wednesday, Clean Monday and the season associated with Lent, Great Lent and Abiy Tsom are all very important holidays in their respective traditions, and you should accommodate employees, students or others who may need to miss activities during at least part of the day in observance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">It should be noted that while many Protestant traditions observe Lent, other Protestant traditions specifically bar the observance of Lent. Some Protestant denominations are divided in their view of the season; for example, some United Church of Christ and Baptist congregations oppose its observance while others support its observance. Additionally, some Protestant denominations, such as the Mennonites, that formerly opposed the observance of Lent have begun to recognize its practice in varying degrees in recent years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/KB5cC5O1j3LVQEjYrurUCkbvKg8maKpveJ9GbdzcWQNtwwrENnqOrjoiuvnFHATRIjDCMPbvexhj416ZO_EqHPwSXaRy90I4SPoflrpSnbnqi5LMrODroev5zgywzkkqJFNhffxQQMPzSsYREnKyZ1uUwOwH73WZRrTqP8eXV8I7VQ20c68SW4YTwwT_gXW7XCinufrEQ1Bsrt36R9UU7ZDBX8KINjkvdd2qQy4TJttzSfCQ0IGYwUc-9EV4wAbeL3HKtV8VWEWO4fZm1MJmXLzyHntnoM3KxRYHKsBXZJDBgQoIgHVPT9DznmQSxYI=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SSLQK0S3-pUSm-8zRkUO4B6Vg1O3qzo52dNj-HCVCafpCz7VrIQtTzRLdjcqOFQO0QmJ6W1_pDt_Quvr3lNE2_J58lxLt2fI0cjaIpEbMJGoPLNIfrJy5-pisSH-hXro5LPWmam9UUv/s200/lent-new.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></span></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Variations in Dating the Holiday</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The season itself runs for 40 days and is called Lent in the Western traditions and Great Lent or the Great Fast in the Eastern traditions. is a time of introspection for many Christians, and often focuses on questions of mortality and on Jesus' sufferings and sacrifice. In the Western traditions, Sundays are not counted in the 40 days. In the Eastern Orthodox traditions, Sundays are counted. Within the Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches the Lenten season lasts for 56 days in which period, traditionally only one meal per day is eaten.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">To keep in the spirit of these somber subjects, many Christians observe some sort of restrictive behavior, for example many people abstain from alcohol or from attending parties. In some traditions, observers fast during the day or restrict themselves to one meal only. For others, observers maintain a vegetarian diet. For still other traditions, observers give up something they particularly enjoy such as sweets or ice cream. In many traditions, the fast or abstinence is lifted on the six Sundays during Lent. In Irish tradition, the fast is lifted for St. Patrick's Day (March 17).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Observance</span></b></div></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yo-7xN5ITMHPj98bZHqFpBQdqePtn7Vig5XhjJfQXxgnYZ5G-fetlNBvK-u97X5WdUFc6dhoiTUP-o9OGmz5WqRmYp3onN5973E8eU7ouDZGiORmSn2ApelTnfLghBf1BmXbcYH7m5xhGz1JleVGyzXCkC2Uuv66cSxIFr_RqskdaKJQhVU8rIw3AGbQvUnZvJ40kzCVJGaicsTZhJS98LhK_rNWvUXfUPKv5GCSeged_BoJQnKYaxlVL62ZfkPW0FTFM80kxMmyRSDHc17eT1M9qgWTrgAUCg-fadSdBkkCSvfY7K_PXNevO7xmXR4kmf9HTg=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqDhOFmC53_QfVYobSE00KOglB2_e9gD4GroQPvlA5JIfBfYE6nE9qNLOIty2eyNBUsbRtoc_JEFugYYjVRB71ehHJWK2cSa__dOZgKP0lPHfhIjsuplUnhchThvcaQ-aIPcYBsCWtPfX/s200/ash-wednesday.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Priest placing an ashen cross</b><br /><b>on worshiper's forehead</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Anglicans, Ash <span style="color: darkblue;">Wednesday</span> is usually observed by attending Mass and having the priest mark one's forehead with ashes that have been blessed. The ashes are traditionally made from the palm fronds used in the preceding year’s Palm Sunday. The day is often observed as a full fast day. Ashes have a long traditional association with repentance in these traditions. Many other traditions have modified observance with sermons or other recognition of the holiday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The holiday itself has its origins in the New Testament, which relates that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting before he began his ministry. While in the desert, Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Pre-Lenten Festivities</b></u></span></div><br /><div style="clear: both;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/vPEuEW8Xt8bDfCTKGNw4ipfsPmU0gqt3UepPmqMGaksQzWLb7Wf3AHM3cfVCDfz8fVD4V6JECIbGWELPMYTzpejqMzB6EQ8jaXVOp5sobg6s4gyOL2yeFrHQPMt39B-oZlPymtpe6m-AxazKZlfcu47jJ-TcysJTtPajfAOO4KkKHYtKDbBbl03d1-YLPJQEX48nPAGGo0c5fItikfPqvy5UPbqVoF6RvJ9zm6eikQYnx8yZMHEBO8nVDKTNu06-I55l8QlNtuDxFk-Ak89irho0CayCee5VBwzeX_6KAqwaDj8jL9mvmJZ07EbLgYOcTTZlp-AbCflyuGjtsTH0gZ8=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7CMZzVoUKMIAqOscUyctePwsYlmKR2iECvh9aKEaoRBq_sRM3Oib74et1DJl0OhMxdmRXtTKBPKHhyS0zyERvRYd_LoqveMKevU-40bWJ8fDHgJZlyj3Tt59czWSj0tRWlMwWs8O5N08/s200/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png" style="border: 0px;" width="187" /></a> </div></div><div style="clear: both;">Because the tradition of Lent is so somber, many Roman Catholic cultures have embraced a massive celebration on the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. This will take place in 2024 on <span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Tuesday, February 13. Many of the festivities begin well before this date as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Brazil</b><b>ian Carnaval </b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The most significant celebration of the day, however, is not in the US at all, but is the Carnaval of Brazil. The festival begins on the Friday before Ash Wednesday (this year starting on February 9) and runs until Ash Wednesday begins. Most Brazilian cities hold a Carnaval celebration (as do Brazilian communities worldwide). <span lang="EN">While Rio is, by far, the most famous (and lucrative) Brazilian Carnaval celebration, it is far from the only one. Most regions and major cities of Brazil have their own Carnaval, each with its own distinctive traditions. Many of these traditions are centuries old as Carnaval in Brazil started informally in 1641 with official status coming in 1724.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism in 2023 recorded over 43 million attendees at the various Carnavals around the nation. Of these, São Paulo alone had 15 million participants, Rio de Janeiro had 7 million, Belo Horizonte had 5 million; Olinda had 3.7 million; Olinda had 2.7 million, Recife had 1.6 million and Recife had 800,000 in Salvador de Bahia, with an additional 7.3 million more participants in smaller or local Carnavals such as those in Espirito Santo, Teresina, Ouro, and the famously LGBTQ-themed one in Florianópolis. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u>Carnaval of Rio</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/0Ac8HrCDApL0OCJVFzuvSB51UO64C2_T5FJnnhErD1mnGs4fUqietR2olkzn5eDIr0F1e6rokJJ6yYKSNO_jxn7Swvp1PcQdpWOc0nbevu0TuAzmWEMNDZlwbHsYaeI_je6yLAyVz_DNyuBKIwAu8yO-iGETBk545rOB4FBkeYv83WERlch4S5xG1-iJAV_kf2wLy-f_aTrVawnW3IU-9xZpee1JbR6m9HAh-lOxtQ5afLDmo3q2b7lZG8UAevHUKrESgQ4f4mRK7bnR4LOgvOhoXiQGTXO60kgUKZc2QnLCjzEDIHgvhKBuqH0PjwpE6yPJ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Z5Z0SmOSHYCJUFsEmUP3HI5mztQ34JuuDQBM-XEkRTAbcWbCd5OsHHtsenYlNfVNxmCCX_l9xo35ky3adnlAI8az4FISr-yY8ziLYkmUEF-Ba3T1FGIhTDFcQqVIcoOa6SOuXtM13xo/s200/Rio-Carnaval.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Elaborate floats are part of </b><br /><b>the Rio Parade</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The grandest and most costly of the Brazilian celebrations is the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro. It is claimed that the Rio Carnaval is the largest annual gathering of people in the world; although this claim is often disputed, it is unquestionably the largest annual gathering of people in South America. For example, the Rio Carnival annually attracts over 5 million people over 5 days, with between 2 and 2.3 million per day in the main streets. To put this in perspective, that same year, New Orleans' Mardi Gras hit a record for attendance of 1.2 million, about half that of the average Carnaval single-day street attendance, and roughly the number of just foreign-tourists alone at the Rio Carnaval. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Carnaval in Rio has a major impact on the city's -- and country's -- tourism revenues. In 2023, Brazil's government estimated that there were roughly 1.1 million <i>foreign</i> tourists (up from 977,000 pre-pandemic), generating US $431.9 million in foreign tourism alone. with revenues of $1.1 billion (R$ 5.3 billion). </span>After years of reduced or absent crowds due to COVID, the 2023 Carnaval set records for revenues. In just the five days of Carnaval, Rio recorded over $1 billion (R$ 5 billion) in bar and restaurant sales alone.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Nor is the economic impact simply limited to those watching or going to restaurants. There are over 100 competing samba schools at the Rio Carnaval. The samba schools spend US$ 5 million on the parade annually.</span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/QEei4TIaIa6xGOVgRd2-fMjaHzOb-49qlzCCEAoLOh83Fw52EaVc15rXZAEFuqPAjFEMOPdpMQErNgEQB8Qz_GImLWcKlzL8mP_yL9LYU3xMfcs8L4QIa1S7P1oi9E0hoTKnvle_CSSDAm04m9ODZm0hZ4Vg35rMOA279dHH2qjMjYU-zhIQzaNAiB22ClMCycKeD7y_XFbrCUtegPTok0WbbyYHYGGpb9fUagZRq7zahXXcbgKRGr67iuV9twViXMNQTkdEkVOiErTX2FpdKFLpPhso1bCyqVA7FkQF1NB_u7y0_lAsbJCzKYDjIffhQ1HDY94=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtD2Xp1E5AkR2eA374WWAD9PcmzLKCtmDkmD6V44rAl-K_o7glQEhzkKkekqjs0-QYY52TigV3pZy-noaP40EwY-yeMhkIo7Q5S501eZMBUZQ0diXnjCyaK3o3rTwQ0VK7d7onaFXo7OS/s320/rio_carnival06.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Elaborate costumes at the Rio Carnaval</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The Carnaval of Rio is also one of the oldest pre-Lenten celebrations, taking place annually since 1641. The Rio Carnaval has at its core the so-called <i>blocos </i>or block parades tied to individual neighborhood blocks. Participants dress in elaborate costumes with a particular theme for each year. <i>Blocos </i>compose original music and dances which they combine with traditional songs and samba dances. Various samba schools prepare all year to compete in dance and music competitions, the most important of which are held at the 90,000-seat <span lang="EN">Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí for four consecutive nights from 8:00 PM until the following morning. The five winning samba schools then are allowed to parade on the Saturday following Ash Wednesday. </span><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><u>São Paulo Carnaval</u></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/bvvIUeBDDmvj20xvUwbsmdcYRcluEHenGAv2kTRerY6D3eiyO_-tecKuGjx3dJwslxKmP5N2UNippfPczMpH1jcxJPiSTlRIPT3jg4uP090iRpm2UHeXcTAyVsvwYT_b_G2pearNdRXq8CZESUhoPNe_YAgdncIcZ3g2cOh8g4sFJQfUzx-7J2exK0vF34SbPpScdTGl3KOcbkTDKWxT1R50gCGebKLvtQA4uOJsOBDq4YxyKsEJUtkpmEaQ8VXUqdfAL4dqPJcqSJ-R9uxJnFhEJHB_UzvfL18iOrSEvBsgEI62JpVkl-jzy41yhh1Ru7xvc6rk2TwgAZxZEohyrqevOiNf_Dpu=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jNcQbyTJANqFE-QRe8AJ2Sl-dCxm8vlUjcPBFEtfIoXfTRrAKIC7r6Kc43lwRl6Jf5cuHz0TAqsMg4r1jK_Hps_20Z5OLVMn1IC-otpPYZOIbZAju3icSYIoTAq91UiZLp0Kz2aBwWd/s200/samba2_gallery__470x312+Sao+Paulo.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><b>Samba competitors </b><br /><b>at the Anhembi Sambodrome</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The <span lang="EN">São Paulo Carnaval, like that in Rio, centers on samba competitions with annual themes. The São Paulo competitions usually last for two nights are held at the 30,000-seat Anhembi Sambodrome. </span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">The São Paulo Carnaval samba competition takes place on the Friday and Saturday before Lent. Since this occurs before Rio's Carnaval (on Sunday and Monday night), the timing allows attendance for both. </span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">While the Rio Carnaval may be Brazil's most famous and prestigious, the Säo Paulo Carnaval holds the world record for samba band people gathered in one spot. This took place at Republic Square in 2011 when 1,038 samba people gathered at one time for a massive performance.</span><br /><br />Considered the "poor person's alternative" to Rio, the São Paulo Carnaval by design keeps ticket prices at events purposely low to all all Paulistanos to be able to afford attendance. As a result, the São Paulo Carnaval in 2023 had more than double the attendance of that in Rio (15 million vs. 7 million).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/-gY7uOebz5h93ZtD5TTXpK7jTsEOtVDJPMrSyszsXtKMlHXtXfMRrOHK2PQCCwB3e1H9K0Xku2UWOTNEu49Dr5DjBXvEplCyG5zHbGLHCdXrrBERpbaLfqF0x4pPQGNSsk6iQ5dmtM0F0akylIpysspBwyJVntlOGIbxxR4Is99yN8FZYQ6e9EpBQslFltBDuCUNEQZyulA-5gkUzs9Fi5MzTaBHJie9Jx0lBSe-yuyp7eCs04etl5f0Hj6X_M-4_Iayu0oqrtm6DN1SQQAty03gOiAvEQEgEl6Oqg6v481t7p3W3Hq5ecmTb-0zGHAYNQMtcQiQBfxoazspSsKY=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cHbMJu49h0SLb0Pm-0w-pIWpGLeybVEhd7oBQ_HrpQSNQrefRokkjV9agW4Uzbii1Jx7JZr0BRdjhBmiti15zRRKoUJYxtM7CLDyGceV9KSxl-4LrIsfFu2bgz69u6xzvaQX-hmhq1Tu/s200/carna%25201-tl-201100302.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN"><i>Trio Elétrico</i></span> </b><br /><b>at the <span lang="EN">São Paulo Carnaval</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The São Paulo Carnaval is additionally famous for the use of the <i><span lang="EN">trio elétrico </span></i><span lang="EN">(also called the </span><i><span lang="EN">carros alegóricos</span></i><span lang="EN">) which are huge floats or trucks. The <i>trio elétrico</i> is fitted out with sound systems which amplify the performances of the singers who stand on their roof.</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><span lang="EN"><b><u>Bahian Carnaval</u></b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span lang="EN">The <i>trio elétrico</i> is the central focus of Carnaval in the state of Bahia, and indeed it was in Bahia that the <i>trio elétrico</i> was first introduced.</span></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/C-rADYRY894E3lLDtVq2Nf0ZpFqtPVNimISpOvoLqaRgaT7En7DvKedzTSOXRKGgtiOVZU7XItAr74Rwu01MJoQs3xRN2LKnVC1qn9TLh8XTMWeb6rrJPLVMEXHQ7upa4w67NvdFEIDnq8xHqbZBIE1UiVLaA5xeiA0M0ja0_g9CVS0tKvKb6OxQQXzlRx0we1AZ8qqP3bpBbA8ni-Hd2hb6XSe3s0wHvjfdN8596USdT-91T_E3R9KSJhyhHUHb3msIYqPd0CVdax4tiO9T9QVEkZIifuXBse4dj7C8CIlh5H--1pTDYuA9H7EmtydkAqJLr5-F5j3KLTlocWbjb-A=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FD43-pFaRCbZ5YbUe8hB5-oWilwuR6IvDJ578QpgB88IHTpEK8ogl5TxgieZ3vjWKB_vJCfS0Vq5oIuf9YkyfeXeqlxN23HiBnAfZtG0uOButhSiP0ZupS_WexLxQHKWihaUHvSuTsaS/s200/julianaribeiro_amorepaixao.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-family: "a59726c857c08c9212a74a20"; font-size: x-small;">Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>atop a <i>trio elétrico </i>at the Salvador Carnaval</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN">The largest of the Carnavals in Bahia is in the city of Salvador, but most cities in the state have their own version. The festivities throughout the state last roughly for a week, each day going on for 16 hours. Salvador's Carnaval is primarily a Brazilian only event, with 800,000 tourists in 2023 of whom only 10% are foreign.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276419000&usg=AOvVaw2moQD2uopt1-3k0Zx3yYmF" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/U-oG5JAZ92dP38VxyOs4Yy47h3dDabTZB2-kAzjp-55NfCGThXfQSTLdkxRtcm7VqfOFtbVGkUP89ssahwDO1jtiEOJyY9xZ73ciYsEtgtWD15DlfJCDTpXNHjix3offigMtBf2NO4-lvMazpM6cPa3nQodA0RXXxxjmZ-zzUR3ZIuZW48hFvxsbuoIniVeaHkR5YJ4yG56pE53oQCwS2OCZJAkG6KFO8GiIrA7lYu3M64zYH7JUowM6ZiSIIYeTysaatRsdykJoBqUJJDDvBPNoDWeZL8OdHaCKwjADrA4o4J7mm61lj_Avpwzi=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnay4SZpvvZ4rHwSeNU63hvowLucHsPx7tRCpT22LfLv66VZJRH0J8FzyT9ezZ_rar4t420MJ8mR5fJ-0CVVpSXMPXaYzRoM1JNCUur3D0mL3hRpiroTdVJxyP0zsbMzUT0vrpRPAU7-1S/s200/afoxes.bmp" style="border: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN"><i>Afoxés</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN">The Bahian Carnaval has many elements that are quite separate from the Roman Catholic Church. These focus on the Afro-Brazilian </span><i><span lang="EN">afoxés</span></i><span lang="EN"> who perform <i>puxada do ijexá</i> drumming that honors the <i>orixás</i> (dieties of the Afro-Brazilian religions of Candomblé and Santería). Because of the influence of the Afro-Brazilian religions, the music and dance of the Bahian Carnavals differs significantly from that of those in Rio and São Paulo, with significantly greater African influences. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN"><b><u>Carnaval in Pernambuco</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN">Throughout the state of Pernambuco, cities and towns hold there own variety of Carnavals. The two largest of these are the Recife and Olinda Carnavals. Pernambuco Carnavals also differ musically from the rest of Brazil. As in Bahia, the celebrations last a week; however, unlike Bahia (or Rio or São Paulo), the Recife and Olinda Carnavals have no group competitions. The music played and dancing performed in Pernambuco is unique to the state. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Jay5aqPQ3QmltJk9Kb3v-se2WnBGyBG8cssY3GL4ihnfwEwfWgqx16jiiX3wVBgG6EooSoy2XM1NB04LYdv8-Q8AOWwkDUg22KOoz3BQXQxo6eG9BQICVMaweHCrX1fZeKqx8NHkdXbx4-ckvshB2KHXs689OBkwvaX5RpTEW5geH_CIS2LBrgz6WIaIdhWrToQCDKAGqkSxAvCSnZaf8KwFiLMU9p8qME7ktJl7zQHONa5l4dZ30lAINY7jcKr_X75YM68jxoayYfHbmF8hHg86vwZlQq-aw_riPydQNNV7FKiTzmfeWFpsOK8=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiVnzYi-mFFxgi9KfY2XstinLM2OGiI_WVU3u1mtAbnK1DHo3ADabVjqPTzSBtb3WsousQRBjdbeADp6eniQDwHNS4P1kp9BEztHlsZuBLISFLmnHTm2zs5znL-x_e73hSUegcoYMs_E7/s200/frevo.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><b><i>Frevo</i> dancer</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN">There are two main varieties: the <i>frevo</i> and the <i>maracatu</i>. <i>Frevo</i> is an intense, fast-paced form that is supposed to make performers (and viewers) feel as if the ground beneath them is boiling (the word <i>frevo</i> has its origins in the Portuguese word </span><i><span lang="EN">ferver</span></i><span lang="EN"> meaning “to boil”). <i>Frevo </i>danccers are called <i>passistas</i>, and they are famous for their athleticism, their endurance and especially their acrobatic dance moves based on the Brazilian martial art of <i>capoeira</i>. </span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">The music of <i>frevo</i> has a polka-like element to it and is played largely by trumpets, trombones, tubas and saxophones accompanied by percussion. </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/WxHMAZnwH2zI0zABedOMTfZoCHqaTMvpl_Qi2UzYafcNXyppE6CoXwr1tPnF6bNNZMb7IVGsTJH5S191GLzCzuMri75KJITemk9sS0qlI3L56WcGAF4RPQYZQnezQMgyMdAzibQFFH52dgwSCKprcMHMsShd_QrJDHlI7uc5Rv5Qknz0BNFObZTh92kcchNiwC5rUKXJ-iLjvPBl4NAji04UeeT1cchNzsx4UfaEBYjwvIp3Mv1IseIQ-Aa2tyAEI3VwS8Anj2qxy2iSo6aSwu6ezKnESQJgqJ-C1gxlyFCdKHrUV5mWvjb1717aCfw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YnYYGUFwNXtzQPYABFRlw4-sn8-tj8BKJh6VWCinr0lFVGhy4PevECoNYq4024HpxZNhCwrHM2O_GaKDY5zlmXvNHsTQoRAQbQCiTsxgmbJh04muNlRAojgUftuUM4uPAetbU_itCUiT/s200/camale_o.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><b><i>Maracatu de nação</i> percussionists</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>Maracatu</i> is actually the name of two dance forms unique to Pernambuco: <i><span lang="EN">maracatu de nação</span></i><span lang="EN"> and the <i>maracatu rural</i>. <i>Maracatu de nação</i> (national <i>maracatu</i>) has its roots in the Brazilian slave community when slaves would crown “Kings of the Congo” as leaders within their communities. The accompanying investiture ceremony was heavily influenced by the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé, and the influence of the dance and music continue to carry rich symbolism from that religion. <i>Maracatu de nação</i> is primarily based on Afro-Brazilian drumming with groups of up to 100 percussionists performing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/WdIMN1wTZy6IPvMfWb6ong8SyutgZRCMeN9Frr1wehKiBiYaE3a1z5QedGO1TKMldtWDrIj4TYxjKKaJQLdZhKL36CbhZvx4Gm8c0kscw1FMp7GMiYu9FwCiaooNTc5VAAnc2Z5IWTXR7FNjEjg6ZmMTNwxFraIdw9ToY8pbNqK-5JKU-U8HLm9SnTIePhOyKrcCH3WeIn4K6Vv8nzQUTY5dFxPoqT7vppqRZMLZgNT4FD0YBPlKlTRTIQlegeavcLGM8pJGJR8q90Xa3Tirbe2-4wjCM2J7PAt5Pdx5SvvOjZAGXYK_qlozwmu-jHtZHDtEcTRYaDQjoJ3Hdluf-HXpY9OLUg=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFC_Due1Qhlr70f0SMLUl8Jvac0cb-KKhNJiCNpRkjXLHghCBqBtJxlSabD1ahcIn9FYNSlFnmcR7HT-lY9G_mOEx483i7iWBMms4hQSfzjJJB9oG4x15KaE_4_H6Avp0GaephT5YWZPO/s200/alfaias_16_18_and_20_inch2_ix0m.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Alfaias</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/zjKccOnGHJSSyN91Fem78jHrCwZSkLsh1fZEmdAALsU1ASrZDYA4SRZ_LVGwcRG8GSFbOxecmjNWMZaxZxyKNSyI8isef8oPxC7Y4mlsqsc4r8u3CEGF_p_k4bkkVeR5AjoYFeoXD3St-DyzYnMFFsTCPI4XJul2FQRgM5sP4IT02DTJe76GzioyPsKMVYuf3UUM49l2yy2wpl8lvX3TL0WE6bsVyoSyJARWHAvtdjG0OwLk5knD7QFEnSE_xKmmnkyvFup1ECOFt7rYR9AgCdF76aLyzOF-qt0DiQk18sgxVwB2g-RvxF2D4ratcmzoAfcHDoYotuMWx5I=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJJY9EDAMqVJLP8FUJ5pj5u5wCMSuf_Z7Xyj97k0OOc42xVfrBsJcQ_Z8LWMJzqUi9LLYJf8xPC6vnfEKsHIt0GYE5kMx-m-ZxbSrntydP_VH9n5_u1UIwsVDaY7s6wrUMadvug4kehNa/s200/250px-Abe_agbe_afoxe.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b><i>Afoxé</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Many of the percussions instruments used are unique to Pernambuco. One of the most notable is these is the <i>afoxé, </i>a gourd rattle with threaded beads. The Afro-Brazilian drums too are unique to the area. Among the most notable of these drums is the <i>alfaia</i> (sometimes simply called the (maracutu drum). <i>Alfaias </i>come in a variety of sizes, but all have roping along their sides that the drummers use to tighten or loosen the drum head to give differing pitches. Other special drums include <i>caixa-de-guerra </i>(“war snare-drum”) and the <i>tarol </i>(a somewhat thin snare drum). Additionally, percussionists use <i>agbês </i>(special gourds filled with beads), <i>mineiros</i> (metal tubes filled with dried seeds) and cowbells. The singing that accompanies <i>maracatu de nação</i> is a unique call-and-response form with a male caller and female chorus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/PjJoFCvn8ynUI-SFz3NoB_EcxZGDLLv6XACETNdACeIAi0oYcpqNK4wH_qYKQPKCOTGMFDTnfHExDg-qG4hv4I24T3gYXccu7VEVq0_iibvWs9PDUPMgRAn-E38c2U9O5YH3oqSFrY3XV6BQTI0RkfaaRvVIdCicAnddlbG6Wu4k_TLPxDG1g8vcDhs3gfrfzL3EuG_7UJrdEs47ZRympQVoNSxYRELHbdGNQCu1iEgalloF3EN4mKP2Ybo6W1eQ4XmOqntKrlJ2JrZ_jvWd5jR2JkVzZR7wyPA2kKXq6BGantHKEfa5aZgzy05eYgY=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdDcA98AOv7pKH96fTMulgCErFyjRzk80cEcyELbIgy5QENJpg50TgvEj6syU5lKi1-cVMFT3TXteIhTBT1U0Lgf6Wd1uOaBLrRxdfMV8Jwh89qVZ_KHNVdDQqj8Z1ifCy3LBLdCRY8dV/s200/800PX-~1.JPG" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Caboclo de lança</b> </i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN">The <i>maracatu rural</i> more closely resembles the sort of music performed elsewhere in Brazil. It combines elements of the <i>maracatu de nação</i> with brass instruments (especially trombones) and musical styles from elsewhere in Brazil. The name means “maracutu of the countryside” because <i>maracatu rural</i> grew out of the countryside among sugar plantation workers. <i> Maracatu rural</i> traditionally includes dancers in special costumes such as the <i>caboclo de lança </i>warrior.</span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN"><br /></span><b>Carnaval de Olinda </b><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">The Carnaval de Olinda, the largest in Pernambuco, is cited by many in Brazil (especially those in Brazil's North and Interior) as the "real" Carnaval. While this can be easily debated, what is less subject to controversy is that the Olinda Carnaval is Brazil's most colorful. It is also the only major Carnaval event in Brazil in which most of the major events take place during the daylight hours rather than in the evening.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/jB1ZUAl_aAzOR9xsE3D0LO8MfijJORK1Rrae27j782XgpqYzLy1z_gkx6nHczcHUxoHvkDOPSPf3dDU1P3lf1vfT-0RMrYhk2vGFTE3wJu0yfmXUWxaDEGDgvyQUONZV3AXWYd8vAskh3ieyEgEbvfywCfGP26M8QLaNHkGK4hez49bjR5xSzYUrC-DWcfaAYXoMGr6MFNhLezl1dRGerbRzvLfBy20kflwN3pXRFqMGWpF1S_hPOxprZMmgQ1UN587eBT9wTmQNlJRz_dVYZgM0T7E_hoVMI6DrB6wT_ER_FaGAtTHjM1TsxPsXpLze2Mu7isDy9aYEhZ8u40fE6b6As59w=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPswd6Afrhj7lhlsL2JB5iX_BWw3iP3ewNlONC0aysaRdQuntSQhBC1jtUMN6-MVjMhgpTGoxFhCe6PiDw0v-m1TkaR4mBWG8Plk-sITUfisIsbA7h5Ghpyo6d8KGPvsq-_Y2NxeKxG2KJ/s320/Brazil-conference-call-900x676.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN">Annually, the Olinda Carnaval host 500 group with over 200 events. </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">The most famous Olinda Carnaval event is the "Meeting of the Giant Puppets." These are massive puppets standing about 3.5 meters (12 feet) tall. The giant puppets depict political figures, sports heroes and folk characters.</span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">The Carnaval de Olinda averages 2.7 million visitors a year with annual revenues of around US $150 million, making it the most important economic event in the region.</span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN"><b>Recife Carnaval</b></span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">T<span style="font-family: inherit;">he Recife Carnaval holds the world record for the most people in a parade. The <i>Guinness Book of World Records </i>verified that in 2013, Recife's </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Galo da Madrugada</i> parade reached 2.5 million participants (</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.estadao.com.br/<wbr></wbr>noticias/geral,galo-da-<wbr></wbr>madrugada-publico-estimado-de-<wbr></wbr>2-5-milhoes,995344</a><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">). The figure of 2.5 million participants actually marching in the parade is all the more staggering, considering that this was a million more people than the population of the entire city proper at the time (1.5 million).</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: small; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Cu8JHbJoaG9zto3khHzbkVfTLVTVQsxgBQtB5NlZce1HbEmt8RtlmpCLVzjK6Q4r6b-Pg9xn_f4uBajllKHxRsswzZR3JY0Rs8GqQKKQ_AE0YqapkJJtzefauhBtcQn-04UsoQmBESdcFGTIP6Ra_EEDbuqJ3D0ui5ZkELaaLjm4FwdZapGXqb8ebb0O8orGk4v552fUChMbHaMgmk6lWL6V8YMXPtTjuVPxeTMAherFMC21QMbn7Rg9hmevOigHBBKgAw2TU4zZHujs5Ou-u1mRMi9bl7vc-fJO6xG5s0TBEJ83aSF3i7oWk1-4MXDj0SgzgHsbXA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFfkkUZIjCQNgYPXyNDgL0s0_Uo17wxHGGh_L7r-6f8Pa4Zn7p_gHoMq_U6FtrztosagmCVVIuatiZ1cZhFo8CqOc0ASk3dSLE-1a8b8nci4IdmmXQ9qxbryXi0LOTDT4PfUjclod3w2K/s400/240594-970x600-1.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;">Recife’s 2013 <i>Galo da </i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;"><i>Madrugada</i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;"> parade</span></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;">set the world record for most people in a parade </span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">While the 2013 record was remarkable, the annual influx of non-resident visitors at the Recife Carnaval is not. Indeed, even in the midst of the Zika outbreak, official estimates placed the number of non-resident visitors for the Recife Carnaval in 2016 at just under 1 million people.</span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">As could be expected from the numbers attending, the centerpiece of the </span><span lang="EN">Recife Carnaval is its parade of the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Galo da Madrugada</i> (in English, "Rooster of the Early Hours"). That said, while the Recife Carnaval dates back for centuries, the first </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Galo da Madrugada</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> took place </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">only</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in 1978, a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene for such a major crowd generator. The parade is the culmination of an all-night party which concludes in the "early hours" of the next morning with the parade that follows a four-kilometer path through the center of the city.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/bRyj9pZWkjE_VkzP0-M_1wwUSzuA7jonUO8jezvO958dtoXAtHoVD4TJhkPA6zL4Un-T25B0BT8oBhg7GD5vEYL9IY7ah8O8jscCTVbaZaVCY6p8sXvg3cyX9v4djfp_TotnsVG5D3SnJorJYIjlLT8axReNkzzQPFoanuisQcV7NS6Md-MOW8OL8tnTcVH2vmiFCan02ZK7rG5VfYSLIe_zHEzrkSrRNF7fj3iPCcLUNx9bqAM1wHLxe1q0Y_z8cW9wMLkqPBC7ClOx83MdYSoJBK-dQFlkvOx3QV4UgO4m1rpioiHNlHP2YVbX1LB-Sq2foa0KAPqbw7zJiu15GKWIPXuH=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknxpAPUWdyqQ8qB5Z9V-4aWeMk92DBNbj9O6j_XBtkHTdcnQ3hxvztFp09dlIc_MlT1iVDcAeixtDnvGiDfxrCrmcKUs4eSHYDFPHGGaqn73NA1k8y1pkRl9e0eeJtQ1KkPWmQSPWrzRD/s320/Tambores-Silenciosos-de-Olinda.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Recife's </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">Silenciosos</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although like other Pernambuco Carnavals, the Recife Carnaval does not host samba contest, Recife averages 3000 separate shows with 430 groups. Most unique to the Recife Carnaval is its strong emphasis on the Afro-Brazilian tradition. Chief among the events celebrating the Afro-Brazilian tradition is </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Silenciosos</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(<wbr></wbr>Night of the Silent Drums) honoring the 1000’s of slaves who died in prisons before abolition. As midnight approaches, the drumming reaches a frenzy and then -- at the stroke of midnight -- stops abruptly and everyone in complete silence raises their hands at the same time to honor the martyrs of these sad chapter in Brazilian history.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/a5tcqilsRJDTilLY4Og_YkuVytzhlkG21zYbJY2ytdjIRs8XRH6E4RPDxpIwWp-E9MQsDxiFaTdQ1TlF_8Jc8xQ7bXj55GirCxokWxYKgR-UbMKvRUQW3-ZDvCNNn7iCSPnIoGpuTq9-utnSoA7xSWFOKDLQfyhEIIXsni_b9drQgaPzNiFMbO73ohSFvwho2e_jKtLZ21SL7aU83TMiYMzwSnYFEuKUu4avJapZrSOR7LVbyEX9akuPnQto5CkVu3G6YOu5sCDnpAzDw2dAwgiS9NOHXf4ssaNCq96pGT5uWKx0VRWq0IAbNjJTLkUY1OtYHMw4yA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGDHidIs-yuOgXDndVTq2B2ahgcShuaR_eM-7ewJKOYjEU8wAaUreJgBIQMmUdu5hlkqNmPeeTzUT-Of1ymLL0bUm3SfmULVNaVyx1mHzR5vcqBrD-RruCbsIOWVIzHcRuAFUL0thGEVL/s320/corso-teresina-2.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Teresina's Carnaval holds the world record<br />for floats in a parade</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Carnaval de Teresina</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">T</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">he Teresina Carnaval in the state of Piauí is a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene, beginning only in 1940. The Carnaval de Teresina, though, like the Recife Carnaval, a record-holder in </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><i>Guinness Book of World Records, </i>in this case for the most number of floats in a parade. The Teresina Carnaval first set the record in February of 2012, a record it has maintained ever since (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276420000&usg=AOvVaw1-TMNQREmW60B3O_lvZisQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>guinnessworldrecords.com/<wbr></wbr>world-records/largest-parade-<wbr></wbr>of-floats/</a>). Guinness verified a total off 343 floats paraded in the<i> </i><i style="color: #333333;">Corso do Zé Pereira. </i><span style="color: #333333;">The parade runs for 6-½ hours along a 7.3 kilometer (just over 4.5 mile) route.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Other Major Brazilian Carnavals</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Virtually every city in Brazil holds some sort of Carnaval. Space does not permit listing all of these, but some of the other more notable ones include:</span><br /><br /><div style="line-height: 14.4px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><ul><li><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Carnaval Ouro </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Preto</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> in Minas </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Gerais</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> one of oldest, with today’s giving great attention on college students</span></li><li><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Carnaval de </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Vitória/Carnaval Capixaba</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> in </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Espírito</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Santo (one week before Rio), sadly the subject of attacks by gunmen shooting into the crowd this year in 2017</span></li><li>Carnaval de Manaus in Amazonas, arguably as famous for its free entrance and reduced-price beer stalls as for its floats and samba</li><li>Carnaval <span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">de Uberlândia/ Uberfolia in </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (which began as a Carnaval specifically for Afro-Brazilian samba dancers who were discriminated against in the early years of the Rio Carnaval</span></li><li>Carnaval de Brasilia, the capital is not a major Carnaval center but has been trying to grow its appeal in recent years</li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carnaval de </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Magia</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">/Carnaval de </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Florianópolis</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in Santa Catarina features many beach celebrations, and most famously the LGBT-centered Praia Mole Carnaval</span></li></ul></div><div style="line-height: 14.4px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.4px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Brazilian Carnaval, see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.rio-carnival.net/<wbr></wbr>rio_carnival/carnival_in_rio.<wbr></wbr>php</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="color: purple;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://gobrazil.about.com/od/<wbr></wbr>festivalsevents/a/<wbr></wbr>olindacarnival.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.bahia-online.net/<wbr></wbr>Carnival.htm</a><br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.carnaval.com/<wbr></wbr>cityguides/brazil/recife/<wbr></wbr>carnaval.htm</a><br /><br />Attendance figures for 2017 <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://riotimesonline.com/<wbr></wbr>brazil-news/rio-business/<wbr></wbr>brazil-registers-surge-in-<wbr></wbr>2017-carnival-attendance/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">United States</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Mardi Gras</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/g14WQF_dX0_MuFQ3Zeq6oQvIsOMX0uOcxGF3XQ299wWGfHysZhi6Lyf2p7RRBK4q4wjo8ekUrOwjE52j_40TEumlTIgQm0Af_EoXc-JE96LkBIr4tnL17sBlveaDNxoa-x1BF7TwHJuLEXNcqYXVFsfEg7NDwC7ErzO138y3T21Pi5ufRo-PxFCQMjlccdWj3g5MSg5JDyHOi2zdZlZcQilL41H6jv4fi-2aTPO8_WK1-8KrzLgQepd4N2Tw21ABBhxarbfITlQ3ZazrU8yyXSM613uSjjWksYxx-fo4r3l_H_Jf_bkWxUoChOq52C0fVQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcbyVdIIpk3RM6Tn6SWlEoYK6ZUMHtzhJXFy9Uls-Efy1tN4MlsmhO8wO4bt16iFALJQVg7iGenpBuBp_OE9-arz4Fk1BWgvNeFh8TNu5InNPHaduyDJdLeV-471sEO0zrHiqPjddAlew/s200/Mardi+Gras.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Mardi Gras in New Orleans</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The best known pre-Lenten celebration in the United States is the New Orleans' Mardi Gras. In French, Mardi Gras means "Fat <span style="color: darkblue;">Tuesday</span>" and evolved from the French tradition of indulging on the last day before Lent, particularly eating fatty things which traditionally would be given up for Lent. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For all its fame within the United States, the New Orleans Mardi Gras is a fairly small affair by Brazilian standards. In 2023, Mardi Gras saw 875,000 attendees (41% from outside New Orleans) the largest in its history with direct revenues of over $890,000 and a total economic impact of $19.6 million. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>New Orleans Mardi Gras</b><br /><br />In New Orleans, Mardi Gras activities run roughly for two weeks, culminating on Mardi Gras day. There are several local parades and a major central parade in which Carnival <i>krewes</i> parade on elaborate floats while wearing elaborate costumes. During the parade, participants throw special coins and necklaces of plastic beads to the spectators. Several special parades elect various monarchs. The most important of these are the Zulu King elected by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the King of Carnival elected by the Rex Krewe. Several older Krewe kings were disbanded when they refused to comply with anti-segregation laws that the United States began to enforce in 1991. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since at least 1699, with official New Orleans celebrations dating to 1703.<br /><br />Mardi Gras is not limited to New Orleans, however, with other notable US Mardi Gras celebrations in other Louisiana cities. Lafayette's Mardi Gras in the center of Louisiana's Cajun cultural region is the state's second largest, attracting 250,000 people annually. Other notable Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations take place in Baton Rouge, Houma, Shreveport, New Roads, Kaplan, Monroe, Thibodaux, Lake Charles, and Alexandria.<br /><br />Several other cities in the United States hold well-attended Mardi Gras events outside of Louisiana as well. The oldest Mardi Gras after New Orleans in the United States is actually that held in Pensacola, Florida, which dates to 1874. The largest of these is in Mobile, Alabama. Vicksburg, Mississippi holds a major Mardi Gras Ball along with its annual parade. Eureka Springs in the Ozark region of Arkansas began holding Mardi Gras events after the destruction in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and has continued the tradition ever since under the "Krewe of Krazo" (which is Ozark backwards). In recent years, two theme parks in Florida have begun hosting major Mardi Gras events: Universal Orlando Theme Park's "International Flavors Carnaval" and Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida <br /> Other notable cities with Mardi Gras events include Biloxi, Mississippi; Orange Beach, Alabama; Portland, Oregon; La Crosse, Wisconsin; the Soulard Mardi Gras in Saint Louis, Missouri; the Gaslamp Mardi Gras in San Diego, California; and Port Arthur, Galveston and Austin, all in Texas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />For more about Mardi Gras, please see<br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://mardigrasday.com/</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.mardigras.com/</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.timeout.com/usa/things-to-do/best-places-to-celebrate-mardi-gras&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw1vq866GkDBfY2wPTYb5mbL" href="https://www.timeout.com/usa/things-to-do/best-places-to-celebrate-mardi-gras" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.timeout.com/usa/<wbr></wbr>things-to-do/best-places-to-<wbr></wbr>celebrate-mardi-gras </a> <br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Caribbean: Trinidad Mas</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Carnival celebrations are also held in many Caribbean islands. The most famous of these is the one held at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, with its associated steel drum competition. Carnival is celebrated as well elsewhere in the Caribbean including Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Haiti, Belize, Cuba, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Carnival celebrations are also held in some cities in Colombia and Honduras. The Caribbean communities of Notting Hill in London as well as those in Brooklyn, New York and Toronto, Ontario also celebrate an annual Caribbean Carnival.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">While Carnival is celebrated to varying degrees throughout much of the Caribbean, the biggest of these celebrations is the Trinidad Carnival in Port-of-Spain. Trinidad Carnival begins in January and lasts until Ash Wednesday; in other words, the festivities can last for months. The entire festival climaxes with the week before Ash Wednesday with Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday), J’Ouvert (also called Carnival Monday, with the name from the French Creole <i>jour ouvert</i> or break of dawn) and on Tuesday with Mas (short for “masquerade”).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/JHB4xWWWH50Ho6gdRmNq-FxNy0Ep9lMEekJ4CvO3IKZMSiW_ngTZni_ntrcD7bVEz9sTZoW_OQm9FM9dqhpS8djIK6zV9NI73GVu9XuKHzjHku6b14F94V4vSc-eBaMxEIvKvNDV7BssIe1co67ymsLxl_Elyh_-FxBagMacllxaOylV5F0P9RTSPNMDSVtPrpJ8eC6hhytemp_RRgo44_CVY6iKUCT8P9scZLgCqFb1NzDYxZ-sHIb3r6g4jgzQeKDicoWUkLhcbJ6FEjl-44CRbwczP4jgVVdprz7_LKItThZYsz8T6j8QICyzKgaMVA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznULeHRQ-Bo-8220HKjMF_qYj2hUWaKSTihb8iq4zoctEYfNj1ApM-vQPIVMzuQhQrneUDIF09zd0l-XRsU_DESHTGpLXxvZ7HYk3u13esuCeipwlEFQXIBNt0ABNkL32VgTVeIbOh0U0/s200/steel+band.bmp" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Steel pan player</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Trinidad Carnival has its own unique traditions. These include the famous steel pan competitions held in the weeks leading up to Dimanche Gras. Other music competitions include those in soca, calypso and rapso (the combination of rapping with calypso). Additionally, there are stickfighting and limbo competitions.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/iqUiQLoc-0SlaFNfW_tAOFib1T__oOFi8J7fOfGV83ZpIQhCqlckiFuMqOoCEUvxZ_Ko6uW5LS2DSWjavTPauD5MmPTybem52duX4i4fmClVOxv0B_8Zc-PA1s7xEAozT3inDzUkedsZhaZJyCNYSKt2tKzndKz0FZrUiIs7TSbOdB1Sa5-svngII8LXQK-U5ESnonywQy2jZ2GIPyk8Bq3XALt3GRS37G74rQc9mCqAUlgnp8PZuaKpnm1YIsieU_JxNC80pAGJMvk3iE2h5-p0woNU7V0c_PKADL06UOV-PwcARSI88zNrUlCR4bG1wsjU6ERwhlOmIw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIoGQlmZP0TD94beBALdCSAe6dhsYlD9lp8MywVG_AWDMIOdRvkUlwVpwCHaek16KbbIqhYrrJc-Yk0SHaJRe3Gs-F9StEtLtvSr2l0dt_UtGNYvN98eTLu_YCXbDva7UqECLOUUfQW-V/s200/feteing+in+Trinidad.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Man Feteing at Trinidad Mas</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Throughout Trinidad Carnival spectators and performers alike are encourage to <i>fête</i>, that is to burst into a free-form revelry of dancing, singing or whatever else may be inspired.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The Trinidad Carnival hosts numerous competitions for parades, costumes and music. On Dimanche Gras, the Calypso King and Queen are chosen in a costume competition. They are then the central figure in their own special float in the following parades. J’Ouvert features people dressing in politically-barbed satiric costumes <br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/pr-yD5BvoDiGfKdCNaXvnGPadRpzaCgZdUEwd0jUPAIOyQRK5JUbwEBMZLrFHxtJvq7hcgCQdWT3XY8EABd72iS4qw-N61opgxGPG60nSqxXaO6-O6nL3p2lLDds5SELWwkRJCsI_TtMEAM7TKQ_FQEpMe2IoM5L4Bv_wbLqu2mj6PSsWauWT-fdp25DoPyZOhpHKWOeZ8hvquhKDpv1wxawKZm0CbV7lww2pfk2sTb_MDKIxH8wxemY0P0aOTzHqvBxu5VzTejARkCHWfPb72gfqIGQQPaRTMaZFTR5jJu1obddTjpVAl8Uh0U86sM=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qFOCAzBhKX_Pe-SqYEGCvf0MP3B9IyD00rFNsNqd3sCpcFnVHDjIHGzvcbXMSm_c5-VcBkFQfOqBk93ENIo_d1M3cFqG0MBIPp29ilatRGqTM2JsVAbeudaYMw4r_xS0HiMBF433k6o/s200/jab+jabs.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Jab Jabs</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">A J’Ouvert King and Queen are likewise chosen for the most politically astute commentary. J’Ouvert is also the day in which one sees running through the streets the famous “Jab-Jabs” (people dressed as red, blue and black devils with pitchforks).</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qbT0Yn0W_onkn6KNllbHBsml6HlM3WcjED7HKXVOhMb9IY8HcwVRZlLk7X0tPfMUT_P1j6VHIgRpbyi-Dg21uAUIyYlxtWCl730xOLSynJeuB7fyXykP7HoRHkD_TMUPSIGufnoMLBia4yIKuZhYB-jOpDzUmKCzdTBFtj8gdzbrh54GwD8kdu9mJoywN64McChFsgZ4gCSvMa2LeqE8nWTSFsAuEHefnMQF5dvawmuDPB4yPbi-_pDl0BvUYvlGPPvRenvs0BY7jxd40uKJMWg4lDRz0FCBAvV3BNseR6xWex78MwB8KYBDGBlFkZrGGNLuGVw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFHw30VXXsJagLe_2hZaMGvMGAdzMU_ok7CudCwZLrQrwz0SkmgLec6Xov3GfM1FaOsGdajCO5TM3pddXB8azlOKRnEE8NL5ifsE5zuWk2hKwYAzUoOxQa3A6kczAsMeWyjXfMopkYAA/s200/tccmokojumbies.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Moko Jumbies</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Mas itself is marked by the most elaborate of costumes, usually enhanced with body paint and intricate wire extensions as well as “Mas boots” which are worn both as decoration and to ensure comfort during the long marches of the parades. Among the most distinctive traditional characters depicted for Mas are the Moko Jumbies, stilt walkers representing protecting spirits (Moko was an African god whose worship was brought over by slaves and "jumbie" is Caribbean patois for ghost). Other traditional characters are the Midnight Robber (who speaks in "Robber Talk" of exaggeratedly boastful claims), the Bookman (a devil with a book wearing special gown with a massive headmask with horns and a frightening stare) and various clowns and animals. Large cash prizes are awarded to winners on the central performance stage for best costume and music.<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For more on the Trinidad celebrations, please see</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.tntisland.com/<wbr></wbr>carnivalcharacters.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">India</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Goa Carn<span style="font-size: large;">i</span>val</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qB21iwtx605rW967WfH-H5d8Dq-0_PAbMchHegTau6enFlzBmP1dAPF5LHrHkRWxHQAOfyl0TiV_6x7sVONFd8uuTgOg4v7xkrkU2rYG2nIiEODojZVYqWno5JabbtnCQPVTFNSQeYXDCPjjSOKyRtt31vsTnOLl61pQuG0lcHs48ZjyKq3LcdK-wQ4QzZ5hozB_j7HfGh0tW3dxPatSKAfzD5HL-kTlxCM9Q8Tmu2ZoR_ebwgU8mEm64QrnbHfddySYwWx8B059lYZfXOLX4CxLsP8w7bSkPk-CuKfZDNKYwXPiX993mlxIlBMVmA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl83j50cXs7NmL5nK5bUQaek5KHvXGfBl0Ejta3DdcLoQWVdorPDwGWzcYpSGnxQy-200C40nXsMjhNg4B5dHEVpCCztDHH7t7bvLGN7o-9_kYkvTZYjemelgfSUUlYgJ3sMCyOtzLQX0/s200/goa-map.gif" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Indian state of Goa also has annual celebrations for Carnival (also spelled interchangeably as Carnaval) throughout the state. Goa was a Portuguese colony through 1961 and when the local cities and towns are taken over by the rule of the legendary King Momo. The largest of these is held in Panaji with a celebration that runs for three days and three nights.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Tp7RcFLmd744PF9eyyXjHz1wn5ZUU4V-i1pPq7OGNqieOEP5Uc7FDcP0w8f1jaWTfh5FIgwK9tmQGVel3P8NhmW8vC1W7_87QdHfTYNzYZONZnoWQA7QGd5lFj21-HJvR0ZIQdD_i34cojjddsH9xgiQHlUn1KkuzZBC_9DntVEuTXBTmCTBC2S3P6C4yDSLEqkwAmIgD82DfEg-UdDUHh8MJzLyqoNq0R6PrlxM-hgOOalqafOzmp9DcIK5kKxYOe1MAsJiMfACRv26pVLLYdWI2iufnGc7sacsj3XthKPzHIAg5E3DtMov4OJA_4rx=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6-cGENcrDj2RT5yIOTf2g-IUtbXAYCucHJir0PCgaR4SW_SrbPE51Zir3KowUUej5z0D-d0NkW5iKeQqEAngRTcUyqQZd0F3Bzhy6OVfxZv-ghB_2SoasMu3CT8RrJaI3qODPmue6eq/s400/carnival2.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Goa Carnival</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The Goa Carnaval in 2013 begins on February 9 and runs through February 12. The Goa Carnaval has taken place annually for roughly 500 years, making it arguably the oldest annual Pre-Lenten celebration outside of Europe. For most of its 500-year-old history, the Goa Carnival was celebrated primarily by Goa's large Catholic population (who make up just under 30% of state's population). In recent years, however, the Goa Carnaval has become a major draw for tourists from all over India as well as an increasing number of tourist from abroad.<br /><br />The Goa Carnaval was cancelled in 2012. Sadly, in that year the Great Carnival Parade to the city of Panaji (formerly Panjim) which was scheduled this year for Saturday February 18 was cancelled following a terrible accident earlier in the day in which a school bus fell into the Kalvi River killing eight people, including five children. To read more on this accident please see:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276421000&usg=AOvVaw0lrmCvHPHnO_UxP2del1sO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.rediff.com/news/<wbr></wbr>report/carnival-parade-in-<wbr></wbr>panaji-called-off-after-road-<wbr></wbr>mishap/20120218.htm</span></a><br /><br />Other Carnival celebrations in 2012 did Goa did go on in the cities of Margoa, Ponda, Vasco and Mapusa.<br /><br />After a shut-down for the pandemic, the Goa Carnivals are back in full swing. The 2023 Goa Carnivals collectively attracted over 350,000 people from over 50 countries.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br />The Goa Carnival parade at Goa's capital city of Panaji is by far the largest event. The parade usually runs for three or more hours Parades and feasts are also held in most other Goan cities. All of the events feature a mix of traditional feasts (usually centered on seafood), dancing and music. Panaji and several other locations hold firework displays as well. The music and dance of the Goan Carnival is unique to the state, blending influences of pre-Portuguese and post-Portuguese influences that over the centuries have blended tabla, ghumot and mridanga drums along with oboe-like shehnai mixed with Portuguese-style mandolins and violins. Dancing too is a blend of subcontinental and European styles. Sambas are particularly part of the celebratory dances.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Angolan Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">As a former Portuguese colony, Angola in southwest Africa has a well-established Carnaval tradition, with the Luanda Carnaval in the capital city dating back to 1857.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/y2LPJu5P8PkugN-64nDMmf_vui81nnieZfwMvPPy9WvAJIU2YsljeTS1NH8b-rMepw4FJYKn3FWzC30Y5wYgvUPpacot4sTlxuYiDisiS-xPZAgxOaRzA5oeps0Opc6KtfpFbYXvZw164uHwFLIZ2XrzHVOCPC-ZQqpgr4f35sfxqQNwTudNBjBfer-2Wo7FK9TAzlxkN_t6E0jglgJw-uCzBGSNB0JlAivZofROwy3lgl4ySBz5SHmd9Dr9abd7bxMSlYfblesE7Ah-Ymy0qWpQcJPvU2XeHo6k9ihCjc_vbTZ7ON8ra-gzyS5s5f5RGuNuI_EB=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTioEmzWpMrWy7JcKuFfg4Cxsx9ZoDBUrbWK3hOi5k8mzbQBW0o9DX_bCaFVFOl7f5bBBmqD36eJc58Ox4rHhjInJHoXOtSoTk7jlgd15Kn2KdChYwGPx4i8y8-MTVE7CMvrdwxeGnELa/s320/luanda-carnival.png" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Luanda Carnaval</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Angola, in fact, has added much to the Portuguese traditions. This is because samba dancing, the mainstay of Brazil's Carnaval competitions, is actually taken from Angolan roots. The word <i>samba</i> with an "a" in Portuguese comes from the word <i>semba</i> with an "e" in the Angolan language of Kimbundu. <i>Semba i</i>n Kimbundu means "to invoke the spirits of the ancestors" which was done through music and dance. The word <i>semba </i>itself comes from the verb <i>masemba</i> which means to touch bellies. Slaves taken from Angola to Brazil beginning in the early 1600's took their religious tradition with them. The semba/samba tradition evolved from there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Cape Verde Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/HuX-BbIdsC2nqBxx2Iuh6QAWgKfSyooEd_g3PDqhgqRZmygzW6B2elRIuq0aJow4frxuG124egNyXQmLeKiGrZq2V0avZCJnFpK3lPxifFNJqwF0zUAnwObtqPucbBbDnsKQSXhPTx_bHglfCOi-W7AtG52Dc9JYg-oRjss5WzDEvIPQzDaKFSbwleExVF5fKy-55LolW-soF_72YfLTczBLhMukGDjz1PZ2VlBocIRkaJvdiJiAO8M4vb4IRUOargJ7gVqh9bhBNsY6am2xeU9WB6IA7hOxSZYnklT_mdqzHh3DEtWzCqXeN-2kChko0K196m5ujwS5IUQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8fNNZSXh2w1ConWBQSBg5JAxloUhJzfGU_ahXN4iFTTl7oSno6svSVT4h9BXAqPa6sT9LHOCoSnHbESCoqj2DVAs0YOq5Y3zSOB7qRaOAU5ggj_NHifmiocTtih4znSquwarjcssWffc/s200/carnaval-sao-vicente.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Another former Portuguese colony with a Carnaval tradition is the West African island nation of Cape Verde (<i>Cabo Verde </i>in Portuguese). Three of the country's 10 islands hold an annual Carnaval. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The most dazzling of the Cape Verde Carnavals is in Mindelo on São Vicente but a strong <span style="text-align: center;">competition exists with its main competitor in Rebeira Brava on São Nicolau. The saying goes that "São Vicente has the show while São Nicolau has the heart." That said, most attendees agree that the Carnaval de Praia in the capital is the smallest of the three. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Poland:</b><br /><b>Polish American <span lang="EN">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day and Polish <i>Tłusty Czwartek</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/eTptNBu1ng5dlbJWs9TgHO9og0qN8wAibAcEt8ZAUub-YrBuuSk4FJ1-i4TfqS3gM_Asq4run1dsJ57cJphIPVequ1QzcdR5TcSLTKGpF87Uj1La06EoSWlaGEH6lQugefpFTQV9YjOfr7Ek4hzvmAG-52Lqwb5EIf4ydQATDB4V4hy03U_IptXKMWmfT6E0078iM2IcOaCJY_ZMfsqGOSeaSKKMonX7YhPkPrOZYh4TABTLu_IpBkSiPx59NHkDaxKHXJNvoMDZszn-Jmt7kVQbN2mHDNgadgZ-9QZTwxe3lML43D0pzp2x3WsbIshtHHIK=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TysWZGFZSVoiUfgre-nUFBqUjR4ZTP-dKAIqcfDVZDj3cfRW2Z-odHaevHXzktz0znVXhYSdDyRvkX6NgBkmP_25uPwTxIgRWxoGbWa-rLySivRVa0CAxYpJuWUO0nzZtC9gx73rO3JR/s200/p%C4%85czki..jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN"><i>Pączki</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">I</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">n Southeast Michigan, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Chicago and other areas with large Polish-American populations, Polish Americans celebrate “<span lang="EN">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day” after the Polish tradition of eating filled doughnuts called <i><span lang="EN">pączki</span></i>. Pronounced “poonch-kee,” <i>pączki </i>are traditionally filled with prune, plum or rosehip jelly, though more modern interpretations include strawberry, apricot, raspberry, lemon and other jellies. A recipe for traditional <i>pączki </i>can be found at:<br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/<wbr></wbr>0,1918,151170-232196,00.html</a><br /><br /> Incidentally, <i><span lang="EN">pączki</span></i><span lang="EN"> is the plural of the word, a single pastry is called a</span><span lang="EN"> </span><i><span lang="EN">pączek</span></i> <br /><br /><span lang="EN">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day is a major event for many local Polish-American communities. In Evanston, Illinois, an annual <i><span lang="EN">pączki</span></i>-eating contest takes place to see who can eat the most of the pastries (with the contest held on the weekend closest to the appropriate Tuesday). Arguably the strongest tradition of celebrating Paczki Day is in the heavily Polish-American city of Hamtramck (a city with so strong a Polish tradition that the late Pope John Paul II even visited the city). For more on the Hamtramck <span lang="EN">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day, please see<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://localism.com/mi/<wbr></wbr>hamtramck</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">While <span lang="EN">Pączki</span> Day is celebrated in southeast Michigan, Chicago and Buffalo on the same Tuesday as Mardi Gras, the Polish equivalent in Poland itself is called <i>Tłusty Czwartek</i> actually means Fat Thursday. This is because in Poland itself, the celebration starts on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday (February 7 for 2013) to leave enough of time to celebrate the Polish <span lang="PL">Karnawał</span> (Carnival). Shrove Tuesday itself <span lang="EN">is marked not by eating <i>pączki</i> but rather herring and is sometimes called “Herring Day” or <i>Śledzik</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Lithuania: Užgavėnės</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fKpvqHMwJG-niE3lQG7bBOA6FH882fFuFNrM6FVNEOwp0ZGHWukj_okYVUxEmyH0vUQ0S4gRGhlFdDRfvEguxF3jScSWX5ygVi_RJjmInQt99ND-Xqr6f-0VwhWwMcKjPAvkuB0zEW7i5EdHp8kPZVVv0nTsvmFuSaZM8twqkm37X48Vs4gLVnscq3Wb81U-QgWl4Z05TfnwKFFaV9cBP97crPs3DE_eNJ4kr4p4knF-NP2COAxJHqxKxaNevctuCOV-Uu_bBBF63ILK-IlKoeuq8P8im22rXI44yINYkj8YlzcIGinZV1Dzt9JwEAITV_SVOuw_=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vrrv-rLser0ATbhILfIE6z_WOjqWmjbg-VHk4lU3sZSXdKDe4wlvGLnSEYpNum5XKAIfwMJuulaUXLHCB-XB7vAbqZv9cru46CTHGsSOZY4GSbTHh4pjLHF3UEmliFhRabdLonQofe2x/s1600/uzgavenes-more.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: left;">Lašininis </i><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: left;">burnt in effigy</span> </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">The Lithuanian Pre-Lenten festival is know as </span><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Užgavėnės. The festival centers around a play battle enacted out by </span><i style="line-height: 19.2px;">Lašininis</i><span style="line-height: 19.2px;"> (meaning "Fatso") who symbolizes winter and </span><i style="line-height: 19.2px;">Kanapinis</i><span style="line-height: 19.2px;"> (or the Hemp Man) who stands for Spring. </span><i style="line-height: 19.2px;">Kanapinis</i><span style="line-height: 19.2px;"> is always victorious and the battle concludes with </span><i style="line-height: 19.2px;">Lašininis</i><span style="line-height: 19.2px;"> being burnt in effigy. Throughout the battle, people go through the crowds dressed as witches, ghosts and other characters.</span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/hL-x4WyhsR8_tufqg6QZ1RjQvzFJ_BrslrLBGV-wk4AnVhJoaOQdtgTX9gPGVh5pa730GOZXCiHDeUmgp8gW1HbEGvEC-VxmHE2Vuu0SXDsBnJQX4rOMD1nP98H4JCfo2lsQdSC0w3fi5y6b-jjvOBXvnOXUek8V5531CHvns2QyfkEi-YXBYcIiLsT7z99vAk5TShufw-izJzLIMs5UKjgUErEVT_9Mgub6gVGdndyafZg2fuf_VU7Y2n7NTr8YC9jzPy9zduJURG6n8PsCrjBJTZ6MWqCYNLaf6vbZaPI4ZEFym8ria_5tEYdlK63AHw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ZZATM3ofnyrABvtIidPv0QPXSwI6eedUVtjZ6oUhHcu8mV9aBCLBfLZI9vrkKaSABXUY9rS5IisS7q1TJ67hI9QqoXM2KOdUwk2xJ61kCow7NijUTnoGliUYTjbas3FCxtB-DJiIHVi/s1600/_DSC2396+.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><i style="text-align: left;"><b>Varškės spurgos</b></i> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">The traditional treat for the holiday is a pancake alternately called </span><i>sklindziai </i>or <i>blynai. </i>A<wbr></wbr>lso popular are the fried cakes known as <i>spurgos. Spurgos </i>differ from their Polish <span lang="EN"><i>pączki </i>counterpart in that they may be filled not only with fruit (as in Poland) or made with no fruit but a cottage cheese dough for a dough only version known <i>v</i></span><i>arškės spurgos.</i> A recipe for <span lang="EN"><i>v</i></span><i>arškės spurgos </i>can be found at Celtnet Recipes at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.celtnet.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-<wbr></wbr>recipe.php?rid=misc-varskes-<wbr></wbr>spurgos</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">For more on </span><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Užgavėnės, please see <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://lithuanianmha.org/<wbr></wbr>holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/</a>.</span><br /></span><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Italy: </b><b>Carnevale and the Battle of the Oranges</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/4q068yG6qx4tgIH49Wn5OnQFKYPQdi6bVUIRzCVn7Gb-p2K2rWYD-nBLti4SXpRDEqEZ5O3v2XU74ed11KRr5MaEPXgl98hhI9tfdD3kFTbyIcNOp7qTynpiEq6dax4hlSVFFPrSd7i6VmDfJKOo3vFn4NCG_dXpA0kbQysN4L63RkdzkXlcEXAGGp5XWoHCLo-ubExZaIEmQXQCKxYQP6NP4dWR7WwNKIHKs0jtB_WuNMKF3pM2vwqALrmvIDiRDCoZohchTI80T_ALZ2h1Zb-kuE2OBOcva6269HBYFMLb9OUlHcoVXHZ0xj-tOA7w5_vUB39EZRbuTchh1mv9Efer30cOfIRBRIGV6NoEmefw2IE=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUfkEaHq6g-dkyTkpmbIRxrCdJ6VAXuRc1L1QkA4WGgOl43LExQGTH76zVEZeGqVPGSIiAWmRfA1WCwbmzWeM-D8xHMS4Wp9WEuUv0_dY2nfZB0L79pRyue-6T4Dmobh52pgLNHx35jjB/s320/800px-Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Masks are the hallmark of the Carnevale of Venice</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I<span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">n Italy, the Carnevale of Venice technically begins on the Saturday before and ends on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In reality, the Carnevale of Venice runs for weeks. It is a major celebration with masked parties, and is probably the oldest annual celebration of the season, having started in 1268. Roughly 3 million visitors descend on Venice each year for the celebration. Central to the Venice Carnevale are its elaborate masks and ach year, a competition takes place for the best mask.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">You can read more about Carnivale on the official website at<br /><br /> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnivalofvenice.<wbr></wbr>com/area.asp?id=4</span></a> <br /><br />Another famous Italian Carnival-related tradition takes place annually in the city of Ivrea with its “Battle of the Oranges.” Since the Middle Ages, the people of Ivrea have participated in a three-day pre-Lenten battle among its citizens. For centuries, the combatants used beans, which changed in time to fruit and has been since the 19th century exclusively oranges. You can read </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">more about the Battle of the Oranges at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnevalediivrea.<wbr></wbr>it/english/battaglia.asp</span></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: small; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276422000&usg=AOvVaw0ccjaqSiKrMmsJFTFr-bpk" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/U02eH9x9dvF6epJwHCfbviZQdPn9c-t-JJhviA0zuIzb1YdkU3dpwxM7Ga2Y5m5pxwoekXoaRBVMRlw9gbIj2H1_OEmujaSFpkrB9wf0qditHhwbEU1Dk-FHYf7g5QmoJmFFXCgZTsvNLDFhLBy3ubpFotdbkBoY1ekqjeIEFMIB8WgD9rhN3JDFJt30WPDjfHCJOujD3e7NWivNgzwnWFIbVki1vbSPNhLAbwNB5tkVG2EbMdsOa4mLo7Q1I974r_eudaxrk6ZXsHqIZnEFKybYXWV0xWkHQlQOlD6znDf3Vmucirih3JGCPgi32KrX-dbI-TIWIQK5IZEKteztUG-hdvzJpikQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkhv1p4E3gWAHfXk3tCCJL3QRas_SRlEIGvBfcT8crqmf4fMPoAHJaI6WZvcmYO4RL19YEOWN1WEZs4XRmR4i9bE5j24ZzgDHbMBiGexsKghexQNvEP4DqVGmKq1hXh2m3EDTetZZE7O/s320/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Ivrea Battle of the Oranges</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Belgium: Carnival of Binche</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Many cities throughout Belgium have Carnival celebrations. These include those at the Walloon cities of La Calamine, Nivelles and Malmedy, the Flemish cities of Heist and Aalst, and the city of Eupen in the German-speaking region. By far the most famous of these, though, is the Carnival of Binche, which was named a UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage Masterpiece in 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/K1osBjawkuMruqkD7sEeUzNK7Aor7kHx655AN_iWC84tcqAZRdCl_Epmo991NsNrBzd1yZQb_ombjg_hXNu7vAlh8OSFU7NDcwmArWM_RqmNQCP0jC-Vi_iFSYjIuLOjH54aEK3tJ16jIDaH8uQMaUJPOXB6PHsdu9RnBeQuHSOmACThzP0Q-wRVhxXpQoxpOfrZVS-RbJrQ5XkINWPFbLSRyLv__z9JNBAn1yTMnllti2yrtQLrq1YdnhmrDfym9q8Ru7KNeQr6tWgLeTDSLDFEU5rgrfChThFTB6HUx2pvnhYY4cWtCH-wQrDo9DNcm24t0x6FQixPmHiQRGTrhA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajEwHFbv1p9C4bJIHeAGkUfQbMUU8VbpfirHQL0-bOHAFfIDrdi5Idk_YG9eekjJlcoBAVLcTwpHOD-CyfmHH6Mf2LFYRFD94pZ-aMcSnTKSXjgsE-1BAbaDRZobw5aiBSxBQr3uHdSu2/s200/800px-Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Gilles at the Carnival of Binche</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The Carnival of Binche dates to the 1300’s, making it among the oldest continuously held annual celebrations in Europe. Activities begin seven weeks before Carnival week and climax with the arrival of the Gilles on Shrove Tuesday. Roughly 1000 boys and men parade through the streets in the costume of a Gille: linen suits in the Belgian national colors with hunchbacks stuffed with straw, elaborate white lace cuffs and collars, bells hanging from their belts, wooden clogs (called <i>sabots</i>) and wax masks. Some also wear feathered hats. The Gilles carry <i>ramons </i>– special branches for warding off evil spirits. <i>The</i> appearance of the Gilles begins at 4:00 AM and lasts most of the day. In the morning they parade to the town all. In the afternoon, the Gilles remove their masks and parade through the city carrying <i>ramon </i>branch baskets filled with blood oranges that they throw at the spectators. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For more on the Carnival of Binche please see</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://www.squidoo.com/<wbr></wbr>CarnivalOfBinche</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">German Catholic Regions: Fasching and Karneval</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Several pre-Lenten traditions are carried on the the Catholic German-speaking regions. Technically, what the Germans call the "silly season" (<i>die närrische Saison</i>) begins on 11-11 at 11:11 AM, the celebrations being in earnest only after Epiphany (January 6) and intensify in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday.<br /><br /><b><u>What's in A Name: Fasching? Karneval?</u></b><br /><br />The name of the silly season's main event varies from region to region thoughout the German-speaking world.<br /><br />In much of the southern German-speaking regions, the Alemannic German term Fasching or some variation of the word is used to denote the Carnival season. Fasching is actually the word used in Austria, Bavaria and Berlin. In Baden, the Alsace region of France, most of the German cantons of Switzerland as well as the Amish and Mennonite communities in the United States, people call the celebration Fastnacht or Fasnacht. In Franconia as well as in the city of Mainz, people use the word Fosnat or Fasenacht, while in Swabia people call the same holiday Fasnet. In Luxembourg, the holiday is known as Fuesend.<br /><br />In much of the north, the Latin-based word Karneval is used. Karneval is the name of the holiday in Cologne, which is the largest Carnival-related event in Europe. Karneval is also the name used in the Rheinland and the Pfalz. This is also term for the major carnival cities of Bonn, Düsseldorf, Eschweil and Aachen.<br /><br />Finally, in Brandenburg and Saxony, the names Fasching and Karneval are typically used interchangeably.<br /><br /><b><u>Kölner Karneval</u></b><br /><br />The Kölner Karneval or Cologne Carnival is the largest Carnival gathering not only in Germany, but in the whole of Europe. Unlike most other carnivals worldwide, the central culmination of the Kölner Karneval comes not on Fat Tuesday(<i>Weiberfastnacht), </i>but rather on the Monday before Ash Wednesday. This is called <i>Rosenmontag </i>or Rose Monday and consists of major parades, parties and notably major stage events and performances.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/GkM0eBEaqYV24pgULqvgyv1thMIm6KLe3UoVc_3zPMvtVdi-NJGtJWIuMW-09hYr1BgGStN2C_1B5wb9uhaQAiPwB7gg4ne1IHxsMNTzFD98D0nrGUcrpBS7SlOB9iXz-tQD8lghov-W72QdwGy-4_ASSwEF7P6Ky0eSockQS7X_4uzsaWIU3E9I_4df1bj9XTKqzmrvgh7u0hBOzyiuhBKZUOp_MAAr9xA88yIxv0ieJYF4WWmt5wap9t7Tjk_wqGB6ujHq8pdGffbWCSwcMg-oWJAMATgVjX4Nqcy104oeHeEpetMnX7lI1nKZzokTQbjJ9a-4KJwVM3CbUrZOok9g0pRy=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtJAwzVTEf-9GAfXZaL9UJjEQgFMZusD7khNnD8ELr0w3a8p08vG-L4JT1ihyphenhyphen53zeQihilZY8cXPuGsn4K3Hetykyc50LjQ0SKyXD4EF_nit6hRzkyI-NGyiCy76SGnx1MzLY2n5JS_qR/s200/549px-Dreigestirn_72.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="183" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Die Dreigistirn</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Each year at the Kölner Karneval, three <i>Dreigestirn </i>are named. The <i>Dreigestirn </i>form the Karneval royalty and are comprised of the <i>Jungfrau </i>(Young Woman or Virgin and called "Her Loveliness"), the <i>Prinz</i> (Prince, called "His Craziness") and the <i>Bauer</i> (the Farmer, called <i>Seine Deftigkeit</i> or "His Hugeness" which refers to being hefty in size but in impolite terms has a ribald connotation). All three people are always men, including the <i>Jungfrau</i> who is a man dressed as a woman (the only exception being during the Nazi era, where the authorities intolerance of homosexuality outlawed the cross-dressing).<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">For more on the German celebrations, see</span><br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.germanpulse.com/<wbr></wbr>blog/2012/02/16/fasching-or-<wbr></wbr>karneval-is-there-a-<wbr></wbr>difference/</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.carnaval.com/<wbr></wbr>germany/</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://german.about.com/<wbr></wbr>library/weekly/aa020501a.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Luxembourg: Fuesend and Karneval</span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">In Luxembourg, the pre-Lenten holiday season is known as <i>Fuesend</i>. Throughout the Grand-Duchy, parades and parties are held on the Tuesday before Lent begins. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The commune of Pétange is the home of the Grand-Duchy's largest pre-Lenten Karneval celebration. Annually hosting a calvalcade with roughly 1200 participants and thousand of participants, the official name is Karneval Gemeng Péiteng or Kagepe (the initials in Luxembourgish are pronounced Ka, Ge and Pe).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/5X4OwrjZ53ayRGCxT-7KWyaqjPMOzOgzpnsIFkof8aMrcq7hBCPmmHGAwlHLDRMPLwyzebU5T-Kh8WyGkdjvis8FltneKFy7mQ6eS54zubN-2LOKqT6Z8ziLSf2-TAo0EW2-xbQIr_OmfdKtqP9dPrz5o8QSf7i5WxSLAWAqeHbYgAeO8gyKpWm2OMO1aIsWwDezx08c3uXHOY5H4wjqrILercqlnz8CCHkajiBZEa6XxHk4CgVleS-6zrSYEP62skjqVtmO8jeZqfpHvY8C72cXcbMig8DvkL_c_Prn5n4W5MgablHmnZ5zotc671ya9IAIb9u35Wl2hkOrSbjn74JcYnBVcwousNVIRqFE589GmjIsRtniWlgL=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmSR_QIn27m5iow_R__DcE749f0T5P3BsU6tBlMnzd6LjUiQAqlxDaxu_6KTWupPSMDIiD184szRiOyD0mOnAbDEFEGUMRRnlds3R0On5S6kbnxlamOpX7xzsdDhxxCVrpSbpG231f7CM/s1600/2013_02-490_0008_10710349_remich_DSC4571_857044949.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The <span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The town of Remich holds a three-day-long celebration. Remich is notable for two special events in addition to its parades. The first of these is the Stréimännchen, which is the burning of a male effigy from the Remich bridge that crosses the Moselle River separating the Grand Duchy from Germany. The Stréimännchen symbolizes the burning away of winter. The other special event at the Remich Fuesend celebrations is the Buergbrennen or bonfire that closes the celebration.</span></div><br /><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">L</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">ike Remich, the town of Esch-sur-Alzette also holds a three-day celebration. Other major Fuesend parades in Luxembourg are held in the towns of Diekirch and Differdange.</span></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">For more on Fuesend, see <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://yourlivingcity.com/<wbr></wbr>luxembourg/lifestyle/<wbr></wbr>luxembourg-life/luxembourgish-<wbr></wbr>culture/top-carnivals-in-<wbr></wbr>luxembourg/</a><br /><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Greece: </b><b>Greek Orthodox Celebrations</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />As noted above, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Ash Wednesday is not observed. Instead, Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Clean Monday as the start of what is called Great Lent (the equivalent holiday but so-named to differentiate the holiday from another observance called Winter Lent which corresponds to the Western tradition of Advent). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Greek Orthodox adherents began celebrating Greek Orthodox Carnival with Triodion (which begins in 2024 on February 25) and ending on Clean Monday (March 18, 2024). The celebrations therefore run from February 25 to March 18. <span style="color: darkblue;"> </span> The largest of the celebrations is <i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;">Tsiknopempti</span></i><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;">or "Burnt Thursday" which in 2024 is on March 7 </span>with two weekends of Carnival the Tsiknopempti Weekend (February 17-19) and the Greek Carnival Weekend on March 16-17). Annually, the largest Greek Orthodox celebration of Carnival is centered at Patras, Greece’s third largest city. The Carnival at Patras often reflects current social themes, and is at times used as an outlet for social protest in some years. In other years, there is no social statement at all.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qnOOGI3c_SxCwjaelWUVG-TwHcUqW8C_GLQ5U6FHIOTVl9KWuC13KSV5ZmmPSVJFj1O5n0Cn3p3p6rT3p80cO4S91tZdCXwDWixF4nfQg9NUPe7NlJJgCoYnU1j3EeFCxauxuzE5eGdRCbZ9hxxsmzXDQ06pWGdvCoW4JKHR-pX1LqXCKBTpgSQAwiXdkeWhDNVRk-r8jzio1brUcpLR_2jqHSGrf4h7-0QyiU_QQvV__xMkQ0lE10glnOmek401JHUWiY-Juyr8cfIs0F3ny4FWFLBj5Eth_f-0Z-xi-5E6mGyaLrYBDmBg7JkE4mxqlfE5p1wC9jsrlTM-DeinlrA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb9xBPu5qtYtUNvuRi4Ziw3iQaHzuAkO0Bc3yjneEMdHjM4l_oWw2hJcscCPeKSSDFjCTq0pPzdyAQugUP_N5aRD_R4i6N5Y5XaRQum0e9cYbWgYSAraqxTQnfjet26EpxwB00ncxRMIH/s200/Patras+Children's+Carnival.bmp" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Patras Children's Carnival</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In all years, though, the Patras Carnival includes a separate “Children’s Carnival” with thousands of costumed children on parade through the streets. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/zoUaOtRBNFrffohqJ53lbrfwg09mkadsqMZStusvRYUVpaktfJ5Tfa4108mbtukhC94lUtRqYVjAi51UBOfZoXY0WVIEEN4F2UK_Z0OxiFxFIJHiWcb04Jw2fG8IwVzSEZKHZ1890EcP4MfCKWWuIsnSrIf5p6xl0X5FLZe5KbHB3fFKBHXNpbQQVUBGM00z6KmC6nfK1HQ2aap3ILiTOWMhzT3gxs8kNCtJPnON5wbk5qomrzP3HOWZQptRLKxVuf2LZU-fE7_iB191cDmZCwTlnuMh5vAPrBgVWn8ART0EgTlaULBbn2M7mABAs2XtuRqi=s0-d-e1-ft#https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhRYvA3tBEAu3X177Ew4NTKjWNN01-_SpGHNvgIQO1Uyb6pTjGtVPxWI8PidEdP27jIHnSQAG03RHBc7i4nTqAw48IwLhjYGMdYwmCxWgVAXfxxkRWCrwt2Zizi8Wvf0adez-Fx1RaE8/s200/Bourboulia_6.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b>Bourboulia domino robes and masks</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Another unique feature of the Patras Carnival is the Bourboulia, a formal ball in which women come in identical costumes – the so-called domino robes and masks – and ask men, usually uncostumed, to dance with them without their dance partner knowing who is behind the disguise. Other Greek sites also have Carnival celebrations, including annual celebrations on the islands of Corfu and of Crete. To learn more about Greek Carnival traditions see<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://gogreece.about.com/od/<wbr></wbr>carnivaltime/a/carnivaldates_<wbr></wbr>2.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For more specifically on the Patras Carnival, you can go to their official website at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw0NUFY_LOIYJTsIzXiET4iO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://www.carnivalpatras.gr/<wbr></wbr>index.php?</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Conclusion</u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are many more Carnival-related celebrations around the world. Feel free to share some of your own, or to add to what has been shared here.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As for the religious aspects of Ash Wednesday and the related observances, as always, this post is meant only to be informational. Please share your own views, and note that this post in no way indicates a point of view on what is or is not appropriate religious observance.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">David</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">David A. Victor, Ph.D. (he, him, his)<br /></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Professor of Management and International Business</span><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">College of Business<br />Eastern Michigan University<br />Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 USA</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Co-Author: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw2VI935-leB0_xEx6jK2o9J" href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw2VI935-leB0_xEx6jK2o9J" href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Mexico: An Intercultural Approach</a></i><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Co-Author: <i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-japan&source=gmail&ust=1707579276423000&usg=AOvVaw2qzF0rhoHU764mU7UcsXKd" href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-japan" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Japan: An Intercultural Approach</a></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Co-Author: <i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-brazil&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw0MUAcH8zkxtfnBoGmN_XBP" href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-brazil" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Brazil: An Intercultural Approach</a><br /></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Co-Author: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Conflict-Management-Communication-Skills-Approach-dp-0205272940/dp/0205272940/ref%3Ddp_ob_title_bk&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw2zwaRGcX8yPikiRywDkIRH" href="https://www.amazon.com/Conflict-Management-Communication-Skills-Approach-dp-0205272940/dp/0205272940/ref=dp_ob_title_bk" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Conflict Management: A Communication Skills Approach</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Author:<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/International-Business-Communication-Victor/dp/0673460916/ref%3Dtmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding%3DUTF8%26qid%3D%26sr%3D&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw00iAFucwZwqnbvSsGa9Egz" href="https://www.amazon.com/International-Business-Communication-Victor/dp/0673460916/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> International Business Communication</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Editor-in-Chief, <i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://commons.emich.edu/gabc/about.html&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw1p4iNLJPFiU8_OFjE8WL6C" href="http://commons.emich.edu/gabc/about.html" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Global Advances in Business Communication Journal </a> </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For more on some of the general religious traditions, here are a few websites:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For Roman Catholic traditions, see</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://catholicism.about.com/<wbr></wbr>od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_<wbr></wbr>Wednesday.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://catholicism.about.com/<wbr></wbr>od/holydaysandholidays/f/When-<wbr></wbr>Is-Lent.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.ash-wednesday.org/</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">and<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.catholic.org/<wbr></wbr>clife/lent/</a><br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For Episcopalian traditions, see<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.paramuspost.com/<wbr></wbr>article.php/20070201212131742</span></a><br /><span style="color: darkblue;">and</span><br /><span style="color: darkblue;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.episcopalnet.org/<wbr></wbr>TRACTS/5ThingsLent.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For Methodist traditions, see <span style="color: darkblue;"> </span><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.umc.org/site/c.<wbr></wbr>lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2514885/k.63E6/<wbr></wbr>Lent_and_Easter_Resources.htm</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">and<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://fmcusa.org/lenten-<wbr></wbr>resources/</a><br /><br />For Lutheran traditions, see<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.thelutheran.org/<wbr></wbr>article/article.cfm?article_<wbr></wbr>id=10484</a><br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For Eastern Orthodox traditions see<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.monachos.net/<wbr></wbr>content/lent</span></a><br />and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://lent.goarch.org/</span></a><br />and<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.spc.rs/eng/great_<wbr></wbr>lent</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br />For Coptic Lent traditions, see<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276424000&usg=AOvVaw05HUDTgkftw7GW2x7fdcfR" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.copticworld.org/<wbr></wbr>articles/1833/</a><br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo traditions, see </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue; font-family: times new roman, serif;">http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /><b> Clip Art Sources</b><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Praying woman with ashen cross on forehead: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://catholicism.<wbr></wbr>about.com/od/<wbr></wbr>holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_<wbr></wbr>Wednesday.htm</a><br /><br />Lent image: Christ the King Anglican Church, Lansing, Michigan: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://ctklansing.<wbr></wbr>files.wordpress.com/2011/03/<wbr></wbr>lent-new.jpg</a><br /><br />Priest placing ashen cross on worshiper's forehead: Life Assays: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bobritzema.<wbr></wbr>files.wordpress.com/2010/02/<wbr></wbr>ash-wednesday.jpg</a><br /><br />Carnival cartoon clipart: Clip Art Today: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.clipartoday.<wbr></wbr>com/_thumbs/022/Celebrations/<wbr></wbr>annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png</a><br /><br />Rio parade with King Kong: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://blog.otel.com/wp-<wbr></wbr>content/uploads/2012/01/Rio-<wbr></wbr>Carnaval.jpg</a><br /><br />Rio Carnaval elaborate costume: Travelvivi.com <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>travelvivi.com/wp-content/<wbr></wbr>uploads/2010/02/rio_<wbr></wbr>carnival06.jpg</a><br /><br />Samba competitors at the Anhembi Sambodrome: Sydney Morning Herald:<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.smh.com.au/<wbr></wbr>ffximage/2007/02/18/samba2_<wbr></wbr>gallery__470x312.jpg</a><br /><br /><span lang="EN"><i>Trio Elétrico</i></span> at the <span lang="EN">São Paulo Carnaval: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://im.r7.com/<wbr></wbr>outros/files/2C92/94A4/2E64/<wbr></wbr>8A75/012E/7830/7A6E/725D/<wbr></wbr>carna%201-tl-201100302.jpg</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.bahia-online.<wbr></wbr>net/Carnival.htm</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><i>Afoxé: </i></span></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/Afoxé</a><br /><i style="text-align: center;"><br /></i><i style="text-align: center;">Alfaias:<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"> </span></i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>brasilcultura.com.br/wp-<wbr></wbr>content/uploads/2010/11/<wbr></wbr>afoxes10.jpg</a><br /><br /><span lang="EN"><i>Frevo</i> dancer: Está com tudo blogsite: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://estacomtudo.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2010/11/frevo_12.<wbr></wbr>html</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN"><i>Maracatu de nação</i> percussionists: Oficina do Barulho: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>oficinadobarulho.com/images/<wbr></wbr>camale_o.jpg</a></span><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://laprensa-<wbr></wbr>sandiego.org/featured/<wbr></wbr>brazilian-northeast-<wbr></wbr>celebrates-carnival-the-old-<wbr></wbr>fashioned-way/</a><br /><br /></span><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Recife’s 2013 <i>Galo da </i><i>Madrugada</i> parade set the world record for most people in a parade: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://fotografia.<wbr></wbr>folha.uol.com.br/galerias/<wbr></wbr>13608-bloco-galo-da-madrugada-<wbr></wbr>em-recife</a></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Recife's <span style="font-style: italic;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Tambores</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Silenciosos: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http<wbr></wbr>://www.culturaalternativa.com.<wbr></wbr>br/geral/materias/item/2591-<wbr></wbr>noite-para-os-tambores-<wbr></wbr>silenciosos-de-olinda-<wbr></wbr>reverencia-fe-e-cultura-afro</a></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Teresina's Carnaval hold the world record for floats in a parade: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276425000&usg=AOvVaw2SJ0MYPzoaBVfTslHQmKUA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.jfagora.<wbr></wbr>com/qual-melhor-ze-pereira-de-<wbr></wbr>teresina-timon-ou-o-de-jose-<wbr></wbr>de-freitas.html</a></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Mardi Gras in New Orleans: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://content.<wbr></wbr>answcdn.com/main/content/img/<wbr></wbr>getty/1/3/73376713.jpg</a></span></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br />Steel drum player: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://serturista.com/<wbr></wbr>wp-content/uploads/2011/03/<wbr></wbr>Theaterspektakel_2010_2010-09-<wbr></wbr>04_19-02-50.jpg</a><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Man Feteing in Trinidad: Feteing in Trindad, How to Play Mas: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.rishisankar.<wbr></wbr>com/Parties/Trinidad-Carnival-<wbr></wbr>2005/Carnival-Tuesday-2005-<wbr></wbr>23rd/S3600163/202578866_XhHuH-<wbr></wbr>XL.jpg</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Jab Jabs: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.tntisland.<wbr></wbr>com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Moko Jumbies: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.tntisland.<wbr></wbr>com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Map of Goa: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.jigneshbapna.<wbr></wbr>com/wp-content/uploads/2011/<wbr></wbr>04/goa-map.gif</a></span><br /><br />Goa Carnival: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>carnivalgoa.com/</a><br /><i style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Luanda Carnaval: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://afktravel.<wbr></wbr>com/101783/carnival-in-africa/<wbr></wbr>2/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>caboverdesite.com/city/sao-<wbr></wbr>vicente/sobre-a-ilha/ilha-de-<wbr></wbr>sao-vicente/</a></span><br /><i style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Dili Carnaval, East Timor: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://noticias.sapo.<wbr></wbr>tl/portugues/foto/1299406/</a></span><br /><i style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><i style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;">Lašininis </i><span style="line-height: 19.2px; text-align: center;">burnt in effigy<span style="font-size: x-small;">: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://lithuanianmha.<wbr></wbr>org/holiday-traditions/<wbr></wbr>uzgavenes/</a></span></span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN"><i>Varškės spurgos: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>laisvalaikisvirtuveje.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2012/01/varskes-<wbr></wbr>spurgos-su-obuoliu-idaru.html</a></i></span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">Venice Carnevale masks: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/File:Venice_Carnival_<wbr></wbr>-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Ivrea Battle of the Oranges: The World's Dirtiest Festivals: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a><u><span style="color: #810081;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://jetsetta.<wbr></wbr>com/wp-content/uploads/2011/<wbr></wbr>03/Battle-of-the-Oranges-<wbr></wbr>Ivrea-Italy.jpg</a></span></u></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Gilles at the Carnival of Binche: Photograph by Marie-Claire <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://en.<wbr></wbr>wikipedia.org/wiki/File:<wbr></wbr>Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg</a></span><br /><br />Die Dreigistirn: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://en.<wbr></wbr>wikipedia.org/wiki/File:<wbr></wbr>Dreigestirn_72.jpg</a><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN"><span style="text-align: center;">The </span>Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>lequotidien.lu/le-pays/42292.<wbr></wbr>html</a></span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN">Patras Children's Carnival: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276426000&usg=AOvVaw19wvOm3KVV58cQwtYJaxmO" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>1000lonelyplaces.com/wp-<wbr></wbr>content/uploads/2011/03/<wbr></wbr>childrens-carnival1.jpg</a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">Bourboulia domino robes and masks: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049%23&source=gmail&ust=1707579276427000&usg=AOvVaw1rpeVi-oXlsjiPMc7isPQU" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4603525169522179049#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://upload.<wbr></wbr>wikimedia.org/wikipedia/el/7/<wbr></wbr>79/Bourboulia_6.jpg</a></span><br /></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">David A. Victor, Ph.D. (he, him, his)</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-36155786565830145652024-02-05T18:09:00.005-05:002024-02-10T15:48:25.056-05:00Year of the Green Wooden Dragon<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiV83g3bc4sY5b2kgAfUHSGx8_SaqF_PZWyhyKchgaKW4P47Uso7Udjj6E2FheNPbizCqrJncz3q5r4XaZg5oKajjzwZ6bBXMoQaFaxYC5xq5gFI6cprt5KXYlvZxl3MnQfoEQ4iWf71PP2WhE2xY5sD-INAMY4S0qsmG_rqgi9OI2_GpRRQeFvGMSVW_/s2835/Zhang%20Hongtu,%20Zodiac%20Dragon,%202004.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="1141" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiV83g3bc4sY5b2kgAfUHSGx8_SaqF_PZWyhyKchgaKW4P47Uso7Udjj6E2FheNPbizCqrJncz3q5r4XaZg5oKajjzwZ6bBXMoQaFaxYC5xq5gFI6cprt5KXYlvZxl3MnQfoEQ4iWf71PP2WhE2xY5sD-INAMY4S0qsmG_rqgi9OI2_GpRRQeFvGMSVW_/s320/Zhang%20Hongtu,%20Zodiac%20Dragon,%202004.jpg" width="129" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Zhang Hongfu (2004)<br />Dragon Zodiac Figure</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Toledo Museum of Art</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Year of the Green Wooden Dragon begins on Saturday, February 10, 2024. The corresponds to It is the beginning of the year 4722 (in some traditions, 4721) in the Asian lunar system, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an earlier posting, </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">I discussed some of the economic impact of the coming Lunar New Year. You can read about this in <a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-business-impact.html " target="_blank">a earlier blogpost here.</a>. In today’s posting, I would like to share some of the background to the event and to the Asian Zodiac system as a whole.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuwSRHAN1WU3WqrM_rLO3kUu_H8VVVYrnRUatuqKXbryoQe02DK4WJQEl2L57k9Hkp5CLjVbGL6bXdz3Kd_XzGMae-dLWh_aflRjRFH4OaN72n5S__CpDGUjKmg8WePPk4dDR10uvTd7oR-jyV5m5RHD0wbHSi-vXEOl808dWI7N7fvq-rqNdIDRjPOiZ/s3888/03%20Dragon%20in%20parking%20lot,%20Philadelphia%20Chinatown.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuwSRHAN1WU3WqrM_rLO3kUu_H8VVVYrnRUatuqKXbryoQe02DK4WJQEl2L57k9Hkp5CLjVbGL6bXdz3Kd_XzGMae-dLWh_aflRjRFH4OaN72n5S__CpDGUjKmg8WePPk4dDR10uvTd7oR-jyV5m5RHD0wbHSi-vXEOl808dWI7N7fvq-rqNdIDRjPOiZ/s320/03%20Dragon%20in%20parking%20lot,%20Philadelphia%20Chinatown.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dragon, Parking Lot, Philadelphia Chinatown</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">In today’s posting, I would like to share with you some specifics about the Year of the Dragon as well as some background to the Asian Zodiac system as a whole. </span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Please note that the East Asian Lunar New Year is more than the Chinese New Year (CNY). It is </span><span>appropriate to refer Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) only when referring to the Lunar New Year as celebrated <i>in China</i>. Using CNY to refer to the whole range of cultures observing the Lunar New Year, though, discounts the millions of non-Chinese celebrations of the occasion. These include the Mongolian </span>Tsagaan Sar, Korean Seollal, Japanese Oshogatsu, and Bhutanese and Tibetan Losar and so on. For more on the general holiday of the East Asian Lunar New Year, please see my post </div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b><i><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html">One New Year: Many Traditional New Year Customs Around the World</a></i></b> </span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Influences of the Year of Dragon</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Many people, as explained below, attribute a great deal of significance to the personality traits attributed to the animal associated with the year in which they are born. Each animal has its own traits, and then each animal and element combination has their own sub-traits. These are explained later in the blog. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The Year of the Dragon is associated with the greatest leadership abilities and charisma in general. For those who believe in the tradition, as with all Asian Horoscope years, those born in a previous Year of the Dragon (e.g., 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 or 2012) will find this year an especially auspicious year but also challenging year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">It is important to note that the animal of one’s birth year is not seen as fully able to stand on its own in understanding an individual’s personality traits and tendencies. These at a minimum must, as we have discussed, take into account the associated five elements. Additionally, East Asian geomancers account for the inner or secret animal assigned by the day of the month and hour of the day on which one is born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all, there are 8640 combinations (e.g., 12 months, 5 elements, 12 months, 12 times of day).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div>This is particularly the case when the element of wood pairs with the dragon. Wood feeds the fire of the dragon and may lead to strong leadership overreaching to the harm of others, The wood feeds the dragon's natural charisma leading to the masses following the dragon, with the blind adoration acting as wood to feed the dragon's fire. On the other hand, dragons are also paired with earth and wood restricts earth. </div><div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Personality Traits and Asian Astrological Year</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><strong>"Chinese Astrology" Is Not An Accurate Term</strong></span></div><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">"Chinese astrology" is not an accurate term for three reasons. The Lunar New Year is</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Not </i>exclusively Chinese </li><li><i>Not</i> based on constellations</li><li>Taken much more seriously, more as a religious or cultural belief system</li></ol></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lunar New Year is <i>not</i> exclusively Chinese.</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As discussed in my other blogpost <a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html">One New Year, Many Traditions: Lunar New Year Customs Around The World</a>, The Asian Lunar New Year is observed in its own unique -- non-Chinese -- form in Vietnam (Tet), Mongolia (Tsagaan Sar and Bituun), Korea (Seollal), Bhutan and Tibet (Losar) and Japan (Oshogatsu), among others. It is also observed by those from these backgrounds living in other countries. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">That said, the Chinese New Year as a Chinese tradition is indeed observed in China, Taiwan and Singapore, as well as wherever Chinese communities exist abroad. First, the holiday is far more widely observed than in just China, especially in Korea, Singapore, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia and Vietnam </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ga_1Z1AoaF0MBuD6vgswCe_-ILSqr3gJf1dm-QxEui4nAS44B-Cti4pKi5ptq2Rsyfi74YDSlyYR1Y617bj6L1HdMdOxWGFnb4Sr-bf-pOtNOR9i-IdqvnAwc-DLa2MtbL_yTels9Qyz/s1600/Yellow_Emperor.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="191" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ga_1Z1AoaF0MBuD6vgswCe_-ILSqr3gJf1dm-QxEui4nAS44B-Cti4pKi5ptq2Rsyfi74YDSlyYR1Y617bj6L1HdMdOxWGFnb4Sr-bf-pOtNOR9i-IdqvnAwc-DLa2MtbL_yTels9Qyz/s200/Yellow_Emperor.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Yellow Emperor Huang D</span>i</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">That said, for all the culturally diverse places in which the Asian New Year is celebrated, the calendar on which it is based does have its origins in China. The first written records of the calendar and the celebration of the New Year date to China’s Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC), although traditionally it is believed to date back to the rule of the semi-mythical Yellow Emperor Huang Di around 2600 BC.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lunar New Year Is Not Based on Star Constellations</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A second reason the phrase "Chinese astrology" is a misnomer is that the system really has almost nothing to do with constellations as astrology does in the West. It is less a reading of the stars than an interpretation of the importance of the time, date and year in which one is born. To the extent that when one is born matters to Western-style astrology, there is a correspondence. Moreover, there is another similarity as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the five elements in the system, in fact, do correspond with the five planets known in ancient China.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lunar Zodiac System Corresponds with Religious or Deeply-Held Belief System</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The East Asian Lunar Zodiac is best approached as a religious belief. For several religions, this is true. Yet even for those who follow little or no formal religion in East Asian cultures recognize the Zodiac System as deeply-held beliefs. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The term "Chinese Horoscope" can easily diminish the East Asian Lunar Zodiac system's importance. Because of these corresponding commonalities with Western astrology, people call the Asian system’s combinations of animals and elements the lunar or Chinese “horoscope”. In short, "Horoscope" in this context is misleading not only for the reasons just described but because the way in which people view the two “horoscopes” is very different. <br /><br />The difference is that many people in Europe, Australia and the Americas consider the Western zodiac horoscope of star signs (Scorpio, Sagittarius, etc.) to be a form of superstition, a game or something believed only partially. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This is NOT the case with the Asian lunar horoscope cycle, where people follow their sign very seriously. As a result, the system, though it transcends that of any specific religion, should be treated with the respect accorded religious beliefs. In any case, the point here is that in a cross-cultural and inter-religious sense, the issue of lunar horoscope animal element signs should be treated with respect<i>.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Asian Lunar New Year should be approached as more than a superstition than as a belief (although each individual may hold differing views).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">One sign of the seriousness with which people take The Asian Lunar New Year can be seen with the seriousness with which the PRC government has responded to the belief among many that this particular Chinese New Year will be the "Year of the Widow." As <a href="China, Taiwan and Singapore, as well as wherever Chinese communities exist abroad">Matthew Loh reported in Business Insider (Jan., 25, 2024)</a>, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>China is debating whether the government should warn against superstitions that say 2024 is a bad year to marry as the country frets over its declining and aging population. "There are folk rumors that this year is the 'Year of the Widow' and is not suitable for marriage," said a letter to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs.<br /></i></blockquote></blockquote><p>As China faces a rapid decline in birth rate, this represents a clear threat.The decline is of concern for the future of working age adults, consumer size and real estate demand. In 2023, the PRC's <a href="https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202301/t20230117_1892094.html" target="_blank">National Bureau of Statistics </a>announced that for the first time <i>in 60 years</i>, its population has declined. The number 60 is significant here as this was the last full cycle of the Zodiac from the last Year of the Wooden Dragon. </p><p>The logic of why it is unlucky to marry this year makes sense in terms of the reasoning of the zodiac. As Loh (cited above) explains:</p><blockquote><p><i>The belief involves the lack of a "beginning of spring" day, also known as lichun, at the start of a lunar year.</i></p><p><i>This year's lichun falls on February 4, before the Chinese Lunar New Year begins on February 10, meaning the coming year won't include a beginning of spring day.</i></p><p><i>Such a lunar year is sometimes dubbed the "Year of the Widow" because ancient superstition associates spring with masculine energy, and getting married at such a time is thought to bring bad luck and divorce.</i></p></blockquote><p>A non-believer may disregard this, but the "Year of the Widow" is believed by hundreds of millions. One <a href="https://weibo.com/5993531560/NDlxp52QO?refer_flag=1001030103_" target="_blank">video posted on January 11, 2024</a> posted on the Chinese social media site Weibo already had <b>300 million views in its first two weeks.</b> <i> </i></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The point of view of this article is significant, not because it tells us something about Chinese views of the marriage decline as much as that those who take the Asian calendar seriously would consider this a newsworthy factor. Here the contrast to Western astrology is notable. Very few would cite the Western horoscope in such a fashion, let alone in an article widely distributed by the Business Insider or openly addressed by the Chinese government.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Year of the Dragon</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKI2iL3dRmpaDnpX_kRZi6d0T0_-_fjY6afb9VHE5TVvdc4VVhbsyngp9_sZ4xa-J3DPCqSuwrXwwEy8DCojxgmCxdcVGgU1NQYZqzDanbEaPXVneALGPxTG6XNrB3iXtstKovguH9GNB/s1600/chinese-dragon-red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKI2iL3dRmpaDnpX_kRZi6d0T0_-_fjY6afb9VHE5TVvdc4VVhbsyngp9_sZ4xa-J3DPCqSuwrXwwEy8DCojxgmCxdcVGgU1NQYZqzDanbEaPXVneALGPxTG6XNrB3iXtstKovguH9GNB/s320/chinese-dragon-red.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">People born in the Year of the Dragon have specific characteristics associated with them, a great many of which are considered auspicious. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik5E8O6Fyb7TR0R3Eo6JVgGiNgSRJdg1XYVHQQLfFiQwukk25VSzlx_qKT1LcPhchAK0PBOuFxlovnyQaHsL9LAbo_xMhtFd0uuDBJx9JBsJ7HBhsrhHFNrebRUuNos52HxelBlEvurFI/s1600/St-George-Dragon-Rubens-L.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik5E8O6Fyb7TR0R3Eo6JVgGiNgSRJdg1XYVHQQLfFiQwukk25VSzlx_qKT1LcPhchAK0PBOuFxlovnyQaHsL9LAbo_xMhtFd0uuDBJx9JBsJ7HBhsrhHFNrebRUuNos52HxelBlEvurFI/s200/St-George-Dragon-Rubens-L.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Asian positive views of dragons </strong><br /><strong>are nothing like Rubens' painting </strong><br /><strong>of St. George slaying an evil dragon</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">In the East Asian tradition, the dragon is the symbol of good luck, charisma, enormous wealth and great power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In East Asia, nothing even remotely corresponds to the story of St. George slaying the dragon. Instead, the dragon is to be honored and revered. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Unlike the European tradition of evil dragons terrorizing villagers and slain by brave knights, East Asians view dragons as beneficent. As the Taiwanese information site Crystal Dragon of Taiwan (a site of which I am quite fond and which itself takes its own name from the dragon): </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJruRaMG9TyjlpONDPZgu1VokQ1Vx2n_F6ILHMOSW8IlMovOt7K0gV77RMjFluXL29duq21yC8MOjAL2CHE-vfj4UTpI-WgyoRZASNcvDA6szrC5u-piFgC7G-GjlH1VkCPHmw6WcBqPN5/s1600/2002020.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJruRaMG9TyjlpONDPZgu1VokQ1Vx2n_F6ILHMOSW8IlMovOt7K0gV77RMjFluXL29duq21yC8MOjAL2CHE-vfj4UTpI-WgyoRZASNcvDA6szrC5u-piFgC7G-GjlH1VkCPHmw6WcBqPN5/s200/2002020.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dragon at Hall of Benevolence</strong><br /><strong>Forbidden city, Beijing</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Unlike the negative energies associated with Western Dragons, most Eastern Dragons are beautiful, friendly, and wise. They are the angels of the Orient. Instead of being hated, they are loved and worshipped. Temples and shrines have been built to honor them, for they control the rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAC6-tJOxEdE1Wrrz4IwfOPxgx7bruqXZkc44PUN05STtXp4SddA3VhiKGlIH1dscVN3MJ-5z0OSwCqp__BjXpsQDnkn4LOOQTjkvkuXl44xHBrm1mLTcrtnR9zhmpyA2dffAH2SwVPZz/s1600/3372766126_f43e8d839c.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAC6-tJOxEdE1Wrrz4IwfOPxgx7bruqXZkc44PUN05STtXp4SddA3VhiKGlIH1dscVN3MJ-5z0OSwCqp__BjXpsQDnkn4LOOQTjkvkuXl44xHBrm1mLTcrtnR9zhmpyA2dffAH2SwVPZz/s200/3372766126_f43e8d839c.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Black Dragon Pool Chapel</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Many Chinese cities have pagodas where people used to burn incense and pray to dragons. The Black Dragon Pool Chapel, near Peking, was reserved for the Empress and her court. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Indeed, the dragon was for centuries associated with the Emperors of China, so its association with good fortune is especially strong in China, Taiwan and Singapore, as well as in overseas Chinese communities in many other nations. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The association of the dragon as the symbol of China itself may possibly influence China's assertion of itself as a Great Power. If any Zodiac year would encourage Chinese self-confidence, the Year of the Dragon would be it.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Likewise, King Munmu of Silla (the first ruler to unite Korea) when he died in 681 – at least in legend -- was supposed to have become a dragon in the East Sea to protect the peninsula. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfTfZTpr3ySNghn8liiKqZ1LaQXDRjkjkAj2LIS6RkIYGzNPmdyJFEZUcVLeqxpfFiKekgKLWN3-Vq9jhkJVce1UzAZEI72DU2r9xj-Pe3RaGwdivbHFJqodRtJGT62faI6dSeR5BKrYS/s1600/Munmu_of_Silla.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfTfZTpr3ySNghn8liiKqZ1LaQXDRjkjkAj2LIS6RkIYGzNPmdyJFEZUcVLeqxpfFiKekgKLWN3-Vq9jhkJVce1UzAZEI72DU2r9xj-Pe3RaGwdivbHFJqodRtJGT62faI6dSeR5BKrYS/s200/Munmu_of_Silla.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Munmu of Silla</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzSDHu44amLFBykMCMPsf5jNXtZJhskdEEpGcVm_E-965VlCRBbX2dyT4xqtL5vP08jQf0vbrNQELFR81siekx9MfdJ8oANTlXLnkKG3Y_UkqqfI30HsGI9gzdJoltu-92hNDie78Y36Y/s1600/430px-Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzSDHu44amLFBykMCMPsf5jNXtZJhskdEEpGcVm_E-965VlCRBbX2dyT4xqtL5vP08jQf0vbrNQELFR81siekx9MfdJ8oANTlXLnkKG3Y_UkqqfI30HsGI9gzdJoltu-92hNDie78Y36Y/s200/430px-Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hirohito was the last Japanese Emperor </strong><br /><strong>to claim lineage from a dragon</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">In the Japanese Tale of Hōri, the Dragon King's daughter Toyotama-hime married the human hunter Hōri no Mikoto (or Yamasachibiko).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toyotama and Hōri had four children, one of whom was their son Kamuyamato Iwarebiko. This son became the first human emperor of Japan, known to the Japanese people as Emperor Jinmu Tennō. This tale was held to be true until Emperor </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shōwa</span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""> (Hirohito) signed the Humanity Declaration in 1946 at the end of World War II, proclaiming his ancestry as human. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Personality Traits Associated with Year of the Dragon</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVoq0ywR8nOKpYWMfFbGQjZRLJn0XWN4VY15KKexEcNx7zVL_nDLRpWXXNsYr06PihOMHwy3FRuIbbxCkNy95-6sG97iyBX54LhimORwxkfdfVHB7K_k13fcQ0VHkT_a_WULQFboAb_mR/s1600/Nine-Dragons1.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="108" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVoq0ywR8nOKpYWMfFbGQjZRLJn0XWN4VY15KKexEcNx7zVL_nDLRpWXXNsYr06PihOMHwy3FRuIbbxCkNy95-6sG97iyBX54LhimORwxkfdfVHB7K_k13fcQ0VHkT_a_WULQFboAb_mR/s200/Nine-Dragons1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>One of the Nine Dragons</strong><br /><strong>by Chen Rong 1244 CE</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">It is important, again, to emphasize that for many people, the traits described here are taken very seriously and, by many others, at least somewhat seriously. The descriptions that follow are general traits. Professional astrologers in East Asia bore down through the specific year in the 60-year cycle (the element), the specific day and the specific hour of birth. As mentioned above, this produces 8640 possible permutations. The characteristics of any given year's zodiac animal, therefore, is considered by believers to be a very general influence. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><strong>Positive Dragon Traits</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdl_1Jf5sPD3ycpZNiWRBZjXill6OGX6UIvEb8a_5aNjCRt_jS6aCc8vlvVG5GiOBV2oZ_OTOabXwl2WZb7zDpMP8Y3OzKKBLmlFOCtnKKAvNZXj1jYzq5jPnoS3L1mFVkcBLSuGD7pil/s1600/14422.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdl_1Jf5sPD3ycpZNiWRBZjXill6OGX6UIvEb8a_5aNjCRt_jS6aCc8vlvVG5GiOBV2oZ_OTOabXwl2WZb7zDpMP8Y3OzKKBLmlFOCtnKKAvNZXj1jYzq5jPnoS3L1mFVkcBLSuGD7pil/s200/14422.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Those born in the Year of the Dragon are – on the positive side -- associated with luck and good fortune, almost regardless of what they do. Wealth, power and leadership positions are believed to gravitate to them naturally. They are self-assured and entertaining, usually dominating any gathering in which they show up in a delightful and very exciting way. From an East Asian perspective, people born in the Year of the Dragon are also seen as intriguing and even exotic, especially for women. As <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/">Master Pun-Yin</a> puts it:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><b>The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the Zodiac and has the quality of leadership. Powerful, brilliant, and full of vitality and blessings, the Dragon is propitious and confident. Dragons are honest, loyal, and ethical. They are larger than life in their actions, ambitious, and willing to take risks. The Dragon is a good friend to have.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><strong>Negative Traits</strong></span></div> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">On the negative side, people born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be somewhat self-centered. They tend to overlook the ideas of others and have a tendency not to value input from others. While they are believed to make natural leaders, this tendency to discount the ideas of others often breeds resentment even if, grudgingly, those who resent them admit that the ideas the Dragon people put forth are worthwhile.</span> As Moon-ho Kwok explains, because of their own vitality, luck and strength of personality, Dragon people</div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><b>can be quick-tempered and obstinate, and sometimes too outspoken, (1997, p. 20)</b></i></div></blockquote><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHN1SNx6LL9myBLIxF4K3yWefu74Gop2hJL_LxYZdsoLR-JO9BkdVEvnWWaHd8wIpBoIJYV-cmhyTH0jCvK6Y-hhILvKmVSAfTBocszNlPeCehpjqlqtPCvTChengyWuI-pJ7yHlh-ejV/s1600/Natsusaka-Dragon1.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHN1SNx6LL9myBLIxF4K3yWefu74Gop2hJL_LxYZdsoLR-JO9BkdVEvnWWaHd8wIpBoIJYV-cmhyTH0jCvK6Y-hhILvKmVSAfTBocszNlPeCehpjqlqtPCvTChengyWuI-pJ7yHlh-ejV/s200/Natsusaka-Dragon1.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Netsuke dragon by<br />Natsusaka Shinichiro</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">People born in the Year of the Dragon, in the view of believers, often have difficulties with relationships. While they are thought to naturally attract people to them, they are often hard to live with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one Chinese Astrology site puts it:</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><em><b>The women of this sign are surrounded by admirers and often demanded in marriage…. </b></em></span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><em><b>There is a decidedly exotic air about Dragon people, especially among the women, who fairly exude sexuality. Indeed, whether male or female, Dragons are libidinous and score quite a hit with the opposite sex</b>. </em><span color="windowtext"><a href="http://www.chinesezodiac.org/dragon/">http://www.chinesezodiac.org/dragon/</a></span></span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The site Chinesehoroscope.com adds to this:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><em>A<b>s a Dragon people, they are a perfectionist, proud, egotistical and born thinking that they are perfect, and this makes them quite inflexible. Dragons usually set up extremely high rules and standards to live by.</b></em> </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span color="windowtext"><a href="http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/Dragon%20Zodiac.html">http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/Dragon%20Zodiac.html</a></span></span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Green Wood Dragon</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">This year, 2024, as noted before, is the Year of the Green Wood Dragon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Because dragons are a strongly associated with fire, and wood feeds fire, being born as a Wood Dragon sign is of particular upheaval and unmitigated self-assertion since the fire element is seen as exaggerating -- quite literally inflaming -- some of the more extreme tendencies for those born under the sign of the Dragon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">For example, one less appreciated characteristic of Dragon sign people is the belief that they are quick-tempered and unable to see things easily from others’ perspectives. Wood magnifies this tendency. As journalist <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3245039/year-dragon-2024-predictions-personalities-and-wood-elements-meaning-next-lunar-new-year" target="_blank">Lily Zi explains in the South China Morning Post:</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><b>Wood represents vitality and creativity, while the dragon is related to success, intelligence and honour in Chinese culture.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><b>This combination makes people born in the Year of the Wood Dragon full of energy and drive. They dream of changing the world and are good at coming up with innovative ideas and implementing them. They are perfectionists and will not give up on their goals easily.</b></i></div></div></blockquote><p>Let's point out here that the <i>South China Morning Post </i>is a reliable and serious newspaper. This should be taken seriously by any reader as this is not the reporting of a professional fortune master. Still, keep in mind that it is primarily Western others outside of Asia who fail to take the professional fortune tellers and horoscope masters seriously. Hundreds of millions in East Asia honor these forecaster.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As noted earlier, each animal in the Asian zodiac also has an association with one or more of the Wu Xing cycle of the five traditional Chinese elements of metal, wood, fire, water and earth. While the dragon has elements of fire, it is actually governed by the element of wood (which gives life to fire). Since in the Wu Xing cycle fire increases the dragon's traits, M<a href="https://medium.com/@thechinesezodiac/is-wood-dragon-good-or-bad-710afcbce34c" target="_blank">aster Steven Chen explains in Medium Magazine, </a>on the positive side:</span></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><b>The combination of Wood and Dragon creates a dynamic and energetic personality that is always ready for action and adventure. Wood Dragons are optimistic, enthusiastic, and adaptable. They are not afraid of change or challenge. </b></i></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On the negative side, though, Master Steven Chen warns:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><b>Wood Dragons can be impulsive, restless, and impatient. They can act without thinking or planning ahead. They can also be overconfident, arrogant, and stubborn. They can have a hard time admitting their mistakes or accepting criticism</b></i></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dragon Compatibility With Other Signs</b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></span> <br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Dragont people are liked -- even adored -- by most. Dragons, though, favor those who follow them. As <a href="https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/dragon/love-compatibility.htm#:~:text=According%20to%20Chinese%20zodiac%20compatibility,when%20choosing%20a%20life%20partner." target="_blank">Brenda Lian </a>notes:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><i><b>People of the Dragon Chinese zodiac sign are usually in a passive situation, for they will not pursue others actively.</b></i></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">While Dragon people get along well with anyone -- regardless of sign -- who follows him with their expected adoration, they dislike those who stand up to them or refuse to follow them. This means that the stubborn Ox people are often in opposition to Dragon people. Also possibly problematic are Dog people. As Dog people are by nature cautious, they often feel uncomfortable with the Dragon's impulsivity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Famous Dragon People</span></b></div></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div>Rabbit People's natural leadership and charisma results in a high number of Dragon people who are leaders. The Dragon's self-confidence -- the strongest of all Zodiac signs -- results in Dragon people who are groundbreakers in the arts, music and entertainment. That same self-confidence leads dragon people to be well-represented in the martial arts and battle.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Famous Dragon People: Leaders</b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiy_Ahmed" target="_blank">Abiy Ahmed</a>, Ethiopian Prime Minister, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Nobel_Peace_Prize" target="_blank">2019 Nobel Prize winne</a>r later turned authoritarian civil rights abuser </div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idriss_D%C3%A9by" target="_blank">Idris Déby</a>, Chadian revolutionary and dictator of Chad from 1990 until his death in 2021</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Xiaoping" target="_blank">Deng Xiaoping</a>, Chinese ruler known as the "Architect of Modern China," who opened PRC to world trade</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara" target="_blank">Che Guevera</a>, Argentine Marxist revolutionary </div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Harris" target="_blank">Kamala Harris</a>, first Asian and first African American US Vice President</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson" target="_blank">Boris Johnson</a>, UK Prime Minister and overseer of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit" target="_blank">Brexit</a></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr." target="_blank">Martin Luther King, Jr</a>. greatest of all US Civil Rights leaders</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis" target="_blank">John Lewis</a>, US Civil Rights leader and politician</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin" target="_blank">Vladimir Putin</a>, Russian President</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Sharon" target="_blank">Ariel Sharon</a>, Israeli Prime Minister </div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirimavo_Bandaranaike" target="_blank">Sirimavo Bandaranaike</a>, Sri Lankan President and world's first elected (1960) female head of state</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Famous Dragon People: Arts, Music and Entertainment</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adele">Adele</a>, English singer-songwriter</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou" target="_blank">Maya Angelou</a>, US author, poet and civil rights activist</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Basie" target="_blank">Count Basie</a>, US jazz pioneer, pianist and bandleader</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert" target="_blank">Stephen Colbert</a>, US satirical social commentator and TV show host</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Cumberbatch" target="_blank">Benedict Cumberbatch</a>, English Academy Award-winning actor</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD" target="_blank">Salvador Dali</a>, Spanish surrealist artist</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Hancock" target="_blank">Herbie Hancock</a>, US jazz composer and keyboardist, founder of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-bop" target="_blank">post-bop</a> and main contributor to<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_fusion" target="_blank"> jazz fusion</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon" target="_blank">John Lennon</a>, English singer, songwriter, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles" target="_blank">Beatles</a> co-founder and social activist</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pryor" target="_blank">Richard Pryor,</a> US actor and comedian, listed #1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time stand-up comedians </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna" target="_blank">Rihanna</a>, Barbadian singer, songwriter and founder of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenty_Beauty" target="_blank">Fenty Beauty</a> company</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers" target="_blank">Fred Rogers</a>, US creator and host of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers%27_Neighborhood" target="_blank">"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Tezuka" target="_blank">Osamu Tezuka</a>, Japanese animator called "the Father of<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga" target="_blank"> Manga</a>"</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol" target="_blank">Andy Warhol</a>, US artist and leading figure of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_art" target="_blank">pop art movement</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Famous Dragon People: Sports and Martial Arts</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin" target="_blank">"Stone Cold" Steve Austin</a>, WWF wrestling great</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Belichick" target="_blank">Bill Belichick</a>, NFL coach with most Superbowl wins (six) of all time</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee" target="_blank">Bruce Lee</a>, Hong Kong martial arts great, founder of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeet_Kune_Do" target="_blank">Jeet Kune Do</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Lloyd" target="_blank">Earl Lloyd</a>, First black <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association" target="_blank">NBA </a>player</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Norris" target="_blank">Chuck Norris</a>, US martial artist and actor</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_art" target="_blank">Ronaldo</a>, Brazilian soccer player, generally considered second only to fellow countryman Pele</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9" target="_blank">Pele</a>, Brazilian soccer player, generally considered the greatest soccer player of all time</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Famous Dragon People: Business</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Ka-shing" target="_blank">Li Ka-shing</a>, Hong Kong billionaire, co-chair of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CK_Hutchison_Holdings" target="_blank">CK Hutchinson Holdings </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koch" target="_blank">David Koch</a>, multibillionaire president of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch_Industries" target="_blank">Koch Industries</a>, and libertarian activist</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Boone_Pickens" target="_blank">T. Boone Pickens</a>, multibillionaire financier known for his corporate raider actions</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Famous Dragon People: Thinkers and Innovators</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Akerlof" target="_blank">George Akerlof</a>, US behavioral economics researcher, winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics, known for his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Market_for_Lemons" target="_blank">"Market for Lemons"</a> concept of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_asymmetry" target="_blank">information asymmetry</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Robert_Oppenheimer" target="_blank">J. Robert Oppenheimer</a>, US physicist, director of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project" target="_blank">Manhattan Project</a> and "father of the atomic bomb"</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Yunus" target="_blank">Muhammad Yunus</a>, Bangladeshi founder of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grameen_Bank" target="_blank">Grameen Bank,</a> pioneer of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcredit" target="_blank">microfinance</a>, conceiver of the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunus_Social_Business" target="_blank">social business</a>" and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: large;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Asian Zodiac Briefly Explained</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The Asian Zodiac (or horoscope) associated with the Asian or Chinese New Year is taken very seriously by those who follow it in their tradition. The significance attributed to the combinations associated with the Asian horoscope affect business decisions, dates selected for important events such as weddings, and many other aspects of daily life. These views are widely shared, with a larger following than any single religion -- Western or Eastern. As a result, these beliefs should be treated with the respect accorded a religious belief (rather than with that of superstition as Western astrology is sometimes treated). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><b style="font-size: large;">The Lunar Calendar </b><br /><div style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Because the Asian lunar calendar follows the moon, it seems to move within our solar-based Gregorian calendar. Moreover, the Gregorian calendar does not correspond fully with the Asian lunar calendar. Thus, <span> February 10</span> marks the beginning of the Asian lunar calendar only this year (it will, for instance, begin on January 29, 2025 </span>with the last day of the Year of the Dragon falling on January 28, 2025). </div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><br /><b>The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The lunar calendar runs on a cycle of 12 years each represented by an animal. The animals all have a balance of compatibility or incompatibility as represented in their place in the circle of the 12-year cycle. </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">This year is the Year of the Dragon.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">The 12 Animals of the Zodiac</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The 12 animals in their order are </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><ol style="font-size: large; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Rat </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Ox </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Tiger </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Rabbit </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Dragon </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Snake </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Horse </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Sheep </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Monkey </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Rooster </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Dog </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Pig</span></li></ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Each animal corresponds to a month of the lunar year. The dragon corresponds to the fifth animal in the cycle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>The Five Elements of the Wu Xing Cycle</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Additionally, each 12-year cycle of animals runs on an additional cycle corresponding to the Wu Xing cycle of the five traditional Chinese elements. These are </span></div><ol style="font-size: large; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">metal</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">fire</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">wood</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">water</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">earth</span></li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AotFAAEkksJ5j1l3H-rH_vx98LAYnmm8ANHc4etOb_ZWNOpQyz32oyFX3QWAPLzCQXDmGvNoNzQ4yta9FuUDRsVl7dwbn5BI7M_wjbolxiO_XS0y7aaikVlTqTxgybzMsu-SOLA8nsyn/s1600/5elements290x175en.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AotFAAEkksJ5j1l3H-rH_vx98LAYnmm8ANHc4etOb_ZWNOpQyz32oyFX3QWAPLzCQXDmGvNoNzQ4yta9FuUDRsVl7dwbn5BI7M_wjbolxiO_XS0y7aaikVlTqTxgybzMsu-SOLA8nsyn/s400/5elements290x175en.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">The Five Elements</td></tr></tbody></table></ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /> <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The elements are in balance with each other, the basis of much of<em> feng shui</em>. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><div style="text-align: left;">Each element is also associated with a color. In the case of water, that color is black (or blue). </div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Combined, each element combines with each animal over a period of 60 years. </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">The current 12-year cycle combines with the element of Wood.<b> </b></span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-weight: bold;"><i>Thus, this year is the <b>Year of the Green Wooden Dragon. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgipaf5Sed4AnlFyQEx9goHbnBF9BgR6ICAoRwzZ07WqcRfLDftr5byeKrLQjKj7vFU0iTfE8PGpq0YHtcQIPJ9RNrY_fx8b6Y59n98Y5HhUwayPqM2xR84tnDjSva-58-vQAhplPJbgxXF_lkZXCNuyKnQqqvLh4BSjAgmXiwVvMpbi3uQfR2PXqZ8h_/s1000/Wooden%20Dragon.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgipaf5Sed4AnlFyQEx9goHbnBF9BgR6ICAoRwzZ07WqcRfLDftr5byeKrLQjKj7vFU0iTfE8PGpq0YHtcQIPJ9RNrY_fx8b6Y59n98Y5HhUwayPqM2xR84tnDjSva-58-vQAhplPJbgxXF_lkZXCNuyKnQqqvLh4BSjAgmXiwVvMpbi3uQfR2PXqZ8h_/w400-h224/Wooden%20Dragon.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium;">Spiritual Importance of the Asian Horoscope</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""></span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Many followers of the Asian zodiac have <i>a formal religious belief</i> in the importance of the animal element combinations associated with each year in the 60-year cycle. This is clearly the case for those practicing Taoism. One should approach the Lunar zodiac as one would approach a spiritual practice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>The Taoist Tradition</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; clear: both; font-size: large; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" /></a><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">For Taoists, the New Year is always of religious significance. This because in Taoism, the Lunar New Year's first day is a time when lesser deities or spirits are believed to ascend to the throne of the Jade Emperor (King of Heaven). </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">In Taoist tradition, the 12 animals were in a contest to greet the Jade Emperor; a 13th animal – the cat – was tricked by the rat (about five variations of how exist), which explains why cats have hated rats ever since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">A children's version of this story is told in a very pleasant rendition at the Topmarks education site. I encourage you to take a look at this version at <a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.asp<b>x</b></a></span></span></span></span></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s1600/zodiaccolor.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s200/zodiaccolor.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>The 12 Zodiac animals </strong><br /><strong>in their race</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The Buddhist Tradition</b></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The New Year is a religious event as well for a great number of the sects of Buddhism, and most famously for Tibetan Buddhists. In Buddhist tradition, the 12 animals were in a race to do honor to Lord Buddha on the eve of his death. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>East Asian Folk Beliefs</b></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"> East Asian folk beliefs are a broad grouping of folk practices that range from deeply-held religious traditions )to popular practices rooted in the local cultures. These practices are widespread, and have a far greater reach than those who claim a specific faith (Taoism or Buddhism) to those who claim a different belief or no belief at all. In Chinese, these have perhaps a dozen names such as "Chinese ethnic religion" or mínjiān zōngjiào (族宗教) or Shenxianism or shénxiān jiào (神仙教). In Mongolian, these practices are known as Tengrism or reverence of Tengri (the Mongolian name for the Jade Emperor). In Korean, the Great Race is included in the Han'guk sinwha or Korean mythological narratives associated with Shindo (신도) ith, followed as folk practices not only by Buddhists and those claiming no religion but even among some Christian groups as a local custom. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">The strength of these folk beliefs is often difficult for those in Europe and the Americas to understand. A counterpart to the range of adherence to these folk religions put in the context of Europe and the Americas would be the broad grouping of deeply-held religious beliefs as "Protestant" despite being separate faiths (e.g., Baptist, Unitarian, Methodist) to popular non-Christian but deeply-held semi-religious traditions (e.g., folk religion) practices rooted in the local culture such as Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree, the Easter Bunny, etc. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">Additionally, though Confucianism is not technically a religion (but rather a philosophical system), its followers also traditional observe the Lunar New Year to show reverence to their ancestors. Because of this, even Christians and practitioners of other faiths in such countries as Korea, Bhutan, Mongolia or Vietnam generally celebrate the holiday. The same holds true for those people in cultures with strong Confucian customs who have no religion at all or for those with mixed traditions.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><b>The Role of the Dragon in the Great Race</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In all of the traditions, the arrival of the animals was the same in order. In other words, in all traditions, the ox arrived second even though seeming at first to have won the race. Unable to swim across the great river at the end of the race, the rat had promised to guide the near-sighted ox in return for clinging to the ox's back across the torrent. Once safely across, though, the rat never dismounted and instead scampered onto the ox's nose to claim first place. The place order of each zodiac animal in the Great Race is significant. All 13 animals (including the cat who arrived after the race ended) had to pass over land and water to reach the Jade Emperor/Lord Buddha. </span></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium;"><div style="border: medium;">The dragon took fifth place in the Great Race. The dragon was the only one among the animals in the Great Race that could fly. Yet the dragon flew down only in fourth place, The Jade Emperor was surprised, saying that he expected the dragon to come in first. The Jade Emperor asked the dragon what had happened that a creature with the gift of flight would arrive in fourth. The dragon explained that he paused to make rain for people and animals he saw that were thirsty (in Asian tradition, dragons are water creatures). After this, the dragon explained, he saw a helpless, little rabbit sitting on a log stranded in the great barrier of the river (read about the rabbit's version of <a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2023/01/sunday-january-22-begins-year-of-rabbit.html" target="_blank">the story from last year in the post on the Year of Rabbit here</a>). The breeze moved the log ashore that the rabbit had taken as good luck was, in fact, the puff of air from the dragon who had taken pity on one whom he had thought to be helpless. This puff of air was what enabled the rabbit to reach the Jade Emperor in fourth place. </div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium;">The Jade Emperor praised the dragon, granting him not only fifth place but the most leadership qualities and charisma of all of the animals. Geomancer Thierry Chow (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/chinese-zodiac-predictions-2024-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank">interviewed by CNN, Feb. 9, 2024</a>), notes that “It’s believed that the Dragon represents strong and great leadership." </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Past Years</span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">For more on the special impact, beliefs and predictions for the Zodiac animals since 2012, please see my posts from each year at</span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><br /><ul><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2023/01/sunday-january-22-begins-year-of-rabbit.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Rabbit: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2022/02/year-of-black-water-tiger.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Tiger 2022: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2021/02/year-of-white-metal-ox-2021-some.html">Year of the White Metal Ox 2021: Some Background</a></li><li>Year of the Metal Rat 2020 (no article that year)</li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2019/02/year-of-brown-earth-pig-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Pig 2019: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-fire-dog-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Dog 2018: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-fire-rooster-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Rooster 2017: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Monkey 2016: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/12/year-of-goatsheepram-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Sheep/Ram/Goat 2015: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Horse 2014: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Snake 2013: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Dragon 2012: Some Background</a></li></ul><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">For me, this year is particularly noteworthy as it represents the full 12-year cycle. In other words, the very first of these blog posts for me began with the Year of the Dragon (the Black Water Dragon in 2012).</span></span></div><div><br /></div><b>2)</b> <b style="font-style: italic;">Business Impact </b></span></span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-style: italic;"></b>In years past, I have posted separately in the business effects from travel to special editions of coins, stamps and gifts for the Lunar New Year around the world. I have not had the chance to do so this year. You may find the posts from 2012-2019 of value in giving an idea of this. Here is the post from the </span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><ul><li>Year of the Black Water Tiger 2022 (no article that year)</li><li>Year of the White Metal Ox 2021 (no article that year)</li><li>Year of the Metal Rat 2020 (no article that year)</li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Pig 2019: Business and Political Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Dog 2018: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-rooster-2017-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Rooster 2017: Business and Political Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Monkey 2016: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-sheep-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Sheep/Ram/Goat 2015: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Horse 2014: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake-business-impact_22.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Snake 2013: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Dragon 2012: Business Impact</a></li></ul></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Clip Art Sources:</span></strong></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">Zhang Hongfu (2004) Dragon Zodiac Figure. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Toledo Museum of Art, own photo</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Dragon, Parking Lot, Chinatown, Philadelphia, own photo<br /><br />The 12 Animals of the Zodiac: <a href="http://www.great-printable-calendars.com/image-files/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif">http://www.great-printable-calendars.com/image-files/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The 5 Elements: <a href="http://www.5elements.ch/img/5elements290x175en.gif">http://www.5elements.ch/img/5elements290x175en.gif</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Munmu of Silla portrait: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Munmu_of_Silla.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Munmu_of_Silla.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emperor Hirohito: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Korean Dragon at Positive Traits: </span><a href="http://www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com/cart/photos/14422.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com/cart/photos/14422.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chen Rong's dragon, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nine-Dragons1.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nine-Dragons1.jpg</span></a><br /><br />Green Wooden Dragon: Japan Times: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/01/02/lifestyle/year-of-the-dragon/">https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/01/02/lifestyle/year-of-the-dragon/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Yin Yang animation: <a href="http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html">http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html</a><br /><br />The 12 Zodiac animals in their race: <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'">http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'</a> <br /> <br />The Yellow Emperor: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Yellow_Emperor.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Yellow_Emperor.jpg</a> <br /> <br />Peter Paul Rubens' St. George and the Dragon: <a href="http://www.illusionsgallery.com/St-George-Dragon-Rubens.html">http://www.illusionsgallery.com/St-George-Dragon-Rubens.html</a> <br /> <br />Bronze dragon at Hall of Benevolence: <a href="http://www.greatcommission.com/china/2002020.jpg">http://www.greatcommission.com/china/2002020.jpg</a></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-41833024891165607242023-11-12T16:27:00.006-05:002023-11-12T16:27:44.807-05:00Diwali 2023<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOimEthlnd8uxH1Ksf4lCmBdX1aaul0pula8JQc-YVC87fHjyMyhCVO7LEkIS-adw8jhVd0jqtmK_3mKZ-1v-Pzx-8TGwW0wtZKqiERjHCD8mHjThIiC1_zQDVb8NPO-e8fyJPTyaQbZF/s200/Happy+Divali.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div dir="ltr"><div style="clear: both;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">As part of my ongoing announcements of religious observances, please note that </span></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">f</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">or 202</span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">3</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">, the Hindu, Jain and Sikh celebration of </span>Diwali<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"> begins </span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">today</span></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">on </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"></span>F<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">riday November 10</span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"> </span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">with Dhanteras </span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">and will continue for five days through </span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Friday November 14 with Bhaj Dooj</span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">, with the most important celebration falling on the third day, </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">Sunday, November 12. </span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">The festival of </span>Diwali<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"> (also called </span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Deepavali, </span>Divali<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">, Devali and -- in Nepal -- Tihar or Swanti) is the most important holiday in the Hindu calendar. It is also an important holiday for Jains and Sikhs. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">For most people, the holiday should not affect class or work attendance, but may be observed by many students who practice one of these three religions.</span><br /><br />Diwali<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"> marks the last day of the Hindu calendar. The holiday can last up to five days and celebrates (at least in part) the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. In much of India (and especially in the North), the business community starts their financial new year with the holiday, and it is the beginning of the fiscal year. </span><br /><br />Diwali<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"> is celebrated throughout the Hindu world, regardless of region (which is not always the case for other holidays). </span>Divali<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"> is an official holiday not only in India and Nepal which both</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"> <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">h</span></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">ave</span></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">majority Hindu populations, but also in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Guyana, Mauritius and Fiji.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkJEbbozfNagZEqqV-A1-Id7boLidA2kodJOym8U39MoIP2D2bGrFXpxwwmvRGHeudaExnL-mcyq-5YumfxP88LGwKIBwmwuSJ1uAu1n_WMDdQ4TUUaI0HUHq-jAE2kkuuvhyphenhyphen9eUedfnJ/s1600/diya.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>Diya</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6XplvO8q0aQmTOiVzYeyHMAUPEh1qiVeN_EcZWJ6vcm2DtYgnOeCwVlis_0jv9wBckhfKaAYBo4KQ7o_zmf-DmkxuGTa-APCbS98VdRnbw2pf04kNvcdBIg__Nc_yDNCQxlUXoh-r5sB/s1600/Laxmi+footprints.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Laxmi's footprints</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Various traditions for celebrating Diwali include lighting of oil lamps (diyas or jyothis), setting off of firecrackers, exchanging and eating decorated sweets, gathering at people's holiday-decorated homes in celebration and visiting Temples. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In different parts of India, the holiday is marked by the giving of gifts of new utensils (especially cooking utensils), wearing of new clothes and/or the cleaning and painting of homes or workplaces. Many cities and towns also hold Diwali melas or open-air fairs during Diwali. For most Hindu traditions, Laxmi (or Lakshmi), the goddess of prosperity is especially revered on Divali. With homes with children, people often leave female footprints on the floor after the children have gone to sleep so that when they wake up they will see that the goddess Laxmi has visited the home in the night.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzc1Pj2nRXJ8tXtDzLAGOpqbnu6LxkM7vaEieoXsEWfXz4bfpVHIO_Bn2PjgPNsoQBAybqSSP18st4HeKNdr91J9Bo5uIsMZjtq02yIrphL10Ks2uV8WCUGd-SGt4jCs1L_FbgC6lSwKS/s200/IMG_1408.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>Gulab jaman</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special foods are often eaten. Some of these are widely eaten throughout India. For instance, regardless of region, it is customary to eat things that are sweet such as gulab jaman, which is usually made of milk dough soaked in rosemary, sugar syrup and cardamom. A recipe for gulab jaman can be found at:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/<wbr></wbr>0,1613,158184-243192,00.html</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, specialties made with cashews or pistachios are also widely eaten for Diwali. In much of India, delicacies are made from Lord Krishna’s favorite food Poha (also called Foav or Pauva) which is pounded semi-cooked sweetened rice and eaten on the second day of the festival. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other Diwali food specialties are more regional. For example, in much of the north of India, people eat patandas made of flour, unprocessed sugar cane and ghee as well as poodas (or mal poohas) made of flour and sugar syrup and eaten with chutney. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyzG2cH_4zFxyFLjKnvc1wJPgxK_GI_bIR1UwFa98jyDh29goxZi9bNNXLzN1VOdD6xysqItrk__Nwqny19KNoqMCdQWhIBFHoKjwCb5ou1z0pzWQIepZgB3MVjvA0BREJmLu6hSaO1J4/s200/250px-Sel_Roti.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Sel roti</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Nepal, the traditional treat for Tihar (the Nepali name for Diwali) is called sel roti. Made of rice flour, milk and ghee and (depending on custom) flavored with cardamom or clove, the sel roti is somewhat like a thin, circular doughnut. Many Nepalis exchange sel roti with one another as gifts throughout Tihar. A recipe for sel roti can be found at </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.indobase.com/<wbr></wbr>recipes/details/sel-roti.php</a> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the far south of India, many sweets are eaten leading up to Diwali and into the first day, notably those made from honey and unprocessed sugar cane. </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZuAfqqytqTfVbeDxbozz3x53muNqX0bVdZKjLdv4tMclzo8UHIRWFq6MK6wWXW_kIoWcW4yGMN4qYMFU223AW6DpKjNqozvVrpDeNuRASDCV8UUiUGmrBGsryjlJVSQRDjaBJUMduyRQ/s200/AQ2IGZWCA7IAOMDCAFGEYUCCADJL733CAWYQ9VOCASP5PFYCAR67HGNCA7LX2KVCAIM9U2CCA3KQMJTCAJ54EIQCAEPWWU7CAZ0X8IGCAUKXKCOCANKRQ5VCA5ZHA1CCANJQL3OCA63LS0KCABM2CUFCAWVBL9D.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Mawa Kachori</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Maharashtra a special mix of cane sugar and coriander seeds is customarily eaten on the first day<b>.</b> In Rajasthan, many people traditionally begin the holiday by eating Mawa Kachori, a puffed pastry made with sweetened evaporated milk (mawa) and nuts. A recipe for Mawa Kachori can be found at: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.manjulaskitchen.<wbr></wbr>com/2011/10/15/mawa-kachori-<wbr></wbr>puffed-pastry/</a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Religious Significance Diwali</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiH36C2LHsl-5UyuHsMl2GdaK_DFrPTTJ1foML-6sWfm9uGowy2o5Yx7D8rWXAK9zOUAk37kHMhRwKgDGVwWIuIfsGJC1_5445woX7aQ2Ktn-mWSGQbBf1ttZGO0uxjUkP5Fwly627iwMp/s320/800px-Krishna_Narakasura.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lord Krishna defeating Narakasura</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York</span></b> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Hindu Traditions </b></div><p><b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></b><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></b></div><p><b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></b>Diwali has three main Hindu religious stories attached to it. While some Hindu traditions have other associations as well, these three are the most widespread.<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">First (and especially in South India), the holiday of Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, and so the victory of good over evil. Narakasura -- himself a son of Vishnu -- had become power-crazed, overwhelming Indra and other Vedas. He also became horribly abusive to women, enraging Krishna's wife Stayabhama and her relative Aditi. At the pleading of the Vedas and Aditi, Krishna attacked the demon. Riding on the battle-eagle Garuda, Krishna withstood various attacks from the armies of Narakasura, then withstood the thunderbolts and trident attacks of Narakasura himself. Krishna then used his discus to behead the demon king. Before dying, though, Krishna was asked to celebrate the anniversary of his death as a holiday, to which Krishna agreed. As a result, the first day of Diwali is celebrated as such. <br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_EoKGHQA5629wPO43cmp3fT-74f1f6u-DVaApVBTYeGjUotEN9Me4oo7Gx04dv7-xvGTB5FByAdVkJ7o-3mpxY0fP_yi-o5y3RgAlQGrcnorbvGxVDjtRC14f5MWIgd67_t9FSbRwV9/s200/rama_defeating_ravana.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rama defeating Ravana</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Second (and especially in North India), Diwali celebrates the return after 14 years of exile of King Rama and his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. The holiday marks their return after a war in which King Rama killed the demon Ravana. Because it was dark as they returned, people lit oil lamps to light their way and thus the link of light over darkness. <br /><br />Third, in Bhavishyottara and Bramhavaivarta Purana holy writings, Diwali is associated with Daitya king Bali, who is allowed to return to earth once a year.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>The Significance of the Five Days</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><h2 style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin: auto 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For Hindus, each of the five days carries a different significance. The first day throughout India is customarily dedicated to honoring Dhanavantri (also called </span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">Dhanvantar</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">), the physician of the gods and the source of the Ayurveda (in Sanskrit, “the complete knowledge for long life”). Because of its association with Dhanavantri, the first day of Divali is often known as Dhanteras and includes the ritual lighting of oil lamps and veneration of the goddess Laxmi in her owl form. As with most pujas, Lord Ganesha – the deity who removes obstacles – is given honor at the opening of the holiday.</span></span></h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611670000&usg=AOvVaw2pv1db0LjxQzDraiTrv-qI" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianVXhOWAhnYJlSOGmQnjFVm_DPoX71lJq0FsLu4S6KB4aE_odV74XJynM1eY0vgCWpQlklz3sbXndDc7ncEOHRzMziyu-fBwUp9o14bfMB17DnGx8WNb6kGhHYxXJ1eawC5Ch8gNi8-1F/s200/dplus4.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Deepdaan</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p> <br /></p><h2 style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin: auto 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In many Hindu traditions, the first day of Diwali includes the ritual of Deepdaan in which worshipers light oil lamps for each member of their family and for often for their ancestors then set them afloat (usually) in a river or pond. Another Hindu tradition practiced in much of India is the giving of gold and jewelry gifts to bring about prosperity, making Diwali a major day for jewelers. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">In northern India and Gujarat, many Hindus celebrate Yamadeepdaan in which lamps are dedicated to the god of death Yamraj (or Yam) and kept lit all night long. In the far south of India, many Hindus celebrate the days leading up to Diwali as Asweyuja Bahula Thrayodasi, dedicated to the god of finance Lord Kubera in which shop owners whitewash their business, recite a special mantra to Lord Kubera and give coins to honor the goddess Laxmi. </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In West Bengal, Diwali coincides with the Puja Kali. While the rest of India honors Laxmi on this day, in West Bengal, Hindus honor Kali the Destroyer goddess of time and change</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_vm3HhNQ4-nCUjDDAk0HfvtORgBSWyv9CO1v-IW3lA3HTZ1zkaaVp7dczd9ObzNGIZ8Kp8rvH73-EhqKrfexv-SVNCOAPeVzOnEAZA33tkCrfWFjkrLAEHgNuS0bErK4IHAeSGCXuJGc/s320/fireworks-017.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Diwali fireworks</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For many Hindu traditions, the second day of Diwali often begins with ritual bathing before the sun comes up, with anointing of oil and scrubbing of the body with ubtan (a mixture of fragrances with grains or rough flour). In West Bengal, as part of the Puja Kali celebrations, the second day is observed as the day the goddess Kali destroyed the demon <span style="color: #2c2c2c;">Raktavija</span>. Regardless of tradition, this is the traditional day for cracking open crackers (of the sort used in Britain on Christmas Day) and for setting off firecrackers. Many areas have major firework displays on the second day of Diwali.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38bRxquUfye9nqgqO4E3_TkGjrva8WeuI5z83zCsbk69lpax_imOMO95UpioqQ6A9axY9ZW9lzC6QNJuRSrd9HK2H3fG5W1jB7sx5o1HsMU1CHKfvfhnCg5lh5LEk-WrrzFxcdV6_wu0H/s200/Dayananda_Saraswati.jpg" width="160" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Swami Dayananda Saraswati</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">The third day of Diwali for most Hindu traditions centers on the veneration of Laxmi. That said, the third day of Diwali also marks the anniversary of the death in 1883 of the founder of the Arya Samaj Hindu Reform Movement Swami Dayananda Saraswati. The followers of the Arya Samaj therefore often mark the day as a day of remembrance for <span style="font-size: small;">Swami Dayananda Saraswati.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpep57GV-4fYEH6TjoQWp0g8yNAPzOhleVW7rQ7LIehVENegr-Ber60H9kRyZl0EnX50tS3jWD6vBZ-5odB7TZZZ_fcvaJM_hmPlTipc-auJqEcL4S5QYotx2enwppsnK-r-2kHbbvMaj/s200/Lord+Krishna+lifting+Gorvadhan.jpg" width="134" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lord Krishna </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">lifting Gorvardhan</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fourth day of Diwali is celebrated in many Hindu traditions with a special <span lang="EN">Govardhan Puja</span>. This puja commemorates Lord Krishna’s defeat of the rain god Lord Indra by lifting Govardhan Mountain. Some interpretations (there are many variations) explain that Lord Krishna needed to defeat Lord Indra because the rain god had become too arrogant and filled with self-pride. In doing so Lord Krishna taught worshipers to pray to more than just the rains by embracing the whole of nature. This celebration is <span lang="EN">also called Annakut</span> (literally meaning “pile of grain”) because people in many parts of India decorate a mountain of grain symbolizing Govardhan <wbr></wbr>Mountain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the fifth Day of Diwali comes the Bhai Duj or Bhai Teeka, a final day of celebration. On this day traditionally, brothers visit the houses of their sisters to honor them and bring gifts. Sisters in turn feed their brothers special delicacies. The celebration commemorates the visit on this day of the death god Lord Yama to his twin sister Yami (also called Yamuna or Yamini), the first woman. Lord Yama gave his sister a special gift that whoever visited her on this day would be cleared of sins.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Diwali in Jainism and Sikhism</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned earlier, Diwali is not only practiced by Hindus. It is also a holiday for Jains and Sikhs. </span></div><p><wbr></wbr> <br /><b>Diwali Traditions in Jainism</b><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QFKutxWwD13q_S2lL84w39g9GYH0WuVEur1kJXqnJrK7C2BTVODzWs_QZTlzNYVEpNyyl1EN0qVB5mcJPrCaX40SKrGc0S5pfNliDkLnuhZNJfgjyVfxqETqJJd09oZ7deV7CuFpoK1/s1600/MAHAVIRL_small.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Lord Mahavira</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p> <br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Jainism, Diwali is of particular significance. Jains, like Hindus, celebrate the holiday not only as the beginning of their New Year and as a time for a fresh start. Importantly, though, Jains also celebrate the holiday as the anniversary of Moksha (the attaining of nirvana) of Lord Mahavira, the founder of the religion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /><b>Diwali Traditions in Sikhism</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />In Sikhism, Diwali is celebrated as a commemoration of the release from prison of the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. When Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor succeeded his father -- the famously religiously tolerant Akbar the Great. Although he was not a particularly devout Muslim, Jahangir felt threatened by the non-Muslims in his empire, including the Sikhs but also many Hindus. As a result of his concerns regarding the Sikhs, Jahangir arrested Hargobind's father, the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev. Jahangir tortured Guru Arjan Dev for five days before having him killed. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiXXBtWKBwamV8tKZeSOvt5x4DqKUhuXrXkbOO2wluSfxeXVxQlGJc03VTu2e7TeNq7bqIaRO0m1zCAXNTlHpY6W1D9JLVgcuPaSjQiG8xD7A0qEfBjJNZMbdAb2rDPWIjCSeCiAuxnp2/s320/Bandi-Chhorh-Divas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji </b><br /><b>and the 52 Hindu Kings</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>At this point, the young Hargobind -- only eleven years old at the time -- became the sixth Sikh Guru. Jahangir arrested the young Guru Hargobind but did not kill him as he had killed his father. Instead, Guru Hargobind was imprisoned (along with 52 Hindu kings) at Gwalior Fort. He remained there from 1617 until Diwali of 1619 when Guru Hargobind and the Hindu kings were freed. It is this release from imprisonment that the Sikhs celebrate at Diwali. The holiday is commonly called Bandi Chorh Divas or Prisoner Release Day.<br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Concluding Remarks</span></b><br /><br />This overview of Diwali is meant only as a very superficial summary. Also, nothing written here is meant to be an indication of one way or another as the proper or correct way to worship. This is meant solely as an attempt to provide a layperson's quick summary of Diwali. <br /><br />Because there are literally hundreds of separate traditions for celebrating Diwali, I could only cover a few here. Please do feel free to share any of your own traditions that I have not covered.<br /><br />Whatever your tradition, Happy Diwali! <br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO-4d6koSWCdbdSIV6OiJOt-WTkP3BGye6Wy6raoIwOTTYYWbTIT6YhVLT4WJ-wwlGtitdkH0aNEQPNdCVBl3mYKgieW7pTSfn6mtkAJPZq4aCT8ts0uLInnawZjL_aobbT3hWxlqUI6E/s200/diwali_lamp.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Want to learn more?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Hindu traditions, you may wish to look at</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.<wbr></wbr>indiatimes.com/diwali/<wbr></wbr>eventcoverage/10244929.cms</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.diwalifestival.org/<wbr></wbr>diwali-traditions-customs.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.hindu-blog.com/<wbr></wbr>2008/10/yamadeepdaan-diwali-<wbr></wbr>yamdeepdan.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.indiaexpress.com/<wbr></wbr>faith/festivals/dhistory.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://festivals.iloveindia.<wbr></wbr>com/diwali/index.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Sikh tradtions and the story of Guru Hargobind, turn to</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/<wbr></wbr>sikh-festivals/the-sikh-<wbr></wbr>festivals-divali-bandi-chhorh-<wbr></wbr>divas</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.sikhs.org/guru6.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/<wbr></wbr>guruhargobind.asp</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Jain traditions, turn to </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.jainuniversity.org/<wbr></wbr>diwali.aspx</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/<wbr></wbr>nikhil-bumb/jain-perspective-<wbr></wbr>diwali_b_1032617.html</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources</span></b></div></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Opening "Happy Diwali" clipart: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.101kidz.<wbr></wbr>com/holidays/diwali/clipart.<wbr></wbr>html</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Gulab jaman: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://3.bp.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/_fBH-XI0AzsQ/TNQfq0Y4lpI/<wbr></wbr>AAAAAAAAAso/nRsvSBVcM7M/s1600/<wbr></wbr>IMG_1408.JPG</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Sel roti: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/<wbr></wbr>wiki/Sel_roti</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Mawa Pachori: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>manjulaskitchen.com/2011/10/<wbr></wbr>15/mawa-kachori-puffed-pastry/</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Lord Krishna defeating the demon Narakasura: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://en.<wbr></wbr>wikipedia.org/wiki/File:<wbr></wbr>Krishna_Narakasura.jpg</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Rama defeating Ravana: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.les-108-<wbr></wbr>upanishads.ch/images/rama_<wbr></wbr>defeating_ravana.jpg</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Deepdaan: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>tribuneindia.com/2011/<wbr></wbr>20110203/dplus4.jpg</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Diwali fireworks: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://3.bp.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/_M9ckjS8Bq4Y/<wbr></wbr>TMBnxBGYtMI/AAAAAAAADp0/<wbr></wbr>NQ5WceUnRl8/s1600/fireworks-<wbr></wbr>017.jpg</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Lord Krishna lifting Gorvardhan: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>graphics18.com/wp-content/<wbr></wbr>uploads/2009/10/govardhan_<wbr></wbr>puja.jpg</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Swami Dayananda Saraswati: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.4to40.<wbr></wbr>com/images/photo_gallery/<wbr></wbr>Dayananda_Saraswati.jpg</a></span></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;">Lord Mahavina: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>jainworld.com/photos/m.asp</a></div><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"> </div><p>Release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and the 52 Hindu Kings: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://jattsingh.com/<wbr></wbr>wp-content/uploads/2011/10/<wbr></wbr>Bandi-Chhorh-Divas.jpg</a><br /></p><div style="border: medium; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Closing clipart <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"> </a><u><span style="color: blue;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018%23&source=gmail&ust=1699910611671000&usg=AOvVaw0jHsI0UDMesC3PPPz3uYoD" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2248235783981054018#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://openclipart.<wbr></wbr>org/image/800px/svg_to_png/<wbr></wbr>164947/diwali_lamp.png</a></span></u></div><div class="adL"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;" /></div><div class="yj6qo" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-12636046717951512402023-09-13T12:01:00.008-04:002023-09-13T12:01:56.502-04:00Rosh HaShanah 2023<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span>For<span class="gmail_default"> </span></span></span><span><span style="color: #313131; word-spacing: 1px;">2023, the Jewish New <span style="color: black;">Year, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, begins tonight Friday<span class="gmail_default"> </span>September 15<span class="gmail_default"> </span>at sundown <span class="gmail_default"></span></span><span style="color: black;">and concludes at sunset -- depending on practice -- either o<span class="gmail_default">n</span> Saturday September 16<span class="gmail_default"> </span><span class="gmail_default"></span></span>or<span class="gmail_default"> Sunday</span><span class="gmail_default"> September 17. </span><span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default"></span>For Orthodox and Conservative Jews, the holiday lasts for two days concluding at sundown on September 17. M<span class="gmail_default">any</span> Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, however, observe the holiday only for one day (so for them, the holiday would conclude at sundown on <span class="gmail_default">September 16</span>).</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb62WFj5hh5j_OB2Wb26l_h1aNvnMY4FPVCmjyeZaBAbjwESx_jOkTEUBB-w7Zmd16-iQRr3KWQvt5CIYknBl-ypCmALP_kx-lX2kNt9BtLNztkqUAIkOlFsAJKJC39BV_IKi_Z4lMycT/s200/Rosh-Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.jpg" width="200" /></a>While definitions vary as to levels of practice from person to person, work is prohibited during the holiday. For Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, this is defined generally as no manner of work whatsoever (including school, telephone use, email, Internet surfing, etc.)<span class="gmail_default"> during</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"></span>HaShanah</span>. <br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span><span class="gmail_default"></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span>Because some Jews observe only one day, it is easy to make the mistake that the second day is not as important to those Jews observing both days. But for Conservative and Orthodox Jews, the two days are equally important and indeed can be understood as a single very long day. <br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><h2><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: 1.5rem;">The Jewish New Year and Its Significance</b></span></h2></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is the Jewish New Year; the Hebrew means “Head of the Year.” The upcoming new year is 57<span class="gmail_default">84 </span>in the Jewish reckoning. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br />Unlike the secular New Year, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is a very solemn day as it is the day Jews ask God for forgiveness for sins of the past year. Perhaps the only similarity to the secular New Year is that many Jews make resolutions to lead a better life in the coming year. Most of the day is spent in the synagogue or temple. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Together with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) which occurs 10 days later (beginning this year on September 24 at sunset), <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> forms part of what are called the High Holy Days. The days between <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> and Yom Kippur are known as the <span lang="EN">Yamim Noraim</span> (or “Days of Awe”) which act as days of repentance. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Generally speaking, the High Holy Days are the most important days of observance in Judaism. Among observant Jews, traditionally, the weekly observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays is the most important Jewish holiday. In practice, though, for many Jews who do not regularly attend weekly Sabbath services, the High Holy Days often take place of prominence. (Please note that I am in no way attempting to take a stance on what is or is not proper observance for any religion in these updates, but rather simply trying to make the general community aware of the various religious practices as they affect activities for employees, students or others). </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>While <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, like all Jewish holidays, appears to wander in the secular calendar, this is only because the secular calendar is not consistent with the Jewish calendar. In the Jewish calendar, though, the holiday actually occurs on the same day of the Jewish calendar. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br />Interestingly, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>does not occur at the beginning of the Jewish calendar; rather, it occurs on the first two days of Tishrei, the <i>seventh </i>month (not the first). This seeming inconsistency rests in the Jewish concept of four different yearly cycles described in the Jewish Talmud. <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span><span class="gmail_default"> </span>represen<wbr></wbr>ts the new year for relationships among people (including legal contracts) as well as for animals. The day marks the anniversary of the sixth day in the Creation story in which God created Adam and Eve, the first people. There is considerable variance among Jews as to whether this anniversary of the creation of humankind is viewed as the literal date or simply a symbolic anniversary. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>In the Jewish Torah (first five books of the Bible), the name “<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh </span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>” never appears for the holiday. Instead, the Torah refers to the holiday as either the Zi<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">k</span>aron Terua or “remembrance of the blowing of the horn” (as in Leviticus 23:24) or as the Yom Terua or “day of the blowing of the horn” (Numbers 29.1). Even in the Jewish liturgy of prayers used for the<span class="gmail_default"> </span>day, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>Rosh</span><span class="gmail_default"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"></span>HaShanah</span> is generally referred to either as the Yom HaZikaron (the “Day of Remembrance”) or the Yom HaDin (“Day of Judgment”).</span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">The Shofar</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEGJfLizSs-SfrISivVTODzuGi1kps7TrcSNTii01gkwcUBQGkrMy-nI9PePANdxOA2SF-E4lPgtqeeOzIrRzid1dhhDgYz1c5tabjswOTtdblPn03cBAtpU9HxOrsZZ4C37bCi9gvr-B/w171-h171/1330976499_Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-35-45cm-L.jpg" width="171" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> Ram's horn shofar</b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>The horn referred to above is called a shofar. The blowing of the shofar is a central part of the religious observance of the holiday of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span> (and concludes the service on Yom Kippur).</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Traditionally among Jews of Eastern and Central European origin, the shofar is made from a ram’s horn. This is also the majority choice among the Jews of the United States, Canada and Australia. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Among those Jews using a ram's horn, one of the associations of the ram's horn is with the Biblical story of the ram that appeared to Abraham at the binding of Isaac in the Book of Genesis:</span></p><blockquote><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><i>And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.</i> <wbr></wbr> -- Genesis: 22:13</span></p></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjtICsnJQBa8OVoMNuWnHexEigYzEU46AAeaJRhOv4NNeEMZR_K0mb1nKFXeu8GGO6KOzRF8Eabj9Db0_a-dLlgRPSk5nIxX2xMlj0PzTpYStgoRj90qIBl8h2VHa1LuFrk8WK-Loc3hO/s320/Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><b>Yemenite kudu horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>That said, other animal horns such as those of antelopes are allowable. In fact, among Yemeni Jews, the shofar is customarily made from the long, curlicued horn of the kudu antelope. This was also the practice among the Jews of Iraq for centuries until their expulsion in 1951<span class="gmail_default">, following the founding of the state of Israel</span>.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinix91hyphenhyphencM8ZqPKlyRVu3EAfLLwpcfOoOOcfYwEtkM8ygMpe9O3apXpadMrCMMcywD7_yyvD1UxVpcjS5kd7HvczqyuHPf69RHswuuqAWLJN9tpnkw-kx47wKbCAktw5ngI-e77cACaQz0/s200/goat+horn+shofar.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><b>Goat horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Among Italian Jews, the preferred shofar is made from a goat's horn. This was also the custom among the Jews of Spain before the Alhambra Edict which expelled them from the country in 1492 (it was only formally rescinded in 1968). In the years following the expulsion, thousands of Spanish Jews took this custom with them to the Low Countries and the New World where they had fled. As a result, today the goat's horn shofar is common in the Netherlands and present among some communities in South America. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGudfVi6ou_6XzYcip8SDyt454iS9tdJ1dxM3n9SFDmafXz1mE-3AZneCxFG8d1FeeDL8PGtFPpcqTtGsFBKyisVtKfyazpT7-lqg9JyCD8Y-zH2U5zCKm-1PPEObvtLM6TMoGmWON9OXE/s200/moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><b>Oryx horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many Moroccan Jews today blow a shofar made of an oryx horn (where it has long been the traditional horn used) However, some Jewish communities use an oryx horn as a way of remembering the suffering of the crypto-Jews of Iberia. Among the roughly 200,000 <i>conversos</i> (those who had converted before the expulsion eliminated that option in Spain or had been forcibly converted in Portugal in 1497) who remained in Iberia, several thousand continued to practice as secret Jews. The appropriate term for these people is crypto-Jews or secret Jews (and not as <i>marranos </i>meaning "pigs" in the Spanish of the time and <i>marrãos </i>which still means "pigs" in modern Portuguese). Among crypto-Jews, the preferred shofar was made of the long and totally straight horn of the oryx. This shape allowed them to carry the shofar surreptitiously held by their belt and down their trouser leg. </span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Taschlikh</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuJs-f3ejELCX4qD2-SjoNclK7CzZ_HcgWCOrE4P5mb1Eh6cveOwhI-1ZprmlYTdb7z2mCiuac5xkYxA9s1b0GqZ5dT0zKPr1BvWDOWStwyOWIbiOdtKNBkW6wDfJij7lY7zO7ZUAevoN/s200/tashlit-006.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Waterside <i style="font-size: 0.8rem;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">T</span>aschlikh</i> ceremony</b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span>On the first afternoon of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, Jews traditionally participate in the Taschlikh <span class="gmail_default"></span>ceremony. The name comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to cast."</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>In this ceremony, Jews carry bread crumbs to a stream, river or other naturally flowing source of water. There they say prayers asking to “cast their sins into the waters” with the bread crumbs symbolically representing the sins.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;"><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> Foods<br /></span></b></p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, as with many holidays, is usually marked by eating traditional foods. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWzyH3VfHwfG2j0AuUljojzO4zyzUp88Z9KDYhvHCP7z4Cz3FVeC8OmD9D-_z_GfqWQ4r5q2SSTpgjohINJpaHIRZ0LlEydAuSGwTn-ATCG7OGbmyfDztkQXZ7e9XmGranievOvoyTcaa/s1600/25649.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span>Round Challah</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>One of the foods most associated with <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is <span class="gmail_default">a</span> round challah<span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default">.</span></span><span><span class="gmail_default"></span>The traditional Jewish bread used on holidays is called challah. Challah used each week on the Jewish Sabbath is normally baked in long, braided loaves. On <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span>, though, the challah is made in totally round loaves. The circle of the loaves represents the continuation of life (which is part of the central prayers of the holiday). </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySrqfaiAiip0km2kyUFccobXNbiddproUBOJx48py6wcZNt6z_X8H-LauhdDc7U4oG_QLhdDYiX2DVnXngUGtVx36VMsS5qC1wTm8rmqfIAXUpldBCmaKkzsqQDCQLalQS49w1fZegduQ/s200/1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span>Apples and honey</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Another notable food tradition for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span><span class="gmail_default"> </span>is the eating of apples dipped in honey. This represents a wish for a sweet and abundant year to come with the honey standing for sweetness and the apples for abundance. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqg92oo_etXNLdiM7AKTFfMB4J6JqiMrTyEr8kIHb1Km11ar7peqB7QzBGDNlf42opDxF-QX5Qiea3MLyzIWkJqO47-Gd1-OjfK6rI19fJEKnMPNs4jpxKgp1mPNnFgisEPOUR6DffrYE/s200/pomegranate.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span>Pomegranate</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>For many Jews (especially among Orthodox and Conservative Jews), on the second day of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> people eat a fruit that is new to the season. This allows Jews to say a prayer of thanksgiving (called the <i><span lang="EN">shehechiyanu</span></i>) for being allowed to reach a new season. A common choice for this fruit is a pomegranate since (in folk tradition) that fruit has 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments in the Torah. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7lZAzCJU_WIZcwf0um5FeiL900Qs8t3GTr7nWJnrb9BIHk0XPXK26maPCfcMqMYRFo64LpfTnzSsSSwfW8qBimIYaRQBvi6lbPFhbOaa6soqFjAg_63AFO5ulZeyY4Q3RzPcO3capoqM/s1600/Sea+bass+with+honeyed+apples.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span>Sea bass with honeyed apples</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Finally, in some Jewish traditions, it is customary to eat fish on <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>. In this custom, the fish plays two symbolic roles. First, since the fish’s eyes are always open, it symbolizes total awareness. Second, because fish are plentiful, the meal represents the wish for a fruitful and plenteous year to come. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Because of the dipping of apples in honey, honey or apples (or both) is often used to prepare the fish. For example, one recipe for sea bass with honey and apples can found a<span class="gmail_default"></span>t<span class="gmail_default"> the "All Recipes" site at</span>:<br /></span></p><br /><p style="margin: 0px;"> <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BfWJJH1-B-7xo4r3pt7rZnRtn1PpAsvpml77fqGD1v9Z05ffoHL4fMC0Q7qByrKMWTGq1hoYq9H7l0jk9xXtoTfYJ36HAYLhwvOpoZvaldvzQxvBr4gT6_O-PmTbz1hkTp84H2rxkBAU/s200/applecake1.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span>Traditional <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>Apple Cake</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Finally, desserts and other sweets are an important part of the festive meal, symbolizing a wish for a sweet year to come. These too tend to emphasize the traditional pomegranates, apples and especially honey. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Among the most typical <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span> desserts is the honey or apple cake. A recipe for <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/our-best-sea-bass-recipes/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShana<span class="gmail_default"></span>h<span class="gmail_default"> </span></span>apple cake can be found at </a><span class="gmail_default"><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/our-best-sea-bass-recipes/" target="_blank">the "My Jewish Learning" site </a><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Conclusion</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>The simplest traditional greeting for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is <i>L’Shanah Tovah</i> (May you have a good year). The response back is the same. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Many other greetings are also used among Jews during the holiday and the Days of Awe between it and Yom Kippur. One common such greeting is <i>L’Shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim</i>. This means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." This refers to the belief that one asks to be inscribed in the Book of Life on <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> and that this be sealed in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur. Using this greeting may be said in English, and its use would show a significant understanding of the holiday. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This is meant only to be informational and not to indicate that one or another practice is or is not acceptable. Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br />I wish you all a <i>L’Shanah Tovah</i>!<br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">David A. Victor, Ph.D.<br /></span></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Professor of Management and International Business</span><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">College of Business<br />Eastern Michigan University<br />Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 USA</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank"></a><i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Mexico: An Intercultural Approach</a></i><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-japan" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Japan: An Intercultural Approach</a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-brazil" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Brazil: An Intercultural Approach</a><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Conflict-Management-Communication-Skills-Approach-dp-0205272940/dp/0205272940/ref=dp_ob_title_bk" target="_blank">Conflict Management: A Communication Skills Approach</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Author:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/International-Business-Communication-Victor/dp/0673460916/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"> International Business Communication</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Editor-in-Chief, <i><a href="http://commons.emich.edu/gabc/about.html" target="_blank">Global Advances in Business Communication Journal </a> </i></span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="word-spacing: 0px;" /></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1QV62JySLCFeMu8s7iOl3B2J9yqRAPAuju8S8TgUodZKv4dnBlPlg5uvIyDF1TEvsUW8oKPRTna0SKxlMRiAMalBFJyrNrTkwYcH26OyRUClws0bg4PzqHCmxbOqnv7o2u572trnWR4q/s320/L'+Shanah+Tovah.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Further Reading</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rabbi Raymond Apple, Oz Torah, "A Guide to the <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>services"<span class="gmail_default"> <span class="gmail_default">ret<wbr></wbr>rieved September 18, 2020</span></span>:<span class="gmail_default"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.oztorah.com/<wbr></wbr>2010/08/a-guide-to-the-rosh-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">ha<wbr></wbr>shanah</span>-services/</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barsheshet Rebak <span class="gmail_default">S</span>hofar <span class="gmail_default">M</span>akers, "Types of Shofars," <span class="gmail_default">retrieved September 18, 2020:</span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.shofarot.com/<wbr></wbr>index.php/the-shofar/<wbr></wbr>typesofshofars/</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chabad.org, "The High Holidays: <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span> and Yom Kippur"<span class="gmail_default"> <span class="gmail_default">retrieved September 18, 2020</span></span><span class="gmail_default"></span>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.chabad.org/<wbr></wbr>holidays/JewishNewYear/<wbr></wbr>template_cdo/aid/4830/jewish/<wbr></wbr>How-is-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>-Observed.<wbr></wbr>htm</a><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Irene Connelly, "</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">No streaming, no singing: here’s how High Holidays will work in Modern Orthodox synagogues<span class="gmail_default">," <i>The Forward</i>, August 7, 2020, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/<wbr></wbr>search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=<wbr></wbr>Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+<wbr></wbr>streaming</a></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinka Kumer, "What is Taschlikh?"<span class="gmail_default"> Chabad.com retrieved September 18, 2020:</span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.chabad.org/<wbr></wbr>holidays/JewishNewYear/<wbr></wbr>template_cdo/aid/564247/<wbr></wbr>jewish/What-is-Tashlich.htm</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default">Tracey Rich, </span> "<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>"<span class="gmail_default"> Judaism 101, 2020</span>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.jewfaq.org/<wbr></wbr>holiday2.htm</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ariela Pelaia, "What is <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span>?<span class="gmail_default"></span>"<span class="gmail_default"> </span><span class="gmail_default"><i>About.com/Judaism</i>, January 25, 2019,</span>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://judaism.about.<wbr></wbr>com/od/holidays/a/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">roshhashanah</span><wbr></wbr>.htm</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adam Reinherz, "Shofar blowing strategies revamped to address COVID-19 concerns," <i>Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, </i>September 8, 2020, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://jewishchronicle.<wbr></wbr>timesofisrael.com/shofar-<wbr></wbr>blowing-strategies-revamped-<wbr></wbr>to-address-covid-19-concerns/</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Torah.org, "Seven Questions People Ask About <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>,": <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><wbr></wbr>roshhashanah</span>.torah.org/<wbr></wbr>learning/yomtov/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">roshhashanah</span>/<wbr></wbr>survival2.html</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rabbi Randy Wise, "Understanding the High Jewish Holidays of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span> and Yom Kippur" <span class="gmail_default"><i>Torah.org</i>, </span>retrieved September 18, 2020:<span class="gmail_default"> </span><a href="https://torah.org/learning/yomtov-roshhashanah-survival2/" target="_blank">https://torah.org/learning/<wbr></wbr>yomtov-roshhashanah-survival2/</a><span class="gmail_default"><wbr></wbr> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Clip Art Sources</b></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Opening clip art image with shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://wallpapers.<wbr></wbr>dgreetings.com/images/<wbr></wbr>wallpapers/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">hashanah</span>/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<wbr></wbr>Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.<wbr></wbr>jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ram's horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>shininglight.eu/shininglight.<wbr></wbr>eu/originals/1330976499_<wbr></wbr>Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-<wbr></wbr>35-45cm-L.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yemenite kudu horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.shofarsfromafar.<wbr></wbr>com/files/742858/uploaded/<wbr></wbr>Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goat's horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>noahsarkwinston.com/bible_<wbr></wbr>land_gifts/22232</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;">Blowing shofar above synagogue entrance, </span><span style="text-align: center;">Congregation Beth Shalom, Pittsburgh </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://jewishchronicle.<wbr></wbr>timesofisrael.com/shofar-<wbr></wbr>blowing-strategies-revamped-<wbr></wbr>to-address-covid-19-concerns/</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oryx horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://3.bp.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/_mK6JpKiBQHM/R6x0yqUaLjI/<wbr></wbr>AAAAAAAAADQ/_OE8moz7i6k/S240/<wbr></wbr>moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tashlikh: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://sank63.files.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/2008/09/tashlit-<wbr></wbr>006.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Round Challah: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://allrecipes.<wbr></wbr>com/HowTo/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>/<wbr></wbr>Detail.aspx</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;">Apples and honey: </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="word-spacing: 1px;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>ingenieriaypaisajismo.com/<wbr></wbr>uploads/posts/2011-05/<wbr></wbr>1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg</a></span></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-48096713518882003642023-01-21T17:04:00.007-05:002024-02-09T17:49:42.735-05:00Year of the Black Water Rabbit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0zZcSn9x4st_P3gETTj0lDP6V7XM85iqULUjMQlJvLDvt7I9ZvhhPlJdIl5L7_dlf3Ds50ADheWogh88gwWyEGdMQrDyEoi-nOvGRVl465mc3BMHJNHZ_LlNElRsaaWSpsLtcYxx8uzorM4SvL7VevEozQXaRxLcV1YfDAfBmSCPaDrLh3n8E_n1yqA=s450" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span>Sunday, January 22, begins the Year of the Rabbit.</span><span><span></span> It is the beginning of the year 4720 (in some traditions, 4721) in the Asian lunar system, which is the Year of the Black Water Rabbit. <br /></span><p></p><p></p><div><div><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3UBHs9LG6jA6tHk5rYMSiv7rK8SIWQ8iFaRQ1yGq5v0j0UCXxbhIhtssgOqJ6KZRfUFBGSuSpUq4P_4gbhymQFMVMlRFsGYBGTlIrovsQEa8vXctPKWnRz8ah3JcC5hihB6TBht58P1aH4Y1k_tt-b8qXBoO5poCyHkxRUHe5wXhLGOVQ1AFBuQeUA/s800/Year%20of%20water%20rabbit.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="800" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3UBHs9LG6jA6tHk5rYMSiv7rK8SIWQ8iFaRQ1yGq5v0j0UCXxbhIhtssgOqJ6KZRfUFBGSuSpUq4P_4gbhymQFMVMlRFsGYBGTlIrovsQEa8vXctPKWnRz8ah3JcC5hihB6TBht58P1aH4Y1k_tt-b8qXBoO5poCyHkxRUHe5wXhLGOVQ1AFBuQeUA/w213-h119/Year%20of%20water%20rabbit.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">In today’s posting, I would like to share with you some specifics about the Year of the Rabbit as well as some background to the Asian Zodiac system as a whole. Please note that the East Asian Lunar New Year is more than the Chinese New Year (CNY). It is </span><span>appropriate to refer Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) only when referring to the Lunar New Year as celebrated <i>in China</i>. Using CNY to refer to the whole range of cultures observing the Lunar New Year, though, discounts the millions of non-Chinese celebrations of the occasion. These include the Mongolian </span>Tsagaan Sar, Korean Seollal, Japanese Oshogatsu, and Bhutanese and Tibetan Losar and so on. For more on the general holiday of the East Asian Lunar New Year, please see my post </div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b><i><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html">One New Year: Many Traditional New Year Customs Around the World</a></i></b> </span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">For more on the special impact, beliefs and predictions for the Zodiac animals since 2012, please seem my posts from each year at</span></div><div><br /><ul><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2022/02/year-of-black-water-tiger.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Tiger: 2022: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2021/02/year-of-white-metal-ox-2021-some.html">Year of the White Metal Ox 2021: Some Background</a></li><li>Year of the Metal Rat 2020 (no article that year)</li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2019/02/year-of-brown-earth-pig-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Pig 2019: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-fire-dog-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Dog 2018: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-fire-rooster-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Rooster 2017: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Monkey 2016: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/12/year-of-goatsheepram-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Sheep/Ram/Goat 2015: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Horse 2014: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Snake 2013: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Dragon 2012: Some Background</a></li></ul><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>2)</b> <b style="font-style: italic;">Business Impact </b></span></span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-style: italic;"></b>In years past, I have posted separately in the the business effects from travel to special editions of coins, stamps and gifts for the Lunar New Year around the world. I have not had the chance to do so this year. You may find the posts from 2012-2019 of value in giving an idea of this. Here is the post from the </span></div><div><ul><li>Year of the Black Water Tiger 2022 (no article that year)</li><li>Year of the White Metal Ox 2021 (no article that year)</li><li>Year of the Metal Rat 2020 (no article that year)</li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Pig 2019: Business and Political Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Dog 2018: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-rooster-2017-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Rooster 2017: Business and Political Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Monkey 2016: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-sheep-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Sheep/Ram/Goat 2015: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Horse 2014: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake-business-impact_22.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Snake 2013: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Dragon 2012: Business Impact</a><br /></li></ul><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>3) Celebrations around the world. </i></b>Likewise in years past I have listed roughly 250 celebrations, parades and festivals held around the world outside of countries where the majority of the population celebrates the Lunar New Year. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic, these were mostly cancelled both in 2020 and 2021. Before the the pandemic, in the PRC alone, travelers for the<i> Chunyun</i> travel period made roughly 3 billion individual trips, with a dailky high in In 2020, that number had collapsed to roughly 1.5 billion trips -- to be sure still the largest movement of people for a single event that year, but a fraction of what it had been. The chart below from <a href="https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-02-18/Graphics-2021-Spring-Festival-travels-in-numbers-XYDfSGH0qI/index.html" target="_blank">Hu Xuechen (Feb. 18 2021) on CGTN</a> visually brings home the point.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggUIXoIJtbkV6blNb6iMNVfip6VzdISf1nnA56jgUo1nf8HspW0QLm6mxoYQONs1Krn_zK9RT9ABi-l4uz98Zo101dix8WEmE40Fd7fpu8D9mu1c8B2nDQB4IdLfoI9Kyh9elbDoTZVtBvUHXmLU9I20gayeaAt9T6ueL5JKgs_lntntTtMstTNjIm8w=s2052" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2052" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggUIXoIJtbkV6blNb6iMNVfip6VzdISf1nnA56jgUo1nf8HspW0QLm6mxoYQONs1Krn_zK9RT9ABi-l4uz98Zo101dix8WEmE40Fd7fpu8D9mu1c8B2nDQB4IdLfoI9Kyh9elbDoTZVtBvUHXmLU9I20gayeaAt9T6ueL5JKgs_lntntTtMstTNjIm8w=w358-h233" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div>To learn more of how this took shape in earlier years as well as a list of celebrations outside East Asia, here is the 2017 link as an example. for the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8696156483750470941?hl=en#" target="_blank">2017 lis</a>t.</div><div> </div><div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><b style="font-size: x-large;">The Asian Zodiac Briefly Explained </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The Asian Zodiac (or horoscope) associated with the Asian or Chinese Lunar New Year is taken very seriously by those who follow it in their tradition. The significance attributed to the combinations associated with the Asian horoscope affects business decisions, dates selected for important events such as weddings, and many other aspects of daily life. These views <b>are widely shared, with a larger following than <i>any single</i> religion</b> -- Western or Eastern. As a result, <b>these beliefs should be treated with the respect accorded a religious belief</b> (rather than with that of superstition as Western astrology is sometimes treated).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>The Lunar Calendar</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Because the Asian lunar calendar follows the moon, it seems to move within our solar-based Gregorian calendar. Moreover, the Gregorian calendar does not correspond fully with the Asian lunar calendar. Thus, <b>January 22 marks the beginning of the Asian lunar calendar only this year. </b>Last year in 2022, the Year of the Tiger began on February 1. For 2021, the Year of the Ox began on February 12. In 2020, the Year of the Rat began on January 25. Similarly, the Lunar New year began February 5 for the Year of the Pig in 2019; on February 16 for the Year of the Dog in 2018, J<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">anuary 28 for the Year of the Rooster in 2017; </span>February 8, 2016 for the Year of the Monkey, and so forth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The lunar calendar runs on a cycle of 12 years each represented by an animal. The animals all have a balance of compatibility or incompatibility as represented in their place in the circle of the 12-year cycle. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">This year is the Year of </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">the Ox, the last and 2nd animal in the cycle. </span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><b>The 12 Animals of the Zodiac</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The 12 animals in their order are</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rat</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Ox</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Tiger</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Rabbit</b></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Dragon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Snake</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Horse</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Ram/Sheep/Goat</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Monkey</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rooster</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Dog</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Pig</span></li></ol></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each animal corresponds to a month of the lunar year. <i>The rabbit, this year's governing animal,</i> <i>corresponds to the 4th animal in the cycle.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>The Five Elements of the Wu Xing Cycle</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Additionally, each 12-year cycle of animals runs on an additional cycle corresponding to the Wu Xing cycle of the five traditional Chinese elements. These are</span></div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">metal</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">fire</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">wood</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">water</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">earth</span></li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkzAJJfdsD-Y6Ctje80FfL7Nr9QXdCc69qI98HtYzA0aELp5WTnPAM7wKh7fABH4TbiHrjJmfIMFk05RxrQuBd0Njc1M6jniq7MGzsXr34bvk6N_AePJk1Ho-Dxby8sCquB_Of3jUHGoc/s1600/Wuxing_en.svg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkzAJJfdsD-Y6Ctje80FfL7Nr9QXdCc69qI98HtYzA0aELp5WTnPAM7wKh7fABH4TbiHrjJmfIMFk05RxrQuBd0Njc1M6jniq7MGzsXr34bvk6N_AePJk1Ho-Dxby8sCquB_Of3jUHGoc/s1600/Wuxing_en.svg.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Wu Xing Cycle</b></td></tr></tbody></table></ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN58JvC3Ro3UuPJmQgUPoGL5-bMoWY2OISL2FA9apCm0gA5chjpURHK-26C8icLi6HnjMpzDJPSHxv4gSb0ulQq6FBQxSordCySjlOKeKJsCrLjPGd7X26fYbvo_SA1XJ_kaCY1roWKAt/s1600/White+metal+ox.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The five elements are in balance with each other, the basis of much of</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>feng shui</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">.<i> </i>For this Lunar New Year, <i>the governing element is Water.</i></span></span></span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Combined, each of the five elements combines with each of the 12 animals that forms a 60-year cycle. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The current 12-year cycle<b> combines the Rabbit with the element of Water. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Each combination in the 60-year cycle has its own attribute, combining the animal of the "earthly branch" with the element of the "heavenly stem." This year the Heavenly stem is "kuei" (or gui) and the Earthly branch is "mao"-- with the "kuei mao" (<strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">癸卯) </span></strong>year, known as the "Rabbit Running Through the Forest." Each 60-year combination is considered highly unique, since -- at 60 years apart, the combination of a person's birth year is at once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Thus the last time we had a "kuei mao" year was 1963.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Finally, each element is also associated with a color. In the case of water, that color is black.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Thus, this year is the Year of the <b>Black Water Rabbit.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Spiritual Importance of the Asian Horoscope</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Many followers of the Asian zodiac have a formal religious belief in the importance of the animal element combinations associated with each year in the 60-year cycle. This is clearly the case for those practicing Taoism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Taoist Tradition</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" /></a><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">For Taoists, the New Year is always of religious significance. This because in Taoism, the Lunar New Year's first day is a time when lesser deities or spirits are believed to ascend to the throne of the Jade Emperor (King of Heaven). </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">In Taoist tradition, the 12 animals were in a contest to greet the Jade Emperor; a 13th animal – the cat – was tricked by the rat (about five variations of how exist), which explains why cats have hated rats ever since. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A children's version of this story is told in an very pleasant rendition at the Topmarks education site. I encourage you to take a look at this version at </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s1600/zodiaccolor.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s320/zodiaccolor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>The 12 Zodiac animals</b><br /><b>in their race</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: medium;"><b>Buddhist Tradition</b></div><div style="border: medium;"><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The New Year is a religious event as well for a great number of the sects of Buddhism, and most famously for Tibetan and Burmese Buddhists. In Buddhist tradition, the 12 animals were in a race to do honor to Lord Buddha on the eve of his death. </span></div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>East Asian Folk Beliefs</b></span></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium;">East Asian folk beliefs are a broad grouping of folk practices that range from deeply-held religious traditions )to popular practices rooted in the local cultures. These practices are widespread, and have a far greater reach than those who claim a specific faith (Taoism or Buddhism) to those who claim a different belief or no belief at all. In Chinese, these have perhaps a dozen names such as "Chinese ethnic religion" or <i>mínjiān zōngjiào</i> (族宗教) or Shenxianism or <i>shénxiān jiào </i>(<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 14.000001px;">神仙教).</span> In Mongolian, these practices are known as Tengrism or reverence of Tengri (the Mongolian name for the Jade Emperor). In Korean, the Great Race is included in the <i>Han'guk sinwha</i> or Korean mythological narratives associated with <i>Shindo (</i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 14.000001px;">신도) </span>ith, followed as folk practices not only by Buddhists and those claiming no religion but even among some Christian groups as a local custom. </div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium;">The strength of these folk beliefs is often difficult for those in Europe and the Americas to understand. A counterpart to the range of adherence to these folk religions put in the context of Europe and the Americas would be the broad grouping of deeply-held religious beliefs as "Protestant" despite being separate faiths (e.g., Baptist, Unitarian, Methodist) to popular non-Christian but deeply-held semi-religious traditions (e.g., folk religion) practices rooted in the local culture such as Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree, the Easter Bunny, etc. </div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Additionally, though Confucianism is not technically a religion (but rather a philosophical system), </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">its followers also traditional observe the Lunar New Year to show reverence to their ancestors. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Because of this, even Christians and practitioners of other faiths in such countries as as Korea, Bhutan, Mongolia or Vietnam generally celebrate the holiday. The same holds true for those people in cultures with strong Confucian customs who have no religion at all or for those with mixed traditions.</span></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium;"><b>The Role of the Rabbit in the Great Race</b></div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In all of the traditions, the arrival of the animals was the same in order. In other words, in all traditions, the ox arrived second even though seeming at first to have won the race. Unable to swim across the great river at the end of the race, the rat had promised to guide the near-sighted ox in return for clinging to the ox's back across the torrent. Once safely across, though, the rat never dismounted and instead scampered onto the ox's nose to claim first place. The place order of each zodiac animal in the Great Race is significant. All 13 animals (including the cat who arrived after the race ended) had to pass over land and water to reach the Jade Emperor/Lord Buddha. </span></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium;">The rabbit took fourth place in the Great Race. The rabbit's role in the Great Race exemplifies both its overconfidence and its ability to take advantage of good luck when it presents itself. The rabbit boasted that it was the fastest of the animals. The slow ox, with the rabbit's help, trained to increase its speed. The rabbit and the ox then made a pact that during the Great Race, the two animals would run together. On the day of the race, however, the rabbit broke its promise and raced far ahead of the ox. Looking back and, seeing that it was far ahead of the other animals, the rabbit decided to take a quick nap. When the rabbit awoke, it saw that it had fallen well behind many of the other animals. The rabbit then used its great speed to catch up. However, when the rabbit came to the bank of the great river, it realized that it could not swim across. Undeterred, the rabbit scanned the river and found the tips of stones sticking just about the water. The rabbit then nimbly leapt from stone to stone until it reached the middle of the river here the stones stopped. Here is when the rabbit's luck came into play, as just as the rabbit thought it would be stranded mid-river, a water-soaked log floated by. The rabbit jumped on the log which then washed ashore, with the rabbit on it. The rabbit's good luck notwithstanding, its ordeal of being stranded mid-stream affected its outlook thereafter. The result is that the rabbit from then on is conservative in action, preferring safety over a risky opportunity.</div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium;">When the rabbit sprinted to the finish line, it found that it had fallen into fourth place. Even the ox whom it had abandoned, had beaten him. The rabbit felt shame when the ox stared disdainfully down on the partner that betrayed it. The rabbit was so shamed that to this day it hides beneath the ground to avoid the condemning gaze. </div><div style="border: medium;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Chinese Astrology Not A Particular Accurate Term</b></span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The system discussed here is often called Chinese astrology. This is a misnomer for two reasons. First, the holiday is far more widely observed than in just China, especially in Korea, Singapore, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam as well as those from these backgrounds living in other countries. </span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7nQ4yPqrsoTodKooJiJE9CJKQXhEMCz-9aJuKgblkJcMLJrAyUjicl1f_sWeYH_y2fIEE2BF32sSG52k-Gnofe9A3QvtDymdOmY-zn-atpxssuvmguKcQFGFHZlVvgD0NlUQmTobj_qe/s1600/chinese-zodiac-signs-350px.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7nQ4yPqrsoTodKooJiJE9CJKQXhEMCz-9aJuKgblkJcMLJrAyUjicl1f_sWeYH_y2fIEE2BF32sSG52k-Gnofe9A3QvtDymdOmY-zn-atpxssuvmguKcQFGFHZlVvgD0NlUQmTobj_qe/s200/chinese-zodiac-signs-350px.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>East Asian lunar zodiac</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">That said, for all the culturally diverse places in which the Asian New Year is celebrated, the calendar on which it is based <i>does</i> have its origins in China. The first written records of the calendar and the celebration of the New Year date to China’s Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC), although traditionally it is believed to date back to the rule of the semi-mythical Yellow Emperor Huang Di around 2600 BC.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A second reason the phrase Chinese astrology is a misnomer is that the system really has nothing to do with constellations as astrology does in the West. It is less a reading of the stars than an interpretation of the importance of the time, date and year in which one is born. To the extent that when one is born matters to Western-style astrology, there is a correspondence. Moreover, there is another similarity as the five elements in the system, in fact, do correspond with the five planets known in ancient China.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9R0rl9_dRsVx1FprCZICZjLHKcmn2fCFzmzUHOe1hQrSYlEVn-3MEp9pu-LQpd_AnM9E8SkWOgVMP3p4KJvqToM7u6OhCZmJWcaSJXwbKDIWBzW-creUxVCCjuXXTP17S3KbnKhJiPRy/s1600/Zodiac+animals.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="359" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9R0rl9_dRsVx1FprCZICZjLHKcmn2fCFzmzUHOe1hQrSYlEVn-3MEp9pu-LQpd_AnM9E8SkWOgVMP3p4KJvqToM7u6OhCZmJWcaSJXwbKDIWBzW-creUxVCCjuXXTP17S3KbnKhJiPRy/s400/Zodiac+animals.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Tang Dynasty (8th Century), Shaanxi Archaeology Institute, Xian, China</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Because of these corresponding commonalities with Western astrology, many people call the Asian system’s combinations of animals and elements the lunar or Chinese “horoscope”. This is a bit of a misnomer, however, not only for the reasons just described but because the way in which people view the two “horoscopes” is very different. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The difference here is that many people (although with many exceptions) in Europe, Australia and the Americas consider the Western zodiac horoscope of star signs (Scorpio, Sagittarius, etc.) to be a form of superstition, a game or something believed only partially. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This is <b><i>NOT</i></b> the case with the Asian lunar horoscope cycle, where<i> people follow their sign very seriously. </i>As a result, the system, though it transcends that of any specific religion, s<i>hould be treated with the respect accorded religious beliefs.</i> In any case, the point here is that in a cross-cultural and inter-religious sense, the issue of lunar horoscope animal element signs should be treated with respect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Geomancy, Feng Shui and Zodiac Consultants' Influence</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The importance attributed to the predictions of the each animal affects business and political decisions for over one billion people. Among the notable masters, many have an influence among Chinese and other East Asian diaspora communities as well as a growing number of non-Asian adherents. Among the earlier populizers of East Asian zodiac forecasting were book authors such as Man-ho Kwok who published over a dozen books in English on the subject in the 1990s. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As the Internet grew and ties with East Asian business leaders became more intertwined, many other Masters grew in importance outside of East Asia. For example, the Trump organization and Donald <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/13/donald-trump-feng-shui-master-pun-yin">Trump himself relied on the guidance of New York-based Master Pun-Yin</a> in the building of Trump Tower. Canadian-based Paul Ng was notable already for a wide range of clients in 66 countries <a href="https://www.paulng.com/profileDtl.aspx">before his appearances</a> on US-based CNN in 2013, US-based Bloomberg TV and Canada's CTV in 2014 made him a recognizable figure thereafter to a wide audience. Likewise Hong Kong-based Grand Master Raymond Lo has had audience's well outside of China also appearing on the BBC, CNN, "Good Morning America" more. He has carried a wide following since his prediction of the fall of the USSR's <a href="http://www.raymond-lo.com/14519/biography">Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991</a> and the 2000 NASDAQ collapse. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><b>Personality Traits and Asian Astrological Year</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3gpZlr7wArjZn_hGKt0fYm9Zq-hjDJwW5R-8jwDT1bVWlRznHV8ULvm5DXUi3ubhm81TOuXH1vKMmZMpFUz0kWRqK17JX7nMIm_M-ucvFu9JdRP3TZcWsHPV9JyA1AUNAFvHZ4aUO-oDYgHDnW9rIkyxYyRwxkbE7jvfyvbfhM0kaNSphKuZBO7XWQ/s1878/Philadelphia%20rabbit%20marker%20PM.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1878" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3gpZlr7wArjZn_hGKt0fYm9Zq-hjDJwW5R-8jwDT1bVWlRznHV8ULvm5DXUi3ubhm81TOuXH1vKMmZMpFUz0kWRqK17JX7nMIm_M-ucvFu9JdRP3TZcWsHPV9JyA1AUNAFvHZ4aUO-oDYgHDnW9rIkyxYyRwxkbE7jvfyvbfhM0kaNSphKuZBO7XWQ/w200-h167/Philadelphia%20rabbit%20marker%20PM.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Year of the Rabbit sidewalk plate<br />Philadelphia Chinatown</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Many people attribute a great deal of significance to the personality traits attributed to the animal associated with the year in which they are born. These are not something that people take lightly.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each animal has its own traits, and then each animal and element combination has their own subtraits. These are explained later in the blog.</span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As with all Asian Lunar zodiac animals, Rabbit people have both positive and negative attributes. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Positive Rabbit Traits</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Rabbit people (and thus t</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">he effects of the Year of the Rabbit) are associated with a strong but steady approach. As <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html" target="_blank">Master Pun-yin</a> puts it: <b><i>"</i></b></span><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Rabbit is diplomatic and calm. Artistic, sensitive, and moody at times, the Rabbit is gracious, good mannered, and personable. The Rabbit is popular but frequently needs some alone time to recharge. Lucky in business and career, possibly because of their good negotiating skills. Rabbit can hide a cunning mind behind a placid exterior." </i>Some debate exists regarding whether Rabbit people are succeed because they are lucky or are lucky because they are conservative in their choices and are uncomfortable with risky enterprises.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rabbit people are famous for trusting their intelligence and imagination. They are innately creative while cautious in what they create. They thrive on maintaining a harmonious environment. As <span>Man-Ho Kwok in his book on </span><i>Chinese Astrology </i>puts it, Rabbit people <b>"instinctively want to create a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere... [making the Rabbit] a very hospitable host, attentive to the needs of others, ensuring that they do not feel isolated or neglected." </b> (p. 18) <b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepsUtDiMfarpboQYgkHFcJ4PI86GRLE_fkCF6ev3RIybSA-p67oNLGjwnUmSjHO5yYgM5LNxLeKydGJsRQUL7DGUnwq8zvgxaUBT7wjwD9A4TiXraH7BzhmS09y2A7TQgJb2-596rjdDNfv9w_gXVn6hbC1yoWEoCGXTxG4PgI_G0MKrHcIJoaL3igQ/s1400/Norton%20Museum%20Rabbit.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1400" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepsUtDiMfarpboQYgkHFcJ4PI86GRLE_fkCF6ev3RIybSA-p67oNLGjwnUmSjHO5yYgM5LNxLeKydGJsRQUL7DGUnwq8zvgxaUBT7wjwD9A4TiXraH7BzhmS09y2A7TQgJb2-596rjdDNfv9w_gXVn6hbC1yoWEoCGXTxG4PgI_G0MKrHcIJoaL3igQ/w273-h231/Norton%20Museum%20Rabbit.webp" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rabbit Pendant, <br />Western Zhou Dynasty, 10th Century BCE<br />Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">builds on this, noting that Tiger people:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"></i><blockquote><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">are excited by new challenges, unusual places, and unexpected events... Your attention is caught by the unpredictable, and while others may be cautious, you are not afraid to explore the potential in unlikely situations. </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(p. 16). </span></blockquote><p> </p></span><p>Finally, rabbits are considered beautiful... or in Japan, the quintessentially <i>kawaii </i>(adorably cute). Nowhere is this more apparent than in Kyoto's Okazaki Shrine, devoted entirely to enormously <i>kawaii</i> rabbits. </p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimy0TXlJgAeRnV3qnzwFHrqoHb3uLPKognVN4gcO4IygpnAwjKlGXKFQrq6A9wuSH01rl_xBFAT7bgEMMomM4mCxDP8bUkF0IREMlLdKh9hr8VmPwGawZcrvZEQc1o8BvQJktZzaaKJ1iBXWSL84FPDZRlg6QMt_U5kwQeG2qkdEIOeomYDlXShuKOKw/s390/Okasaki%20shrine%20rabbit.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimy0TXlJgAeRnV3qnzwFHrqoHb3uLPKognVN4gcO4IygpnAwjKlGXKFQrq6A9wuSH01rl_xBFAT7bgEMMomM4mCxDP8bUkF0IREMlLdKh9hr8VmPwGawZcrvZEQc1o8BvQJktZzaaKJ1iBXWSL84FPDZRlg6QMt_U5kwQeG2qkdEIOeomYDlXShuKOKw/w240-h320/Okasaki%20shrine%20rabbit.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Kawaii rabbit, Okasaki Shrine, Kyoto</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b>Negative Rabbit Traits</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The negative side of Rabbit people is the flip-side of their caution. As Moon-ho Kwok explains, Rabbit people are famously uncomfortable expressing disagreement or dissent:</span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">When faced with a dilemma or if you a just feeling low, you tend to keep your thoughts well hidden in the belief that it is not appropriate for you to make demands or force your opinions on others.</i> (p. 18)</div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Relatedly, Rabbit people tend to lack ambition and find safety in bureaucracy and other social safety nets.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Compatibility With Other Signs</b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></span> <br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Rabbit people are liked by most. The only sign incompatible with the Rabbit is the attention-seeking Rooster. All other Zodiac signs like and are liked by the Rabbit. The most compatible of all signs for the Rabbit are the Dog and the Goat/Ram/Sheep. The Dog's dependability and loyalty play well with the Rabbit's need for security, while the Rabbit's ability to soothe others' emotions puts at rest the jealousy common among Dog people. The Rabbit and Goat/Ram/Sheep work well as both are creative. The Rabbit makes the Goat/Ram/Sheep's dreaming and unrealistic fancies into a more conservative realm, while the Rabbit is inspired and amused by the Goat/Ram/Sheep's whimsical ideas and imaginative flourishes. Interestingly, even though the Rabbit betrayed the Ox in the Great Race, the two remain compatible because both crave security and planning ahead. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans"; font-size: 16px;"> <br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><u> </u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Famous Rabbit People</b></span></span></div><b> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><br /></div><div>Rabbit People's intelligence and creativity result in their disproportionate number in creative activities and areas of great intelligence and planning. Their ability to smooth over people's hurt feelings and maintain harmony also lead them into leadership roles. Their quick wit results in many comic actors and comedians. Finally, their athletic abilities and speed result in a great number of athletes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Famous Rabbit People Thinkers, Creators and Scientists </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie" target="_blank">Marie Skłodowska Curie</a>, Polish and French double Nobel Laureate, once in Physics (in 1903, the first ever to a woman in any field) and once in Chemistry (in 1911), who pioneered the field of radioactivity (a word she coined)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a>, German-born American physicist, Nobel Laureate and Creator of the Theory of Relativity</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Franklin_Hyde" target="_blank">James Franklin Hyde</a>, US inventor credited with creating the silicone industry </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoly_Karpov" target="_blank">Anatoly Karpov</a>, Russian Chess Grandmaster</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Kasparov" target="_blank">Garry Kasparov</a>, Russian Chess Grandmaster and political activist </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Leakey" target="_blank">Louis Leakey</a>, Kenyan-British Paleoanthropologist and archaeologist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._F._Powell" target="_blank">Cecil Frank Powell,</a> UK physicist and Nobel laureate, and discoverer of the pion subatomic particle </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith" target="_blank">Adam Smith</a>, whose <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations" target="_blank"><i>The Wealth of Nations</i> </a>founded capitalism and revolutionized the study of economics</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock" target="_blank">Benjamin Spock</a>, US pediatrician whose <i>Baby and Child Care </i>became the best-selling child care book of all time</li><li>John von Neumann, Hungarian American mathematician, early computer scientist (creator of the V<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_architecture" target="_blank">on Neumann architecture</a>_) inventor of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_universal_constructor" target="_blank">Von Neumann universal constructor</a> (the first self-replicating machine), and key figure in game theory</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Rongguang" target="_blank">Ye Rongguang</a>, China's first ever chess grandmaster</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Zener" target="_blank">Karl Zener</a>, US perceptual psychologist, creator of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_cards" target="_blank">Zener Cards</a> used to research extrasensory perception in a scientific setting</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Famous Rabbit People -- Business</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bezos" target="_blank">Jeff Bezos</a>, US founder of Amazon and multibillionaire entrepreneur</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_de_Givenchy" target="_blank">Hubert de Givenchy</a>, French founder of the Givenchy design house</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Lauren" target="_blank">Ralph Lauren</a>, US founder of the Ralph Lauren design house </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Jindong" target="_blank">Zhang Jindong</a>, Chinese multibillionaire entrepreneur and owner of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suning_Holdings_Group" target="_blank">Suning Holdings Group </a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhong_Naixiong" target="_blank">Zhong Naixiong</a>, Chinese founder and chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nenking_Group" target="_blank">Nenking Group</a> and multibillionaire entrepreneur </li></ul></div><div>Famous Rabbit People -- World Leaders and Politicians</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Brown" target="_blank">Gordon Brown</a>, UK Prime Minister</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej" target="_blank">King Bhumibol Adulyadej</a>, King of Thailand for 70 years</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro" target="_blank">Fidel Castro</a>, Leader of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution" target="_blank">Cuban Revolution</a> and Cuba's head of state from 1959-2008</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Mulroney" target="_blank">Brian Mulroney</a>, Canadian Prime Minister and signer of NAFTA</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunku_Abdul_Rahman" target="_blank">Tunku Abdul Rahman</a>, first Prime Minister of an independent Malaysia</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria" target="_blank">Queen Victoria</a>, Empress of the British Empire at its height of power</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Famous Rabbit People -- Writers</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns" target="_blank">Robert Burns</a>, Scotland's national poet</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnter_Grass" target="_blank">Günter Grass,</a> German novelist, playwright and Nobel laureate for literature (1999)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving" target="_blank">Washington Irving</a>, the first internationally recognized author from the newly independent United States, widely known for his stories <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Van_Winkle" target="_blank">"Rip Van Winkle"</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow" target="_blank">"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_James" target="_blank">Henry James</a>, US-British novelist who is considered the greatest writers in English whose works began what would become <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_modernism" target="_blank">literary modernism</a> and which focused on cross-cultural differences such as <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_(novel)" target="_blank">The American</a></i>, <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_Miller" target="_blank">Daisy Miller</a></i>, <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Portrait_of_a_Lady" target="_blank">The Portrait of a Lady</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wings_of_the_Dove" target="_blank">The Wings of the Dove</a></i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keats" target="_blank">John Keats</a>, English Romantic poet</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Melville" target="_blank">Herman Melville</a>, US novelist, author of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typee" target="_blank">Typee</a></i> and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick" target="_blank">Moby-Dick</a></i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell" target="_blank">George Orwell</a>, English anti-totalitarian novelist whose dystopian works such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm" target="_blank">Animal Farm</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four" target="_blank">Nineteen Eighty-Four</a> added phrases still in common use such as "Big Brother", "Newspeak", "Doublethink" and "Thought Police" among others</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Simon" target="_blank">Neil Simon</a>, US Pulitzer-Prize-Winning playwright and screenplay writer, with more nominations for screenplays (film and TV) than any other screenwriter (20, of which he won five) and 13 Tony Award nominations for theater (of which he won four), and was the only playwright to simultaneously have four plays running live on Broadway simultaneously)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman" target="_blank">Walt Whitman</a>, US poet and author of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass" target="_blank">Leaves of Grass</a></i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yashpal" target="_blank">Yashpal</a>, Indian writer considered among the most important Hindi writers of an independent India</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Famous Rabbit People -- Visual Arts</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yen_Shui-long" target="_blank">Yeng Shui-Long</a>, Taiwanese mosaic artist, sculptor and painter</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yip_Cheong_Fun" target="_blank">Yip Cheong Fun</a>, Singaporean documentary photographer, famed for his "Rowing at Dawn", the iconic photo of Singapore's independence</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol" target="_blank">Andy Warhol</a>, US artist who helped establish the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_art" target="_blank">Pop Art</a> movement, and whose 1964 <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-05-09/andy-warhols-shot-sage-blue-marilyn-sets-new-auction-record" target="_blank">"Shot Sage Blue Marilyn"</a> in 2022 sold at auction for $195 million, the highest amount ever paid for a 20th Century artist's or US artist's work </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright" target="_blank">Frank Lloyd Wright</a>, US architect who introduced the concept of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_architecture" target="_blank">organic architecture</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wataru_Yoshizumi" target="_blank">Wataru Yoshizumi</a>, Japanese manga artist best known for her <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handsome_na_Kanojo" target="_blank">Handsome na Kanojo</a></i> (Handsome Girl) and<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmalade_Boy" target="_blank"> Marmalade Boy</a></i> series</li></ul></div><div>Famous Rabbit People -- Athletes</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Beckham" target="_blank">David Beckham</a>, English soccer great</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Bueno" target="_blank">Maria Bueno</a>, Brazilian tennis great who, with 19 Grand Slam titles, is the most successful Latin American female tennis player</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig" target="_blank">Lou Gehrig</a>, baseball great, the first MLB player to have his uniform number retired </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan" target="_blank">Michael Jordan</a>, widely considered the best basketball player in history</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sharapova" target="_blank">Maria Sharapova</a>, Russian tennis great, Olympic silver medalist, and the only Russian to have won tennis' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(tennis)" target="_blank">Grand Slam</a> </li></ul></div><div>Famous Rabbit People -- Singers, Rappers and Musicians</div><div><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolio" target="_blank">Coolio</a>, US rapper best known for his <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsta%27s_Paradise" target="_blank">Gangsta's Paradise</a></i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bing_Crosby_discography" target="_blank">Bing Crosby</a>, US crooner and actor whose <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Christmas_(song)" target="_blank">"White Christmas"</a> is the best-selling single of all time (according the Guinness Book of World Records) with over 50 million sold</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye" target="_blank">Marvin Gaye</a>, US R&B singer songwriter known as the "Prince of Motown"</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday" target="_blank">Billie Holiday</a>, jazz great singer with four Grammy Awards and known as "Lady Day"</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston" target="_blank">Whitney Houston,</a> US singer and actress, among the best-selling female singers of all time with over 2 million records sold</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar" target="_blank">Kendrick Lamar</a>, US Grammy Award winning rapper, and first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for music (in 2018)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89dith_Piaf" target="_blank">Edith Piaf</a>, France's most-widely known chanteuse, whose signature song<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Vie_en_rose" target="_blank"> "La Vie En Rose" </a>is one of the most widely covered songs in music</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leontyne_Price" target="_blank">Leontyne Price</a>, US opera singer and first African American soprano to receive international recognition</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra" target="_blank">Frank Sinatra</a>, US best-selling singer and Oscar-winning actor</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(musician)" target="_blank">Sting</a>, UK singer, songwriter and actor with 17 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and four Oscar nominations</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Welk" target="_blank">Lawrence Welk</a>, US bandleader and TV variety show star</li></ul></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Famous Rabbit People -- Actors, Comedians, Directors and Filmmakers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Bergman" target="_blank">Ingrid Bergman</a>, Swedish actress with three Oscars, four Golden Globes and a Tony Award, often consider among the most influential actresses of all time</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ford_Coppola" target="_blank">Francis Ford Coppola</a>, US director and screenwriter, with 14 Oscars (out of 55 nominations) and 10 Golden Globes (out of 42 nominations), whose <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_(film_series)" target="_blank">Godfather trilogy</a> </i>remade the concept of crime movies</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Depp" target="_blank">Johnny Depp</a>, Golden-Globe-winning US actor</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Barrymore" target="_blank">Ethel Barrymore</a>, known as the "First Lady of American Theater" for her dominance of stage, radio and eventually movies in the first half of the 20th Century </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hope" target="_blank">Bob Hope</a>, UK-born US comedian and actor</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Jolie" target="_blank">Angelina Jolie</a>, US Oscar-winning actress and humanitarian activist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Pitt" target="_blank">Brad Pitt</a>, US Oscar-winning actor and producer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Poitier">Sidney Poitier</a>, Bahamian-born actor, who was the first black person to win an Academy Award (for 1963 Lillies of the Field) as well as an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 2001, winner of the 2009 US Presidential Award of Freedom and more</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Rogers" target="_blank">Will Rogers</a>, US comedian and social commentator</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welles" target="_blank">Orson Welles</a>, US actor, director, screenwriter and producer, whose first film, <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane" target="_blank">Citizen Kane</a></i> (1941) which he wrote, directed and starred in, is consistently ranked among the best films ever made</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Williams" target="_blank">Robin Williams</a>, US comedian and actor, winner of six Golden Globes, five Grammy Awards and two prime-time Emmy Awards with four Oscar nominations (including one win for <i>Good Will Hunting</i>)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnie_Yen" target="_blank">Donnie Yen</a>, Hong Kong actor, mixed martial arts master and director, who is among the most influential figures in Asian action films and often given credit for bringing mixed martial arts to a wide audience throughout Asia</li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever your outcome for the year, Happy Year of the Black Water Rabbit!</span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGcVaLkml_6DG8xi0r4Jak89xQsMrFoHQi20Wdc7aLDM2rkHy4rOoF3ZaL-aRwUkp6Zz3vCwgGDEzRl7q_pJbQ_eycZo6LlfRdFq5U2ZYaGdsBiM_tVlrlqAOhhF-Fv73bqeBbm0NWOPweKVjMet3ox2OL9Jw264pfaj622oNCpCvCfGA57rPdfhGlAA=s3870" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="3870" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGcVaLkml_6DG8xi0r4Jak89xQsMrFoHQi20Wdc7aLDM2rkHy4rOoF3ZaL-aRwUkp6Zz3vCwgGDEzRl7q_pJbQ_eycZo6LlfRdFq5U2ZYaGdsBiM_tVlrlqAOhhF-Fv73bqeBbm0NWOPweKVjMet3ox2OL9Jw264pfaj622oNCpCvCfGA57rPdfhGlAA=w400-h228" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bunnies and tiger painted on outside side wall of Front Temple, <br />Sesimsa Temple, Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Year of the Water Rabbit <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">opening: <a href="https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the-radar/2023/01/04/2235267/2023-year-water-rabbit-feng-shui-tips-master-hanz" target="_blank">https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the-radar/2023/01/04/2235267/2023-year-water-rabbit-feng-shui-tips-master-hanz</a> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The 12 Animals of the Zodiac: <a href="http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif">http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif</a></span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Wu Xing Cycle: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png</a></span></span><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Yin Yang animation: <a href="http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html">http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html</a></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">East Asian Lunar Zodiac: </span><a href="http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html</a></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 12 Zodiac animals in their race: <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg%27">http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'</a></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.23px;">Year of the Rabbit sidewalk plate, Philadelphia Chinatown: Own photograph</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="text-align: center;">Rabbit Pendant,</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"> </span>Western Zhou Dynasty, 10th Century BCE Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida, <a href="https://medium.com/norton-museum-of-art/the-chinese-year-of-the-ox-727059b7e442" target="_blank">https://medium.com/norton-museum-of-art/the-chinese-year-of-the-ox-727059b7e442</a></div></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okasaki Rabbit Shrine, Kyoto, <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/okazaki-shrine" target="_blank"> https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/okazaki-shrine </a></div></div><div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bunnies and tiger painted on outside side wall of Front Temple, Sesimsa Temple, Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea: Own photograph</div></span></span></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Want to Learn More</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">For more on the Asian Zodiac and Astrology in General, please see:</span></u><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Richard Craze, <i>Handbook of Chinese </i></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>Astrology, </i>Lorenz Books, 2013.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Man-ho Kwok, <span id="btAsinTitle"><i>Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your Chinese Horoscope,</i> Tuttle Publishing, 1997.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text">Theodora Lau and Laura Lau, <i>The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes </i>(7th edition), Collins Reference, 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Susan Levitt and Jean Tang, <i>Taoist Astrology: A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition</i>, Destiny Books, 1997.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">David W. Pankenier, <i>Astrology and Cosmology in Early China: Conforming Earth to Heaven</i>, Cambridge University Press, 2013.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Neil Somerville, <i>Your Chinese Horoscope for Each and Every Year, </i>Harper Thomsons, 2017.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Ruth Q. Sun and Norma Sun, <i>Asian Animal Zodiac, </i>Tuttle Publishing, 2012.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Xiaochun Sun, "Crossing the Boundaries Between Heaven and Man: Astronomy in Ancient China," in <i>Astronomy Across Cultures</i>, ed. Helaine Selin and adv. ed. Sun Xiaochun: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">David Twicken, <span id="btAsinTitle">Five Element Chinese Astrology Made Easy, iUniverse, 2000.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Derek Walters, </span><i>The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrolog</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y, </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Watkins Publishing, 2005.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Suzanne White, <i>The New Chinese Astrology</i>, Thomas Dunne Books, 2015.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Charles Alfred Speed Williams. </span><i>Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">(2000), New York: Castle Books.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shelly Wu, <i>Chinese Astrology: Exploring the Eastern Zodiac, </i>New Page Books, 2005.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shelly Wu, <i>The Definitive Book of Chinese Astrology, </i>Weiser, 2010.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Zhongzian Wu, </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>The 12 Chinese Animals: Create Harmony in your Daily Life through Ancient Chinese Wisdom</i>, Singing Dragon Press, 2010.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Zhongzian Wu and Karin Taylor Wu, </span><i>Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches: The Heart of Chinese Wisdome Traditions, </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Singing Dragon Press, 2016.</span><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Master Pun-Yin, "Chinese Zodiac," <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html">https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="reference-text"><br /></span><span class="reference-text">Ho-Peng Yoke, <span id="btAsinTitle"><i>Chinese Mathematical Astrology: Reaching Out to the Stars</i>, Routledge, 2003. This is the pre-eminent book on the mathematical science of Asian lunar horoscope calculations. It is downloadable at <a href="http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html">http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html</a></span></span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For general popular websites on Asian Astrology and the Zodiac, please see:</b></u><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">China Voc.com "Zodiac" <a href="http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp">http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp</a></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Chinese Fortune Calendar </span><a href="http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm</a><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Chinese Horoscope-e.com, "Basic Chinese Horoscope," </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html">http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html</a></span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Malaysia Site, "Chinese New Year," <a href="http://www.malaysiasite.nl/newyear.htm">http://www.malaysiasite.nl/newyear.htm</a></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Online Chinese Astrology </span><a href="http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/</span></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Topmarks Education, "Zodiac Story, Chinese New Year." <a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx</a></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"Your Chinese Astrology": <a href="https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/">https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/</a></span></div></div></div></div></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-91230286214997181482022-09-25T09:46:00.010-04:002022-09-25T10:20:51.402-04:00Rosh HaShanah 2022<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span>For<span class="gmail_default"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #313131; word-spacing: 1px;">2022, the Jewish New <span style="color: black;">Year, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, begins tonight Sunday<span class="gmail_default"> </span>September 25<span class="gmail_default"> </span>at sundown <span class="gmail_default"></span></span><span style="color: black;">and concludes at sunset -- depending on practice -- either o<span class="gmail_default">n</span> Monday September 26<span class="gmail_default"> </span><span class="gmail_default"></span></span>or<span class="gmail_default"> Tuesday</span><span class="gmail_default"> September 27. </span><span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default"></span>For Orthodox and Conservative Jews, the holiday lasts for two days concluding at sundown on September 27. M<span class="gmail_default">any</span> Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, however, observe the holiday only for one day (so for them, the holiday would conclude at sundown on <span class="gmail_default">September 26</span>).</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb62WFj5hh5j_OB2Wb26l_h1aNvnMY4FPVCmjyeZaBAbjwESx_jOkTEUBB-w7Zmd16-iQRr3KWQvt5CIYknBl-ypCmALP_kx-lX2kNt9BtLNztkqUAIkOlFsAJKJC39BV_IKi_Z4lMycT/s200/Rosh-Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.jpg" width="200" /></a>While definitions vary as to levels of practice from person to person, work is prohibited during the holiday. For Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, this is defined generally as no manner of work whatsoever (including school, telephone use, email, Internet surfing, etc.)<span class="gmail_default"> during</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"></span>HaShanah</span>. <br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default"></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Because some Jews observe only one day, it is easy to make the mistake that the second day is not as important to those Jews observing both days. But for Conservative and Orthodox Jews, the two days are equally important and indeed can be understood as a single very long day. <br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><b>Rosh HaShanah and the Pandemic</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">This year, 2022, is the first year since the pandemic began that virtually all congregations will gather in person. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span><span>By contrast, in 2020, amid the height of the pandemic, many temples and synagogues held video services either streamed or recorded. For many where COVID restrictions remained in place, the same was done in 2021 although where pandemic restrictions had been lifted, many congregations allowed for a mix of streaming, Zoom or in person worship. </span></span><span>Among Orthodox, this was especially controversial because of the ban on using the computer. In 2020 after formal rabbinic rulings, most Conservative Jews formally allowed some type of Zoom or streaming broadcast of services (including Saturday Sabbath services). By contrast, most Orthodox have not allowed the use of technology. Some Orthodox groups attempted ways around the ban and the situation remains fluid. This current situation among Orthodox Jews is explained well in Irene Connelly's article </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">here</a><span>. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><h2><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: 1.5rem;">The Jewish New Year and Its Significance</b></span></h2></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is the Jewish New Year; the Hebrew means “Head of the Year.” The upcoming new year is 57<span class="gmail_default">83</span> in the Jewish reckoning. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Unlike the secular New Year, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is a very solemn day as it is the day Jews ask God for forgiveness for sins of the past year. Perhaps the only similarity to the secular New Year is that many Jews make resolutions to lead a better life in the coming year. Most of the day is spent in the synagogue or temple. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Together with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) which occurs 10 days later (beginning this year on September 2<span class="gmail_default">7</span> at sunset), <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> forms part of what are called the High Holy Days. The days between <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> and Yom Kippur are known as the <span lang="EN">Yamim Noraim</span> (or “Days of Awe”) which act as days of repentance. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Generally speaking, the High Holy Days are the most important days of observance in Judaism. Among observant Jews, traditionally, the weekly observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays is the most important Jewish holiday. In practice, though, for many Jews who do not regularly attend weekly Sabbath services, the High Holy Days often take place of prominence. (Please note that I am in no way attempting to take a stance on what is or is not proper observance for any religion in these updates, but rather simply trying to make the general community aware of the various religious practices as they affect activities for employees, students or others). </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">While <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, like all Jewish holidays, appears to wander in the secular calendar, this is only because the secular calendar is not consistent with the Jewish calendar. In the Jewish calendar, though, the holiday actually occurs on the same day of the Jewish calendar. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Interestingly, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>does not occur at the beginning of the Jewish calendar; rather, it occurs on the first two days of Tishrei, the <i>seventh </i>month (not the first). This seeming inconsistency rests in the Jewish concept of four different yearly cycles described in the Jewish Talmud. <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span><span class="gmail_default"> </span>represen<wbr></wbr>ts the new year for relationships among people (including legal contracts) as well as for animals. The day marks the anniversary of the sixth day in the Creation story in which God created Adam and Eve, the first people. There is considerable variance among Jews as to whether this anniversary of the creation of humankind is viewed as the literal date or simply a symbolic anniversary. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the Jewish Torah (first five books of the Bible), the name “<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>” never appears for the holiday. Instead, the Torah refers to the holiday as either the Zi<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">k</span>aron Terua or “remembrance of the blowing of the horn” (as in Leviticus 23:24) or as the Yom Terua or “day of the blowing of the horn” (Numbers 29.1). Even in the Jewish liturgy of prayers used for the<span class="gmail_default"> </span>day, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>Rosh</span><span class="gmail_default"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"></span>HaShanah</span> is generally referred to either as the Yom HaZikaron (the “Day of Remembrance”) or the Yom HaDin (“Day of Judgment”).</span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">The Shofar</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEGJfLizSs-SfrISivVTODzuGi1kps7TrcSNTii01gkwcUBQGkrMy-nI9PePANdxOA2SF-E4lPgtqeeOzIrRzid1dhhDgYz1c5tabjswOTtdblPn03cBAtpU9HxOrsZZ4C37bCi9gvr-B/w171-h171/1330976499_Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-35-45cm-L.jpg" width="171" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> Ram's horn shofar</b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The horn referred to above is called a shofar. The blowing of the shofar is a central part of the religious observance of the holiday of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span> (and concludes the service on Yom Kippur).</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Traditionally among Jews of Eastern and Central European origin, the shofar is made from a ram’s horn. This is also the majority choice among the Jews of the United States, Canada and Australia. </span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Among those Jews using a ram's horn, one of the associations of the ram's horn is with the Biblical story of the ram that appeared to Abraham at the binding of Isaac in the Book of Genesis:</span></p><blockquote style="font-size: 16px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.</i> <wbr></wbr> -- Genesis: 22:13</span></p></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjtICsnJQBa8OVoMNuWnHexEigYzEU46AAeaJRhOv4NNeEMZR_K0mb1nKFXeu8GGO6KOzRF8Eabj9Db0_a-dLlgRPSk5nIxX2xMlj0PzTpYStgoRj90qIBl8h2VHa1LuFrk8WK-Loc3hO/s320/Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yemenite kudu horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That said, other animal horns such as those of antelopes are allowable. In fact, among Yemeni Jews, the shofar is customarily made from the long, curlicued horn of the kudu antelope. This was also the practice among the Jews of Iraq for centuries until their expulsion in 1951<span class="gmail_default">, following the founding of the state of Israel</span>.</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinix91hyphenhyphencM8ZqPKlyRVu3EAfLLwpcfOoOOcfYwEtkM8ygMpe9O3apXpadMrCMMcywD7_yyvD1UxVpcjS5kd7HvczqyuHPf69RHswuuqAWLJN9tpnkw-kx47wKbCAktw5ngI-e77cACaQz0/s200/goat+horn+shofar.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Goat horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Among Italian Jews, the preferred shofar is made from a goat's horn. This was also the custom among the Jews of Spain before the Alhambra Edict which expelled them from the country in 1492 (it was only formally rescinded in 1968). In the years following the expulsion, thousands of Spanish Jews took this custom with them to the Low Countries and the New World where they had fled. As a result, today the goat's horn shofar is common in the Netherlands and present among some communities in South America. </span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGudfVi6ou_6XzYcip8SDyt454iS9tdJ1dxM3n9SFDmafXz1mE-3AZneCxFG8d1FeeDL8PGtFPpcqTtGsFBKyisVtKfyazpT7-lqg9JyCD8Y-zH2U5zCKm-1PPEObvtLM6TMoGmWON9OXE/s200/moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Oryx horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Many Moroccan Jews today blow a shofar made of an oryx horn (where it has long been the traditional horn used) However, some Jewish communities use an oryx horn as a way of remembering the suffering of the crypto-Jews of Iberia. Among the roughly 200,000 <i>conversos</i> (those who had converted before the expulsion eliminated that option in Spain or had been forcibly converted in Portugal in 1497) who remained in Iberia, several thousand continued to practice as secret Jews. The appropriate term for these people is crypto-Jews or secret Jews (and not as <i>marranos </i>meaning "pigs" in the Spanish of the time and <i>marrãos </i>which still means "pigs" in modern Portuguese<i> </i>). Among crypto-Jews, the preferred shofar was made of the long and totally straight horn of the oryx. This shape allowed them to carry the shofar surreptitiously held by their belt and down their trouser leg. </span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default"><span>The matter of the shofar blowing was especially of concern during the period</span></span><span face="-webkit-standard"> the COVID-19 restrictions<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">.</span> For all Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, listening to a recording (including a live-stream or broadcast) of the shofar blast d<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">id</span> not fulfill the commandment of hearing the shofar in person. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWv41z-yR7d77RZAAeOQv9YZQqOk-CHnCt7BHdSfpfgouF-CMCLr0MYHN737rzYCadJ95ciCDdTYT0N63Nuk0CRz_KRkf5bCGTKeKxFqOhYNo4eBCq16FWBDUDtpY1bJx4FLhEb8hPVo7/s2048/shofar+blower+outdoors.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWv41z-yR7d77RZAAeOQv9YZQqOk-CHnCt7BHdSfpfgouF-CMCLr0MYHN737rzYCadJ95ciCDdTYT0N63Nuk0CRz_KRkf5bCGTKeKxFqOhYNo4eBCq16FWBDUDtpY1bJx4FLhEb8hPVo7/w231-h174/shofar+blower+outdoors.jpg" title="Shofar Blowing above entrance" width="231" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b><span>Blowing shofar above synagogue entrance<br />Congregation Beth Shalom, Pittsburgh</span></b> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span face="-webkit-standard">Yet blowing the shofar spreads airborne particles, increasing the risk of disease spread. Numerous strategies </span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span class="gmail_default" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span>were used to solve this dilemma</span></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span face="-webkit-standard">. Blowing the shofar outdoors</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span><span class="gmail_default" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span>was one widely used option</span></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span face="-webkit-standard">. Other strategies for indoor use include</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span class="gmail_default" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span>d</span></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span face="-webkit-standard"> blowing the shofar behind a curtain or in a separate room apart from the congregation. In a combination of the indoor/outdoor strategies, some congregations in 2020</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span><span class="gmail_default" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span>and 2021</span></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span face="-webkit-standard"> had the shofar blower stand outside the building while the congregants sat inside the building with the windows open. </span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Taschlikh</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuJs-f3ejELCX4qD2-SjoNclK7CzZ_HcgWCOrE4P5mb1Eh6cveOwhI-1ZprmlYTdb7z2mCiuac5xkYxA9s1b0GqZ5dT0zKPr1BvWDOWStwyOWIbiOdtKNBkW6wDfJij7lY7zO7ZUAevoN/s200/tashlit-006.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Waterside <i style="font-size: 0.8rem;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">T</span>aschlikh</i> ceremony</b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the first afternoon of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, Jews traditionally participate in the Taschlikh <span class="gmail_default"></span>ceremony. The name comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to cast."</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In this ceremony, Jews carry bread crumbs to a stream, river or other naturally flowing source of water. There they say prayers asking to “cast their sins into the waters” with the bread crumbs symbolically representing the sins.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;"><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> Foods<br /></span></b></p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, as with many holidays, is usually marked by eating traditional foods. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWzyH3VfHwfG2j0AuUljojzO4zyzUp88Z9KDYhvHCP7z4Cz3FVeC8OmD9D-_z_GfqWQ4r5q2SSTpgjohINJpaHIRZ0LlEydAuSGwTn-ATCG7OGbmyfDztkQXZ7e9XmGranievOvoyTcaa/s1600/25649.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Round Challah</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the foods most associated with <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is <span class="gmail_default">a</span> round challah<span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default">.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default"></span>The traditional Jewish bread used on holidays is called challah. Challah used each week on the Jewish Sabbath is normally baked in long, braided loaves. On <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span>, though, the challah is made in totally round loaves. The circle of the loaves represents the continuation of life (which is part of the central prayers of the holiday). </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySrqfaiAiip0km2kyUFccobXNbiddproUBOJx48py6wcZNt6z_X8H-LauhdDc7U4oG_QLhdDYiX2DVnXngUGtVx36VMsS5qC1wTm8rmqfIAXUpldBCmaKkzsqQDCQLalQS49w1fZegduQ/s200/1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Apples and honey</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Another notable food tradition for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Ha<span class="gmail_default"> </span>Shanah</span><span class="gmail_default"> </span>is the eating of apples dipped in honey. This represents a wish for a sweet and abundant year to come with the honey standing for sweetness and the apples for abundance. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqg92oo_etXNLdiM7AKTFfMB4J6JqiMrTyEr8kIHb1Km11ar7peqB7QzBGDNlf42opDxF-QX5Qiea3MLyzIWkJqO47-Gd1-OjfK6rI19fJEKnMPNs4jpxKgp1mPNnFgisEPOUR6DffrYE/s200/pomegranate.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pomegranate</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For many Jews (especially among Orthodox and Conservative Jews), on the second day of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> people eat a fruit that is new to the season. This allows Jews to say a prayer of thanksgiving (called the <i><span lang="EN">shehechiyanu</span></i>) for being allowed to reach a new season. A common choice for this fruit is a pomegranate since (in folk tradition) that fruit has 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments in the Torah. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7lZAzCJU_WIZcwf0um5FeiL900Qs8t3GTr7nWJnrb9BIHk0XPXK26maPCfcMqMYRFo64LpfTnzSsSSwfW8qBimIYaRQBvi6lbPFhbOaa6soqFjAg_63AFO5ulZeyY4Q3RzPcO3capoqM/s1600/Sea+bass+with+honeyed+apples.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sea bass with honeyed apples</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally, in some Jewish traditions, it is customary to eat fish on <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>. In this custom, the fish plays two symbolic roles. First, since the fish’s eyes are always open, it symbolizes total awareness. Second, because fish are plentiful, the meal represents the wish for a fruitful and plenteous year to come. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Because of the dipping of apples in honey, honey or apples (or both) is often used to prepare the fish. For example, one recipe for sea bass with honey and apples can found a<span class="gmail_default"></span>t<span class="gmail_default"> the "All Recipes" site at</span>:<br /><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/<wbr></wbr>Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-Apples/<wbr></wbr>Detail.aspx</a><span class="gmail_default"></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"> <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BfWJJH1-B-7xo4r3pt7rZnRtn1PpAsvpml77fqGD1v9Z05ffoHL4fMC0Q7qByrKMWTGq1hoYq9H7l0jk9xXtoTfYJ36HAYLhwvOpoZvaldvzQxvBr4gT6_O-PmTbz1hkTp84H2rxkBAU/s200/applecake1.jpg" width="200" /></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Traditional <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>Apple Cake</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally, desserts and other sweets are an important part of the festive meal, symbolizing a wish for a sweet year to come. These too tend to emphasize the traditional pomegranates, apples and especially honey. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Among the most typical <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span> desserts is the honey or apple cake. A recipe for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShana<span class="gmail_default"></span>h<span class="gmail_default"> </span></span>apple cake can be found at <span class="gmail_default">the "My Jewish Learning" site <br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://www.myjewishlearning.<wbr></wbr>com/recipe/apple-cake-for-<wbr></wbr>rosh-hashanah/</a><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Conclusion</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The simplest traditional greeting for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is <i>L’Shanah Tovah</i> (May you have a good year). The response back is the same. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many other greetings are also used among Jews during the holiday and the Days of Awe between it and Yom Kippur. One common such greeting is <i>L’Shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim</i>. This means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." This refers to the belief that one asks to be inscribed in the Book of Life on <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> and that this be sealed in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur. Using this greeting may be said in English, and its use would show a significant understanding of the holiday. </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This is meant only to be informational and not to indicate that one or another practice is or is not acceptable. Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br />I wish you all a <i>L’Shanah Tovah</i>!<br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">David A. Victor, Ph.D.<br /></span></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Professor of Management and International Business</span><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">College of Business<br />Eastern Michigan University<br />Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 USA</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank"></a><i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Mexico: An Intercultural Approach</a></i><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-japan" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Japan: An Intercultural Approach</a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-brazil" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Brazil: An Intercultural Approach</a><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Conflict-Management-Communication-Skills-Approach-dp-0205272940/dp/0205272940/ref=dp_ob_title_bk" target="_blank">Conflict Management: A Communication Skills Approach</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Author:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/International-Business-Communication-Victor/dp/0673460916/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"> International Business Communication</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Editor-in-Chief, <i><a href="http://commons.emich.edu/gabc/about.html" target="_blank">Global Advances in Business Communication Journal </a> </i></span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </i><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="word-spacing: 0px;" /></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1QV62JySLCFeMu8s7iOl3B2J9yqRAPAuju8S8TgUodZKv4dnBlPlg5uvIyDF1TEvsUW8oKPRTna0SKxlMRiAMalBFJyrNrTkwYcH26OyRUClws0bg4PzqHCmxbOqnv7o2u572trnWR4q/s320/L'+Shanah+Tovah.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Further Reading</span></b></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rabbi Raymond Apple, Oz Torah, "A Guide to the <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>services"<span class="gmail_default"> <span class="gmail_default">ret<wbr></wbr>rieved September 18, 2020</span></span>:<span class="gmail_default"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.oztorah.com/<wbr></wbr>2010/08/a-guide-to-the-rosh-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">ha<wbr></wbr>shanah</span>-services/</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barsheshet Rebak <span class="gmail_default">S</span>hofar <span class="gmail_default">M</span>akers, "Types of Shofars," <span class="gmail_default">retrieved September 18, 2020:</span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.shofarot.com/<wbr></wbr>index.php/the-shofar/<wbr></wbr>typesofshofars/</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chabad.org, "The High Holidays: <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span> and Yom Kippur"<span class="gmail_default"> <span class="gmail_default">retrieved September 18, 2020</span></span><span class="gmail_default"></span>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.chabad.org/<wbr></wbr>holidays/JewishNewYear/<wbr></wbr>template_cdo/aid/4830/jewish/<wbr></wbr>How-is-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>-Observed.<wbr></wbr>htm</a><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Irene Connelly, "</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">No streaming, no singing: here’s how High Holidays will work in Modern Orthodox synagogues<span class="gmail_default">," <i>The Forward</i>, August 7, 2020, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/<wbr></wbr>search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=<wbr></wbr>Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+<wbr></wbr>streaming</a></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinka Kumer, "What is Taschlikh?"<span class="gmail_default"> Chabad.com retrieved September 18, 2020:</span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.chabad.org/<wbr></wbr>holidays/JewishNewYear/<wbr></wbr>template_cdo/aid/564247/<wbr></wbr>jewish/What-is-Tashlich.htm</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default">Tracey Rich, </span> "<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>"<span class="gmail_default"> Judaism 101, 2020</span>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.jewfaq.org/<wbr></wbr>holiday2.htm</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ariela Pelaia, "What is <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default"> </span>HaShanah</span>?<span class="gmail_default"></span>"<span class="gmail_default"> </span><span class="gmail_default"><i>About.com/Judaism</i>, January 25, 2019,</span>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://judaism.about.<wbr></wbr>com/od/holidays/a/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">roshhashanah</span><wbr></wbr>.htm</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adam Reinherz, "Shofar blowing strategies revamped to address COVID-19 concerns," <i>Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, </i>September 8, 2020, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://jewishchronicle.<wbr></wbr>timesofisrael.com/shofar-<wbr></wbr>blowing-strategies-revamped-<wbr></wbr>to-address-covid-19-concerns/</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Torah.org, "Seven Questions People Ask About <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>,": <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><wbr></wbr>roshhashanah</span>.torah.org/<wbr></wbr>learning/yomtov/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">roshhashanah</span>/<wbr></wbr>survival2.html</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rabbi Randy Wise, "Understanding the High Jewish Holidays of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span> and Yom Kippur" <span class="gmail_default"><i>Torah.org</i>, </span>retrieved September 18, 2020:<span class="gmail_default"> </span><a href="https://torah.org/learning/yomtov-roshhashanah-survival2/" target="_blank">https://torah.org/learning/<wbr></wbr>yomtov-roshhashanah-survival2/</a><span class="gmail_default"><wbr></wbr> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Clip Art Sources</b></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Opening clip art image with shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://wallpapers.<wbr></wbr>dgreetings.com/images/<wbr></wbr>wallpapers/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">hashanah</span>/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<wbr></wbr>Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.<wbr></wbr>jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ram's horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>shininglight.eu/shininglight.<wbr></wbr>eu/originals/1330976499_<wbr></wbr>Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-<wbr></wbr>35-45cm-L.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yemenite kudu horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.shofarsfromafar.<wbr></wbr>com/files/742858/uploaded/<wbr></wbr>Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goat's horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>noahsarkwinston.com/bible_<wbr></wbr>land_gifts/22232</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;">Blowing shofar above synagogue entrance, </span><span style="text-align: center;">Congregation Beth Shalom, Pittsburgh </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">https://jewishchronicle.<wbr></wbr>timesofisrael.com/shofar-<wbr></wbr>blowing-strategies-revamped-<wbr></wbr>to-address-covid-19-concerns/</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oryx horn shofar: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://3.bp.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/_mK6JpKiBQHM/R6x0yqUaLjI/<wbr></wbr>AAAAAAAAADQ/_OE8moz7i6k/S240/<wbr></wbr>moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tashlikh: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://sank63.files.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/2008/09/tashlit-<wbr></wbr>006.jpg</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Round Challah: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" target="_blank">http://allrecipes.<wbr></wbr>com/HowTo/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>/<wbr></wbr>Detail.aspx</a></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;">Apples and honey: </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/9165999625676334200#" style="word-spacing: 1px;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>ingenieriaypaisajismo.com/<wbr></wbr>uploads/posts/2011-05/<wbr></wbr>1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg</a></span></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-32547855225956851872022-08-05T09:35:00.003-04:002023-07-25T16:34:40.890-04:00Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), 2023<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWUW3uAKg2w5ItGAw8BkjUXQ4sE9rw65lkiH4CPkWhG5EWiXj9Tjmiwku9OCjrtYtM48SA3SUrjTk-azJdOsOeVUrtUdnkwbvo6AY11KZfmqOx5w3c_zB-Nv6SwYy5YfJaSjD0fxO55Ze/s1600/9av.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As part of my ongoing announcement of religious observances, please note that f</span>or 2023<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>, beginning at sunset Wednesday night <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">July 26 </span>and continuing through sunset on Thursday night July 27, the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av will be observed. Jewish employees and students should be accommodated for the observance of this holiday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Tisha B'Av is the date on which both the First and Second Temples were destroyed (the Romans selected the date on purpose). It is also the date on which a string of tragedies have befallen the Jewish people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">The holiday is a major day of mourning for Orthodox and most Conservative Jews. By contrast, it is treated as a Memorial Day by Reconstructionist Jews. Finally, it is wholly opposed by many Reform Jews, and not observed on theological grounds since the founding of the state of Israel. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Traditional Jewish Views of Tisha B’Av</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">For Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning and a total fast day (like Yom Kippur). <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Many Reform and Reconstructionist Jews (as explained later in this post) recognize the significance of the day, but do not generally observe it as a fast day or with the same emotion as Orthodox Jews. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">For those Orthodox and Conservative </span>Jews <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">who observe Tisha B'Av as a fast day refrain entirely</span> from eating, drinking, washing, using skin cream, smoking, wearing leather <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">shoes </span>or showing affection (kissing, hugging, etc.). <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> For these Jews (as <a href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144575/jewish/What-Is-Tisha-BAv.htm">Chabad.Org's "What Is Tisha B'Av?</a>" explains: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><i><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span>is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, on which we fast, deprive ourselves and pray. It is the culmination of the Three Weeks, a period of time during which we mark the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.</i></blockquote><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><span face="arial, sans-serif">The day is spent reading the </span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Biblical </span><span face="arial, sans-serif">Book of Lamentations and the Book of Job. For the morning part of the service, observers sit on the floor or on low benches as is customary during mourning after someone’s death in Judaism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Tisha B’Av is one of the most somber days in the Jewish calendar. The name in Hebrew simply means the “Ninth of Av” (Av is a month in the Jewish calendar). The day, however, is the most calamitous in Jewish history, as it was the day when Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem <wbr></wbr>was destroyed both the first time by Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC and the second time by the Roman Emperor Titus in 70 AD. <br /><br /><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Tisha B'Av serves as a single day of collective mourning for all the disasters Jews have endured through the centuries. </span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif">Th<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">is</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span> <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">single day</span> is significant for an entire chronology of disasters in Jewish history that fell on the 9</span><sup style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span face="arial, sans-serif"> of Av. These are as follows:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>586 BCE Babylonia's Destruction of the First Temple</b><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6nDTFdRtD23hhbKPNi7jcH6JVTyBnav_r6RlunGkWOxVqbKY1HcWHdeeEhOSDAdVbP7-a3_De4AAhODeeTLaA87yATDXALWdb-dGIb39fjTaqiXvBbj71V0T-JpDSHYfHA4cTN-seTIi/s200/destruction.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the First Temple -- Solomon’s Temple -- beginning the Babylonian Exile (that lasted until 537 BC). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">The destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of the First Temple is related in the Bible <span lang="EN">in <span lang="EN">2 Kings 25:9-12</span>; 2 Chronicles 36:19; and Isaiah 64:11. </span></span></div><blockquote><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN"><i></i></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN"><span face="arial, sans-serif" id="gmail-m_-5184969519963228923m_5333343571161967092en-NIV-10235"><i>Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.</i><b> </b>2 Chronicles 36:19</span></span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">The Book of Lamentations in its entirety bemoans the destruction of Jerusalem and the mass evacuation of the Jews from the Land of Israel into the Babylonian Exile. A remnant of the Jewish people remained in Jerusalem in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, among them the author of the Book of Lamentations (traditionally attributed to Jeremiah). He describes his grief and the grief of the people of Israel in some of the most emotional verses of the Hebrew Bible:</span><br /></span><blockquote><span face="arial, sans-serif"><i>My eyes fail from weeping;<br />I am churning within.<br />My heart is poured out in grief<br />over the destruction of the daughter of my people,<br />because children and infants faint<br />in the streets of the city. </i>Lamentations 1:11</span></blockquote><span face="arial, sans-serif">It is this book that Orthodox and Conservative <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span>Jews read on the night of Tisha B'Av, while seated on the floor and fasting.<br /><br /><span lang="EN"><b>70 CE Rome's Destruction of the Second Temple</b></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_Ga_aftDKGZKJqn6TIrrchKmDGuZzF9hG-yqN7_CPrbXQ_5UdfqCdShSJ4VaX2PO6jp58uWxVXdTEuVQ-ZGmCuUMHLB0xUFckkeNkCTAFwWKix5tQ_oHDfw_5SMQCsVwl4TEwOJ9EQAL/s320/Menorah+sacked+from+the+Temple+of+Jerusalem+on+Trajan's+Arch.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sacking of the Second Temple </b><br /><b>in Jerusalem </b><b>depicted on </b><br /><b>the Arch of Titus, Rome</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">The Roman Emperor Titus destroyed the Second Temple (which was rebuilt in 516 BC after Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and returned the Jews to Israel). This was to put down the Jewish revolt (of which early Christianity was a part). Titus chose theTisha B'Av specifically to add impact to the destruction of the Second Temple on the same day as the first. </span></span></p><div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Following</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span><span face="arial, sans-serif">this, Rome razed Jerusalem and the Jews were not allowed to rebuild the ruins, beginning the diaspora. The sacking of the Second Temple is famously depicted on the Arch of Titus in Rome.</span><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">All that remains of the Temple in Jerusalem today is the Kotel, the Western Wall of the wall that surrounded the original building. This remains the holiest site in Judaism. Since the 19th Century, it has been common among some non-Jews to refer to the Kotel as the Wailing Wall (in Turkish <i>Ağlama Duvarı</i>, in Arabic <i>el-Mabka</i>, in French <i>le Mur des Lamentations</i> and in German <i>die Klagemauer</i>). The term "Wailing Wall" derives from non-Jews observation of the practice of Jews praying there and, on Tisha B'Av, crying over the destruction of the Temple. Though not particularly insulting, this is not a common term used by Jews themselves who prefer the Hebrew word <i>Kotel</i> or, "the Western Wall" put into the vernacular.<i> </i> </span><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"> <br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlv7uYhWyqUoQ6dzqwq3ODphgcwmomsX_UFxEbFYkrtpf1dq4yPfNyi0TrvXyzs9ZsQ6T9PxE4S7rG7yQXczBjz5uKUyDknwhvtIbpjDjQgRL9K3pHg92aNnIqrjoLbC41xPlP_alqcSk/s320/The+Kotel,+Jerusalem,+1977.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">The Kotel, Jerusalem</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Tradition says this is also the date on which the Romans killed the 10 martyrs (though not historically accurate necessarily, which would suggest that only 8 were). These are commemorated in a poem recited on Yom Kippur. The 10 martyrs committed no crime but were tried by Rome in a mock trial as punishment for the crimes of Joseph’s 10 brothers for selling Joseph into slavery in ancient Egypt. The martyrs were the most important rabbis of the Second Temple period and each was killed rather gruesomely. For example, the High Priest – Rabbi Yishmael – before being beheaded, had the skin of his head flayed off and stuffed while he was still alive as a gift for a Roman noblewoman who thought he was handsome. Rabbi Chananya ben Teradyon was burned alive by being wrapped in the Torah scroll which had been stuffed between his body and the parchment with wet wool so that he would not be able to die quickly. The greatest of all scholars of his day, and still a major figure in Jewish practice was Rabbi Akiva, who had iron rakes used to tear off his flesh. Rabbi Akiva is remembered for reciting the “Sh’ma” prayer about the unity of God throughout the ordeal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN"><b>135 CE The Bar Kokhba Revolt</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YHl4DxA2ttS-aYukvk19jVL-lC0NL0-opaa1H8y601qSh3lbhGkkOCnvE5r8NaMeH5rLFhzEpvC7_-pBqR-uhfCscGqcx0foDz5OATsMGBr0ME-te_EFIxfiKDhjS6pPLLaeR55_ae-h/s1600/104px-Knesset_Menorah_P5200010_Bar_Kochvah.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Simon Bar Kokhba</b><br /><b>on the Knesset Menorah</b><br /><b>Jerusalem</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">In 135 CE, Simon Bar Kokhba was captured and, on Tisha B'Av, killed ending the third and final major Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire (the Third Revolt had begun in 132 CE). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">The Roman Emperor Hadrian, in putting down the uprising, was brutal. According to the Roman historian Cassius Dio, over 580,000 Jews were killed. In all 50 Jewish fortified cities and 985 Jewish villages were razed to the ground in what is now Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and<wbr></wbr> Jordan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /><span lang="EN"><b>1096 CE The First Crusade</b></span><br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAEPex0JLZBU6gM9iGYM8N0WGUekiTlw_wflht9FmuWEe11eLDX4iFK7AEboosXkW0h6bljmi6YRQ1ugyHNVnnKlU-DvKhNQK6nOHVC-0jZykXHfrmrxGl2YHBPWyfNTdDU3BYpkpRX0g/s320/image010.png" width="294" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crusaders killing Jews</b><br /><b>Illustration from a French Bible ca. 1250</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">The First Crusade officially began on August 15 -- Tisha B'Av-- of 1096. Although Pope Urban II called for the Crusade first at the Council of Clermont in November 1095, the papally ordained date for the commencement of troop movements was August 15, 1096 -- Tisha B'Av. While it should be noted that Jews were mass murdered by Crusaders in all nine of the Crusades (the last ending in 1272), the First Crusade was both the beginning of these attacks and one for which the Jews had no previous experience.<br /><br />The stated purpose of the first Crusade was to retake access to Muslim-controlled Jerusalem. Although not directed against the Jews, the Crusade rapidly turned into a Jewish tragedy. The difficulty was that -- without Church approval in this instance -- the first Crusaders were undisciplined, largely uneducated and lacking in supplies. In the first months of the campaign as they marched toward Jerusalem, the Crusaders rampaged against the only non-Christians they could find: the Jews. One branch of the Crusaders went off course to attack the Jews of the Rhineland where over 4000 Jews were either murdered or committed suicide rather than face conversion (for example, 500 Jews in Cologne committed mass suicide at one time). <br /><br />After the first Crusaders finally took Jerusalem, they gathered the majority of the Jewish community there into one of the synagogues and on July 15, 1099 set fire to it killing all of the men, women and children inside. It should be noted that the Crusaders were no less lenient with the Muslims there. It is estimated that out of a population of 70,000 at the time of the Crusader capture of Jerusalem, the population had plummeted to less than 30,000 after the conquest. Under Muslim rule, Jerusalem had practiced religious tolerance for Christians and Jews alike. Since the Crusaders did not kill the Christians living in Jerusalem, the 40,000 victims were exclusively Muslim and Jewish.<br /><br /><span lang="EN"><b>1182 CE The Frankish Expulsion of the Jews</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">King Philip II Augustus, the last king of the Franks and the first king of modern France expelled the Jews from his territory on Tisha B'Av. Philip Augustus had come to the throne in 1181 and learned that he did not have funds enough to finance the war he was about to declare against Phillip of Alsace, Count of Flanders over the disputed territory of Vermandois. </span></div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjihugRSebmeL2UeUp3Yw8LuYgn1qu4RRNhESNTy2D_hQuUS0bjAShr-t1HTB5RlBTOTaDLGV_oVcNO68ddxke8tBLYDzwSLJpVuXdxOd8ag7cXuTh2YBDxrpqtWWk1FSUYSW1y-qzhnmC/s320/788px-1182_french_expulsion_of_jews.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="gmail-m_-5184969519963228923m_5333343571161967092gmail-goog_974418232"><b>Philip II Augustus expelling the Jews from France</b></span><br /><b>from the <i>Grandes Chroniques de France </i>(1321)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">To gain the necessary funds for the war, Philip Augustus decided to seize the money from the Jews in his lands. The Saturday following his coronation -- March 14, 1181 -- he had all the Jews of the kingdom arrested in their synagogues, and took all of their money and investments over. In April 1182, Philip Augustus signed the order of expulsion for all Jews, giving them until Tisha B'Av (July of 1182) to sell all personal property, which they were allowed to take with them. All Jewish-owned buildings, farms, vineyards, wine presses and other immovable property then transferred directly to the king. </span><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">It should be noted that Jews had lived in the area of what was now France for well over 1000 years. The first Jewish residents of Vienne recorded in the year 6 CE and the first major community in Lyons (then called Lugdunum) from the year 39 CE. Despite various persecutions, Jews had prospered, and the yeshiva at Troyes in Champagne became a major center of Jewish studies as the home of the period's greatest Jewish scholar Rashi (1040-1105).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br />Unlike the later English and Spanish expulsions (described below) that barred Jews for centuries, France's expulsions of the Jews were brief even if they were frequent. Philip II Augustus actually readmitted the Jews in his own reign in 1198 (although they faced an additional tax for return and received none of their confiscated property). In 1289, the Jews of the regions of Anjou, Gascony, Maine and Nevers were expelled and most came to Paris where they were first invited but then expelled in 1306 (because they were not able to pay the amount in taxation that had been anticipated). This was, incidentally, on July 22 - the day after Tisha B'Av.<br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7QfWIMPl1V-pnWLSzbmHsEEKgOC0i9Av0CTJLXMUSj5WUvS1SjYjz4uqhj-qp-3D-m3N-hlQR4_EH8HjF0BjGDUvJOSzjSorTVXbIBp00HC8HWABnMOhGOoW-rn6SSgHc8wvKm7Fmdoh/w224-h320/Louis_XIV_of_France.jpg" width="224" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Louis XIV officially readmitted<br />the Jews to France in 1675</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">The Jews were readmitted (1315) and finally expelled from France for the last time in 1394. Though not officially allowed to return, Jews came back informally (as evidenced by an edict of 1615 in the south of France that gave the death penalty to Christians for sheltering or even communicating with Jews) as well as pogroms on Jews in Provence following the edict.<br /><br />The first official readmittance came in 1675. In that year, Louis XIV gave the Jews of Alsace and Lorraine (which had been acquired from Austria in 1648) a special patent allowing them the right to live there under the king's protection in return for high rates of taxation. Changing attitudes began to informally allow admittance of Jews elsewhere in France in the 1700's and the special taxation of Jews was finally eliminated in 1785. It was not until the French Revolution of 1789, though, that full emancipation and admittance of Jews in France became official.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN"><b>1290 CE England's Expulsion of the Jews </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Edward I expelled the Jews from England on the Tisha B'Av in 1290 CE. Edward I was rather unusual in that, after killing 300 Jews in the Tower of London, he gave no real reason for their expulsion except for that of financial gain by taking their belongings and money. All of their property was confiscated directly by the king. Additionally, all debts owed to the Jews by others were transferred as debts to the king.</span></div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmLokzyemlhpBdf9G94iOCHj2a3xhKVHqnWih57xKt4b5_u5Dg96gP205PBJJy9Qvp970bQL2sP_lxqA8VdFciJhyphenhyphenuXr8hu3ztsk91N-02JmrKT75Uxjs1zdifw37jJKbZTyWplPK0iPV/s200/Edward+I.jpg" width="125" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Edward I</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">Before the expulsion, the position of Jews in England had been deteriorating for decades. Henry III (the father of </span><span lang="EN">Edward I), for example, in 1218 became the first ruler to force Jews to wear yellow stars, a practice later adopted under the Nazis. Several accusations of blood libel led to executions as well as massacres at London and at York. For more on the blood libel accusations in which Jews were accused of using Christian babies' blood to make matzo, please see my post on Passover at:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://davidvictorvector.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2012/04/passover.<wbr></wbr>html</a><br /><br />Because the Magna Carta explicitly excluded Jews, they had no legal protection from the monarch's whims. As a result, over the course of the 13th Century, the monarchy levied 49 major levies on the Jews. In 1275, Edward I outlawed charging interest (which Jews had been allowed to do since Christians were not allowed to charge interest to other Christians). He gave the Jews 15 years to make the transition from money lending to other fields, but at the same the guilds prevented the Jews from entering other fields, and they were barred from owning land in most cases. The final Edict of Expulsion was a culmination of Crown's money-raising acts against the Jews.<br /><br /></span><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span face="arial, sans-serif">The Jews were banned from England for over 350 years. It was not until 1656 that Oliver Cromwell formally rescinded the Edict of Expulsion.<br /><br /><b>1492 CE The Spanish Expulsion of the Jews</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Pml8Z1FReciPVEQvPyaLztKB-XzbTwFbKOimVOun5mqkmL943VYSw-Af-f4cE0gIq3lsybkf-O0MKt1l0m1chsC4D-oW-EWramE-5GJTjK9pOxT96zQBvy4ujCcptbzRkFR9Bh2PrtBl/s320/429px-Alhambra_Decree.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Alhambra Edict </b><br /><b>banning Jews from Spain</b><br /><b>stayed in effect for 476 years</b><br /><b>from 1492-1968</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">On March 31, 1492, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon pronounced the Alhambra Decree, giving the Jews of Spain until July 31 (the eve of Tisha B'Av) to leave the country (a ban that <i>remained in place until 1968</i>). This was a tragedy unparalleled in European Jewish history before. <br /><br />Unlike the relatively small and poorly integrated Jewish populations involved in the expulsions from France and England described above, the Jews of Iberia were among the most well-established and integrated in all of Jewish history. The Jews of Iberia were, in fact, arguably the best integrated Jewish population until present-day North America. <br /><br />Jews had a presence in Iberia for at least 1700 years at the time of the Alhambra Decree. When the Romans took over Hispania (present-day Spain) from Carthage following the Second Punic War (218-202 BCE), Jews were already present there. Throughout the Roman era, the Jews had interacted with the non-Jewish population. Even after the conversion of Rome to Christianity and the subsequent persecution of Jews elsewhere in the Empire, Jews in Spain remained relatively untouched for centuries, protected both by the distance from the Church hierarchy in Rome itself and from their centuries of close interaction with non-Jews there. Indeed, Jews prospered in Iberia only after the fall of Rome with the conquest of Spain by the Visigoths in the 6th century were the anti-Jewish policies of the Church (such as forced baptism of children of mixed marriages) even enforced. <br /><br />Only in 653 CE did Jews in Spain meet true persecution with the Church's Eighth Council of Toledo in which Jewish rites such as Sabbath worship and circumcision were officially punishable by stoning to death. While many Jews began to leave Spain following this, their circumstances changed soon after with the Tariq ibn Ziyyad's Islamic conquest of Iberia in 711 CE. <br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rmcqyNIgWM_NldlalbfkTO9_16DyPMlqay6aaoL-IqJ9OqpefSx07xs7mqY4M1cGot4Qg0R0KxlasQt2X_Lr4BbaqyYhyDVLy1d7cxI8Q51IQMlv9nRVkRfTIA5hXKYTY5mXub8kvouL/s320/CaliphTN.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Muslim holdings (in green) in Iberia ca. 1000</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">The Jews welcomed the Muslim invaders fleeing the Catholic areas (especially after those still living there were declared traitors and had their goods confiscated). Muslims had throughout their lands held Jews and Christians both to be <i>dhimmi </i>-- people of the Book -- with protected (if not fully equal status) to Muslims. While the Christians in the conquered lands generally chose to flee to other Christian countries, the Jews not only remained but began to pour into the Moorish-ruled areas from elsewhere in Christian Europe. Jews were allowed to worship free from persecution and -- unlike anywhere in Christendom -- were allowed to participate in any area of business they wished. <br /><br />This ushered in what became known as the Golden Age of Jewish Culture in Spain, arguably the greatest flourishing of a Jewish community anywhere in Europe. For the next 400 years, Jews in Moorish Spain rose to prominence far beyond what their small numbers would suggest. <br /><br />Because they were allowed (for what was essentially the first instance since ancient times) to participate in government, Jews became active in government. Several Jews held major positions throughout Islamic Spain. Indeed, four Jews rose to the position of Saragossa's Vizier (the equivalent of Prime Minister): Abu al-Fadl ibn Hasid Jekuthiel ibn Ḥasan, Samuel ha-Levi ibn Nagdela and Joseph ibn Naghrela. The Chief Physician of Granada -- Hasdai ibn Shaprut -- also served as a foreign minister. Another Jewish diplomat for Granada was Joseph ibn Migash. Also Jews such as the military leader Abu Ruiz ibn Dahri served in the Muslim armies. <br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEE7hxoSKspyhBCThyqCWiO_gxYcbJBz1j9DwCc4BLKa78XpGLfLPnesPtvNidIvtCIKEF2DWAr9upoCudDOk92N9FMMlbbylJMemXDI4U9DgrCAJzfdwnlfgn7IELyG-59D4MVLmVkR7P/s200/Maimonides1.jpg" width="183" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Maimonides</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">Allowed as nowhere else in Europe to participate in academics, science and literature, the Jewish Golden Age in Spain produced leading figures in these areas. These included the astronomer Isaac ibn Abalia, the explorer/geographer Benjamin of Tudela. the poets Dunash ben Labrat and Solomon ibn Gabirol, the poet/philosopher Yehuda Halevi, and the philosopher, poet and linguist Rabbi Moses ibn Ezra. Moorish Spain also became the center of Jewish theological studies during this period. It was in Spain that Jewish mysticism saw its flowering with the works of the Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia and the publication of the <i>Zohar </i>by Moses de Leon. Finally, the Golden Age of the Jews in Spain produced the greatest of all Jewish medieval scholars, Maimonides. Also known as the Rambam, Maimonides codified the Talmud, wrote the <i>Guide for the Perplexed </i>and arguably became the most important Jewish philosopher until modern times.<br /><br />The Golden Age of Jewish Culture in Spain began to wane as Christian Europe began the "reconquest" or <i>Reconquista. </i>While the first Christian victory occurred in 722 at the Battle of Covadonga, the Jewish position under Moorish rule and the Jewish position did not begin to significantly falter until the late 10th Century. Until then, as Christians conquered various Iberian territories, the populations (Muslim and Jewish alike) had the option of moving to those lands still under Islamic rule. When Caliph Al-Hakam II Ibn Abd-ar-Rahman died in 976, though, the Granadan Caliphate began to weaken from within. Faced with internal instability and fearing the string of Christian victories, the masses in Granada (notably not the rulers or the elites) began to seek a scapegoat, and anti-Jewish activities began to grow. This culminated on December 30, 1066 when mobs overran the royal palace at Granada. They crucified the Jewish Vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela and on a single day killed over 4000 Jews in anti-Jewish riots. This was the first significant act of violence against Jews in the entire history of Islamic Iberia. Following this, many Jews left for North Africa and what is now Israel and even for Christian-held Toledo which had remained a Jewish center of learning. This worsened the situation of the Jews who remained who were then seen as disloyal. Still, the majority of Jews stayed in the Emirate of Granada, the last remaining Muslim nation in Iberia until its surrender in early 1492.<br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAiNh8e9U-xKb-R5oe197PZFwMEqWGfJU_B7g0ie5ADzFI7hWeIcA30EL0lx3mmzixkhf5s804Kpl1qXrSWxspzoI0rTtYbE9AW4CAU1I7BDScJmyayQenlHfFXRN8c4pg02zTbEMp0kI/s200/Abravanel.jpg" width="138" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Isaac Abrabanel</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">It is with this background that the Alhambra Edict takes on its true significance. Ironically, Queen Isabella's main financial advisor was the Jew Isaac Abrabanel. Abrabanel had offered Isabella and Ferdinand 600,000 crowns to rescind the verdict, which they almost accepted but the Grand Inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada shamed them, comparing this to Judas' betrayal of Jesus for money. The difficulty for Isabella and Ferdinand was greater than simply that of Torquemada.<br /><br />The whole purpose of the <i>Reconquista</i> was to make all of Spain Catholic. This meant that toleration of non-Catholics would undermine the whole justification for their rule. The difficulty was that the educated elite and business leaders of the newly conquered lands were largely Jewish as the Muslim intellectual and economic leaders simply fled to other Muslim nations. As the Christian armies grew more successful in the <i>Reconquista</i>, the Jews there were given a choice of conversion or death. While some chose death, tens of thousands of Jews converted but the Church leaders were (justly) suspicious that such forced conversions were insincere. Additionally, the Christian rulers resented the economic power of the converted Jews prevented the new conquerors from taking the profits of the countries they had conquered. <br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI9MhUhh_OsW0XppSDunKLO-BpjLjwbXkSocb81PLzYWCAvaiC0-QUQvEShizpotM8GqiyK7lERHzJRgTjEEiBerkxZK53eTfbCgdwiBCRc5HiO4A8R0MNbZp0KcppvMJGr_sBoAZwVVQ/s200/inquisition-wheel.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Inquisition began in 1480</b><br /><b>using torture to uncover</b><br /><b>"secret" Jews among converts</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">In 1480, Isabella and Ferdinand began what was to become the Spanish Inquisition as they sought to find out "secret" Jews. This proved largely ineffective since most of the people tortured tended to confess.<br /><br />Faced with the difficulty of rooting out "secret" Jews, Isabella and Ferdiand simply found it expedient to expel all Jews from the newly conquered Granada as well as any Jews remaining in Castile and Aragon. The penalty was death without trial, meaning that many new converts also chose to leave. Depending on whose estimates are used, the figures of how many Jews left the country by Tisha B'Av 1492 vary greatly ranging from a minimum of 130,000 to a maximum of 800,000. The descendants of the Iberian Jews expelled from Spain today make up the Sephardic Jewish community (Sephardi or <span dir="rtl" lang="he" style="font-size: 20px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: small;">סְפָרַדִּ</span></span>) means <i>Spanish </i>in Hebrew. <br /><br />The Alhambra Decree was formally revoked only following the Second Vatican Council in December 1968.<br /> <span lang="EN"><b></b></span><br /><span lang="EN"><b>1914 CE Declaration of World War I</b></span><br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN3uWlRqL44_0EPgDwMYEVQAwZtp827iPEoyGGL7UhIn_hFdb1THwG8nISoJX8N5Sj5QrdahnSX8ougpfYpWdzABzSkfXGaZiscJPvPuLDUJcmOZ3Q0mG7pivAjR5P4N9sgjAbBRih-YK/s320/Essex+Farm+Cemetery,+Ypres.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres (Ieper), Belgium</b><br /><b>Burial site of "In Flanders Fields" poet John McRae.</b><br /><b>In the three battles fought at Ypres, 1/2 million soldiers</b><br /><b>were killed or wounded</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">World War I was declared on </span>July 28 -- Tisha B'Av -- of 1914. While this was more of a world tragedy than simply a Jewish tragedy, World War I has particular<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span> significance for Jews. It was the unacceptable terms of the Treaty of Versailles that ended the war that laid the seeds for the conspiracy theories and scapegoating of the Jews among the Nazis that ultimately led to the Holocaust. <br /><br />World War I was also one of the first times in which European Jews were seen as full citizens of most of the the countries in which they lived. As a result, Jews fought in great numbers on both sides of the conflict. In all, approximately 100,000 Jews died fighting in World War I. As a side note, John McRae's famously moving poem "In Flanders Fields" opens:<br /></span><blockquote><i><span face="arial, sans-serif">In Flanders fields the poppies blow<br />Between the crosses, row on row,</span></i></blockquote><span face="arial, sans-serif">Ironically, World War I was the first time that large numbers of British and Commonwealth graves officially included Jewish markings on the gravestones.<br /><br /><span lang="EN"><b>1942 CE The Nazi Extermination of the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Opening of the Treblinka Extermination Camp</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"> <br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3C8ELasUfoNAp4d9STo2M7unSBn4lTMj5yoVGYHk1bFnPV9XBegHEus-aHQoBEiBIbh0S-pvOYYE1FZw4d0r9rY7bDgcJdag2rrK6bM3u1fCKc02gS2laWwvYCzPYEw0eVB9i15omJLS/s320/Jewish+people+surrender+to+Nazis+Warsaw+Ghetto+Uprising+WW2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Warsaw Ghetto surrender, 1942</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">In the middle of World War II, the Nazis selected the eve of Tisha B'Av -- July 23, 1942 -- to begin sending Jews to Treblinka, the first extermination camp, Treblinka served as a sort of pilot program for later camps, so this represents the beginning of the worst disaster in all of Jewish history.</span><br /><br /><span lang="EN">This was the same date that the extermination of the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto began. There is some evidence to suggest that the selection of the date was deliberately set for Tisha B'Av.</span><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><span lang="EN"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>1994 CE The Bombing of the Buenos Aires Jewish Community Center</b><br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxmBexEVw42r7cRH36yEHhoOAjjSvWKdNlNxQ3LPWu6dg9g9Z4ZGehfHJSKUMveSuUzlYgdGpPi6m7uHXM-BQU3tV889zJK95AWKsT_lii4EtsBtIRoBoulBT9x1NmL5I4-ZGwGM26rcG/s1600/buenos%2520aires%2520bombed%2520center.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>AMIA bombing, Buenos Aires</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="arial, sans-serif">On July 18 -- Tisha B'Av -- of 1994, terrorists blew up the Jewish Community Center or Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina killing 85 Jews and injuring over 300 others. This was the largest terrorist attack in Argentine history and remains a major political issue in its handling to this day.<br /><br />Argentina is significant in having the largest Jewish community in Latin America.<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">In fact,</span>Argentina <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">has</span> the<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> 6th</span> largest Jewish population worldwide and with <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">230,000</span> of those living in the capital, <a href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/largest-jewish-populated-metropolitan-areas-worldwide">Buenos Aires is the <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">15th</span> largest Jewish city</a><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> in the world.</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span><br /><br />The initial investigation was poorly handled, which remains a major issue currently in Argentine politics. In 2005, then President Nestor Kirchner called the handling of the bombing <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4423612.stm">"a national disgrace"</a> and in 2006 Argentina formally indicated the complicity of Iran and Hezbollah in the bombing. <br /><br />In her November 2010 speech to the UN General Assembly, then President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner publicly attacked Iran for its role in the bombing. In March 2012, former President Carlos Menem was formally required to go to trial for possible cover-ups of those complicit in the bombing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Tisha B’Av Among Reconstructionist and Reform Jews</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">It should be noted that not all Jews observe Tisha B’Av as a day of mourning. Reconstructionist Jews have transformed the observance of Tisha B’Av to a Memorial Day. Among most Reform and some Conservative Jews, Tisha B’Av should not be celebrated on religious grounds. These Jews believe that, following the creation of the state of Israel, the mourning for Tisha B’Av is inappropriate. While such views should be recognized, it is important to realize that all Orthodox, most Conservative, and some Reform Jews, do not agree with this practice. For them, this is a solemn fast day of mourning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif">Reconstructionist Jewish Views of Tisha B’Av</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"></span></div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Reconstructionist Jews observe Tisha B’Av as a Memorial Day rather than as a day of mourning. This is explained by <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Reconstructionist </span><a href="https://www.jewishvoicesnj.org/articles/tisha-bav-recalls-the-miracle-of-spiritual-survival/">Rabbi Lewis Eron <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">explains:</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote><span face="arial, sans-serif"><i>Our people have returned to our ancient homeland and rebuilt our towns and cities. We are no longer powerless. Our world has changed and our needs have changed. To speak to us today, Tisha b'Av can not longer be the day on which we remember all the evil that has happened to us. It needs to become the day on which we understand that despite our setbacks, our struggles, our real loses and deep suffering, we, the Jewish people, have overcome the obstacles fate has set before us. Our existence today is a triumph of our people's spirit</i>. </span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Rabbi Eron's comments may not represent that of all Reconstructionist Jews, but can be seen as representative having appeared on the main website of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College of the Jewish Reconstructionist Movement.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif">Reform Jewish Views of Tisha B’Av</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"></span></div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Many Reform Jews reject the concept of mourning the destruction of the Temple on philosophical grounds. As <a href="https://reformjudaism.org/blog/tishah-bav-day-reflection">Rabbi Daniel Syme explains</a>: </span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></div><i><span zeum4c10="">Tishah</span> B'Av by attending services and reading from Lamentations, Jeremiah and Job.To the early Reform Jews, mourning the destruction of the Temple in such elaborate fashion did not seem meaningful, especially since Reform Judaism did not idealize the rebuilding of the Temple. In recent times, Tishah B'Av observance has become a day to reflect on the moments of suffering in our heritage and those moments of suffering still occurring in our contemporary world. Today, many Reform Jews observe </i></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Rabbi Syme's comments may not represent that of all Reform Jews, but can be seen as representative having appeared in the main Internet publication of the Union for Reform Judaism. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="FR"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Concluding Comments</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">This overview is meant only to be informational. This in no way intends to put forth that one view of the observance (or non-observance) of Tisha B’Av is better than another. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span lang="EN">As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. Also, despite the sobering nature of this description, I still hope you find this worthwhile.</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="gmail_default"> </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Want to Learn More?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Aish.com, “What Happened on the Ninth of Av?” <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.aish.com/h/<wbr></wbr>9av/oal/48944076.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Arutz Sheva, “<span lang="EN">Tisha B'Av: Mourning Destruction but Hoping for<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span>Redemption,”</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span lang="DE"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>israelnationalnews.com/News/<wbr></wbr>News.aspx/146502</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Rabbi Lewis Eron<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> (July 29, 2009)</span>, Jewish Reconstructionist Movement, “Tisha <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">B</span>'Av<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> recalls the miracle of spiritual survival</span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">,”<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jewish Community Voice<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">, </span></i> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">http://jrf.org/showdt&<wbr></wbr>rid=451&pid=111</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Judaism 101, “Tisha B’Av,” <span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.jewfaq.org/<wbr></wbr>holidayd.htm</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Caryn Meltz, About.com: Judaism, “Tisha B’Av – A Taboo Day,”<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> <i>,</i></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://judaism.about.<wbr></wbr>com/library/3_holidays/<wbr></wbr>tishabav/bl_tishabav_taboo.htm</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN"><br />My Jewish Learning, “Tisha B’Av: Communal Mourning,” <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>myjewishlearning.com/holidays/<wbr></wbr>TishaBav.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Ohr Somaych, “Av, The Month of Tragedies,” <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://ohr.edu/<wbr></wbr>yhiy/article.php/1092</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Orthodox Union, “Tisha B’Av,” <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.ou.org/<wbr></wbr>yerushalayim/tishabav/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="EN">Rabbi Daniel Syme<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> (July 5, 2013)</span>, “Tisha B’Av: A <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Day of Reflection," <i>ReformJudaism.org, </i></span></span><a href="https://reformjudaism.org/blog/tishah-bav-day-reflection%E2%80%8B">https://reformjudaism.org/blog/tishah-bav-day-reflection<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">"Vital Statistics: Metropolitan Areas With The Largest Jewish Population Worldwide 2021)," <i>Jewish Virtual Library,<a href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/largest-jewish-populated-metropolitan-areas-worldwide"> </a></i></span></span><a href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/largest-jewish-populated-metropolitan-areas-worldwide">https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/largest-jewish-populated-metropolitan-areas-worldwide<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> </span></a><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"What Is Tisha B'Av?" (2022), Chabad.org, <a href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144575/jewish/What-Is-Tisha-BAv.htm">https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144575/jewish/What-Is-Tisha-BAv.htm </a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Opening clip art image: Ohr.edu: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://ohr.edu/special/9av/<wbr></wbr>9av.jpg</a></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Destruction of the Temple: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.nyissues.<wbr></wbr>com/tisha-b-av.html</a></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Sacking of the Second Temple in Jerusalem on the Arch of Titus, Rome: My own personal photo</span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif">The Kotel, Jerusalem: My own personal photo.</span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Bar Kokhba on the Knesset Menorah: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://upload.<wbr></wbr>wikimedia.org/wikipedia/<wbr></wbr>commons/thumb/a/a8/Knesset_<wbr></wbr>Menorah_P5200010_Bar_Kochvah.<wbr></wbr>JPG/104px-Knesset_Menorah_<wbr></wbr>P5200010_Bar_Kochvah.JPG</a></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /><span id="gmail-m_-5184969519963228923m_5333343571161967092gmail-goog_974418232">Philip II Augustus expelling the Jews from France </span>from the <i>Grandes Chroniques de France </i>(1321): <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://upload.<wbr></wbr>wikimedia.org/wikipedia/<wbr></wbr>commons/thumb/9/99/1182_<wbr></wbr>french_expulsion_of_jews.jpg/<wbr></wbr>325px-1182_french_expulsion_<wbr></wbr>of_jews.jpg</a><br /><br />Louis XIV of France (1701) by Hyacinthe Rigaud, The Louvre, Paris, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/File:Louis_XIV_of_<wbr></wbr>France.jpg</a><br /><br />Edward I, Portrait from Westminster Abbey: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/File:Gal_nations_<wbr></wbr>edward_i.jpg</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div><span face="arial, sans-serif">Crusader killing Jews from French Bible ca. 1250: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.sanger.ac.uk/<wbr></wbr>about/press/features/gfx/<wbr></wbr>genomic-archaeology03.jpg</a><br /><br />Alhambra Edict: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://upload.<wbr></wbr>wikimedia.org/wikipedia/<wbr></wbr>commons/thumb/9/9e/Alhambra_<wbr></wbr>Decree.jpg/429px-Alhambra_<wbr></wbr>Decree.jpg</a><br /><br />Muslim holdings (in green) in Iberia ca. 1000: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://orias.berkeley.<wbr></wbr>edu/2011/<wbr></wbr>HWWorkingGroup2011Toledo.htm</a><br /><br />Maimonides: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>medievalists.net/wp-content/<wbr></wbr>uploads/2010/11/Maimonides1.<wbr></wbr>jpg</a><br /><br />Isaac Abrabanel: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>sephardicseminary.org/eshel_<wbr></wbr>womans_sephardic_seminary_<wbr></wbr>mission/eshel_womans_<wbr></wbr>sephardic_seminary_sephardic_<wbr></wbr>history/</a><br /><br />Inquisition torturers and victim: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://static.ddmcdn.<wbr></wbr>com/gif/inquisition-wheel.jpg</a><br /><br />Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres/Ieper: My own personal photograph.<br /><br />The Warsaw Ghetto surrender photograph is one of the most famous from World War II. It was taken by SS officer Jürgen Stroop who included it in his official report to SS Chief Heinrich Himmler: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/<wbr></wbr>File:Stroop_Report_-_Warsaw_<wbr></wbr>Ghetto_Uprising_06.jpg</a><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="text-align: center;">AMIA bombing, Buenos Aires: </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/4863304947781810407#" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">http://www.tbam.org/<wbr></wbr>clientuploads/images/MISC/<wbr></wbr>amia.gif</a></span></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-71989202688357608672022-03-30T12:33:00.004-04:002024-03-07T15:15:57.213-05:00Ramadan 2024 Customs Around the World<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline" /><br />The Islamic obs</span><span face="-webkit-standard">ervance of the holy month of </span><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span><span face="-webkit-standard"> (رمضان) for 202</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">2</span><span face="-webkit-standard"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span face="-webkit-standard">begins on (or near to, depending on the sighting of the moon) the evening of</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Sunday, March 10</span></span><span face="-webkit-standard"> and ends on the evening of Monday, June 17 with the </span></span><span face="-webkit-standard">concluding holiday of </span><span style="font-family: "times";">Eid al Fitr (which itself begins on Sunday, June 16.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxkMOZXqlt1VDFYFqJgiM2C4hFCutbD9XM2wtWH36Rvhl13ivjtzQXjUtIEhDI91giQj-wdLnKu0zoIRjxY2kLO_s25dey8EEfOcFwQPuJEWw4UFKPSR0eEIm4iLDvIz8N3tovHHc4tv0/s401/Ramadan+mubarek.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxkMOZXqlt1VDFYFqJgiM2C4hFCutbD9XM2wtWH36Rvhl13ivjtzQXjUtIEhDI91giQj-wdLnKu0zoIRjxY2kLO_s25dey8EEfOcFwQPuJEWw4UFKPSR0eEIm4iLDvIz8N3tovHHc4tv0/w400-h126/Ramadan+mubarek.jpg" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="364" /></a></div>As with all Islamic holidays, the actual date depends on the sightability of the moon. While the most commonly accepted date for 202<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">24</span> is for sunset of March 10, some debate exists among certain sects as to whether the sighting of the moon should be on the same day as the sighting of the moon in Mecca or the day following. Because I have received criticism for stating one date only in the past, let me state clearly here that this overview is meant to be informational only and is in no way intended to indicate that one view or the other is correct.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="-webkit-standard"><b><i>All students, employees and faculty who request it, should be accommodated.</i></b> </span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Such accommodation should include both the observance of special observances described below as well as allowing people time to break their fast during evening hours. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div> </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">For most Muslims, the first and last days of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> are usually spent in worship and students, employees and faculty should be excused from activities if requested. Some Muslims also observe an exclusion period in the mosque (<i>i</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><u><i>ʿtikāf</i></u></span> ) during the last 10 days of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> and may need accommodation. <br /><br />Importantly, during the entire month of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, believers fast during the daylight hours. Part of <i><b>accommodation should therefore include discouraging others from eating or drinking in class or in other settings where attendance is mandatory</b></i>. Consideration should also be given to requiring attendance at meetings where food is served (as in serving meals or snacks during the meeting).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>: Islam’s Holy Month</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> is a time of worship and contemplation in Islam. <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> is observed by all sects. The month of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> – the ninth in the Islamic lunar calendar -- is also when it is believed the first verses of the Koran were sent down from heaven in 610 CE.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It should be noted, however, that this was not the Koran in its entirety which was revealed through the Prophet Mohammed <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">(</span><span lang="ar" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" title="Arabic language text">عليه السلام</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">) during</span> a 23-year span (only concluding in 632 CE).</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shared <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Observances</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> customs vary from culture to culture, almost all Muslims share in common the observances of fasting, prayer and the conclusion of the month with <i>Eid al-Fitr</i>. The observance of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> is a central practice of the faith, and its observance is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Fasting or <i>Sawm</i> (<span lang="ar">صوم</span>)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTjXAp54jHQzgVLRSQD6tQyaitmQLLHjcJhIbE7Ms91VyHq4xlO9H9SJW9GpcVS5CbkVbzPo7hwBcAwGCUvHXZN4cFc9MhUnlOW7Xg75ChnVdoQ9-Lw-1PiQvRz33nEUYFTL_8XbwY4Ql/s200/untitled.bmp" width="166" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Muslims observing <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> fast during daylight hours. The fast includes all food, drink, recreational drugs, sex and tobacco. Most Muslims also consider the fast to include a ban on evil thoughts, gossip, lying, cheating and fighting from dawn to sunset. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Those observing <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> will usually want to break their fast at sunset. Breakfast or lunch meetings, snacks brought for a class and the like should be reconsidered accordingly. Also, even employees, students and others who may not always observe the prayer at the setting of the sun (Maghrib) may do so during this month (note that if it is not possible for students to pray at the appointed times, they are permitted to pray as soon as they can after that – which might, for example, affect an student’s willingness to stay after class or an employee to stay late for a project). Each day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the<i> iftar (</i><span lang="ar">إفطار</span> ).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><i>Taraweeh</i> ( <span lang="ar">تراويح</span>) and the Recitation of the Koran</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C2-Lcnujze0RJIBg6PL-yDza3_RaPmwYRPuEDmHeesHQ7OWbqDRboG82yyhnYaSf7Qlt_BBBqehYaNi9shIh3s_YSCESymhgdjnkynjWC8HN_oZRlvtLgCOFHg79EKkS54c3VrIaI4I5/s200/1282647222988584111mosque_svg_med.png" width="161" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the evening following the <i>iftar</i> it is common for many people to go to the mosque for <i>Taraweeh</i> or night prayers. Many also go to visit family and friends and recite the prayers together there. Some schools of thought consider <i>Taraweeh</i> compulsory while others consider the prayers voluntary but strongly encouraged. The actually number and nature of the pairs of <span title="Semitic transliteration"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>rakaʿāt </i>recited also vary according to sect and custom. Because feelings run very deeply on this issue and I do not wish to in any way appear to endorse one practice or another, it may be best to refer to the reading lists at the end of this post to read about these different views.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many Muslims recite out loud the whole Koran during the month of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>. This is in imitation of what the Prophet Mohammed <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">(</span><span lang="ar" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" title="Arabic language text">عليه السلام</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">)</span> during his lifetime. Some families have a tradition of gathering together as an extended family or in groups of friends to recite the Koran as a group activity. In nations with Muslim majority populations or in which Islam is the state religion, the recitation of the Koran is often broadcast over radio and television stations. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><i>Iʿtikāf</i> ( <span lang="ar">اعتكاف</span>)</u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_FbWD3pZaRjKkYtYw0vX-NjK05E0SnU2d0zDD-rqMfFDYU2MwLXxn9vbbXpRRhK3Xec2bcJKlwqQh_otC7_0uUUdxxWvYBZP8Ukc_KAiGNOPvhNfACpdc-S2S591S9RG_yY6sBLvmopl/s200/laylat-al-qadr.jpg" width="158" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lailat ul Qadr</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Though not a requirement, many Muslims choose to go into a state of <span style="font-family: "times";"><i>Iʿtikāf</i> or seclusion (usually in a mosque) for a period during <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>. This is most commonly for the last ten days of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> so that they can be praying and reading the Koran on <i>Lailat ul Qadr. </i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times";"><i>Lailat ul Qadr </i>or the Night of Power was the night in which the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">(</span><span lang="ar" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" title="Arabic language text">عليه السلام</span>. The Koran teaches that "<i>Lailat ul Qadr </i>is better than a thousand months" (<i>Sura </i>97: 3) and so prayers are much greater in power then. Nevertheless, the actual night of <i>Lailat ul Qadr </i>remains unknown, except that it occurs within the last ten days (some believe last five days) of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Conclusion of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> with<i> Eid al-Fitr</i></u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Depending on sightability of the moon,</span><span face="-webkit-standard"> the evening of </span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Sunday, May 1, 2022</span></span><span face="-webkit-standard"> will be the start of Eid al-Fitr.</span><span lang="EN"> T</span><span face="-webkit-standard">he festival marks the end of the month-long fast of </span><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span><span face="-webkit-standard">. It is traditionally a time for meals with the extended family and friends that lasts for two or three days. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Muslims also give <i>Zakat</i> (<i> </i><span lang="ar">زكاة</span>) or alms to the poor throughout <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>. Muslims especially give alms to the poor in honor of Eid. This is called <i>Zakat al-Eid. </i> Typically, people give a donation (in food or cash or both) to the poor. Many Muslim communities set up charity tables and public food kitchens or booths for the poor Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of a month of particular piety and dedication to God, the holiday is also a time for giving forgiveness and praying for peace and unity.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The traditional Arabic greeting for the Eid is “Eid mubarak” which more or less translates as “Blessed Eid” or just “Happy Eid” (which can be said as well, of course).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Customs Around the World</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beyond the share observances described above, customs vary from country to country. Only a few of these are described below (but please add in the comment section those from your own traditions). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Albania</span></u></b><br /><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> (in Albanian Ramazani) has particular significance in Albania. Under Communist rule, Albanians were prohibited from signs of worship. <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> was significant, though, since fasting could not be detected by the atheist authorities. With the end of the repressive regime of Enver Hoxha in 1991, though, public worship for Muslims and Eastern Orthodox Christians alike began to flourish. It is significant that virtually no religious conflict occurs between Muslims and Christians in Albania (unlike the neighboring countries of the former Yugoslavia where religion had not been banned). Indeed, at <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, Muslim children now commonly share trays of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> treats with their Christian counterparts just as the Christian children share Easter eggs with their Muslim friends. It is also not uncommon for Muslims to be invited Christians to their homes to break the fast with them even though the Christians were not fasting, and some Christians hold meals for breaking the fast in their own homes for their Muslim friends.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcOIBo5Wqc-tB3KKdcFIBHHTEhoi6TtE8_uvVCS95RP2Wgdnj8qozJyVZXkN_lKYR2-8Vb7BwdhRqYAx5Li1sCH1nBnq3uCpeBCz4vWe-f_yG-z-HT3I46NdLLyv5HC3nKZxryepCzGEo/s200/Albanian+lodra.jpg" width="136" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the fall of Communism, the <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> drumming of the <i>lodra </i>through the streets is common again. The <i>lodra</i> is the national instrument and appears on images for Radio Tirana. Men go through the streets beating a <i>lodra</i> so that people wake up to eat can eat before the sun rises. The man returns beating the <i>lodra</i> as the sun sets to announce the breaking of the fast. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-8rCEol3OSis_3OS97rrEWUjSDHY72UaNlxZBxRQZp4XImSbxYYwAXfi78F_FrWnC5fyOPsTS9LT1SgOYHqTsQ00_yf2I8eSwr19U0MiZR3v1LtTSbdYEGzPljNgPl_T6vdrkSH0ds2e/s200/byrek" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Albanian <i>byrek</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While Albanians offer a wide variety of food in different parts of the couuntry to break the fast, one of the most common <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> specialties is <i>byrek</i>. This is a a fried pastry made of phyllo dough and stuffed with spinach, meat or milk curd. People eat <i>byrek </i>cold or heated up depending on preference. A recipe for Albanian <i>byrek</i> is available at </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/<wbr></wbr>Albanian_Byrek</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Djibouti</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Djibouti practices two customs unique to the horn of Africa. The first is that Muslims refrain from eating fish through the Holy Month. The belief there is that fish leads to excessive thirstiness. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">A second custom is that Djiboutians customarily leave the mosques on the 27 day of the Holy Month and collectively chant good-bye to Ramadan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Egypt</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Egypt comes alive at night during <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>. Shops, often closed during the day, stay open into to 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning and buildings are strung with lights and other decorations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPiEEwFgE31Lx7hvYyxs0FmqEVGecNHazb1mYpVVWgwWU8yZSVW4tw6wM0FFYjjPaLH0anrHbptUxFbZWNG-DzVe7KlA6qKUlRp6NGFzeAIGbLA6klkUC2upoXRv04Zc-Tpcbuy3Bb6Cz/s200/ramadanlanterns6.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Fanoos</i> lanterns for sale</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in Cairo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Children celebrate <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> with a <i>fanoos</i> or traditional <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> lantern. These lantern are constructed of tin with colored glass (or sometimes plastic) panes through which shines the light from a candle placed in side.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One particularity for Egypt is fairly modern as Egypt grew to become center for Arabic-language television. To mark <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, the Egyptian entertainment industry introduces over half of all Egyptian TV serials produced each year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXr14O61qvXk9vpXao7FgXMwnIVBn2PYdmIaD07Bhuj8W1C2-EeZg30KjBoyvBIfbP8xYwbUn2j4tlFr_L3DyR9Y84oTJOT-uMTkbYVKbn65DplLWbGnSYB40JyWbR7bDqCnzvo_MZQo4/s1600/vegetables-ful-medames-flickr-dlisbona-379337899_thumbnail.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ful medames</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Special foods also mark <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> in Egypt. Traditionally, Egyptians begin their morning meal with <i>f</i><i>ul medames. </i>Often considered Egypt's national dish, <i>ful medames</i> dates back to the time of ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs. The dish is made of fava beans simmered together with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and other spices. One recipe for <i>ful medames </i>is available at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.epicurious.com/<wbr></wbr>recipes/food/views/Ful-<wbr></wbr>Medames-Egyptian-Brown-Fava-<wbr></wbr>Beans-352993</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The traditional <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> drink of Egypt is called <i>Qamar el-din. </i>This is made from sheets of dried apricot paste boiled in water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>India and Pakistan</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHrQOSUXXruQACZhgeW4Pahnu6YL3N6F2hUnLxI6jOqQtboco8WNNLbplQYDObx0mSzVDXJuXdwS2n6dE9yBnToTmN6ZiaayaZqMzdCLiajuaNMSMnB3jPHhSrjKyDLprtpZMIehHX8mT/s200/Henna+hands.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hands decorated with henna</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In India and Pakistan, Muslim girls traditionally dress festively with gold or multicolored bracelets and bangles. It is common for <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> in general -- and especially for Eid-- for girls to paint each others’ hands with mehndi (henna designs). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXPLxZUtXzvWqRuYTfFcLuLCiqYclJhLhI1Jse2T9UpgGbdlhYj1NSimw3-37u9hpyCUWgEKu00iNHHm6l7WAoQqCnJadmOjkPlY9XNqP9fM96-EVC4N7WcREg-k-Wer1FdxOz_PhgoRT/s200/samosa.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samosas</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> foods vary from region to region throughout India and Pakistan, one food common to <i>iftar </i>throughout both countries is the <i>samosa</i>. A <i>samosa</i> is a fried, triangle-shaped pastry stuffed with any number of fillings. These can include vegetables, meat, chicken, potatoes and more.This accompanied with a dipping chutney of, from among others, mint, coriander, tamarind. In fact, there are so many varieties of <i>samosas</i>, that an entire site is dedicated to them at</span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.samosa-recipe.com/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indonesia</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr2EMWBccAX60lNFPGDTRTp2vfvZsoCNv9I_LCd9dxj_UDXeirPci173HZdauZqmT0rSIBHUyXxgnzdL8xU9lddkRSOsm2Cbh0cokGNgUvhQ0pdMXjvvJPqGGsM9NiwG1pZhUf5VVIItq/s1600/bedug.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bedug</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The end of the day's fast in Indonesia is traditionally heralded by pounding of the <i>bedug</i>, a special drum for the occasion. Even in urban areas where an actual <i>bedug </i>may not be played, broadcasts of the sound of the drum are broadcast over radios and televisions. On the last night of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> (called Lebaran), <i>bedug </i>players are often joined by large groups of musicians who play well into the night in a celebrative parade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitABm6Hh13OuOMClzCw2yzNwKRrNBpau5jnhO7qW50LIZFQnIX-F0c3zq-PlAWmDqfjpnf6w2nhw88iMxZ7ielQRqcdTPPcJ8bJMTZTQV8PHsVakbNKx85km3QiE-VSrKqIfPOpnndKnRU/s200/Indonesian+panjat+pinang+pole+climbing.bmp" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Panjat pinang </i>pole-climbing</b> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In many Indonesia towns and especially in Jakarta, <i>panjat pinang </i>pole-climbing competitions are held at <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>. The poles are made from nut trees that have been smoothed down and covered with grease. No one person is usually able to climb the pole, so the climbing is usually a group effort. At the top of the pole are a collection of small prizes called <i>panjat pinang. </i>When someone reaches the top and grabs any of the prizes, they share them with those who helped them up the pole.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the end of Ramada on Eid al-Fitr (called Idul Fitri in Bahasa Indonesia), it is customary in most Indonesian villages to go on <i>Mohon Maaf</i> visits following morning prayers. <i>Mohon Maaf</i> comes from the phrase “<i>Mohon Maaf Lahir Batin</i>” which means "forgive me from the bottom of my heart for my wrongdoings in the past year." Generally, the visits go in order of the most senior member of a family down and at each house, with food provided at each stop along the way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yv2fNYauRPF6mxhTjMB6tZZj05gX8lpYuAVxU0DyghEduzuBCAITwSw9dCcmakgX-vjT0rmKkHXyjHuIxup1Rj5xusBw4hclmvFYlFb3dhFjVnJbczAflFU6ZWdl581DkRvUwKxHo7FY/s200/ramadan-indonesia2_1712808i.jpg" width="139" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <b>Indonesians trapped in traffic </b></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in Karawang at conclusion of Eid al-Fitr</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many Indonesians have roots in the countryside even if they live in the large cities. This poses a special problem for Indonesia each year at <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, as millions of people leave the cities for their hometowns. While many people in other countries leave for their hometowns as well at <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, the situation is arguably at its most extreme in Indonesia. The expatriate information site "Living in Indonesia" estimated that last year for <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> 2011 over 7 million people left Jakarta alone to go visit their traditional homes. The crush of traffic at both the beginning and end of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> therefore predictably overtaxes the national transportation infrastructure each year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Malaysia</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxopd51tgVjGB3xsw-puzzLkdkyKUkn9f_l0acr-9QIQVeq2H93CzSnSIPHPleGZBh3DYwCrmMUD7mGF3H7bZaSe21qrWPQ31k-IMNlgd_l-rI-4QKnHdyVr-9uc2Y9hDnHUqcEFBdC7U/s200/Ramadan_2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Malays shopping for flowers</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">for <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For Malays, people traditionally visit not only living relatives but also to visit graveyards to visit those relatives who have passed on. <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> is often a time of brightly-colored decorations and clothing among Malays. Many people decorate their homes with flowers and women in particular often wear colorful headscarves. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIAmGnX2BSdMigUEWLc1DVRHTok0C2GoF-3L1HxwdQBLCpRKs_dL9HPqQLUpTcBmSQrb8VJV2T8hnT_i2IPsS28GEpfDbmZ89vhVsFOTZ31gWuEPvIlnWoCBR_7WgpZa8d3YKYCKjFQQT/s200/Ramadan+Market,+KL.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Bazaar</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in Kuala Lumpur</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Throughout Malaysia on <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, it is common to see "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> bazaars." These are <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> counterparts to the year-round Malaysian night markets (<i>pasar malam</i>). Instead of opening at night, though, the <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> markets open in the late afternoon as people buy their food for the evening post-fasting meal. It should be noted that in Malaysia's multicultural society, the <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> bazaars are very popular with non-Muslims and Muslims alike.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qatar</span></u></b></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBBBX8cvNFbisHr7J9y-8CmE1BVmcv90N07QT7VQHhNOtkFkeF30S8ECTouBrZz11q_oENBwvAsFbPc35s9KwxS2G-pOVuDNZzRymEwuo3uPhAUL3IFw-Z1R47wSq2iQB_7JUD3BGj41w/s320/garanga2+Qatar.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qatari children dressed for <i>Garangao</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qataris celebrate the 14th day of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> with a special celebration called <i>Garangao</i>. The night of <i>Garangao </i>is a children's celebration. Children dress in traditional clothing, sing a special <i>Garangao </i>song for their families at home and are rewarded with sweets. </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After this, the tradition is somewhat akin to the North American Halloween as the children go door to door for what is called a "nutting night out" as the children collect nuts and other treats from neighbors. Some Kuwaiti children, like their counterparts in Qatar, also celebrate <i>Garangao </i>in the middle of the holy month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Kuwait</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QFeD97GLF9eQPV_Ga7IP0wut_UVkKKaDHFNHXOX3VwHD73PJFeL_BZqPr86x3aGjw-I1btMsPr-pCUwiKleKrNAX0RpvpuZM9Qp48WZxA5dZMAV5kDoKE0e-n86HlubCXfOFPHnR2N5H/s200/kuwait-canon.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Firing the cannon</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">at Naif Palace</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the arrival of the first cannon in Kuwait in 1907, it has been a tradition at Naif Palace in Kuwait City to fire a cannon shot to mark the end of the fast. It is customary to bring children to the gather around the cannon before <i>iftar</i> so they can celebrate in the blast. In recent years, the children have been joined by tourists -- both Muslim and non-Muslim alike -- for whom the blasts have become a <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> attraction. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34F9oaYWhw0yzZZyKBTXLWJ-bl6BH3gmxvhXr48IltW2rv8wTpaZ5UODXFCNElLlj1zb8oKCo3a_4zCqMa74rs2L5-a1I-Tonx8hTpnaDKOLDWaIbvJ6JZW7-qQ6QJnyqDQXQqmxjBN3t/s200/300px-Loukoumades.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luqmat Al-Qadi</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the eve of the first night of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, Kuwaitis celebrate with a pre-<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> festivity called <i>Graish</i>. At <i>Graish</i>, people gather with family and friends and welcome the holiday with the foods traditional to <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> in Kuwait. These include dates and special sweets such as <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Luqmat Al-Qadi. </i><i>Luqmat Al-Qadi</i> </span>are balls of dough mixed with saffron, cardamom, milk and butter that are boiled in fat and then rolled in syrup or sugar. A recipe for <i>Luqmat al-Qadi</i> can be found at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://helpcook.blogspot.com/<wbr></wbr>2009/10/luqmat-al-qadi-arabic-<wbr></wbr>sweet-balls.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Incidentally during Ottoman times, <i>Luqmat al-Qadi</i> made its way from the Gulf countries to Turkey as <i>lokma </i>and Greece as <i>loukmades. </i> <i>Luqmat al-Qadi</i> is also the source from which the Indian and Pakistani <i>gulab jaman</i> originally derived.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kyrgyzstan</span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b>Traditionally at <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>, the Kyrgyz accompany their evening meal with drinks made from special <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> <i>kurut. </i>A <i>kurut</i> is a dried yogurt ball.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrmauVN7IBPLIBxPMvkRh3HNo6bHaRmR-mPO1t-fGJjBXz3r6LQwwpz_5ugP5Er7Uq1nhnz2TVM-reXZK6ZECpgV1yyZgAvf-J0Ndrd0YGTftPbGYzzE099VS6eYw9ijD3Z_FkWeqBlMk/s200/Kurut+balls%252C+Kyrgyzstan.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> </b><b style="font-style: italic;">kurut </b><b>balls<br />Osh Bazaar, Bishkek</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Normal <i>kurut </i>are fairly small and extremely salty. By contrast, the special <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> <i>kurut</i> are roughly the size of someone's fist and are much salty. While regular, small-sized <i>kurut </i>are available all year long where they are sold throughout the country in plastic jars, the special <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> <i>kurut </i>are much harder to come by, and as a result are a special thing for most Kyrgyz. These special <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> <i>kurut</i> are sold only in the Osh Bazaar in the capital city of Bishkek.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Kyrgyz use <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> <i>kurut</i> to make a variety of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> beverages. The balls are dissolved in carbonated water and mixed with tomatoes and onions for a savory drink. The balls are dissolved in hot water and mixed with sugar and creamy oil for a dessert drink. In either case, the <i>kurut</i> drinks are special for the holiday and represent a one-time-a-year tradition.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mauritania</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> in Mauritania is a time when traditional games are played, especially among women. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is particularly unusual in this tradition is that the games are primarily played by women in what is otherwise a primarily male-oriented society when it comes to competitions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the Mohamed Yahya Abdel Wedoud in his article "Mauritanians mark <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> with traditional games and neighbourly visits" explains: </span></div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After prayers, traditional games such as <i>ekrour</i> and <i>essik</i> dominate the <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> nightlife, especially for women. Women throughout the country form teams and compete with each other.</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.magharebia.com/<wbr></wbr>cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/<wbr></wbr>features/awi/features/2009/09/<wbr></wbr>03/feature-02</a></span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDjBH_mAoYY5fTJ5Ynpcs0akwEdXzjZySyOZ0Pij7OP01hZLo18168U3mExLDHD8KgI5DZtFSAj5kO1Ri891liQpB3GA79K-yUlAGOjwYpR0v3ejt4r9YUjQmFwltMVW6HSOmHecs5E6-/s320/Mauritanian+woman+playing+traditional+game.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Mauritanian woman playing traditional <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> game</b><i style="text-align: left;"> </i><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Morocco</u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsrDv1tLPU3fvnpc4WdOX4UI36mYNjPm0tjLu-TBeEBNdG0a2TzhZ49r3VVzpl79T0BuRD0cuHUBlJ8a4RBMKFAoGalkvgl3_gajCYE4LLWBqKAVRuSH5L4BlyeuMrfd88cuG2d16GGb/s320/n%2527far+Morocco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b>A Morrocan <i>n'far </i>blowing his horn</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Morocco, a tradition exists in which a <i>n'</i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>far </i>(a special <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> equivalent to a town crier) walks down the streets playing a long, one-note <i>n'far </i>horn (similar to a brass vuvuzela) in the morning to wake everyone up in time for the last meal before sunrise. In many towns, being selected as the <i>n'far </i>is a high honor and usually bestowed upon an individual who knows everyone in the neighborhood well.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlTcKi6dAkX-_NR_VMmOsW2aX_GrSJ6cMfDcbeD8jwJY6XePa5uTgLbY-WOUg92XWihySBMqWQFx1UtLVaYxINmWKS7LWRf_EMpPGRCLG-C6pX-z3JPDfwLSdHZPAvURrEZDPWzWNixGR/s200/chebakkia+Morocco.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b>Moroccan<i> chebbakia</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Morocco is famous for its many special <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> treats, especially sweets. These include the anise and sesame-seed bread called <i>qrashel</i>, the turnover-like <i>briwat</i>, the crepe-like <i>baghrir, </i>and especially that most famous of all Moroccan sweets: the honey-soaked, sesame-sprinkled <i>chebbakia. </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One recipe for <i>chebakkia </i>can be found at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://moroccanfood.about.<wbr></wbr>com/od/tipsandtechniques/ss/<wbr></wbr>How_to_make_Chebakia.htm</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Turkey</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramazan (the Turkish name of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>) is generally a festive time throughout Turkey. Buildings and trees, especially in rural areas, are decorated with colored lights and booths are set up for the month selling traditional foods, religious books and a wide variety of Ramazan specials. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrmL2U21jL0vWsfblyD3Vwfb7zKgrkP-nSZ1gOsUZFPW9nfdlFjivKeHQkb8rgzXnVYMShnnpCF-gOgRdAd2Prs49poEYNBjYpdQdHOXkLE0GCz4i8smU8i4iVO8G3UiJsbh-9UzgX-AA/s200/turkish+delight.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Lokum (</i>Turkish delight)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Throughout the small towns of Turkey and even in some larger cities, special Ramazan drummers go through the street banging on drums. Their purpose is to wake people before the sun rises so they have time to eat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The three days after Ramazan concludes is celebrated with the Sugar Festival (<i>Şeker Bayramı</i>) when -- as the name suggests -- sweets and candies are eaten. Traditionally, in addition to offering sweets to friends and family at home, children go from door to door asking for candy. Most famous of the many sweets offered is <i>lokum, </i>known throughout most of the world as "Turkish delight." A recipe for the treat can be found at</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.recipesource.com/<wbr></wbr>ethnic/africa/middle-east/<wbr></wbr>turkish/lokum1.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Concluding Comment</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As with all of my commentaries, this overview is meant only as an informational message. It in no way is meant to suggest that one interpretation is in any way better than another regarding how to celebrate <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan.</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That said, I am open to your input. Please feel free to share your comments for improvement (or support for that matter) with me. <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Mubarek!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">David A. Victor, Ph.D.</span></div><div>Professor of Management and International Business</div><div>College of Business</div><div>Eastern Michigan University</div><div>Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 USA</div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank"></a><i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Mexico: An Intercultural Approach</a></i><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-japan" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Japan: An Intercultural Approach</a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-brazil" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Brazil: An Intercultural Approac</a><br /><div><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;">Editor-in-Chief, </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.emich.edu/gabc/about.html" target="_blank">Global Advances in Business Communication Journal </a> </i></div></i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Want To Know More?</b></span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Murray Candle, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>: A Mosaic of Traditions Around the World," </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>murraycandle.wordpress.com/<wbr></wbr>2012/07/11/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>-a-mosaic-<wbr></wbr>of-traditions-around-the-<wbr></wbr>world/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Emel, ""<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Across the Globe," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://emel.com/<wbr></wbr>article?id=88&a_id=2446</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fisabilillah Publications, "Complete Guide to <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>glasgowmuslims.com/sites/<wbr></wbr>default/files/fisabilillah_<wbr></wbr>complete_guide_ramadhan.pdf</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Michael A. Fredericks, AllMalaysia.com, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://allmalaysia.<wbr></wbr>info/2011/08/19/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Haq Islam, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>haqislam.org/articles/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Holidays.net, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://holidays.<wbr></wbr>net/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Huda, About.com, "What is <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>?" <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://islam.about.<wbr></wbr>com/od/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/f/ramadanintro.<wbr></wbr>htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Living in Indonesia, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> and Lebaran in Indonesia," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.expat.<wbr></wbr>or.id/info/lebaran.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jennifer Maughan, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Traditions," Life123, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.life123.<wbr></wbr>com/holidays/more-holidays/<wbr></wbr>september-holidays/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>.<wbr></wbr>shtml</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Muhajabah.com, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> FAQ <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.muhajabah.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>-faq.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Juliette Schmidt, OnIslam.net, "In <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>: A Journey Around the World," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.onislam.<wbr></wbr>net/english/culture-and-<wbr></wbr>entertainment/traditions/<wbr></wbr>448896-ramadanaroundtheworld.<wbr></wbr>html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">TheEid.com, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.theeid.<wbr></wbr>com/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Morocco World News, "<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Life and Traditions in <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>moroccoworldnews.com/2014/06/<wbr></wbr>132599/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>-life-and-<wbr></wbr>traditions-in-morocco/</a></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Washington Post, "How Muslims around the world celebrate the month of <span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span>," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/<wbr></wbr>food/how-muslims-around-the-<wbr></wbr>world-celebrate-the-month-of-<wbr></wbr><span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/2012/07/17/gJQAu8X7qW_<wbr></wbr>story.html</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Clip-Art Credits</span></b></div><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opening clip art: <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank"></a> </span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">"<span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> Mubarek"</a> <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">\</span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> fast clip art (adapted from): <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://fc09.deviantart.<wbr></wbr>net/fs71/f/2010/224/f/3/<wbr></wbr>RAMADAN_MUBARAK_1431h_by_bx.<wbr></wbr>jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mosque clip art: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.clker.com/<wbr></wbr>cliparts/8/2/2/f/<wbr></wbr>1282647222988584111mosque.svg.<wbr></wbr>med.png</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lailat ul-Qadr clip art: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://sapnamagazine.com/<wbr></wbr>wp-content/uploads/2010/09/<wbr></wbr>laylat-al-qadr.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Radio Tirana <i>lodra</i>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://web.<wbr></wbr>mclink.it/MJ0350/libera/<wbr></wbr>tirana/tiran19.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Albanian <i>byrek</i>: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://en.<wbr></wbr>wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Evb%<wbr></wbr>C3%B6re%C4%9Fi.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Egyptian <i>fanoos</i> lanterns for sale: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.touregypt.<wbr></wbr>net/featurestories/<wbr></wbr>ramadanlanterns.htm</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Henna hands: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.america.gov/<wbr></wbr>multimedia/photogallery.html#/<wbr></wbr>30145/multi_ramadan/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samosa: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://recipesnest.<wbr></wbr>com/wp-content/uploads/2010/<wbr></wbr>12/samosa.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Bedug </i>drum: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://1.bp.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/_kXYte55FGyo/<wbr></wbr>SKQqfZtVKkI/AAAAAAAAAN8/<wbr></wbr>wTs3t3m6iMo/s320/bedug.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Panjat pinang </i>pole climbers: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>odditycentral.com/pics/panjat-<wbr></wbr>pinang-a-slippery-tradition-<wbr></wbr>of-thailand.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indonesians trapped in traffic in Karawang at conclusion of Eid al-Fitr: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://i.telegraph.<wbr></wbr>co.uk/multimedia/archive/<wbr></wbr>01712/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>-indonesia2_<wbr></wbr>1712808i.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> flowers for sale in Malaysia: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.america.gov/<wbr></wbr>multimedia/photogallery.html#/<wbr></wbr>30145/multi_ramadan/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramada Bazaar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://allmalaysia.<wbr></wbr>info/2011/08/19/<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qatari children dressed for Garangao: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.cbq.com.<wbr></wbr>qa/NewsDetails.aspx?id=344</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Iftar cannon, Naif Palace, Kuwait: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://www.q8nri.com/<wbr></wbr>home/2010/08/17/iftar-cannon-<wbr></wbr>a-source-of-attraction-in-<wbr></wbr>kuwait-in-<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Luqmat al-Qadi: </i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/File:Loukoumades.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span class="gmail-il">Ramadan</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">kurut </span><span style="text-align: center;">balls, </span><span style="text-align: center;">Osh Bazaar, Bishkek: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://students.sras.<wbr></wbr>org/what-bishkek-eats-for-<wbr></wbr><span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/</a></span></span><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mauritanian traditional game: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://farm4.<wbr></wbr>staticflickr.com/3269/<wbr></wbr>2617080471_a7e13ef144_z.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Turkish delight: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/File:T_Honey.jpg</a></span><br /><b style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></b><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Morrocan <i>n'far </i>blowing his horn:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">https://bandbaji.files.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/2013/12/cs6-1.<wbr></wbr>jpg</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Moroccan</span><i style="text-align: center;"> chebbakia: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/<wbr></wbr>07/47742/moroccan-<span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>-<wbr></wbr>pastry-recipe-for-chebbakia/</a></i><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Lokum (</i>Turkish delight): <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" target="_blank">http://food.detik.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="gmail-il">ramadan</span>/read/2013/07/10/<wbr></wbr>180832/2298527/297/6/legit-<wbr></wbr>gurih-lokum-dan-baklava-<wbr></wbr>sajian-buka-dari-turki</a></span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Closing clip art: </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/2375503783273681607#" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">http://fc02.deviantart.<wbr></wbr>net/fs12/i/2006/265/5/9/<wbr></wbr>Ramadan_Mubarak_by_Muslim_<wbr></wbr>Women.jpg</a> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-30991761466694718882022-03-01T10:29:00.000-05:002022-03-01T10:29:52.778-05:00Pre-Lenten Festivities and the Lenten Season: Coronavirus Version 2022<p><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJLt1lRdfY3Ww8s_Lyu7424UoJW2TsKytBf2Ov0T8dWLsDwfXCkx4H50KmxltmQhbxvdbCjD-tRN-2-BWUpBiobYtZQ1QL4n1_6qnyAoaAS1WzUb-jz1MZvA-4-orFhhq6bwhkh7ymxl/s1600/Ash_Wednesday.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJLt1lRdfY3Ww8s_Lyu7424UoJW2TsKytBf2Ov0T8dWLsDwfXCkx4H50KmxltmQhbxvdbCjD-tRN-2-BWUpBiobYtZQ1QL4n1_6qnyAoaAS1WzUb-jz1MZvA-4-orFhhq6bwhkh7ymxl/s200/Ash_Wednesday.jpg" width="135" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Praying woman with </b><br /><b>ashen cross on her forehead</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Introduction and Religious Significance</u></span></b></div><p><br />As part of my ongoing posts about religious holiday observance, I would like to share another religious tradition that starts this week: the Christian Lenten season.<br /><br />In 2022, for Christians in the <b>Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Anglican, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and several other Western Christian traditions</b>, the season begins on <b>March 2 with Ash Wednesday</b>.<br /><br />For Christians in the <b>Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Coptic traditions</b> using the Julian calendar), the season begins on <b>Monday, March 7, 2022 with Clean Monday</b>. For 2022 in the <b>Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches,</b> the Lenten Season <b>began with Abiy Tsom on February 22.</b> </p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ash Wednesday, Clean Monday and the season associated with Lent, Great Lent and Abiy Tsom are all very important holidays in their respective traditions, and <b>you should accommodate employees, students or others</b> <b>observing these holidays </b>who may need to miss activities during at least part of the day.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It should be noted that while many Protestant traditions observe Lent, other Protestant traditions specifically bar the observance of Lent. Some Protestant denominations are divided in their view of the season; for example, some United Church of Christ and Baptist congregations oppose its observance while others support its observance. Additionally, some Protestant denominations, such as the Mennonites, that formerly opposed the observance of Lent have begun to recognize its practice in varying degrees in recent years. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SSLQK0S3-pUSm-8zRkUO4B6Vg1O3qzo52dNj-HCVCafpCz7VrIQtTzRLdjcqOFQO0QmJ6W1_pDt_Quvr3lNE2_J58lxLt2fI0cjaIpEbMJGoPLNIfrJy5-pisSH-hXro5LPWmam9UUv/s1600/lent-new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SSLQK0S3-pUSm-8zRkUO4B6Vg1O3qzo52dNj-HCVCafpCz7VrIQtTzRLdjcqOFQO0QmJ6W1_pDt_Quvr3lNE2_J58lxLt2fI0cjaIpEbMJGoPLNIfrJy5-pisSH-hXro5LPWmam9UUv/s200/lent-new.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Variations in Dating the Holiday</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The season itself runs for 40 days and is called Lent in the Western traditions and Great Lent or the Great Fast in the Eastern traditions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a time of introspection for many Christians, and often focuses on questions of mortality and on Jesus' sufferings and sacrifice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Western traditions, Sundays are not counted in the 40 days. In the Eastern Orthodox traditions, Sundays are counted. Within the Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches the Lenten season lasts for 56 days in which period, traditionally only one meal per day is eaten.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To keep in the spirit of these somber subjects, many Christians observe some sort of restrictive behavior, for example many people abstain from alcohol or from attending parties. In some traditions, observers fast during the day or restrict themselves to one meal only. For others, observers maintain a vegetarian diet. For still other traditions, observers give up something they particularly enjoy such as sweets or ice cream. In many traditions, the fast or abstinence is lifted on the six Sundays during Lent. <b>In Irish tradition, the fast is lifted for St. Patrick's Day (<span class="object6">March 17</span>)</b>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Observance</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqDhOFmC53_QfVYobSE00KOglB2_e9gD4GroQPvlA5JIfBfYE6nE9qNLOIty2eyNBUsbRtoc_JEFugYYjVRB71ehHJWK2cSa__dOZgKP0lPHfhIjsuplUnhchThvcaQ-aIPcYBsCWtPfX/s1600/ash-wednesday.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqDhOFmC53_QfVYobSE00KOglB2_e9gD4GroQPvlA5JIfBfYE6nE9qNLOIty2eyNBUsbRtoc_JEFugYYjVRB71ehHJWK2cSa__dOZgKP0lPHfhIjsuplUnhchThvcaQ-aIPcYBsCWtPfX/s200/ash-wednesday.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Priest placing an ashen cross</b><br /><b>on worshiper's forehead</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Anglicans, Ash <span class="object7"><span style="color: darkblue;">Wednesday</span></span> is usually observed by attending Mass and having the priest mark one's forehead with ashes that have been blessed. The ashes are traditionally made from the palm fronds used in the preceding year’s Palm Sunday. The day is often observed as a full fast day. Ashes have a long traditional association with repentance in these traditions. Many other traditions have modified observance with sermons or other recognition of the holiday.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The holiday itself has its origins in the New Testament, which relates that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting before he began his ministry. While in the desert, Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Pre-Lenten Festivities</u></span></b></div><span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">Because the tradition of Lent is so somber, many Roman Catholic cultures have embraced a massive celebration on the <span class="object8">Tuesday</span> preceding Ash <span class="object9">Wednesday</span>. This will take place in 2021 on Tuesday, February 17. Many of the festivities traditionally begin (or would have begun) well before this date as well, but this but this year, the majority have cancelled the associated events.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">COVID 2021 Cancellations and (Some) 2022 Returns</b></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In 2021, at the start of the age of Covid, most of the annual Pre-Lenten festivities described below were formally cancelled, gone to a video format or curtailed in other ways. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In 2021, only three major celebrations continued: India's Goa Carnaval, Texas' Galveston Carnival and the Angola Carnival in Luanda. In 2022, several others joined these three, either allowing the celebrations in full. The list of major celebrations allowed in full are</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Celebrated Without Restriction</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>India's Goa Carnaval</li><li>Lithuania's Užgavėnės in Vilnius</li><li>Luxembourg's Differdange Karneval</li><li>Luxembourg's Esch-sur-Alzette Fuesent*</li><li>Luxembourg's Remich's Fuesent including the <i>Stréimännchen</i>*</li><li>Trinidad's Mas in Port-of-Spain</li><li>USA's Mobile Mardi Gras in Alabama*</li><li>USA's Southeast Texas Mardi Gras in Beaumont, Texas*</li><li>USA's Galveston Mardi Gras in Texas</li><li>USA's Gulf Coast Mardi Gras in Biloxi, Mississippi*</li><li>USA's Lafayette Mardi Gras in Louisiana*</li><li>USA's La Crosse Coulée Mardi Gras in Wisconsin*</li><li>USA's Panama City Mardi Gras in Florida*</li><li>USA's Pensacola Mardi Gras in Florida*</li><li>USA's Vicksburg Mardi Gras in Mississippi*</li></ul><div><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> *Cancelled in 2021</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Celebrated With Some Restrictions to Minimize COVID Risks</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul><li>Italy's Carnevale of Venice</li><li>USA's New Orleans Mardi Gras in Louisiana</li><li>USA's Shreveport Mardi Gras in Louisiana</li></ul><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Postponed to Later Date</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Brazil all Carnavals until after Lent (with 52 cities cancelling altogether)</li><li>Germany's Düsseldorf Karneval (to May 29)</li><li>Luxembourg's Diekirch Fuesent (until after Lent)</li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Cancelled but Transformed as Protest Against Ukraine Invasion</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Germany's Cologne Karneval</li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhVVeFKf871EFUF0zsQRkuWbkscshx9DvWKDM7gT4DJ-YkrYrFRdQUYRcwxOlhBWTEqRaFVuRrJXa7MBBRDjti5N20JtjblK408dV9VDmTJsggzw7HLr6S_RyObTX7FmI6Usa00v-u93VEUnlOpzAjkVvI8SEPNMWgICsbtYXLb-wIOs9MsbiQSHJ8Rw=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1200" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhVVeFKf871EFUF0zsQRkuWbkscshx9DvWKDM7gT4DJ-YkrYrFRdQUYRcwxOlhBWTEqRaFVuRrJXa7MBBRDjti5N20JtjblK408dV9VDmTJsggzw7HLr6S_RyObTX7FmI6Usa00v-u93VEUnlOpzAjkVvI8SEPNMWgICsbtYXLb-wIOs9MsbiQSHJ8Rw=w320-h206" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The 2022 Cologne Karneval <br />transformed into protest </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>against Russia's invasion of Ukraine</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Cancelled Altogether </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cape Verde's Carnaval (which ran in 2021)</li><li>Belgium's Carnival at Binche</li><li>East Timor Carnival </li><li>Germany's Fasching at Munich</li><li>Germany's Fasching at Mainz</li><li>Italy's Ivrea Carenevale and Battle of the Oranges</li><li>Luxembourg's Schifflange Calvalcade</li><li>Luxembourg's Wasserbillig Fuesent</li><li>USA's Krazo Krewe at Eureka Springs, Arkansas</li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7CMZzVoUKMIAqOscUyctePwsYlmKR2iECvh9aKEaoRBq_sRM3Oib74et1DJl0OhMxdmRXtTKBPKHhyS0zyERvRYd_LoqveMKevU-40bWJ8fDHgJZlyj3Tt59czWSj0tRWlMwWs8O5N08/s1600/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7CMZzVoUKMIAqOscUyctePwsYlmKR2iECvh9aKEaoRBq_sRM3Oib74et1DJl0OhMxdmRXtTKBPKHhyS0zyERvRYd_LoqveMKevU-40bWJ8fDHgJZlyj3Tt59czWSj0tRWlMwWs8O5N08/s200/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png" width="187" yda="true" /></a> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">What follows is an overview of the major Pre-Lenten events. The data are all from before the pandemic began.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brazil</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ian </span>Carnaval </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The most significant celebration of the day, however, is not in the US at all, but is the Carnaval of Brazil. The festival begins on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and runs until Ash Wednesday begins. Most Brazilian cities hold a Carnaval celebration (as do Brazilian communities worldwide). <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">While Rio is, by far, the largest Brazilian Carnaval celebration, it is far from the only one. Most regions and major cities of Brazil have their own Carnaval, each with its own distinctive traditions. Carnaval in Brazil from 1641 with official status coming in 1724.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u>Carnaval of Rio</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Z5Z0SmOSHYCJUFsEmUP3HI5mztQ34JuuDQBM-XEkRTAbcWbCd5OsHHtsenYlNfVNxmCCX_l9xo35ky3adnlAI8az4FISr-yY8ziLYkmUEF-Ba3T1FGIhTDFcQqVIcoOa6SOuXtM13xo/s1600/Rio-Carnaval.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Z5Z0SmOSHYCJUFsEmUP3HI5mztQ34JuuDQBM-XEkRTAbcWbCd5OsHHtsenYlNfVNxmCCX_l9xo35ky3adnlAI8az4FISr-yY8ziLYkmUEF-Ba3T1FGIhTDFcQqVIcoOa6SOuXtM13xo/s200/Rio-Carnaval.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Elaborate floats are part of </b><br /><b>the Rio Parade</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The largest of the Brazilian celebrations is the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro. It is claimed that the Rio Carnaval is the largest annual gathering of people in the world; although this claim is often disputed, it is unquestionably the largest annual gathering of people in South America. For example, the Rio Carnival annually attracts over 5 million people over 5 days, with between 2 and 2.3 million per day in the main streets. To put this in perspective, that same year, New Orleans' Mardi Gras hit a record for attendance of 1.2 million, about half that of the average Carnaval single-day street attendance, and roughly the number of just foreign-tourists alone at the Rio Carnaval.<br /><br />Carnaval in Rio has a major impact on the city's -- and country's -- tourism revenues. In 2017 (the last year with full figures at the time of this blog), Brazil's government estimated that there were roughly 1.1 million foreign tourists (up from 977,000 in 2015 and just 400,000 in 2011), generating US $431.9 million in foreign tourism alone.<br /><br />Nor is the economic impact simply limited to those watching. There are over competing samba schools at the Rio Carnaval. The samba schools spend US$ 5 million on the parade annually.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtD2Xp1E5AkR2eA374WWAD9PcmzLKCtmDkmD6V44rAl-K_o7glQEhzkKkekqjs0-QYY52TigV3pZy-noaP40EwY-yeMhkIo7Q5S501eZMBUZQ0diXnjCyaK3o3rTwQ0VK7d7onaFXo7OS/s1600/rio_carnival06.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtD2Xp1E5AkR2eA374WWAD9PcmzLKCtmDkmD6V44rAl-K_o7glQEhzkKkekqjs0-QYY52TigV3pZy-noaP40EwY-yeMhkIo7Q5S501eZMBUZQ0diXnjCyaK3o3rTwQ0VK7d7onaFXo7OS/s320/rio_carnival06.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Elaborate costumes at the Rio Carnaval</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Carnaval of Rio is also one of the oldest pre-Lenten celebrations, taking place annually since 1641. The Rio Carnaval has at its core the so-called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blocos </i>or block parades tied to individual neighborhood blocks. Participants dress in elaborate costumes with a particular theme for each year. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blocos </i>compose original music and dances which they combine with traditional songs and samba dances. Various samba schools prepare all year to compete in dance and music competitions, the most important of which are held at the 90,000-seat <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí for four consecutive nights from 8:00 PM until the following morning. The five winning samba schools then are allowed to parade on the Saturday following Ash Wednesday. </span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><u>São Paulo Carnaval</u></span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jNcQbyTJANqFE-QRe8AJ2Sl-dCxm8vlUjcPBFEtfIoXfTRrAKIC7r6Kc43lwRl6Jf5cuHz0TAqsMg4r1jK_Hps_20Z5OLVMn1IC-otpPYZOIbZAju3icSYIoTAq91UiZLp0Kz2aBwWd/s1600/samba2_gallery__470x312+Sao+Paulo.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jNcQbyTJANqFE-QRe8AJ2Sl-dCxm8vlUjcPBFEtfIoXfTRrAKIC7r6Kc43lwRl6Jf5cuHz0TAqsMg4r1jK_Hps_20Z5OLVMn1IC-otpPYZOIbZAju3icSYIoTAq91UiZLp0Kz2aBwWd/s200/samba2_gallery__470x312+Sao+Paulo.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Samba competitors </b><br /><b>at the Anhembi Sambodrome</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The <span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">São Paulo Carnaval, like that in Rio, centers on samba competitions with annual themes. The São Paulo competitions usually last for two nights are held at the 30,000-seat Anhembi Sambodrome. </span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The São Paulo Carnaval samba competition takes place on the Friday and Saturday before Lent. Since this occurs before Rio's Carnaval (on Sunday and Monday night), the timing allows attendance for both. </span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the Rio Carnaval may be Brazil's most famous and prestigious, the Säo Paulo Carnaval holds the world record for samba band people gathered in one spot. This took place at Republic Square in 2011 when 1,038 samba people gathered at one time for a massive performance.</span></span><br /><br />Considered the "poor person's alternative" to Rio, the São Paulo Carnaval by design keeps ticket prices at events purposely low to all all Paulistanos to be able to afford attendance.<br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cHbMJu49h0SLb0Pm-0w-pIWpGLeybVEhd7oBQ_HrpQSNQrefRokkjV9agW4Uzbii1Jx7JZr0BRdjhBmiti15zRRKoUJYxtM7CLDyGceV9KSxl-4LrIsfFu2bgz69u6xzvaQX-hmhq1Tu/s1600/carna%25201-tl-201100302.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cHbMJu49h0SLb0Pm-0w-pIWpGLeybVEhd7oBQ_HrpQSNQrefRokkjV9agW4Uzbii1Jx7JZr0BRdjhBmiti15zRRKoUJYxtM7CLDyGceV9KSxl-4LrIsfFu2bgz69u6xzvaQX-hmhq1Tu/s200/carna%25201-tl-201100302.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Trio Elétrico</i></span> </b><br /><b>at the <span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">São Paulo Carnaval</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The São Paulo Carnaval is additionally famous for the use of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">trio elétrico </span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(also called the </span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">carros alegóricos</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">) which are huge floats or trucks. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">trio elétrico</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> is fitted out with sound systems which amplify the performances of the singers who stand on their roof.</span></span> <br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><u>Bahian Carnaval</u></b></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trio elétrico</i> is the central focus of Carnaval in the state of Bahia, and indeed it was in Bahia that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trio elétrico</i> was first introduced.</span><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FD43-pFaRCbZ5YbUe8hB5-oWilwuR6IvDJ578QpgB88IHTpEK8ogl5TxgieZ3vjWKB_vJCfS0Vq5oIuf9YkyfeXeqlxN23HiBnAfZtG0uOButhSiP0ZupS_WexLxQHKWihaUHvSuTsaS/s1600/julianaribeiro_amorepaixao.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FD43-pFaRCbZ5YbUe8hB5-oWilwuR6IvDJ578QpgB88IHTpEK8ogl5TxgieZ3vjWKB_vJCfS0Vq5oIuf9YkyfeXeqlxN23HiBnAfZtG0uOButhSiP0ZupS_WexLxQHKWihaUHvSuTsaS/s200/julianaribeiro_amorepaixao.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b> <span class="Federo"><span style="font-family: "a59726c857c08c9212a74a20"; font-size: x-small;">Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio</span></span></b><br /><span class="Federo"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>atop a <i>trio elétrico </i>at the Salvador Carnaval</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The largest of the Carnavals in Bahia is in the city of Salvador, but most cities in the state have their own version. The festivities throughout the state last roughly for a week, each day going on for 16 hours. Salvador's Carnaval is primarily a Brazilian only event, with 600,000 tourists of whom only 10% are foreign.</span><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnay4SZpvvZ4rHwSeNU63hvowLucHsPx7tRCpT22LfLv66VZJRH0J8FzyT9ezZ_rar4t420MJ8mR5fJ-0CVVpSXMPXaYzRoM1JNCUur3D0mL3hRpiroTdVJxyP0zsbMzUT0vrpRPAU7-1S/s1600/afoxes.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnay4SZpvvZ4rHwSeNU63hvowLucHsPx7tRCpT22LfLv66VZJRH0J8FzyT9ezZ_rar4t420MJ8mR5fJ-0CVVpSXMPXaYzRoM1JNCUur3D0mL3hRpiroTdVJxyP0zsbMzUT0vrpRPAU7-1S/s200/afoxes.bmp" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i>Afoxés</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Bahian Carnaval has many elements that are quite separate from the Roman Catholic Church. These focus on the Afro-Brazilian </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">afoxés</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> who perform <i>puxada do ijexá</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> drumming that honors the </span><span color="windowtext"><i>orixás</i></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(dieties of the Afro-Brazilian religions of </span><span color="windowtext">Candomblé</span> and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Santería). Because of the influence of the Afro-Brazilian religions, the music and dance of the Bahian Carnavals differs significantly from that of those in Rio and </span><span class="mw-headline">São Paulo</span><span class="mw-headline">, with significantly greater African influences. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b><u>Carnaval in Pernambuco</u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Throughout the state of Pernambuco, cities and towns hold there own variety of Carnavals. The two largest of these are the Recife and Olinda Carnavals. Pernambuco Carnavals also differ musically from the rest of Brazil. As in Bahia, the celebrations last a week; however, unlike Bahia (or Rio or <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>São Paulo), the Recife and Olinda Carnavals have no group competitions. The music played and dancing performed in Pernambuco is unique to the state. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiVnzYi-mFFxgi9KfY2XstinLM2OGiI_WVU3u1mtAbnK1DHo3ADabVjqPTzSBtb3WsousQRBjdbeADp6eniQDwHNS4P1kp9BEztHlsZuBLISFLmnHTm2zs5znL-x_e73hSUegcoYMs_E7/s1600/frevo.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiVnzYi-mFFxgi9KfY2XstinLM2OGiI_WVU3u1mtAbnK1DHo3ADabVjqPTzSBtb3WsousQRBjdbeADp6eniQDwHNS4P1kp9BEztHlsZuBLISFLmnHTm2zs5znL-x_e73hSUegcoYMs_E7/s200/frevo.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><b><i>Frevo</i> dancer</b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are two main varieties: the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">frevo</i> and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maracatu</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frevo</i> is an intense, fast-paced form that is supposed to make performers (and viewers) feel as if the ground beneath them is boiling (the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">frevo</i> has its origins in the Portuguese word </span></span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ferver</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> meaning “to boil”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Frevo </i>danccers are called <i>passistas</i>, and they are famous for their athleticism, their endurance and especially their acrobatic dance moves based on the Brazilian martial art of <i>capoeira</i>. </span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The music of <i>frevo</i> has a polka-like element to it and is played largely by trumpets, trombones, tubas and saxophones accompanied by percussion. </span><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YnYYGUFwNXtzQPYABFRlw4-sn8-tj8BKJh6VWCinr0lFVGhy4PevECoNYq4024HpxZNhCwrHM2O_GaKDY5zlmXvNHsTQoRAQbQCiTsxgmbJh04muNlRAojgUftuUM4uPAetbU_itCUiT/s1600/camale_o.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YnYYGUFwNXtzQPYABFRlw4-sn8-tj8BKJh6VWCinr0lFVGhy4PevECoNYq4024HpxZNhCwrHM2O_GaKDY5zlmXvNHsTQoRAQbQCiTsxgmbJh04muNlRAojgUftuUM4uPAetbU_itCUiT/s200/camale_o.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><b><i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> percussionists</span></b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maracatu</i> is actually the name of two dance forms unique to Pernambuco: <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">maracatu de nação</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and the <i>maracatu rural</i>. <i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> (national <i>maracatu</i>) has its roots in the Brazilian slave community when slaves would crown “Kings of the Congo” as leaders within their communities. The accompanying investiture ceremony was heavily influenced by the Afro-Brazilian religion of </span><span color="windowtext">Candomblé</span>, and the influence of the dance and music continue to carry rich symbolism from that religion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> is primarily based on Afro-Brazilian drumming with groups of up to 100 percussionists performing. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFC_Due1Qhlr70f0SMLUl8Jvac0cb-KKhNJiCNpRkjXLHghCBqBtJxlSabD1ahcIn9FYNSlFnmcR7HT-lY9G_mOEx483i7iWBMms4hQSfzjJJB9oG4x15KaE_4_H6Avp0GaephT5YWZPO/s1600/alfaias_16_18_and_20_inch2_ix0m.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFC_Due1Qhlr70f0SMLUl8Jvac0cb-KKhNJiCNpRkjXLHghCBqBtJxlSabD1ahcIn9FYNSlFnmcR7HT-lY9G_mOEx483i7iWBMms4hQSfzjJJB9oG4x15KaE_4_H6Avp0GaephT5YWZPO/s200/alfaias_16_18_and_20_inch2_ix0m.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Alfaias</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJJY9EDAMqVJLP8FUJ5pj5u5wCMSuf_Z7Xyj97k0OOc42xVfrBsJcQ_Z8LWMJzqUi9LLYJf8xPC6vnfEKsHIt0GYE5kMx-m-ZxbSrntydP_VH9n5_u1UIwsVDaY7s6wrUMadvug4kehNa/s1600/250px-Abe_agbe_afoxe.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJJY9EDAMqVJLP8FUJ5pj5u5wCMSuf_Z7Xyj97k0OOc42xVfrBsJcQ_Z8LWMJzqUi9LLYJf8xPC6vnfEKsHIt0GYE5kMx-m-ZxbSrntydP_VH9n5_u1UIwsVDaY7s6wrUMadvug4kehNa/s200/250px-Abe_agbe_afoxe.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><i>Afoxé</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many of the percussions instruments used are unique to Pernambuco. One of the most notable is these is the <i>afoxé, </i>a gourd rattle with threaded beads. The Afro-Brazilian drums too are unique to the area. Among the most notable of these drums is the <i>alfaia</i> (sometimes simply called the (maracutu drum). <i>Alfaias </i>come in a variety of sizes, but all have roping along their sides that the drummers use to tighten or loosen the drum head to give differing pitches. Other special drums include <i>caixa-de-guerra </i>(“war snare-drum”) and the <i>tarol </i>(a somewhat thin snare drum). Additionally, percussionists use <i>agbês </i>(special gourds filled with beads), <i>mineiros</i> (metal tubes filled with dried seeds) and cowbells. The singing that accompanies <i>maracatu de nação</i> is a unique call-and-response form with a male caller and female chorus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdDcA98AOv7pKH96fTMulgCErFyjRzk80cEcyELbIgy5QENJpg50TgvEj6syU5lKi1-cVMFT3TXteIhTBT1U0Lgf6Wd1uOaBLrRxdfMV8Jwh89qVZ_KHNVdDQqj8Z1ifCy3LBLdCRY8dV/s1600/800PX-~1.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdDcA98AOv7pKH96fTMulgCErFyjRzk80cEcyELbIgy5QENJpg50TgvEj6syU5lKi1-cVMFT3TXteIhTBT1U0Lgf6Wd1uOaBLrRxdfMV8Jwh89qVZ_KHNVdDQqj8Z1ifCy3LBLdCRY8dV/s200/800PX-~1.JPG" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Caboclo de lança</b> </i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The <i>maracatu rural</i> more closely resembles the sort of music performed elsewhere in Brazil. It combines elements of the <i>maracatu de nação</i> with brass instruments (especially trombones) and musical styles from elsewhere in Brazil. The name means “maracutu of the countryside” because <i>maracatu rural</i> grew out of the countryside among sugar plantation workers. <i> Maracatu rural</i> traditionally includes dancers in special costumes such as the <i>caboclo de lança </i>warrior.</span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><b>Carnaval de Olinda </b><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Carnaval de Olinda, the largest in Pernambuco, is cited by many in Brazil (especially those in Brazil's North and Interior) as the "real" Carnaval. While this can be easily debated, what is less subject to controversy is that the Olinda Carnaval is Brazil's most colorful. It is also the only major Carnaval event in Brazil in which most of the major events take place during the daylight hours rather than in the evening.</span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPswd6Afrhj7lhlsL2JB5iX_BWw3iP3ewNlONC0aysaRdQuntSQhBC1jtUMN6-MVjMhgpTGoxFhCe6PiDw0v-m1TkaR4mBWG8Plk-sITUfisIsbA7h5Ghpyo6d8KGPvsq-_Y2NxeKxG2KJ/s1600/Brazil-conference-call-900x676.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPswd6Afrhj7lhlsL2JB5iX_BWw3iP3ewNlONC0aysaRdQuntSQhBC1jtUMN6-MVjMhgpTGoxFhCe6PiDw0v-m1TkaR4mBWG8Plk-sITUfisIsbA7h5Ghpyo6d8KGPvsq-_Y2NxeKxG2KJ/s320/Brazil-conference-call-900x676.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Annually, the Olinda Carnaval host 500 group with over 200 events. </span>The most famous Olinda Carnaval event is the "Meeting of the Giant Puppets." These are massive puppets standing about 3.5 meters (12 feet) tall. The giant puppets depict political figures, sports heroes and folk characters.<br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span>The Carnaval de Olinda averages 2.7 million visitors a year with annual revenues of around US $150 million, making it the most important economic event in the region.<br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b>Recife Carnaval</b></span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">T<span style="font-family: inherit;">he Recife Carnaval holds the world record for the most people in a parade. The <i>Guinness Book of World Records </i>verified that in 2013, Recife's </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Galo da Madrugada</i> parade reached 2.5 million participants (</span><a href="http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,galo-da-madrugada-publico-estimado-de-2-5-milhoes,995344">http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,galo-da-madrugada-publico-estimado-de-2-5-milhoes,995344</a>). The figure of 2.5 million participants actually marching in the parade is all the more staggering, considering that this was a million more people than the population of the entire city proper at the time (1.5 million).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFfkkUZIjCQNgYPXyNDgL0s0_Uo17wxHGGh_L7r-6f8Pa4Zn7p_gHoMq_U6FtrztosagmCVVIuatiZ1cZhFo8CqOc0ASk3dSLE-1a8b8nci4IdmmXQ9qxbryXi0LOTDT4PfUjclod3w2K/s1600/240594-970x600-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFfkkUZIjCQNgYPXyNDgL0s0_Uo17wxHGGh_L7r-6f8Pa4Zn7p_gHoMq_U6FtrztosagmCVVIuatiZ1cZhFo8CqOc0ASk3dSLE-1a8b8nci4IdmmXQ9qxbryXi0LOTDT4PfUjclod3w2K/s400/240594-970x600-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;">Recife’s 2013 <i>Galo da </i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;"><i>Madrugada</i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;"> parade</span></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;">set the world record for most people in a parade </span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>While the 2013 record was remarkable, the annual influx of non-resident visitors at the Recife Carnaval is not. Indeed, even in the midst of the Zika outbreak, official estimates placed the number of non-resident visitors for the Recife Carnaval in 2016 at just under 1 million people.<br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As could be expected from the numbers attending, the centerpiece of the </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Recife Carnaval is its parade of the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Galo da Madrugada</i> (in English, "Rooster of the Early Hours"). That said, while the Recife Carnaval dates back for centuries, the first </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Galo da Madrugada</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> took place </span>only<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in 1978, a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene for such a major crowd generator. The parade is the culmination of an all-night party which concludes in the "early hours" of the next morning with the parade that follows a four-kilometer path through the center of the city.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknxpAPUWdyqQ8qB5Z9V-4aWeMk92DBNbj9O6j_XBtkHTdcnQ3hxvztFp09dlIc_MlT1iVDcAeixtDnvGiDfxrCrmcKUs4eSHYDFPHGGaqn73NA1k8y1pkRl9e0eeJtQ1KkPWmQSPWrzRD/s1600/Tambores-Silenciosos-de-Olinda.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknxpAPUWdyqQ8qB5Z9V-4aWeMk92DBNbj9O6j_XBtkHTdcnQ3hxvztFp09dlIc_MlT1iVDcAeixtDnvGiDfxrCrmcKUs4eSHYDFPHGGaqn73NA1k8y1pkRl9e0eeJtQ1KkPWmQSPWrzRD/s320/Tambores-Silenciosos-de-Olinda.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Recife's </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Silenciosos</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although like other Pernambuco Carnavals, the Recife Carnaval does not host samba contest, Recife averages 3000 separate shows with 430 groups. Most unique to the Recife Carnaval is its strong emphasis on the Afro-Brazilian tradition. Chief among the events celebrating the Afro-Brazilian tradition is </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">the </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Silenciosos</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">(Night of the Silent Drums) honoring the 1000’s of slaves who died in prisons before abolition. As midnight approaches, the drumming reaches a frenzy and then -- at the stroke of midnight -- stops abruptly and everyone in complete silence raises their hands at the same time to honor the martyrs of these sad chapter in Brazilian history.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGDHidIs-yuOgXDndVTq2B2ahgcShuaR_eM-7ewJKOYjEU8wAaUreJgBIQMmUdu5hlkqNmPeeTzUT-Of1ymLL0bUm3SfmULVNaVyx1mHzR5vcqBrD-RruCbsIOWVIzHcRuAFUL0thGEVL/s1600/corso-teresina-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGDHidIs-yuOgXDndVTq2B2ahgcShuaR_eM-7ewJKOYjEU8wAaUreJgBIQMmUdu5hlkqNmPeeTzUT-Of1ymLL0bUm3SfmULVNaVyx1mHzR5vcqBrD-RruCbsIOWVIzHcRuAFUL0thGEVL/s320/corso-teresina-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Teresina's Carnaval holds the world record<br />for floats in a parade</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Carnaval de Teresina</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Teresina Carnaval in the state of Piauí is a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene, beginning only in 1940. The Carnaval de Teresina, though, like the Recife Carnaval, a record-holder in </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Guinness Book of World Records, </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">in this case for the most number of floats in a parade. The Teresina Carnaval first set the record in February of 2012, a record it has maintained ever since (</span><a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-parade-of-floats/" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-parade-of-floats/</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">). Guinness verified a total </span>off<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 343 floats paraded in the<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Corso do Zé Pereira. </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">The parade runs for 6-½ hours along a 7.3 kilometer (just over 4.5 mile) route.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Other Major Brazilian Carnavals</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Virtually every city in Brazil holds some sort of Carnaval. Space does not permit listing all of these, but some of the other more notable ones include:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <span style="color: black;">Carnaval Ouro </span><span style="color: black;">Preto</span><span style="color: black;"> in Minas </span><span style="color: black;">Gerais</span><span style="color: black;"> one of oldest, with today’s giving great attention on college students</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <span style="color: black;">Carnaval de </span><span style="color: black;">Vitória/Carnaval Capixaba</span><span style="color: black;"> in </span><span style="color: black;">Espírito</span><span style="color: black;"> Santo (one week before Rio), sadly the subject of attacks by gunmen shooting into the crowd this year in 2017</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <span style="color: black;">Carnaval de Manaus in Amazonas, arguably as famous for its free entrance and reduced-price beer stalls as for its floats and samba</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• Carnaval <span style="color: #252525;">de Uberlândia/ Uberfolia in </span><span style="color: #252525;">Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (which began as a Carnaval specifically for Afro-Brazilian samba dancers who were discriminated against in the early years of the Rio Carnaval</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">• </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Carnaval de </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Magia</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">/Carnaval de </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Florianópolis</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> in Santa Catarina features many beach celebrations, and most famously the LGBT-centered Praia Mole Carnaval</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">* Carnaval de Brasilia, the capital is not a major Carnaval center and yet this is a growing attacking, with over 1.5 million people participating in 2017 (and increase of 58% from 2016)</span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Brazilian Carnaval, see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.rio-carnival.net/rio_carnival/carnival_in_rio.php"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.rio-carnival.net/rio_carnival/carnival_in_rio.php</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/a/olindacarnival.htm">http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/a/olindacarnival.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a href="http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm">http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/brazil/recife/carnaval.htm">http://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/brazil/recife/carnaval.htm</a><br /><br />Attendance figures for 2017 <a href="http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazil-registers-surge-in-2017-carnival-attendance/">http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazil-registers-surge-in-2017-carnival-attendance/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">United States</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Mardi Gras</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcbyVdIIpk3RM6Tn6SWlEoYK6ZUMHtzhJXFy9Uls-Efy1tN4MlsmhO8wO4bt16iFALJQVg7iGenpBuBp_OE9-arz4Fk1BWgvNeFh8TNu5InNPHaduyDJdLeV-471sEO0zrHiqPjddAlew/s1600/Mardi+Gras.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcbyVdIIpk3RM6Tn6SWlEoYK6ZUMHtzhJXFy9Uls-Efy1tN4MlsmhO8wO4bt16iFALJQVg7iGenpBuBp_OE9-arz4Fk1BWgvNeFh8TNu5InNPHaduyDJdLeV-471sEO0zrHiqPjddAlew/s200/Mardi+Gras.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Mardi Gras in New Orleans</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The best known pre-Lenten celebration in the United States is the New Orleans' Mardi Gras. In French, Mardi Gras means "Fat <span class="object11"><span style="color: darkblue;">Tuesday</span></span>" and evolved from the French tradition of indulging on the last day before Lent, particularly eating fatty things which traditionally would be given up for Lent. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>New Orleans Mardi Gras</b><br /><br />In New Orleans, Mardi Gras activities run roughly for two weeks, culminating on Mardi Gras day. There are several local parades and a major central parade in which Carnival <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">krewes</i> parade on elaborate floats while wearing elaborate costumes. During the parade, participants throw special coins and necklaces of plastic beads to the spectators. Several special parades elect various monarchs. The most important of these are the Zulu King elected by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the King of Carnival elected by the Rex Krewe. Several older Krewe kings were disbanded when they refused to comply with anti-segregation laws that the United States began to enforce in 1991. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since at least 1699, with official New Orleans celebrations dating to 1703.<br /><br />Mardi Gras is not limited to New Orleans, however, with other notable US Mardi Gras celebrations in other Louisiana cities. Lafayette's Mardi Gras in the center of Louisiana's Cajun cultural region is the state's second largest, attracting 250,000 people annually. Other notable Mardi Gras celebrations take place in Baton Rouge, Houma, Shreveport, New Roads, Kaplan, Monroe, Thibadaux, Lake Charles, and Alexandria.<br /><br />Several other cities in the United States hold well-attended Mardi Gras events outside of Louisiana as well. The oldest Mardi Gras after New Orleans in the United States is actually that held in Pensacola, Florida, which dates to 1874 The largest of these is in Mobile, Alabama. Vicksburg, Mississippi holds a major Mardi Gras Ball along with its annual parade. Eureka Springs in the Ozark region of Arkansas began holding Mardi Gras events after the destruction in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and has continued the tradition ever since under the "Krewe of Krazo" (which is Ozark backwards). Other notable cities with Mardi Gras events include Portland, Oregon; La Crosse, Wisconsin; Saint Louis, Missouri; Port Arthur, Beaumont, Galveston and Austin, all in Texas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />For more about Mardi Gras, please see<br /><br /><a href="http://mardigrasday.com/">http://mardigrasday.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.mardigras.com/">http://www.mardigras.com/</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Caribbean: Trinidad Mas</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Carnival celebrations are also held in many Caribbean islands. The most famous of these is the one held at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, with its associated steel drum competition. Carnival is celebrated as well elsewhere in the Caribbean including Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Haiti, Belize, Cuba, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Carnival celebrations are also held in some cities in Colombia and Honduras. The Caribbean communities of Notting Hill in London as well as those in Brooklyn, New York and Toronto, Ontario also celebrate an annual Caribbean Carnival.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While Carnival is celebrated to varying degrees throughout much of the Caribbean, the biggest of these celebrations is the Trinidad Carnival in Port-of-Spain. Trinidad Carnival begins in January and lasts until Ash Wednesday; in other words, the festivities can last for months. The entire festival climaxes with the week before Ash Wednesday with Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday), J’Ouvert (also called Carnival Monday, with the name from the French Creole <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jour ouvert</i> or break of dawn) and on Tuesday with Mas (short for “masquerade”).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznULeHRQ-Bo-8220HKjMF_qYj2hUWaKSTihb8iq4zoctEYfNj1ApM-vQPIVMzuQhQrneUDIF09zd0l-XRsU_DESHTGpLXxvZ7HYk3u13esuCeipwlEFQXIBNt0ABNkL32VgTVeIbOh0U0/s1600/steel+band.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznULeHRQ-Bo-8220HKjMF_qYj2hUWaKSTihb8iq4zoctEYfNj1ApM-vQPIVMzuQhQrneUDIF09zd0l-XRsU_DESHTGpLXxvZ7HYk3u13esuCeipwlEFQXIBNt0ABNkL32VgTVeIbOh0U0/s200/steel+band.bmp" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Steel pan player</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Trinidad Carnival has its own unique traditions. These include the famous steel pan competitions held in the weeks leading up to Dimanche Gras. Other music competitions include those in soca, calypso and rapso (the combination of rapping with calypso). Additionally, there are stickfighting and limbo competitions.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIoGQlmZP0TD94beBALdCSAe6dhsYlD9lp8MywVG_AWDMIOdRvkUlwVpwCHaek16KbbIqhYrrJc-Yk0SHaJRe3Gs-F9StEtLtvSr2l0dt_UtGNYvN98eTLu_YCXbDva7UqECLOUUfQW-V/s1600/feteing+in+Trinidad.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIoGQlmZP0TD94beBALdCSAe6dhsYlD9lp8MywVG_AWDMIOdRvkUlwVpwCHaek16KbbIqhYrrJc-Yk0SHaJRe3Gs-F9StEtLtvSr2l0dt_UtGNYvN98eTLu_YCXbDva7UqECLOUUfQW-V/s200/feteing+in+Trinidad.jpg" width="150" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Man Feteing at Trinidad Mas</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Throughout Trinidad Carnival spectators and performers alike are encourage to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fête</i>, that is to burst into a free-form revelry of dancing, singing or whatever else may be inspired.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p>The Trinidad Carnival hosts numerous competitions for parades, costumes and music. On Dimanche Gras, the Calypso King and Queen are chosen in a costume competition. They are then the central figure in their own special float in the following parades. J’Ouvert features people dressing in politically-barbed satiric costumes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qFOCAzBhKX_Pe-SqYEGCvf0MP3B9IyD00rFNsNqd3sCpcFnVHDjIHGzvcbXMSm_c5-VcBkFQfOqBk93ENIo_d1M3cFqG0MBIPp29ilatRGqTM2JsVAbeudaYMw4r_xS0HiMBF433k6o/s1600/jab+jabs.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qFOCAzBhKX_Pe-SqYEGCvf0MP3B9IyD00rFNsNqd3sCpcFnVHDjIHGzvcbXMSm_c5-VcBkFQfOqBk93ENIo_d1M3cFqG0MBIPp29ilatRGqTM2JsVAbeudaYMw4r_xS0HiMBF433k6o/s200/jab+jabs.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Jab Jabs</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A J’Ouvert King and Queen are likewise chosen for the most politically astute commentary. J’Ouvert is also the day in which one sees running through the streets the famous “Jab-Jabs” (people dressed as red, blue and black devils with pitchforks).<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFHw30VXXsJagLe_2hZaMGvMGAdzMU_ok7CudCwZLrQrwz0SkmgLec6Xov3GfM1FaOsGdajCO5TM3pddXB8azlOKRnEE8NL5ifsE5zuWk2hKwYAzUoOxQa3A6kczAsMeWyjXfMopkYAA/s1600/tccmokojumbies.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFHw30VXXsJagLe_2hZaMGvMGAdzMU_ok7CudCwZLrQrwz0SkmgLec6Xov3GfM1FaOsGdajCO5TM3pddXB8azlOKRnEE8NL5ifsE5zuWk2hKwYAzUoOxQa3A6kczAsMeWyjXfMopkYAA/s200/tccmokojumbies.jpg" width="133" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Moko Jumbies</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Mas itself is marked by the most elaborate of costumes, usually enhanced with body paint and intricate wire extensions as well as “Mas boots” which are worn both as decoration and to ensure comfort during the long marches of the parades. Among the most distinctive traditional characters depicted for Mas are the Moko Jumbies, stilt walkers representing protecting spirits (Moko was an African god whose worship was brought over by slaves and "jumbie" is Caribbean patois for ghost). Other traditional characters are the Midnight Robber (who speaks in "Robber Talk" of exaggeratedly boastful claims), the Bookman (a devil with a book wearing special gown with a massive headmask with horns and a frightening stare) and various clowns and animals. Large cash prizes are awarded to winners on the central performance stage for best costume and music.<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Trinidad celebrations, please see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">India</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Goa Carn<span style="font-size: large;">i</span>val</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl83j50cXs7NmL5nK5bUQaek5KHvXGfBl0Ejta3DdcLoQWVdorPDwGWzcYpSGnxQy-200C40nXsMjhNg4B5dHEVpCCztDHH7t7bvLGN7o-9_kYkvTZYjemelgfSUUlYgJ3sMCyOtzLQX0/s1600/goa-map.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl83j50cXs7NmL5nK5bUQaek5KHvXGfBl0Ejta3DdcLoQWVdorPDwGWzcYpSGnxQy-200C40nXsMjhNg4B5dHEVpCCztDHH7t7bvLGN7o-9_kYkvTZYjemelgfSUUlYgJ3sMCyOtzLQX0/s200/goa-map.gif" width="200" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Indian state of Goa also has annual celebrations for Carnival (also spelled interchangeably as Carnaval) throughout the state. Goa was a Portuguese colony through 1961 and when the local cities and towns are taken over by the rule of the legendary King Momo. The largest of these is held in Panaji with a celebration that runs for three days and three nights.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6-cGENcrDj2RT5yIOTf2g-IUtbXAYCucHJir0PCgaR4SW_SrbPE51Zir3KowUUej5z0D-d0NkW5iKeQqEAngRTcUyqQZd0F3Bzhy6OVfxZv-ghB_2SoasMu3CT8RrJaI3qODPmue6eq/s1600/carnival2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6-cGENcrDj2RT5yIOTf2g-IUtbXAYCucHJir0PCgaR4SW_SrbPE51Zir3KowUUej5z0D-d0NkW5iKeQqEAngRTcUyqQZd0F3Bzhy6OVfxZv-ghB_2SoasMu3CT8RrJaI3qODPmue6eq/s400/carnival2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Goa Carnival</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The Goa Carnaval in 2013 begins on February 9 and runs through February 12. The Goa Carnaval has taken place annually for roughly 500 years, making it arguably the oldest annual Pre-Lenten celebration outside of Europe. For most of its 500-year-old history, the Goa Carnival was celebrated primarily by Goa's large Catholic population (who make up just under 30% of state's population). In recent years, however, the Goa Carnaval has become a major draw for tourists from all over India as well as an increasing number of tourist from abroad.<br /><br />The Goa Carnaval was cancelled in 2012. Sadly, in that year the Great Carnival Parade to the city of Panaji (formerly Panjim) which was scheduled this year for Saturday February 18 was cancelled following a terrible accident earlier in the day in which a school bus fell into the Kalvi River killing eight people, including five children. To read more on this accident please see:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/report/carnival-parade-in-panaji-called-off-after-road-mishap/20120218.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.rediff.com/news/report/carnival-parade-in-panaji-called-off-after-road-mishap/20120218.htm</span></a><br /><br />Other Carnival celebrations in 2012 did Goa did go on in the cities of Margoa, Ponda, Vasco and Mapusa.<br /><br />The Goa Carnival parade at Goa's capitall city of Panaji is by far the largest event. The parade usually runs for three or more hours Parades and feasts are also held in most other Goan cities. All of the events feature a mix of traditional feasts (usually centered on seafood), dancing and music. Panaji and several other locations hold firework displays as well. The music and dance of the Goan Carnival is unique to the state, blending influences of pre-Portuguese and post-Portuguese influences that over the centuries have blended tabla, ghumot and mridanga drums along with oboe-like shehnai mixed with Portuguese-style mandolins and violins. Dancing too is a blend of subcontinental and European styles. Sambas are particularly part of the celebratory dances.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Angolan Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As a former Portuguese colony, Angola in southwest Africa has a well-established Carnaval tradition, with the Luanda Carnaval in the capital city dating back to 1857.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTioEmzWpMrWy7JcKuFfg4Cxsx9ZoDBUrbWK3hOi5k8mzbQBW0o9DX_bCaFVFOl7f5bBBmqD36eJc58Ox4rHhjInJHoXOtSoTk7jlgd15Kn2KdChYwGPx4i8y8-MTVE7CMvrdwxeGnELa/s1600/luanda-carnival.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="576" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTioEmzWpMrWy7JcKuFfg4Cxsx9ZoDBUrbWK3hOi5k8mzbQBW0o9DX_bCaFVFOl7f5bBBmqD36eJc58Ox4rHhjInJHoXOtSoTk7jlgd15Kn2KdChYwGPx4i8y8-MTVE7CMvrdwxeGnELa/s320/luanda-carnival.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Luanda Carnaval</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Angola, in fact, has added much to the Portuguese traditions. This is because samba dancing, the mainstay of Brazil's Carnaval competitions, is actually taken from Angolan roots. The word <i>samba</i> with an "a" in Portuguese comes from the word <i>semba</i> with an "e" in the Angolan language of Kimbundu. <i>Semba i</i>n Kimbundu means "to invoke the spirits of the ancestors" which was done through music and dance. The word <i>semba </i>itself comes from the verb <i>masemba</i> which means to touch bellies. Slaves taken from Angola to Brazil beginning in the early 1600's took their religious tradition with them. The semba/samba tradition evolved from there.</div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cape Verde Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8fNNZSXh2w1ConWBQSBg5JAxloUhJzfGU_ahXN4iFTTl7oSno6svSVT4h9BXAqPa6sT9LHOCoSnHbESCoqj2DVAs0YOq5Y3zSOB7qRaOAU5ggj_NHifmiocTtih4znSquwarjcssWffc/s1600/carnaval-sao-vicente.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="620" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8fNNZSXh2w1ConWBQSBg5JAxloUhJzfGU_ahXN4iFTTl7oSno6svSVT4h9BXAqPa6sT9LHOCoSnHbESCoqj2DVAs0YOq5Y3zSOB7qRaOAU5ggj_NHifmiocTtih4znSquwarjcssWffc/s200/carnaval-sao-vicente.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Another former Portuguese colony with a Carnaval tradition is the West African island nation of Cape Verde (<i>Cabo Verde </i>in Portuguese). Three of the country's 10 islands hold an annual Carnaval. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The most dazzling of the Cape Verde Carnavals is in Mindelo on São Vicente but a strong <span style="text-align: center;">competition exists with its main competitor in Rebeira Brava on São Nicolau. The saying goes that "São Vicente has the show while São Nicolau has the heart." That said, most attendees agree that the Carnaval de Praia in the capital is the smallest of the three. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">East Timor Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;">East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975 when it was taken over by Indonesia (which owns the</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXHgG99-R_AjnBMVrbWnMWfpglCWf1iXuZAZy_k8-3gkUjtnY9-wDDcn2_Gv76_OQZpuGrtcB5Iyng3AVQWQlmWNbyM01B3Jgrr3ATdXvjkpqzkhkDHFuDmR2DC9l33fDQ1ywuceImDQY/s1600/thumbs.web.sapo.io.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="555" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXHgG99-R_AjnBMVrbWnMWfpglCWf1iXuZAZy_k8-3gkUjtnY9-wDDcn2_Gv76_OQZpuGrtcB5Iyng3AVQWQlmWNbyM01B3Jgrr3ATdXvjkpqzkhkDHFuDmR2DC9l33fDQ1ywuceImDQY/s200/thumbs.web.sapo.io.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Dili Carnaval, East Timor</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">western half of the island). From 1975 until its independence from Indonesia in 2002, the Roman Catholic Portuguese tradition was suppressed by the Muslim-majority population. After independence, the country began to reach out to Brazil to rebuild its traditions. This resulted in the first state-sponsored Carnaval in 2008 in the capital Dili. The Carnaval has been growing ever since. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Poland</span>:</b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Polish American <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day and Polish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tłusty Czwartek</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TysWZGFZSVoiUfgre-nUFBqUjR4ZTP-dKAIqcfDVZDj3cfRW2Z-odHaevHXzktz0znVXhYSdDyRvkX6NgBkmP_25uPwTxIgRWxoGbWa-rLySivRVa0CAxYpJuWUO0nzZtC9gx73rO3JR/s1600/p%C4%85czki..jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TysWZGFZSVoiUfgre-nUFBqUjR4ZTP-dKAIqcfDVZDj3cfRW2Z-odHaevHXzktz0znVXhYSdDyRvkX6NgBkmP_25uPwTxIgRWxoGbWa-rLySivRVa0CAxYpJuWUO0nzZtC9gx73rO3JR/s200/p%C4%85czki..jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i>Pączki</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In Southeast Michigan, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Chicago and other areas with large Polish-American populations, Polish Americans celebrate “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day” after the Polish tradition of eating filled doughnuts called <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączki</span></i>. Pronounced “poonch-kee,” <i>pączki </i>are traditionally filled with prune, plum or rosehip jelly, though more modern interpretations include strawberry, apricot, raspberry, lemon and other jellies. A recipe for traditional <i>pączki </i>can be found at:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1918,151170-232196,00.html">http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1918,151170-232196,00.html</a><br /><br /> Incidentally, <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączki</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> is the plural of the word, a single pastry is called a</span><span lang="EN"> </span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączek</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day is a major event for many local Polish-American communities. In Evanston, Illinois, an annual <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączki</span></i>-eating contest takes place to see who can eat the most of the pastries (with the contest held on the weekend closest to the appropriate Tuesday). Arguably the strongest tradition of celebrating Paczki Day is in the heavily Polish-American city of Hamtramck (a city with so strong a Polish tradition that the late Pope John Paul II even visited the city). For more on the Hamtramck <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day, please see<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://localism.com/mi/hamtramck"><span style="color: purple;">http://localism.com/mi/hamtramck</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span> Day is celebrated in southeast Michigan, Chicago and Buffalo on the same Tuesday as Mardi Gras, the Polish equivalent in Poland itself is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tłusty Czwartek</i> actually means Fat <span class="object2">Thursday</span>. This is because in Poland itself, the celebration starts on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday (February 7 for 2013) to leave enough of time to celebrate the Polish <span lang="PL" style="mso-ansi-language: PL;">Karnawał</span> (Carnival). Shrove Tuesday itself <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">is marked not by eating <i>pączki</i> but rather herring and is sometimes called “Herring Day” or <i>Śledzik</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lithuania: Užgavėnės</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vrrv-rLser0ATbhILfIE6z_WOjqWmjbg-VHk4lU3sZSXdKDe4wlvGLnSEYpNum5XKAIfwMJuulaUXLHCB-XB7vAbqZv9cru46CTHGsSOZY4GSbTHh4pjLHF3UEmliFhRabdLonQofe2x/s1600/uzgavenes-more.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vrrv-rLser0ATbhILfIE6z_WOjqWmjbg-VHk4lU3sZSXdKDe4wlvGLnSEYpNum5XKAIfwMJuulaUXLHCB-XB7vAbqZv9cru46CTHGsSOZY4GSbTHh4pjLHF3UEmliFhRabdLonQofe2x/s1600/uzgavenes-more.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><i style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;">Lašininis </i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;">burnt in effigy</span> </b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The Lithuanian Pre-Lenten festival is know as </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Užgavėnės. The festival centers around a play battle enacted out by </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Lašininis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> (meaning "Fatso") who symbolizes winter and </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Kanapinis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> (or the Hemp Man) who stands for Spring. </span></span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Kanapinis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> is always victorious and the battle concludes with </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Lašininis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> being burnt in effigy. Throughout the battle, people go through the crowds dressed as witches, ghosts and other characters.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ZZATM3ofnyrABvtIidPv0QPXSwI6eedUVtjZ6oUhHcu8mV9aBCLBfLZI9vrkKaSABXUY9rS5IisS7q1TJ67hI9QqoXM2KOdUwk2xJ61kCow7NijUTnoGliUYTjbas3FCxtB-DJiIHVi/s1600/_DSC2396+.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ZZATM3ofnyrABvtIidPv0QPXSwI6eedUVtjZ6oUhHcu8mV9aBCLBfLZI9vrkKaSABXUY9rS5IisS7q1TJ67hI9QqoXM2KOdUwk2xJ61kCow7NijUTnoGliUYTjbas3FCxtB-DJiIHVi/s1600/_DSC2396+.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><b>Varškės spurgos</b></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The traditional treat for the holiday is a pancake alternately called </span><i>sklindziai </i>or <i>blynai. </i>Also popular are the fried cakes known as <i>spurgos. Spurgos </i>differ from their Polish <span lang="EN"><i>pączki </i>counterpart in that they may be filled not only with fruit (as in Poland) or made with no fruit but a cottage cheese dough for a dough only version known <i>v</i></span><i>arškės spurgos.</i> A recipe for <span lang="EN"><i>v</i></span><i>arškės spurgos </i>can be found at Celtnet Recipes at <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-varskes-spurgos">http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-varskes-spurgos</a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">For more on </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Užgavėnės, please see <a href="http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/">http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/</a>.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Italy</span>:<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Carnevale and the Battle of the Oranges</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUfkEaHq6g-dkyTkpmbIRxrCdJ6VAXuRc1L1QkA4WGgOl43LExQGTH76zVEZeGqVPGSIiAWmRfA1WCwbmzWeM-D8xHMS4Wp9WEuUv0_dY2nfZB0L79pRyue-6T4Dmobh52pgLNHx35jjB/s1600/800px-Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUfkEaHq6g-dkyTkpmbIRxrCdJ6VAXuRc1L1QkA4WGgOl43LExQGTH76zVEZeGqVPGSIiAWmRfA1WCwbmzWeM-D8xHMS4Wp9WEuUv0_dY2nfZB0L79pRyue-6T4Dmobh52pgLNHx35jjB/s320/800px-Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Masks are the hallmark of the Carnevale of Venice</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In Italy, the <b>Carnevale of Venice</b> technically begins on <span class="object12">the Saturday before</span> and ends <span class="object13">on</span> <span class="object14">Tuesday</span> before Ash <span class="object15">Wednesday</span>. In reality, the Carnevale of Venice runs for weeks. It is a major celebration with masked parties, and is probably the oldest annual celebration of the season, having started in 1268. Roughly 3 million visitors descend on Venice each year for the celebration. Central to the Venice Carnevale are its elaborate masks and ach year, a competition takes place for the best mask.<br /><br /><br />You can read more about Carnivale on the official website at<br /><br /> <span class="object16"><a href="http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4</span></a></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />Another famous Italian Carnival-related tradition takes place annually in the city of<b> Ivrea with its “Battle of the Oranges.”</b> Since the Middle Ages, the people of Ivrea have participated in a three-day pre-Lenten battle among its citizens. For centuries, the combatants used beans, which changed in time to fruit and has been since the 19th century exclusively oranges. You can read more about the Battle of the Oranges at <span class="object17"><a href="http://www.carnevalediivrea.it/english/battaglia.asp" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnevalediivrea.it/english/battaglia.asp</span></a></span></div><p><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkhv1p4E3gWAHfXk3tCCJL3QRas_SRlEIGvBfcT8crqmf4fMPoAHJaI6WZvcmYO4RL19YEOWN1WEZs4XRmR4i9bE5j24ZzgDHbMBiGexsKghexQNvEP4DqVGmKq1hXh2m3EDTetZZE7O/s1600/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkhv1p4E3gWAHfXk3tCCJL3QRas_SRlEIGvBfcT8crqmf4fMPoAHJaI6WZvcmYO4RL19YEOWN1WEZs4XRmR4i9bE5j24ZzgDHbMBiGexsKghexQNvEP4DqVGmKq1hXh2m3EDTetZZE7O/s320/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Ivrea Battle of the Oranges</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Belgium</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Carnival of Binche</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Many cities throughout Belgium have Carnival celebrations. These include those at the Walloon cities of La Calamine, Nivelles and Malmedy, the Flemish cities of Heist and Aalst, and the city of Eupen in the German-speaking region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By far the most famous of these, though, is the Carnival of Binche, which was named a UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage Masterpiece in 2010.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajEwHFbv1p9C4bJIHeAGkUfQbMUU8VbpfirHQL0-bOHAFfIDrdi5Idk_YG9eekjJlcoBAVLcTwpHOD-CyfmHH6Mf2LFYRFD94pZ-aMcSnTKSXjgsE-1BAbaDRZobw5aiBSxBQr3uHdSu2/s1600/800px-Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajEwHFbv1p9C4bJIHeAGkUfQbMUU8VbpfirHQL0-bOHAFfIDrdi5Idk_YG9eekjJlcoBAVLcTwpHOD-CyfmHH6Mf2LFYRFD94pZ-aMcSnTKSXjgsE-1BAbaDRZobw5aiBSxBQr3uHdSu2/s200/800px-Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Gilles at the Carnival of Binche</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Carnival of Binche dates to the 1300’s, making it among the oldest continuously held annual celebrations in Europe. Activities begin seven weeks before Carnival week and climax with the arrival of the Gilles on Shrove Tuesday. Roughly 1000 boys and men parade through the streets in the costume of a Gille: linen suits in the Belgian national colors with hunchbacks stuffed with straw, elaborate white lace cuffs and collars, bells hanging from their belts, wooden clogs (called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sabots</i>) and wax masks. Some also wear feathered hats. The Gilles carry <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ramons </i>– special branches for warding off evil spirits. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> appearance of the Gilles begins at 4:00 AM and lasts most of the day. In the morning they parade to the town all. In the afternoon, the Gilles remove their masks and parade through the city carrying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ramon </i>branch baskets filled with blood oranges that they throw at the spectators. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Carnival of Binche please see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/CarnivalOfBinche"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.squidoo.com/CarnivalOfBinche</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">German Catholic Regions: Fasching and Karneval</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Several pre-Lenten traditions are carried on the the Catholic German-speaking regions. Technically, what the Germans call the "silly season" (<i>die närrische Saison</i>) begins on 11-11 at 11:11 AM, the celebrations being in earnest only after Epiphany (January 6) and intensify in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday.<br /><br /><b><u>What's in A Name: Fasching? Karneval?</u></b><br /><br />The name of the silly season's main event varies from region to region thoughout the German-speaking world.<br /><br />In much of the southern German-speaking regions, the Alemannic German term Fasching or some variation of the word is used to denote the Carnival season. Fasching is actually the word used in Austria, Bavaria and Berlin. In Baden, the Alsace region of France, most of the German cantons of Switzerland as well as the Amish and Mennonite communities in the United States, people call the celebration Fastnacht or Fasnacht. In Franconia as well as in the city of Mainz, people use the word Fosnat or Fasenacht, while in Swabia people call the same holiday Fasnet. In Luxembourg, the holiday is known as Fuesend.<br /><br />In much of the north, the Latin-based word Karneval is used. Karneval is the name of the holiday in Cologne, which is the largest Carnival-related event in Europe. Karneval is also the name used in the Rheinland and the Pfalz. This is also term for the major carnival cities of Bonn, Düsseldorf, Eschweil and Aachen.<br /><br />Finally, in Brandenburg and Saxony, the names Fasching and Karneval are typically used interchangeably.<br /><br /><b><u>Kölner Karneval</u></b><br /><br />The Kölner Karneval or Cologne Carnival is the largest Carnival gathering not only in Germany, but in the whole of Europe. Unlike most other carnivals worldwide, the central culmination of the Kölner Karneval comes not on Fat Tuesday(<i>Weiberfastnacht), </i>but rather on the Monday before Ash Wednesday. This is called <i>Rosenmontag </i>or Rose Monday and consists of major parades, parties and notably major stage events and performances.<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtJAwzVTEf-9GAfXZaL9UJjEQgFMZusD7khNnD8ELr0w3a8p08vG-L4JT1ihyphenhyphen53zeQihilZY8cXPuGsn4K3Hetykyc50LjQ0SKyXD4EF_nit6hRzkyI-NGyiCy76SGnx1MzLY2n5JS_qR/s1600/549px-Dreigestirn_72.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtJAwzVTEf-9GAfXZaL9UJjEQgFMZusD7khNnD8ELr0w3a8p08vG-L4JT1ihyphenhyphen53zeQihilZY8cXPuGsn4K3Hetykyc50LjQ0SKyXD4EF_nit6hRzkyI-NGyiCy76SGnx1MzLY2n5JS_qR/s200/549px-Dreigestirn_72.jpg" width="183" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Die Dreigistirn</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Each year at the Kölner Karneval, three <i>Dreigestirn </i>are named. The <i>Dreigestirn </i>form the Karneval royalty and are comprised of the <i>Jungfrau </i>(Young Woman or Virgin and called "Her Loveliness"), the <i>Prinz</i> (Prince, called "His Craziness") and the <i>Bauer</i> (the Farmer, called <i>Seine Deftigkeit</i> or "His Hugeness" which refers to being hefty in size but in impolite terms has a ribald connotation). All three people are always men, including the <i>Jungfrau</i> who is a man dressed as a woman (the only exception being during the Nazi era, where the authorities intolerance of homosexuality outlawed the cross-dressing).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For more on the German celebrations, see<br /><br /><a href="http://www.germanpulse.com/blog/2012/02/16/fasching-or-karneval-is-there-a-difference/">http://www.germanpulse.com/blog/2012/02/16/fasching-or-karneval-is-there-a-difference/</a><br /><a href="http://www.carnaval.com/germany/">http://www.carnaval.com/germany/</a><br /><a href="http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020501a.htm">http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020501a.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Luxembourg: Fuesent and Karneval</span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Luxembourg, the pre-Lenten holiday season is known as <i>Fuesend</i>. Throughout the Grand-Duchy, parades and parties are held on the Tuesday before Lent begins. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The commune of Pétange is the home of the Grand-Duchy's largest pre-Lenten Karneval celebration. Annually hosting a calvalcade with roughly 1200 participants and thousand of participants, the official name is Karneval Gemeng Péiteng or Kagepe (the initials in Luxembourgish are pronounced Ka, Ge and Pe).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmSR_QIn27m5iow_R__DcE749f0T5P3BsU6tBlMnzd6LjUiQAqlxDaxu_6KTWupPSMDIiD184szRiOyD0mOnAbDEFEGUMRRnlds3R0On5S6kbnxlamOpX7xzsdDhxxCVrpSbpG231f7CM/s1600/2013_02-490_0008_10710349_remich_DSC4571_857044949.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmSR_QIn27m5iow_R__DcE749f0T5P3BsU6tBlMnzd6LjUiQAqlxDaxu_6KTWupPSMDIiD184szRiOyD0mOnAbDEFEGUMRRnlds3R0On5S6kbnxlamOpX7xzsdDhxxCVrpSbpG231f7CM/s1600/2013_02-490_0008_10710349_remich_DSC4571_857044949.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>The <span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The town of Remich holds a three-day-long celebration. Remich is notable for two special events in addition to its parades. The first of these is the Stréimännchen, which is the burning of a male effigy from the Remich bridge that crosses the Moselle River separating the Grand Duchy from Germany. The Stréimännchen symbolizes the burning away of winter. The other special event at the Remich Fuesend celebrations is the Buergbrennen or bonfire that closes the celebration.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Like Remich, the town of Esch-sur-Alzette also holds a three-day celebration. Other major Fuesend parades in Luxembourg are held in the towns of Diekirch, Differdange, <span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Schifflange and Wasserbillig</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;">For more on Fuesend, see <a href="http://yourlivingcity.com/luxembourg/lifestyle/luxembourg-life/luxembourgish-culture/top-carnivals-in-luxembourg/">http://yourlivingcity.com/luxembourg/lifestyle/luxembourg-life/luxembourgish-culture/top-carnivals-in-luxembourg/</a><br /><br /></div></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Greece: </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Greek Orthodox Celebrations</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />As noted above, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Ash Wednesday is not observed. Instead, Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Clean Monday as the start of what is called Great Lent (the equivalent holiday but so-named to differentiate the holiday from another observance called Winter Lent which corresponds to the Western tradition of Advent). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Greek Orthodox adherents began celebrating Greek Orthodox Carnival with Triodion and ending on Clean Monday. <span class="object20"><span style="color: darkblue;"> </span></span> The largest of the celebrations is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tsiknopempti</span></i><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">or "Burnt Thursday" </span>with two weekends of Carnival: the Tsiknopempti Weekend and the Greek Carnival Weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Annually, the largest Greek Orthodox celebration of Carnival is centered at Patras, Greece’s third largest city. The Carnival at Patras often reflects current social themes, and is at times used as an outlet for social protest in some years. In other years, there is no social statement at all.</div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb9xBPu5qtYtUNvuRi4Ziw3iQaHzuAkO0Bc3yjneEMdHjM4l_oWw2hJcscCPeKSSDFjCTq0pPzdyAQugUP_N5aRD_R4i6N5Y5XaRQum0e9cYbWgYSAraqxTQnfjet26EpxwB00ncxRMIH/s1600/Patras+Children%27s+Carnival.bmp" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb9xBPu5qtYtUNvuRi4Ziw3iQaHzuAkO0Bc3yjneEMdHjM4l_oWw2hJcscCPeKSSDFjCTq0pPzdyAQugUP_N5aRD_R4i6N5Y5XaRQum0e9cYbWgYSAraqxTQnfjet26EpxwB00ncxRMIH/s200/Patras+Children's+Carnival.bmp" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Patras Children's Carnival</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In all years, though, the Patras Carnival includes a separate “Children’s Carnival” with thousands of costumed children on parade through the streets. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhRYvA3tBEAu3X177Ew4NTKjWNN01-_SpGHNvgIQO1Uyb6pTjGtVPxWI8PidEdP27jIHnSQAG03RHBc7i4nTqAw48IwLhjYGMdYwmCxWgVAXfxxkRWCrwt2Zizi8Wvf0adez-Fx1RaE8/s1600/Bourboulia_6.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhRYvA3tBEAu3X177Ew4NTKjWNN01-_SpGHNvgIQO1Uyb6pTjGtVPxWI8PidEdP27jIHnSQAG03RHBc7i4nTqAw48IwLhjYGMdYwmCxWgVAXfxxkRWCrwt2Zizi8Wvf0adez-Fx1RaE8/s200/Bourboulia_6.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Bourboulia domino robes and masks</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Another unique feature of the Patras Carnival is the Bourboulia, a formal ball in which women come in identical costumes – the so-called domino robes and masks – and ask men, usually uncostumed, to dance with them without their dance partner knowing who is behind the disguise. Other Greek sites also have Carnival celebrations, including annual celebrations on the islands of Corfu and of Crete. To learn more about Greek Carnival traditions see<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://gogreece.about.com/od/carnivaltime/a/carnivaldates_2.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://gogreece.about.com/od/carnivaltime/a/carnivaldates_2.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more specifically on <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Patras Carnival, you can go to their official website at:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="object2"><a href="http://www.carnivalpatras.gr/index.php?" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnivalpatras.gr/index.php?</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Conclusion</u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are many more Carnival-related celebrations around the world. Feel free to share some of your own, or to add to what has been shared here.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As for the religious aspects of Ash Wednesday and the related observances, as always, this post is meant only to be informational. Please share your own views, and note that this post in no way indicates a point of view on what is or is not appropriate religious observance.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on some of the general religious traditions, here are a few websites:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Roman Catholic traditions, see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/When-Is-Lent.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/When-Is-Lent.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.ash-wednesday.org/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.ash-wednesday.org/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and<br /><a href="https://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/">https://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Episcopalian traditions, see<br /><a href="http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20070201212131742"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20070201212131742</span></a><br /><span style="color: darkblue;">and</span><br /><span style="color: darkblue;"><a href="http://www.episcopalnet.org/TRACTS/5ThingsLent.html">http://www.episcopalnet.org/TRACTS/5ThingsLent.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Methodist traditions, see <span style="color: darkblue;"> </span><br /><a href="http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2514885/k.63E6/Lent_and_Easter_Resources.htm"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2514885/k.63E6/Lent_and_Easter_Resources.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and<br /><a href="http://fmcusa.org/lenten-resources/">http://fmcusa.org/lenten-resources/</a><br /><br />For Lutheran traditions, see<br /><a href="http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=10484">http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=10484</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Eastern Orthodox traditions see<br /><a href="http://www.monachos.net/content/lent"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.monachos.net/content/lent</span></a><br />and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://lent.goarch.org/"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://lent.goarch.org/</span></a><br />and<br /><a href="http://www.spc.rs/eng/great_lent"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.spc.rs/eng/great_lent</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />For Coptic Lent traditions, see<br /><a href="http://www.copticworld.org/articles/1833/">http://www.copticworld.org/articles/1833/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo traditions, see </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Clip Art Sources</span></b><br /><br /></div><p>Praying woman with ashen cross on forehead: <a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm</a><br /><br />Lent image: Christ the King Anglican Church, Lansing, Michigan: <a href="http://ctklansing.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lent-new.jpg">http://ctklansing.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lent-new.jpg</a><br /><br />Priest placing ashen cross on worshiper's forehead: Life Assays: <a href="http://bobritzema.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ash-wednesday.jpg">http://bobritzema.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ash-wednesday.jpg</a><br /><br />Carnival cartoon clipart: Clip Art Today: <a href="http://www.clipartoday.com/_thumbs/022/Celebrations/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png">http://www.clipartoday.com/_thumbs/022/Celebrations/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png</a><br /><br />Rio parade with King Kong: <a href="http://blog.otel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rio-Carnaval.jpg">http://blog.otel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rio-Carnaval.jpg</a><br /><br />Rio Carnaval elaborate costume: Travelvivi.com <a href="http://www.travelvivi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rio_carnival06.jpg">http://www.travelvivi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rio_carnival06.jpg</a><br /><br />Samba competitors at the Anhembi Sambodrome: Sydney Morning Herald:<br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/18/samba2_gallery__470x312.jpg">http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/18/samba2_gallery__470x312.jpg</a><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Trio Elétrico</i></span> at the <span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">São Paulo Carnaval: <a href="http://im.r7.com/outros/files/2C92/94A4/2E64/8A75/012E/7830/7A6E/725D/carna%201-tl-201100302.jpg">http://im.r7.com/outros/files/2C92/94A4/2E64/8A75/012E/7830/7A6E/725D/carna%201-tl-201100302.jpg</a></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="font-family: "a59726c857c08c9212a74a20";">Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio: <a href="http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm">http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i>Afoxé: </i></span></span></span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afox%C3%A9">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afoxé</a><br /><i style="text-align: center;"><br /></i><i style="text-align: center;">Alfaias:<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"> </span></i><a href="http://www.brasilcultura.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/afoxes10.jpg">http://www.brasilcultura.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/afoxes10.jpg</a><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><i>Frevo</i> dancer: Está com tudo blogsite: <a href="http://estacomtudo.blogspot.com/2010/11/frevo_12.html">http://estacomtudo.blogspot.com/2010/11/frevo_12.html</a></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> percussionists: Oficina do Barulho: <a href="http://www.oficinadobarulho.com/images/camale_o.jpg">http://www.oficinadobarulho.com/images/camale_o.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda: </span><a href="http://laprensa-sandiego.org/featured/brazilian-northeast-celebrates-carnival-the-old-fashioned-way/">http://laprensa-sandiego.org/featured/brazilian-northeast-celebrates-carnival-the-old-fashioned-way/</a><br /><br /></p><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recife’s 2013 <i>Galo da </i><i>Madrugada</i> parade </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">set the world record for most people in a parade: </span><a href="http://fotografia.folha.uol.com.br/galerias/13608-bloco-galo-da-madrugada-em-recife">http://fotografia.folha.uol.com.br/galerias/13608-bloco-galo-da-madrugada-em-recife</a></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Recife's </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Silenciosos: </span><a href="http://www.culturaalternativa.com.br/geral/materias/item/2591-noite-para-os-tambores-silenciosos-de-olinda-reverencia-fe-e-cultura-afro">http://www.culturaalternativa.com.br/geral/materias/item/2591-noite-para-os-tambores-silenciosos-de-olinda-reverencia-fe-e-cultura-afro</a></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-align: center;">Teresina's Carnaval hold the world record for floats in a parade: </span><a href="http://www.jfagora.com/qual-melhor-ze-pereira-de-teresina-timon-ou-o-de-jose-de-freitas.html">http://www.jfagora.com/qual-melhor-ze-pereira-de-teresina-timon-ou-o-de-jose-de-freitas.html</a></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">Mardi Gras in New Orleans: <a href="http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/getty/1/3/73376713.jpg">http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/getty/1/3/73376713.jpg</a></div><p><br />Steel drum player: <a href="http://serturista.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Theaterspektakel_2010_2010-09-04_19-02-50.jpg">http://serturista.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Theaterspektakel_2010_2010-09-04_19-02-50.jpg</a><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Man Feteing in Trinidad: Feteing in Trindad, How to Play Mas: <a href="http://www.rishisankar.com/Parties/Trinidad-Carnival-2005/Carnival-Tuesday-2005-23rd/S3600163/202578866_XhHuH-XL.jpg">http://www.rishisankar.com/Parties/Trinidad-Carnival-2005/Carnival-Tuesday-2005-23rd/S3600163/202578866_XhHuH-XL.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jab Jabs: <a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Moko Jumbies: <a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Map of Goa: <a href="http://www.jigneshbapna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/goa-map.gif">http://www.jigneshbapna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/goa-map.gif</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br />Goa Carnival: <a href="http://www.carnivalgoa.com/">http://www.carnivalgoa.com/</a><br /><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><br /></p><div>Luanda Carnaval: <a href="https://afktravel.com/101783/carnival-in-africa/2/">https://afktravel.com/101783/carnival-in-africa/2/</a></div><div><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><span>Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde: <a href="http://www.caboverdesite.com/city/sao-vicente/sobre-a-ilha/ilha-de-sao-vicente/">http://www.caboverdesite.com/city/sao-vicente/sobre-a-ilha/ilha-de-sao-vicente/</a></span></span><br /><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><span>Dili Carnaval, East Timor: <a href="http://noticias.sapo.tl/portugues/foto/1299406/">http://noticias.sapo.tl/portugues/foto/1299406/</a></span></span><br /><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Lašininis </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">burnt in effigy<span style="font-size: x-small;">: <a href="http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/">http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/</a></span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN"><span class="Federo"><i>Varškės spurgos: <a href="http://laisvalaikisvirtuveje.blogspot.com/2012/01/varskes-spurgos-su-obuoliu-idaru.html">http://laisvalaikisvirtuveje.blogspot.com/2012/01/varskes-spurgos-su-obuoliu-idaru.html</a></i></span></span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Venice Carnevale masks: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_%282010%29.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Ivrea Battle of the Oranges: The World's Dirtiest Festivals: <a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Battle+of+the+Oranges+painting&view=detail&id=65397B2AFD68F98358FC4C243290428EEE2955AF&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR"> </a><u><span style="color: #810081;"><a href="http://jetsetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg">http://jetsetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg</a></span></u></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Gilles at the Carnival of Binche: Photograph by Marie-Claire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br />Die Dreigistirn: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreigestirn_72.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreigestirn_72.jpg</a><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The </span><span style="font-size: small;">Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge: <a href="http://www.lequotidien.lu/le-pays/42292.html">http://www.lequotidien.lu/le-pays/42292.html</a></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Patras Children's Carnival: <a href="http://www.1000lonelyplaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/childrens-carnival1.jpg">http://www.1000lonelyplaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/childrens-carnival1.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Bourboulia domino robes and masks: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/el/7/79/Bourboulia_6.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/el/7/79/Bourboulia_6.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /></p><div><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><br /></span></span></span></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-49563970857796853722022-02-02T16:13:00.000-05:002022-02-02T16:14:10.676-05:00Year of the Black Water Tiger<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0zZcSn9x4st_P3gETTj0lDP6V7XM85iqULUjMQlJvLDvt7I9ZvhhPlJdIl5L7_dlf3Ds50ADheWogh88gwWyEGdMQrDyEoi-nOvGRVl465mc3BMHJNHZ_LlNElRsaaWSpsLtcYxx8uzorM4SvL7VevEozQXaRxLcV1YfDAfBmSCPaDrLh3n8E_n1yqA=s450" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="450" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0zZcSn9x4st_P3gETTj0lDP6V7XM85iqULUjMQlJvLDvt7I9ZvhhPlJdIl5L7_dlf3Ds50ADheWogh88gwWyEGdMQrDyEoi-nOvGRVl465mc3BMHJNHZ_LlNElRsaaWSpsLtcYxx8uzorM4SvL7VevEozQXaRxLcV1YfDAfBmSCPaDrLh3n8E_n1yqA=w200-h99" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday, February 1, 2022 begins the Year of the Tiger.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It is the beginning of the year 4719 (in some traditions, 4720) in the Asian lunar system, which is the Year of the Black Water Tiger. <br /></span><p></p><div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">In today’s posting, I would like to share with you some specifics about the Year of the Tiger as well as some background to the Asian Zodiac system as a whole. Please note that the East Asian Lunar New Year is more than the Chinese New Year (CNY). It is </span></span><span>appropriate to refer Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) only when referring to the Lunar New Year as celebrated <i>in China</i>. Using CNY to refer to the whole range of cultures observing the Lunar New Year, though, discounts the millions of non-Chinese celebrations of the occasion. These include the Mongolian </span>Tsagaan Sar, Korean Seollal, Japanese Oshogatsu, and Bhutanese and Tibetan Losar and so on. For more on the general holiday of the East Asian Lunar New Year, please see my post </div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif""><b><i><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html">One New Year: Many Traditional New Year Customs Around the World</a></i></b> </span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">For more on the special impact, beliefs and predictions for the Zodiac animals since 2012, please seem my posts from each year at</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2021/02/year-of-white-metal-ox-2021-some.html">Year of the White Metal Ox 2021: Some Background</a></li><li>Year of the Metal Rat 2020 (no article that year)</li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2019/02/year-of-brown-earth-pig-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Pig 2019: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-fire-dog-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Dog 2018: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-fire-rooster-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Rooster 2017: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Monkey 2016: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/12/year-of-goatsheepram-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Sheep/Ram/Goat 2015: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Horse 2014: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Snake 2013: Some Background</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-some-background.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Dragon 2012: Some Background</a></li></ul><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>2)</b> <b style="font-style: italic;">Business Impact </b></span></span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-style: italic;"></b>In years past, I have posted separately in the the business effects from travel to special editions of coins, stamps and gifts for the Lunar New Year around the world. I have not had the chance to do so this year. You may find the post from last year of value in giving an idea of this. Here is the post from the </span></div><div><ul><li>Year of the White Metal Ox 2021 (no article that year)</li><li>Year of the Metal Rat 2020 (no article that year)</li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Pig 2019: Business and Political Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Brown Earth Dog 2018: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-rooster-2017-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Rooster 2017: Business and Political Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Red Fire Monkey 2016: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-sheep-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Sheep/Ram/Goat 2015: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Green Wood Horse 2014: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake-business-impact_22.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Snake 2013: Business and Political Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Black Water Dragon 2012: Business Impact</a><br /></li></ul><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>3) Celebrations around the world. </i></b>Likewise in years past I have listed roughly 250 celebrations, parades and festivals held around the world outside of countries where the majority of the population celebrates the Lunar New Year. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic, these were mostly cancelled both in 2020 and 2021. Before the the pandemic, in the PRC alone, travelers for the<i> Chunyun</i> travel period made roughly 3 billion individual trips, with a dailky high in In 2020, that number had collapsed to roughly 1.5 billion trips -- to be sure still the largest movement of people for a single event that year, but a fraction of what it had been. The chart below from <a href="https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-02-18/Graphics-2021-Spring-Festival-travels-in-numbers-XYDfSGH0qI/index.html" target="_blank">Hu Xuechen (Feb. 18 2021) on CGTN</a> visually brings home the point.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggUIXoIJtbkV6blNb6iMNVfip6VzdISf1nnA56jgUo1nf8HspW0QLm6mxoYQONs1Krn_zK9RT9ABi-l4uz98Zo101dix8WEmE40Fd7fpu8D9mu1c8B2nDQB4IdLfoI9Kyh9elbDoTZVtBvUHXmLU9I20gayeaAt9T6ueL5JKgs_lntntTtMstTNjIm8w=s2052" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2052" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggUIXoIJtbkV6blNb6iMNVfip6VzdISf1nnA56jgUo1nf8HspW0QLm6mxoYQONs1Krn_zK9RT9ABi-l4uz98Zo101dix8WEmE40Fd7fpu8D9mu1c8B2nDQB4IdLfoI9Kyh9elbDoTZVtBvUHXmLU9I20gayeaAt9T6ueL5JKgs_lntntTtMstTNjIm8w=w358-h233" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div>To learn more of how this took shape in earlier years as well as a list of celebrations outside East Asia, here is the 2017 link as an example. for the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8696156483750470941?hl=en#" target="_blank">2017 lis</a>t.</div><div> </div><div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><b style="font-size: x-large;">The Asian Zodiac Briefly Explained </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The Asian Zodiac (or horoscope) associated with the Asian or Chinese Lunar New Year is taken very seriously by those who follow it in their tradition. The significance attributed to the combinations associated with the Asian horoscope affects business decisions, dates selected for important events such as weddings, and many other aspects of daily life. These views <b>are widely shared, with a larger following than <i>any single</i> religion</b> -- Western or Eastern. As a result, <b>these beliefs should be treated with the respect accorded a religious belief</b> (rather than with that of superstition as Western astrology is sometimes treated).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>The Lunar Calendar</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Because the Asian lunar calendar follows the moon, it seems to move within our solar-based Gregorian calendar. Moreover, the Gregorian calendar does not correspond fully with the Asian lunar calendar. Thus, <b>February 1 marks the beginning of the Asian lunar calendar only this year. </b>Last year in 2021 the Year of the Ox began on February 12. In 2020, the Year of the Rat began on January 25. Similarly, the Lunar New year began February 5 for the Year of the Pig in 2019; on February 16 for the Year of the Dog in 2018, J<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">anuary 28 for the Year of the Rooster in 2017; </span>February 8, 2016 for the Year of the Monkey, and so forth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The lunar calendar runs on a cycle of 12 years each represented by an animal. The animals all have a balance of compatibility or incompatibility as represented in their place in the circle of the 12-year cycle. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">This year is the Year of </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">the Ox, the last and 2nd animal in the cycle. </span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><b>The 12 Animals of the Zodiac</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The 12 animals in their order are</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rat</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Ox</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Tiger</b></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rabbit</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Dragon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Snake</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Horse</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Ram/Sheep/Goat</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Monkey</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rooster</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Dog</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Pig</span></li></ol></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each animal corresponds to a month of the lunar year. <i>The ox, this year's governing animal,</i> corresponds to the 2nd animal in the cycle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>The Five Elements of the Wu Xing Cycle</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Additionally, each 12-year cycle of animals runs on an additional cycle corresponding to the Wu Xing cycle of the five traditional Chinese elements. These are</span></div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">metal</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">fire</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">wood</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">water</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">earth</span></li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkzAJJfdsD-Y6Ctje80FfL7Nr9QXdCc69qI98HtYzA0aELp5WTnPAM7wKh7fABH4TbiHrjJmfIMFk05RxrQuBd0Njc1M6jniq7MGzsXr34bvk6N_AePJk1Ho-Dxby8sCquB_Of3jUHGoc/s1600/Wuxing_en.svg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkzAJJfdsD-Y6Ctje80FfL7Nr9QXdCc69qI98HtYzA0aELp5WTnPAM7wKh7fABH4TbiHrjJmfIMFk05RxrQuBd0Njc1M6jniq7MGzsXr34bvk6N_AePJk1Ho-Dxby8sCquB_Of3jUHGoc/s1600/Wuxing_en.svg.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Wu Xing Cycle</b></td></tr></tbody></table></ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN58JvC3Ro3UuPJmQgUPoGL5-bMoWY2OISL2FA9apCm0gA5chjpURHK-26C8icLi6HnjMpzDJPSHxv4gSb0ulQq6FBQxSordCySjlOKeKJsCrLjPGd7X26fYbvo_SA1XJ_kaCY1roWKAt/s1600/White+metal+ox.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The five elements are in balance with each other, the basis of much of</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>feng shui</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">.<i> </i>For this Lunar New Year, <i>the governing element is Metal.</i></span></span></span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Combined, each of the five elements combines with each of the 12 animals that forms a 60-year cycle. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The current 12-year cycle<b> combines the Tiger with the element of Water. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Each combination in the 60-year cycle has its own attribute, combining the animal of the "earthly branch" with the element of the "heavenly stem." This year the Heavenly stem is "jen" and the Earthly branch is "yin"-- with the "jen yin" year known as the "Tiger Passing Through the Forest." Each 60-year combination is considered highly unique, since -- at 60 years apart, the combination of a person's birth year is at once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Thus the last time we had a "jen yin" was 1962.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Finally, each element is also associated with a color. In the case of water, that color is black.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Thus, this year is the Year of the <b>Black Water Tiger.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentcolor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Spiritual Importance of the Asian Horoscope</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Many followers of the Asian zodiac have a formal religious belief in the importance of the animal element combinations associated with each year in the 60-year cycle. This is clearly the case for those practicing Taoism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Taoist Tradition</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" /></a><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">For Taoists, the New Year is always of religious significance. This because in Taoism, the Lunar New Year's first day is a time when lesser deities or spirits are believed to ascend to the throne of the Jade Emperor (King of Heaven). </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">In Taoist tradition, the 12 animals were in a contest to greet the Jade Emperor; a 13th animal – the cat – was tricked by the rat (about five variations of how exist), which explains why cats have hated rats ever since. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A children's version of this story is told in an very pleasant rendition at the Topmarks education site. I encourage you to take a look at this version at </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s1600/zodiaccolor.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s320/zodiaccolor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>The 12 Zodiac animals</b><br /><b>in their race</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: currentcolor;"><b>Buddhist Tradition</b></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The New Year is a religious event as well for a great number of the sects of Buddhism, and most famously for Tibetan and Burmese Buddhists. In Buddhist tradition, the 12 animals were in a race to do honor to Lord Buddha on the eve of his death. </span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>East Asian Folk Beliefs</b></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">East Asian folk beliefs are a broad grouping of folk practices that range from deeply-held religious traditions )to popular practices rooted in the local cultures. These practices are widespread, and have a far greater reach than those who claim a specific faith (Taoism or Buddhism) to those who claim a different belief or no belief at all. In Chinese, these have perhaps a dozen names such as "Chinese ethnic religion" or <i>mínjiān zōngjiào</i> (族宗教) or Shenxianism or <i>shénxiān jiào </i>(<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 14.000000953674316px;">神仙教).</span> In Mongolian, these practices are known as Tengrism or reverence of Tengri (the Mongolian name for the Jade Emperor). In Korean, the Great Race is included in the <i>Han'guk sinwha</i> or Korean mythological narratives associated with <i>Shindo (</i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 14.000000953674316px;">신도) </span>ith, followed as folk practices not only by Buddhists and those claiming no religion but even among some Christian groups as a local custom. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">The strength of these folk beliefs is often difficult for those in Europe and the Americas to understand. A counterpart to the range of adherence to these folk religions put in the context of Europe and the Americas would be the broad grouping of deeply-held religious beliefs as "Protestant" despite being separate faiths (e.g., Baptist, Unitarian, Methodist) to popular non-Christian but deeply-held semi-religious traditions (e.g., folk religion) practices rooted in the local culture such as Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree, the Easter Bunny, etc. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Additionally, though Confucianism is not technically a religion (but rather a philosophical system), </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">its followers also traditional observe the Lunar New Year to show reverence to their ancestors. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Because of this, even Christians and practitioners of other faiths in such countries as as Korea, Bhutan, Mongolia or Vietnam generally celebrate the holiday. The same holds true for those people in cultures with strong Confucian customs who have no religion at all or for those with mixed traditions.</span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><b>The Role of the Tiger in the Great Race</b></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In all of the traditions, the arrival of the animals was the same in order. In other words, in all traditions, the ox arrived second even though seeming at first to have won the race. Unable to swim across the great river at the end of the race, the rat had promised to guide the near-sighted ox in return for clinging to the ox's back across the torrent. Once safely across, though, the rat never dismounted and instead scampered onto the ox's nose to claim first place. The place order of each zodiac animal in the Great Race is significant. All 13 animals (including the cat who arrived after the race ended) had to pass over land and water to reach the Jade Emperor/Lord Buddha. </span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">The tiger took third place in the Great Race. The tiger actually had been in the lead for most of the race, as might be expected from the bravest and fiercest of the animals. The tiger entered the river nearly at the same time as the ox. Yet, while the tiger shared the ox's great strength, unlike the ox, the tiger soon found that its thick fur coat became water-logged. It was only with great effort that the tiger made it to the far shore, and the current had carried the tiger far downstream from the finishing point. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"> </div><div style="border: currentcolor;">Exhausted, the tiger persevered, arriving just after the ox (and the rat who had ridden the ox's back). The Jade Emperor commended the tiger for its great effort and recognized the tiger for the position of third animal in the cycle.</div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Chinese Astrology Not A Particular Accurate Term</b></span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The system discussed here is often called Chinese astrology. This is a misnomer for two reasons. First, the holiday is far more widely observed than in just China, especially in Korea, Singapore, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam as well as those from these backgrounds living in other countries. </span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7nQ4yPqrsoTodKooJiJE9CJKQXhEMCz-9aJuKgblkJcMLJrAyUjicl1f_sWeYH_y2fIEE2BF32sSG52k-Gnofe9A3QvtDymdOmY-zn-atpxssuvmguKcQFGFHZlVvgD0NlUQmTobj_qe/s1600/chinese-zodiac-signs-350px.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7nQ4yPqrsoTodKooJiJE9CJKQXhEMCz-9aJuKgblkJcMLJrAyUjicl1f_sWeYH_y2fIEE2BF32sSG52k-Gnofe9A3QvtDymdOmY-zn-atpxssuvmguKcQFGFHZlVvgD0NlUQmTobj_qe/s200/chinese-zodiac-signs-350px.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>East Asian lunar zodiac</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">That said, for all the culturally diverse places in which the Asian New Year is celebrated, the calendar on which it is based <i>does</i> have its origins in China. The first written records of the calendar and the celebration of the New Year date to China’s Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC), although traditionally it is believed to date back to the rule of the semi-mythical Yellow Emperor Huang Di around 2600 BC.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A second reason the phrase Chinese astrology is a misnomer is that the system really has nothing to do with constellations as astrology does in the West. It is less a reading of the stars than an interpretation of the importance of the time, date and year in which one is born. To the extent that when one is born matters to Western-style astrology, there is a correspondence. Moreover, there is another similarity as the five elements in the system, in fact, do correspond with the five planets known in ancient China.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9R0rl9_dRsVx1FprCZICZjLHKcmn2fCFzmzUHOe1hQrSYlEVn-3MEp9pu-LQpd_AnM9E8SkWOgVMP3p4KJvqToM7u6OhCZmJWcaSJXwbKDIWBzW-creUxVCCjuXXTP17S3KbnKhJiPRy/s1600/Zodiac+animals.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="359" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9R0rl9_dRsVx1FprCZICZjLHKcmn2fCFzmzUHOe1hQrSYlEVn-3MEp9pu-LQpd_AnM9E8SkWOgVMP3p4KJvqToM7u6OhCZmJWcaSJXwbKDIWBzW-creUxVCCjuXXTP17S3KbnKhJiPRy/s400/Zodiac+animals.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Tang Dynasty (8th Century), Shaanxi Archaeology Institute, Xian, China</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Because of these corresponding commonalities with Western astrology, many people call the Asian system’s combinations of animals and elements the lunar or Chinese “horoscope”. This is a bit of a misnomer, however, not only for the reasons just described but because the way in which people view the two “horoscopes” is very different. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The difference here is that many people (although with many exceptions) in Europe, Australia and the Americas consider the Western zodiac horoscope of star signs (Scorpio, Sagittarius, etc.) to be a form of superstition, a game or something believed only partially. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This is <b><i>NOT</i></b> the case with the Asian lunar horoscope cycle, where<i> people follow their sign very seriously. </i>As a result, the system, though it transcends that of any specific religion, s<i>hould be treated with the respect accorded religious beliefs.</i> In any case, the point here is that in a cross-cultural and inter-religious sense, the issue of lunar horoscope animal element signs should be treated with respect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Geomancy, Feng Shui and Zodiac Consultants' Influence</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The importance attributed to the predictions of the each animal affects business and political decisions for over one billion people. Among the notable masters, many have an influence among Chinese and other East Asian diaspora communities as well as a growing number of non-Asian adherents. Among the earlier populizers of East Asian zodiac forecasting were book authors such as Man-ho Kwok who published over a dozen books in English on the subject in the 1990s. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As the Internet grew and ties with East Asian business leaders became more intertwined, many other Masters grew in importance outside of East Asia. For example, the Trump organization and Donald <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/13/donald-trump-feng-shui-master-pun-yin">Trump himself relied on the guidance of New York-based Master Pun-Yin</a> in the building of Trump Tower. Canadian-based Paul Ng was notable already for a wide range of clients in 66 countries <a href="https://www.paulng.com/profileDtl.aspx">before his appearances</a> on US-based CNN in 2013, US-based Bloomberg TV and Canada's CTV in 2014 made him a recognizable figure thereafter to a wide audience. Likewise Hong Kong-based Grand Master Raymond Lo has had audience's well outside of China also appearing on the BBC, CNN, "Good Morning America" more. He has carried a wide following since his prediction of the fall of the USSR's <a href="http://www.raymond-lo.com/14519/biography">Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991</a> and the 2000 NASDAQ collapse. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><b>Personality Traits and Asian Astrological Year</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Many people attribute a great deal of significance to the personality traits attributed to the animal associated with the year in which they are born. These are not something that people take lightly.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLh_xyQgBfcYlf6S_QFJEghjMiAkgdLpVpe-DQvoPikUjV8daQovAL0jN2PLoykcpMFuCTKEkm1ApOIxlYV3fl83FmJ67BMu0dRLJHWR14jh28UVLkvWOaXSj8Wvw05sHRfYxBHSNpIPkKsCnM7un35gjuY3rQKll_NPv9oo-y7dqangtW9MEcBDwqvQ=s2664" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2076" data-original-width="2664" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLh_xyQgBfcYlf6S_QFJEghjMiAkgdLpVpe-DQvoPikUjV8daQovAL0jN2PLoykcpMFuCTKEkm1ApOIxlYV3fl83FmJ67BMu0dRLJHWR14jh28UVLkvWOaXSj8Wvw05sHRfYxBHSNpIPkKsCnM7un35gjuY3rQKll_NPv9oo-y7dqangtW9MEcBDwqvQ=w284-h221" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.23000000417232513px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Year of the Tiger sidewalk plate<br />Philadelphia Chinatown</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each animal has its own traits, and then each animal and element combination has their own subtraits. These are explained later in the blog.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As with all Asian Lunar zodiac animals, Tiger people have both positive and negative attributes. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Positive Tiger Traits</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Tiger people (and thus t</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">he effects of the Year of the Tiger) are associated with a strong but steady approach. As <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html">Master Pun-yin</a> puts it: <b><i>"The Tiger has </i></b></span><b><i>the quality of idealism. Flamboyant, passionate, powerful, and egotistical, the dynamic Tiger is usually right in the center of the action. " </i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Tiger people are famous for trusting their instincts and their confidence in their abilities. Tigers seem to others that they almost innately to know when to take action... but Tiger actually assess the situation before pouncing. Once they act, though, there is no going back for them.</span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdAqmHdtbrLWcZaVZrZx9ekgOzOT1heUal3X6oC73m4FBUrLC8nOHpax_j-UTPnefL2vSXbxt_Ekd2OYXjSGQtUWJAD4DYagrdu6HSgf_pkBX4aHM2ATOwRaj6O6om7MJphIBQKWeIgt24Giq-PtBGYwIgHafRzF1l3RqpZwzAGHTpefpKaLq5JoauEg=s2730" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2328" data-original-width="2730" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdAqmHdtbrLWcZaVZrZx9ekgOzOT1heUal3X6oC73m4FBUrLC8nOHpax_j-UTPnefL2vSXbxt_Ekd2OYXjSGQtUWJAD4DYagrdu6HSgf_pkBX4aHM2ATOwRaj6O6om7MJphIBQKWeIgt24Giq-PtBGYwIgHafRzF1l3RqpZwzAGHTpefpKaLq5JoauEg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tiger painted on outside wall of Mountain shrine, Bonggok-sa Temple<br />Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea</span></b><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Man-Ho Kwok in his book on </span><i>Chinese Astrology </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">builds on this, noting that Tiger people:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"></i><blockquote><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">are excited by new challenges, unusual places, and unexpected events... Your attention is caught by the unpredictable, and while others may be cautious, you are not afraid to explore the potential in unlikely situations. </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(p. 16).</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Tiger people are the eternal optimists of the Zodiac. </span><span>Man-Ho Kwok</span><span> explains that the strong points of Tiger people are </span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Optimism, determination and initiative </i><span>[and that]</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">... your energetic response to challenge will serve you well in your career. The appeal of work for you is generally in the excitement and the quality, not the profit. </i><span>(p. 17)</span></span></blockquote><p>The Year of the Tiger is a year for optimism and taking on challenges. This is a hopeful sign, as Xiaohua Yang, professor and director of the China Business Studies Initiative at the University of San Francisco told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/01/31/year-tiger-lunar-new-year-2022/9246629002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>: </p><p><i><b></b></i></p><blockquote><i><b>"This nicely coincided with hopeful recovery from the pandemic crisis... This actually is quite significant year in terms of the symbol."</b></i></blockquote><p></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2n39ZZcuDAx9n0EyrZkZqHWxS5KDgsOqtEz3Bm0A_Z1YuexgNp3kH5-Nurdqr5nFEULvCDHjQjD245Iw9zUm9Ud8Bwczj_SVGw7yGYlXINUBka1n0k6CvVexxGpeEu6cfzlnvoYR42gdt5zmsvGa61j-XyrHa1y7FVZlklo2Gz-NuuOQ3Hmwt5SiGdw=s1200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1200" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2n39ZZcuDAx9n0EyrZkZqHWxS5KDgsOqtEz3Bm0A_Z1YuexgNp3kH5-Nurdqr5nFEULvCDHjQjD245Iw9zUm9Ud8Bwczj_SVGw7yGYlXINUBka1n0k6CvVexxGpeEu6cfzlnvoYR42gdt5zmsvGa61j-XyrHa1y7FVZlklo2Gz-NuuOQ3Hmwt5SiGdw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/757347" target="_blank">Tigress and Cub, Kishi Chikudō (1892)<br />Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b>Negative Tiger Traits</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The negative side of Tiger people is the flip-side of their enthusiasm and self-confidence. As Moon-ho Kwok explains, Tiger people are famously sore losers who</span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">do not deal well with failure and are embarrassed when colleagues discover that you have misjudged situations.</i> (p. 17)</div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Relatedly, Tiger people are the least accepting of authority of all the Zodiac signs. As Fefe Ho and Chloe Chiao explain on <a href="http://ChineseNewYear.net">ChineseNewYear.net</a>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><blockquote><b><i> Tigers can be very rebellious, often too self-confident to want to coordinate or communicate with others.</i></b></blockquote></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This rebelliousness often translates into intransigence and arguing with figures of authority, including parents. The belief that Tiger people will result in disrespectful and argumentative children has very real effects on the birth rates in east Asia. Less people have children in the Year of the Tiger than in the years of any other Zodiac animal sign, as explained by Danique Hutton of the University of Groningen (Netherlands) Faculty of Spatial Science in her article <a href="https://www.girugten.nl/how-zodiac-signs-influence-birth-rates-in-asia/" target="_blank">"How zodiac signs influence birth rates in Asia</a>"(March 5, 2019), writing: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote><b><i>we actually see a decline in fertility rate in the year of the tiger in countries such as Taiwan and Singapore. It is believed that anyone that is born under this sign does not respect authority and is therefore likely to get in trouble. Especially in Asia where the culture is very collective, this is not a desirable trait. </i></b></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgk-JRnb_uSL4wyKH_QzLTAAAa2grbKwD3ASbE9YGdnc5LfYwfm2lq3T54WUm7FNPds0de1cnJTC0sBh8JHEq4lgyICMhV4YaDl7EnrF1IvGnMlkJJp7ZWRbhfW34MEnfRON6BbSw92OkkftJPK_Fk2aB5i0HqCjhZj1MiAmUap3ic-77K0ZSIJNqyD8g=s550" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="550" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgk-JRnb_uSL4wyKH_QzLTAAAa2grbKwD3ASbE9YGdnc5LfYwfm2lq3T54WUm7FNPds0de1cnJTC0sBh8JHEq4lgyICMhV4YaDl7EnrF1IvGnMlkJJp7ZWRbhfW34MEnfRON6BbSw92OkkftJPK_Fk2aB5i0HqCjhZj1MiAmUap3ic-77K0ZSIJNqyD8g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As Hutton's chart (above) shows two of the three of the last Tiger Years, showed the greatest decline in fertility in Hong Kong. As<a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-birth-rate-falls-to-worlds-lowest-challenging-productivity-127933153/167887.html" target="_blank"> Ralph Jennings explained, </a> Hong Kong was still the third lowest birth rate in the world in 2010 with an increase of only 1.07%. The bottom two lowest birth rates were also in East Asia with the lowest birth rate in the world that year, at 0.90% in Taiwan and 0.92% in Macau. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Compatibility With Other Signs</b><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdl2gSOysyYEcSYi1IARdVH3iy8LZ9WVJnlxh1_S4EWxtut44NC3iiICum5ljhissltBdoF3vnf0Zpf8g563ZgnbVzV-aUOdif_x5b5EXw76j17FX1cOm0ibUJYyWoL1FCoz4SyJXWmI8SyqW3JuAMBwcwDfIAutMIast3SZDMaLCDzv_18JSvj7A0pQ=s1197" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="780" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdl2gSOysyYEcSYi1IARdVH3iy8LZ9WVJnlxh1_S4EWxtut44NC3iiICum5ljhissltBdoF3vnf0Zpf8g563ZgnbVzV-aUOdif_x5b5EXw76j17FX1cOm0ibUJYyWoL1FCoz4SyJXWmI8SyqW3JuAMBwcwDfIAutMIast3SZDMaLCDzv_18JSvj7A0pQ=w131-h200" width="131" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger,_China,_Tang_dynasty_or_earlier,_6th-8th_century,_white_marble_-_Royal_Ontario_Museum_-_DSC03552.JPG" target="_blank">Tang Dynasty Tiger, <br />China 6th-8th Century<br />Royal Ontario Museum<br />Toronto, Canada </a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Poor compatibility.</u></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Tiger people have few natural enemies. Still, Tiger people are at greatest risk with those born in the Year of the Snake and the Monkey. Snake people find favor advance planning and quiet routine, both of which conflict with the Tiger's loud enthusiasm and desire for change. Those signs that are the six years apart in the Zodiac circle are natural antagonists. This is the case with Tiger and Monkey signs. Tiger people see Monkey people as overly subtle, hard to read and caught up in devising schemes. Monkey people see these traits as signs of their astuteness at foreseeing all possibilities-- and this goes against Tiger people's preference for bold moves, which the Monkey see as acting without fully considering the consequences irritating or even dangerous. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans"; font-size: 16px;"> <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans"; font-size: 16px;"><u>High Compatibility</u></span><br /><br />Tiger people are generally most compatible with people born in the Year of the Horse, the Dog and the Pig. Tiger People share the love of the new and the festive with those born in the Year of the Horse. While Dog people are seen as more risk-averse than Tiger people, the two share a strong bond in fighting on behalf of others and together form the most protective team possible in battle or a common fight. Tiger and Pig people are supposed to share a similar balance of independence and friendship, and Tiger people do well with the tendency of Pig people to openly express their admiration of others -- a highly compatible characteristic for the praise-seeking Tiger.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Famous Tiger People</b></span></span></div><b> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><br /></div><div>Tiger People's Drive and Need for Recognition result in their disproportionate number in the fields of acting and music </div><div><br /></div><div>Famous Tiger People Acting</div><div><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Adams" target="_blank">Amy Adams</a> (Italian-born US actress, winner of two Golden Globes and nominee for six Academy Awards and seven BAFTAs)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali" target="_blank">Mahershala Ali</a> (US actor and winner of two Academy Award Oscars, three SAG Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Bale" target="_blank">Christian Bale</a> (Welsh actor winner of two Golden Globes and an Academy Award as well as several nominations for both, and well-known for his version of Batman)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks" target="_blank">Mel Brooks</a> comedian, actor, screenwriter, television writer (Get Smart!), director and producer, a member of the 16 EGOT (Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar, Tony Award winners) list</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Candy" target="_blank">John Candy</a>, Canadian comic actor and SNL cast member</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Carell" target="_blank">Steve Carrell</a>, US Golden-Globe comic actor known for his leading role in the television series <i>The Office</i> as well as his comic movies and more serious roles such as his Oscar-nominated roles in <i>Foxcatcher</i>, <i>The Big Short</i>, and<i> Little Miss Sunshine</i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilia_Clarke" target="_blank">Emilia Clarke,</a> English actress best-known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in <i>Game of Thrones</i>, for which she received four Emmy Primetime Award Nominations</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Colman" target="_blank">Olivia Colman,</a> British Golden Globe and Academy Award winning actress</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Cooper" target="_blank">Bradley Cooper,</a> US actor with six Golden Globe, eight Academy Award Oscar and one Tony Award nominations as well as two Grammy Award wins</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise" target="_blank">Tom Cruise</a>, US actor among the highest-grossing stars of all time, famed fr his role in action films as well as serious films that have earned him three Academy Award and three Golden Globe nominations</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penélope_Cruz" target="_blank">Penelope Cruz,</a> Spanish Academy Award and BAFTA winning actress</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_DiCaprio" target="_blank">Leonardo DiCaprio</a>, US actor and film producer, winner of three Golden Globes, a BAFTA and an Academy Award Oscar</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Estevez" target="_blank">Emilio Estevez</a>, US actor, director and screenwriter</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elle_Fanning" target="_blank">Elle Fanning</a>, US actress who started as a child actress and grew into a respected film career as an adult; at 21 (in 2019) she became the youngest person to serve as judge at the Cannes Film Festival</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes" target="_blank">Ralph Fiennes</a>, British Shakespearean actor with a notable film career as well</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodie_Foster" target="_blank">Jodie Foster, </a>US actress, filmmaker and producer with two Academy Award Oscars, three BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megan_Fox" target="_blank">Megan Fox</a>, US actress who grew to fame through her role in the <i>Transformer</i> franchise movies</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoopi_Goldberg" target="_blank">Whoopi Goldberg</a>, actress, comedian and a member of the 16 EGOT (Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar, Tony Award winners) list</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Harington" target="_blank">Kit Harrington</a>, English Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor best-known for his role as Jon Snow in <i>Game of Thrones</i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Intarakomalyasut" target="_blank">Paris Intarakomalyasut</a>, Thai singer and actor known for his role in the mystery series <i>In Family We Trust</i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Leung_Chiu-wai" target="_blank">Tony Leung Chiu-wai</a>, Hong Kong actor and singer, seven time of Hong Kong Film Festival winner, three-time Golden Horse (Taiwan) Film Festival winner, and winner once each of a Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Award</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Lim" target="_blank">Rebecca Lim</a>, Singaporean actress who has won awards across Asia for her roles in film and television </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Liu" target="_blank">Jasper Liu</a>, Taiwanese actor and electronic post-rock musician and former male model, whose roles in <i>More Than Blue, Before We Get Married, Pleasantly Surprised </i>and <i>Triad Princess </i>has made him one of East Asia's best-known pop icons</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe" target="_blank">Marilyn Monroe</a>, top-billed actress of her day and continuing pop cultural icon</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demi_Moore" target="_blank">Demi Moore</a>, US actress at one time the highest paid in history (in 1996)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Murray" target="_blank">Bill Murray</a>, 2016 Mark Twain Award Recipient and Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning US actor</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Park" target="_blank">Randall Park,</a> Korean-American actor and screenplay writer with over 120 IMDB credits, but probably best-known worldwide as FBI Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel cinematic universe and for his leading role in the Netflix rom-com Always Be My Maybe (which he co-wrote)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linh_Dan_Pham" target="_blank">Linh Dan Pham</a>, Vietnamese-born French actress who debuted in the 1992 Academy Award Oscar-winning <i>Indochine</i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix" target="_blank">Joaquin Phoenix</a>, Academy Award Oscar, BAFTA, Grammy and Golden Globe winning Puerto Rican-born actor and animal rights activist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Short" target="_blank">Martin Short</a> (Canadian American actor and SNL cast member)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Snipes" target="_blank">Wesley Snipes</a> (US actor and martial artist)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Swank" target="_blank">Hilary Swank</a> (US actress, winner of 2 Academy Award Oscars and 2 Golden Globes for <i>Boys Don't Cry</i> and<i> Million Dollar Baby</i>)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Wang" target="_blank">Dylan Wang</a>, (Chinese actor, star of television series <i>Meteor Garden</i>)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Yeoh" target="_blank">Michelle Yeoh</a> (Malaysian actress and martial artist best-known for her leading role in <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i>, the James Bond film <i>Tomorrow Never Dies</i> and the rom-com <i>Crazy Rich Asians</i>)</li></ul></div><div>Famous Tiger People -- Talk Show Hosts</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Ferguson" target="_blank">Craig Ferguson</a>, host of the Late, Late Show 2005-14</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Leno" target="_blank">Jay Leno</a>, host of the Today Show 1992-2009, and 2014 recipient of the Mark Twain Award of American Humor</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, host of Daily Show 1999-2015, winner of 22 Emmy Awards and 2022 recipient of the Mark Twain Award of American Humor</li></ul></div><div>Famous Tiger People -- Singers and Musicians</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Abdul" target="_blank">Paula Abdul </a>, US singer who topped the Billboard 100 chart six times and 2-time Emmy Award winning choreographer and <i>American Idol</i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Batiste" target="_blank">Jon Batiste</a> US jazz performer, Creative Director of the National Museum of Jazz, bank leader of the <i>Late Show with Stephen Colbert</i>, and composer whose (co-authored) musical score for the animated film <i>Soul </i>won a BAFTA, Golden Global and Academy Award Oscar</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven" target="_blank">Ludwig van Beethoven</a>, one of the greatest of all classical composers</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry" target="_blank">Chuck Berry</a>, US singer, songwriter and guitarist considered as among rock and roll's pioneering figures</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II" target="_blank">Jon Bon Jovi</a>, US singer, songwriter and guitarist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Bennett" target="_blank">Tony Bennett</a>, US singer with over 50 million records sold worldwide, winner of 19 Grammy Awards (including a lifetime achievement award), two Primetime Emmy Awards</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Brooks" target="_blank">Garth Brooks,</a> US country/pop singer with over 170 million records won and winner of 17 American Music Awards, two Grammy Awards and 2020 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campino_(singer)" target="_blank">Campino</a>, German-British lead singer of the German punk band Die Toten Hosen</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coltrane" target="_blank">John Coltrane</a>, US saxophonist, composer, band leader jazz music pioneer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Davis" target="_blank">Miles Davis</a>, US trumpeter, composer, band leader jazz music pioneer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_(musician)" target="_blank">Drake</a>, Canadian rapper, singer and actor whose 2021 album <i>Certified Lover Boy</i> set the record for most Billboard Top Ten songs (nine in all) from a single album, recipient of four Grammy and six American Music Awards</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Frampton" target="_blank">Peter Frampton </a>(British rock singer and guitarist)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gabriel" target="_blank">Peter Gabriel</a> (British rock singer and drummer, winner of six Grammy Awards whose "Sledgehammer" was ranked the most popular MTV Video of all time, and human rights activist awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates' "Man of Peace" Award in 2006</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga" target="_blank">Lady Gaga</a>, US singer, songwriter and actress and whose song "Shallow" (2018) was the first ever by a female artist to win an Academy Award Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Grammy Award in the same year </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumi_Jo" target="_blank">Sumi Jo</a>, generally considered South Korea's greatest opera singer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Kiedis" target="_blank">Anthony Kiedis</a>, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Mendes" target="_blank">Shawn Mendes</a>, Canadian singer and songwriter</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccolò_Paganini" target="_blank">Niccolò Paganini</a>, Genoan composer and considered the most talented violinist of the 19th century</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_Slovak" target="_blank">Hillel Slovak</a>, Israeli-born founding guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder" target="_blank">Stevie Wonder</a>, US singer, songwriter, record producer with the most Grammy Award wins (25) by a single artist; pioneer across such diverse genres as Motown, R&B, soul, funk, gospel blues, jazz and pop, recipient of the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom</li></ul></div><div>Famous Tiger People -- Business Leaders</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sir <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson" target="_blank">Richard Branson,</a> British entrepreneur and founder of Virgin Group</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingvar_Kamprad" target="_blank">Ingvar Kamprad</a>, Swedish entrepreneur and founder of IKEA</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Spade" target="_blank">Kate Spade</a>, US entrepreneur and fashion designer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Turner" target="_blank">Ted Turner</a>, US entrepreneur and philanthropist, founder of CNN and TBS and donator of a $1 billion gift to the United Nations, Co-Found of the Nuclear Threat Initiative</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Vanderbilt" target="_blank">Cornelius Vanderbilt</a>, US entrepreneur, shipping and railroad magnate, and philanthropist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zig_Ziglar" target="_blank">Zig Ziglar</a>, US motivational speaker, author and sales person</li></ul></div><div>Famous Tiger People -- Authors</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Abouzeid" target="_blank">Leila Abouzeid</a>, Moroccan author of <i>Year of the Elephant </i></span></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkitham_Achuthan_Namboothiri" target="_blank">Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri</a>, Indian poet and essayist, generally considered the greatest modern writer in his native language Malayalam</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Barrett_Browning" target="_blank">Elizabeth Barrett Browning,</a> British poet</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bly" target="_blank">Robert Bly</a>, US poet and essayist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie" target="_blank">Agatha Christie</a>, British master of the murder mystery</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Fo" target="_blank">Dario Fo,</a> Italian playwright, winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Literature </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Ginsberg" target="_blank">Allen Ginsberg,</a> US beat poet</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harper_Lee" target="_blank">Harper Lee</a>, US author of <i>To Kill A Mockingbird</i></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill" target="_blank">John Stuart Mill</a>, British author, economist and social reformer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Webster" target="_blank">Noah Webster</a>, US lexicographer and author of the first American English dictionary </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworth" target="_blank">William Wordsworth</a>, English Romantic poet</li></ul>Famous Tiger People -- World Leaders </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth II</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Queen_of_Scots" target="_blank">Mary, Queen of Scots</a> </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_de%27_Medici" target="_blank">Isabella de' Medici</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Alito" target="_blank">Stephen Alito</a>, US Supreme Court Associate Justice</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Bandula" target="_blank">Maha Bandula</a>, Burmese national hero famed for his resistance to British conquest</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Breyer" target="_blank">Stephen Breyer </a>, US Supreme Court Associate Justice</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro" target="_blank">Fidel Castro</a>, Dictator of Cuba</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necmettin_Erbakan" target="_blank">Necmettin Erbakan</a>, Prime Minister of Turkey, 1996-97</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Guerrero" target="_blank">Vicente Guerrero</a>, 2nd President of Mexico and hero of the Mexican War of Independence </li><li>King <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_bin_Isa_Al_Khalifa" target="_blank">Hamad al-Khalifa</a>, current King of Bahrain</li><li><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hattori_Hanzō" target="_blank">Hattori Hanzō</a>, </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-family: inherit;">legendary 16th century ninja in service to Tokagaw Ieyasu)</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollanta_Humala" target="_blank">Ollanta Humala</a> President of Paraguay (2011-16)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Zemin" target="_blank">Jiang Zemin</a> President of People's Republic of China (1993-2003)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Juárez" target="_blank">Benito Juárez,</a> Mexican reformist and 26th President of Mexico</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolás_Maduro" target="_blank">Nicolás Maduro</a>, current President of Venezuela</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Mnuchin" target="_blank">Steven Mnuchin </a>, US Secretary of Treasury (2017-21)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narendra_Modi" target="_blank">Narendra Modi</a>, current Prime Minister of India</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe" target="_blank">James Monroe</a>, US Founding Father, revolutionary and 5th US President (1817-25)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efra%C3%ADn_R%C3%ADos_Montt" target="_blank">Efraín Ríos Montt</a>, Dictator of Guatemala (1982-83)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilien_Robespierre" target="_blank">Maximilien Robespierre</a>, French Revolutionary leader</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren" target="_blank">Martin Van Buren</a>, 8th US President (1837-1841)</li></ul> </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever your outcome for the year, Happy Year of the Black Metal Tiger!</span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGcVaLkml_6DG8xi0r4Jak89xQsMrFoHQi20Wdc7aLDM2rkHy4rOoF3ZaL-aRwUkp6Zz3vCwgGDEzRl7q_pJbQ_eycZo6LlfRdFq5U2ZYaGdsBiM_tVlrlqAOhhF-Fv73bqeBbm0NWOPweKVjMet3ox2OL9Jw264pfaj622oNCpCvCfGA57rPdfhGlAA=s3870" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="3870" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGcVaLkml_6DG8xi0r4Jak89xQsMrFoHQi20Wdc7aLDM2rkHy4rOoF3ZaL-aRwUkp6Zz3vCwgGDEzRl7q_pJbQ_eycZo6LlfRdFq5U2ZYaGdsBiM_tVlrlqAOhhF-Fv73bqeBbm0NWOPweKVjMet3ox2OL9Jw264pfaj622oNCpCvCfGA57rPdfhGlAA=w400-h228" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bunnies and tiger painted on outside side wall of Front Temple, <br />Sesimsa Temple, Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Year of the Tiger <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> opening: <a href="https://www.gograph.com/clipart/year-of-the-tiger-chinese-new-year-2022-gg141006932.html" target="_blank">https://www.gograph.com/clipart/year-of-the-tiger-chinese-new-year-2022-gg141006932.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The 12 Animals of the Zodiac: <a href="http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif">http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif</a></span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Wu Xing Cycle: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png</a></span></span><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Yin Yang animation: <a href="http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html">http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html</a></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">East Asian Lunar Zodiac: </span><a href="http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html</a></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 12 Zodiac animals in their race: <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg%27">http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'</a></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.23000000417232513px;">Year of the Tiger sidewalk plate, Philadelphia Chinatown: Own photograph</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;"><span>Tiger painted on outside wall of Mountain shrine, Bonggok-sa Temple, </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span>Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea: Own photograph</span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><span style="text-align: center;">Tigress and Cub, Kishi Chikudō (1892) </span><span style="text-align: center;">Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York </span><a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/757347" target="_blank">https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/757347 </a></div><div><br /><div>Tang Dynasty Tiger, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger,_China,_Tang_dynasty_or_earlier,_6th-8th_century,_white_marble_-_Royal_Ontario_Museum_-_DSC03552.JPG">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger,_China,_Tang_dynasty_or_earlier,_6th-8th_century,_white_marble_-_Royal_Ontario_Museum_-_DSC03552.JPG</a> </div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bunnies and tiger painted on outside side wall of Front Temple, Sesimsa Temple, Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea: Own photograph</div></span></span></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Want to Learn More</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">For more on the Asian Zodiac and Astrology in General, please see:</span></u><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Richard Craze, <i>Handbook of Chinese </i></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>Astrology, </i>Lorenz Books, 2013.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Man-ho Kwok, <span id="btAsinTitle"><i>Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your Chinese Horoscope,</i> Tuttle Publishing, 1997.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text">Theodora Lau and Laura Lau, <i>The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes </i>(7th edition), Collins Reference, 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Susan Levitt and Jean Tang, <i>Taoist Astrology: A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition</i>, Destiny Books, 1997.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">David W. Pankenier, <i>Astrology and Cosmology in Early China: Conforming Earth to Heaven</i>, Cambridge University Press, 2013.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Neil Somerville, <i>Your Chinese Horoscope for Each and Every Year, </i>Harper Thomsons, 2017.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Ruth Q. Sun and Norma Sun, <i>Asian Animal Zodiac, </i>Tuttle Publishing, 2012.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Xiaochun Sun, "Crossing the Boundaries Between Heaven and Man: Astronomy in Ancient China," in <i>Astronomy Across Cultures</i>, ed. Helaine Selin and adv. ed. Sun Xiaochun: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">David Twicken, <span id="btAsinTitle">Five Element Chinese Astrology Made Easy, iUniverse, 2000.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Derek Walters, </span><i>The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrolog</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y, </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Watkins Publishing, 2005.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Suzanne White, <i>The New Chinese Astrology</i>, Thomas Dunne Books, 2015.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Charles Alfred Speed Williams. </span><i>Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">(2000), New York: Castle Books.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shelly Wu, <i>Chinese Astrology: Exploring the Eastern Zodiac, </i>New Page Books, 2005.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shelly Wu, <i>The Definitive Book of Chinese Astrology, </i>Weiser, 2010.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Zhongzian Wu, </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>The 12 Chinese Animals: Create Harmony in your Daily Life through Ancient Chinese Wisdom</i>, Singing Dragon Press, 2010.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Zhongzian Wu and Karin Taylor Wu, </span><i>Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches: The Heart of Chinese Wisdome Traditions, </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Singing Dragon Press, 2016.</span><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Master Pun-Yin, "Chinese Zodiac," <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html">https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="reference-text"><br /></span><span class="reference-text">Ho-Peng Yoke, <span id="btAsinTitle"><i>Chinese Mathematical Astrology: Reaching Out to the Stars</i>, Routledge, 2003. This is the pre-eminent book on the mathematical science of Asian lunar horoscope calculations. It is downloadable at <a href="http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html">http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html</a></span></span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For general popular websites on Asian Astrology and the Zodiac, please see:</b></u><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">China Voc.com "Zodiac" <a href="http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp">http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp</a></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Chinese Fortune Calendar </span><a href="http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm</a><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Chinese Horoscope-e.com, "Basic Chinese Horoscope," </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html">http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html</a></span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Malaysia Site, "Chinese New Year," <a href="http://www.malaysiasite.nl/newyear.htm">http://www.malaysiasite.nl/newyear.htm</a></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Online Chinese Astrology </span><a href="http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/</span></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Topmarks Education, "Zodiac Story, Chinese New Year." <a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx</a></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"Your Chinese Astrology": <a href="https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/">https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/</a></span></div></div></div></div></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-58538070753880097022021-11-04T10:48:00.002-04:002021-11-04T11:14:30.452-04:00Diwali<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOimEthlnd8uxH1Ksf4lCmBdX1aaul0pula8JQc-YVC87fHjyMyhCVO7LEkIS-adw8jhVd0jqtmK_3mKZ-1v-Pzx-8TGwW0wtZKqiERjHCD8mHjThIiC1_zQDVb8NPO-e8fyJPTyaQbZF/s1600/Happy+Divali.bmp" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOimEthlnd8uxH1Ksf4lCmBdX1aaul0pula8JQc-YVC87fHjyMyhCVO7LEkIS-adw8jhVd0jqtmK_3mKZ-1v-Pzx-8TGwW0wtZKqiERjHCD8mHjThIiC1_zQDVb8NPO-e8fyJPTyaQbZF/s200/Happy+Divali.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">For 2021, the Hindu, Jain and Sikh celebration of Diwali begins on Thursday November 4 and will continue for five days through Tuesday November 9.<br /><br />The festival of Diwali (also called as Deepavali, Deepawali, Divali, Devali and -- in Nepal -- Tihar or Swanti) is the most important holiday in the Hindu calendar. It is also an important holiday for Jains and Sikhs. <br /><br />For most people, the holiday should not affect class or work attendance, but may be observed by many students who practice one of these three religions.<br /><br />Diwali marks the last day of the Hindu calendar. The holiday can last up to five days and celebrates (at least in part) the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. In much of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> (and especially in the North), the business community starts their financial new year with the holiday, and it is the beginning of the fiscal year. <br /><br />Diwali is celebrated throughout the Hindu world, regardless of region (which is not always the case for other holidays). Divali is an official holiday not only in India and Nepal which both of majority Hindu populations, but also in Bali, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Guyana, Mauritius and Fiji. Likewise, Diwali is observed by throughout the world, wherever there are Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Diwali Traditions</b></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkJEbbozfNagZEqqV-A1-Id7boLidA2kodJOym8U39MoIP2D2bGrFXpxwwmvRGHeudaExnL-mcyq-5YumfxP88LGwKIBwmwuSJ1uAu1n_WMDdQ4TUUaI0HUHq-jAE2kkuuvhyphenhyphen9eUedfnJ/s1600/diya.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Diya</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Various traditions for celebrating Diwali include lighting of oil lamps (diyas or jyothis), setting off of fire crackers, exchanging and eating decorated sweets, gathering at people's holiday-decorated homes in celebration and visiting t<city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">emples</place></city>. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4Ifj2Y7qZiNbPv2TMKOHCW9Adl-Aq442e9yQRAkt79hgFFv8KeNeGtI7Y5E6yY8Mt1mFmFkzZIdQwkzgty0Mv-a9CMtYJu5M6Rg6MBbG7E-IaDHr0riI8cHvjWLvEqsYkXwJyBct1gGE/s975/Narkasur+Goa.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="650" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4Ifj2Y7qZiNbPv2TMKOHCW9Adl-Aq442e9yQRAkt79hgFFv8KeNeGtI7Y5E6yY8Mt1mFmFkzZIdQwkzgty0Mv-a9CMtYJu5M6Rg6MBbG7E-IaDHr0riI8cHvjWLvEqsYkXwJyBct1gGE/w133-h200/Narkasur+Goa.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Narkasur dancing, Goa</b></td></tr></tbody></table>While lighting diyas is universal and gif exchanges are fairly universal. often different regios have different traditions. For instance, in Goa the battle in which Lord Krishna defeats the demon Narkasur is commemorated. This often takes the form of burning an effigy of the demon Narkasur, often accompanied by drumming. Contests are held in which prizes awarded to those with the best battle depiction as well as best costumes. Likewise, it is common in Goa for those dressed as the demon Narkasur to dance outside people's homes. I have a Goan friend who shared who Narkasur would frighten him and the other children until the burning of the Narkasur effigy showed victory of good over evil.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">In much of South India, Diwali begins with <i>Abhyanga Snan, </i>a ritual oil bath. The bath, usually a massage using sesame oil, is thought to rid the body of toxins and pollutants to give one a fresh start for the new year, and to balance the <i>pitta </i>or fire energy. Pitta is one of the five basic elements of Ayurveda.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">In Bengal. Odisha and Assam, Diwali coincides with Kali Puja. While most Hindus worship Laxmi and Ganesha on this day, eastern Indians give honor to Kali, the goddess of death. Unlike many Divali worship traditions which predate historic records, the combination of Kali Puja on the date of Diwali dates only back to the 1600s ("only" in Indian terms means that 500 years is not that long ago, as opposed to North American and Australian views, for instance). For Kali Puja, devotees set up altars (pandals) with sculptures of the goddess Kali (and often accompanied by Lord Shiva the Destroyer, who is her consort. Devotees offer Kali red hibiscus flowers, rice and lentils. Kali Puja rituals takes place at night in darkness -- the opposite of the Diwali worship of light. Worship at major temples in East India also are centers of worship on Kali Puja. Of particular note are those temples specifically devoted to Kali. Among these is the Kali Temple in Kolkatta's Kalighat district, which is a major Shakt Pita (pilgrimage site). Other notable temples devoted to Kali are the Kripamayee Kali Temple in Baranagar, West Bengal and Bjadrakali Temple in Aharapada in Odisha.<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In different parts of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>, the holiday is marked by the giving of gifts of new utensils (especially cooking utensils), wearing of new clothes and/or the cleaning and painting of homes or workplaces. Many cities and towns also hold Diwali melas or open-air fairs during Diwali. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Diwali and the Economy</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because gift-giving and gathering with family are major components of Diwali, the holiday has an impact on the economy in India, Nepal, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Bali and other areas with large Hindu populations. The effect is comparable to Christmas season in Christian country and the lunar New Year in East Asia.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">The pandemic severely affected spending in 2020, although some improvement is anticipated for 2021. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGus-75NBTPeK4N-CWhZVw_jd_6Fs-JvB5KyT0MRHqG4Xna-oTkDCAhf-kDu2AeZRPk3DgEF-2X2RPd3VY5duT5yS4g4aZgBh8xq4svZgdEVmMHfgTl3heKscMNg8paACWySgpHvH57vXB/s1288/Diwali+spending+2019-2021.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="1288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGus-75NBTPeK4N-CWhZVw_jd_6Fs-JvB5KyT0MRHqG4Xna-oTkDCAhf-kDu2AeZRPk3DgEF-2X2RPd3VY5duT5yS4g4aZgBh8xq4svZgdEVmMHfgTl3heKscMNg8paACWySgpHvH57vXB/w640-h173/Diwali+spending+2019-2021.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">YouGov India followed spending during the pandemic. In 2020, over half (54%) of Indians spent less than the previous year. That figure is expected to improve for 2021 (with only 31% saying less and 28% saying the same), but this is still not expected to be back to normal yet.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Laxmi and Ganesha</b></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For most Hindu traditions, Laxmi (or Lakshmi), the goddess of prosperity is especially revered on Divali. With homes with children, people often leave female footprints on the floor after the children have gone to sleep so that when they wake up they will see that the goddess Laxmi has visited the home in the night.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPErEHDNSCuxtf29aYEddGferMHM65OKBjnT1HQcjt2L6dcEvxH56wD6MV8CnhAyH1bYFgzr_2speM2YHTkTit8sue0oNBH6yrlTPGti3LDwAC5MwzBT3r2d4vePzYKg9YmPtuxeCDBAhH/s1280/Laxmi+footprints.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPErEHDNSCuxtf29aYEddGferMHM65OKBjnT1HQcjt2L6dcEvxH56wD6MV8CnhAyH1bYFgzr_2speM2YHTkTit8sue0oNBH6yrlTPGti3LDwAC5MwzBT3r2d4vePzYKg9YmPtuxeCDBAhH/s320/Laxmi+footprints.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Laxmi footprints</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since her devotees invited Laxmi to visit their homes on Diwali, some traditions include setting up a greeting pylon at the main gate to one's courtyard or entrance to one's home to welcome her. Laxmi's worshippers usually decorate the pylon with flowers and painted parts from local plants such as mango or banana leaves.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwWmNvfxO3u2tGWw4_jmJ-CCB-B3T1J5KmHHH01_E3VydkejGjEpaohaozzrsVeqpgz-Qor9TjjZMxFm3VSav9afjuxPHHOX5HMBqoraLXj8sjRznweeqFsEeA6pJxnHhyeTz1p_kjXxE/s1280/Diwali+banana+leaves+pylon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwWmNvfxO3u2tGWw4_jmJ-CCB-B3T1J5KmHHH01_E3VydkejGjEpaohaozzrsVeqpgz-Qor9TjjZMxFm3VSav9afjuxPHHOX5HMBqoraLXj8sjRznweeqFsEeA6pJxnHhyeTz1p_kjXxE/s320/Diwali+banana+leaves+pylon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Welcoming pylon with painted banana leaves</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Likewise given special reverence is Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of prosperity and wealth. This makes reverence for Ganesha particularly appropriate since it is customary at Diwali to ask for good fortune and wealth for the coming year. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moreover, the history of the goddess Laxmi and the god Ganesha are particularly intertwined. Because Laxmi was childless, she adopted Ganesha from his mother Parvati. When Laxmi did so, she pronounced that all of her prosperity and luxury would belong equally to Ganesha. Laxmi also proclaimed that those who do not worship Ganesha with her will never achieve wealth in their lives. Also connected to the worship of of Ganesha is the tradition that he is the most righteous deity. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2jjOL4h7YsSviqHByjRg2NxM2GeT2CUI-tfjW7zh4UzvsSs3pNagCjssGh4jPsvQNXw-UUyiBjI6NElSI5PhQwm6WZ3ZhQBnl_CwQ9IM7aeAAlkKvt8AS3gLDTdTv45BgwDoohkKfkna/s275/Laxmi+and+Ganesha.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2jjOL4h7YsSviqHByjRg2NxM2GeT2CUI-tfjW7zh4UzvsSs3pNagCjssGh4jPsvQNXw-UUyiBjI6NElSI5PhQwm6WZ3ZhQBnl_CwQ9IM7aeAAlkKvt8AS3gLDTdTv45BgwDoohkKfkna/w400-h266/Laxmi+and+Ganesha.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Diwali oil lamps set before Laxmi and Ganesha</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Traditional foods</span></b></div></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzc1Pj2nRXJ8tXtDzLAGOpqbnu6LxkM7vaEieoXsEWfXz4bfpVHIO_Bn2PjgPNsoQBAybqSSP18st4HeKNdr91J9Bo5uIsMZjtq02yIrphL10Ks2uV8WCUGd-SGt4jCs1L_FbgC6lSwKS/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="144" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzc1Pj2nRXJ8tXtDzLAGOpqbnu6LxkM7vaEieoXsEWfXz4bfpVHIO_Bn2PjgPNsoQBAybqSSP18st4HeKNdr91J9Bo5uIsMZjtq02yIrphL10Ks2uV8WCUGd-SGt4jCs1L_FbgC6lSwKS/s200/IMG_1408.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Gulab jaman</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special foods are often eaten. Some of these are widely eaten throughout <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>. For instance, regardless of region, it is customary to eat things that are sweet such as<b><i> gulab jaman</i></b>, which is usually made of milk dough soaked in rosemary, sugar syrup and cardamom. A recipe for gulab jaman can be found at:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1613,158184-243192,00.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1613,158184-243192,00.html</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlV9wMPP0iR7buQwm2JATg0AP5arZsWvPOi-75yFZVjSmgSq1V65OeMxXVb2elKoFA2ICa8fBK6k_Pg0i67Ha1q9zCo2QlyymnkLQfLbgfLHm4pguDhV-AhQua-Q7FkVegFqRibAlWfrS/s275/Poha.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlV9wMPP0iR7buQwm2JATg0AP5arZsWvPOi-75yFZVjSmgSq1V65OeMxXVb2elKoFA2ICa8fBK6k_Pg0i67Ha1q9zCo2QlyymnkLQfLbgfLHm4pguDhV-AhQua-Q7FkVegFqRibAlWfrS/w133-h200/Poha.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poha</td></tr></tbody></table>Also, specialties made with<i><b> cashews or pistachios</b></i> are also widely eaten for Diwali. In much of <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>, delicacies are made from Lord Krishna’s favorite food <b><i>Poha</i></b> (also called Foav or Pauva) which is pounded semi-cooked sweetened rice and eaten on the second day of the festival. <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other Diwali food specialties are more regional. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, in much of the north of India, people eat patandas made of flour, unprocessed sugar cane and ghee as well as poodas (or mal poohas) made of flour and sugar syrup and eaten with chutney. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyzG2cH_4zFxyFLjKnvc1wJPgxK_GI_bIR1UwFa98jyDh29goxZi9bNNXLzN1VOdD6xysqItrk__Nwqny19KNoqMCdQWhIBFHoKjwCb5ou1z0pzWQIepZgB3MVjvA0BREJmLu6hSaO1J4/s1600/250px-Sel_Roti.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyzG2cH_4zFxyFLjKnvc1wJPgxK_GI_bIR1UwFa98jyDh29goxZi9bNNXLzN1VOdD6xysqItrk__Nwqny19KNoqMCdQWhIBFHoKjwCb5ou1z0pzWQIepZgB3MVjvA0BREJmLu6hSaO1J4/s200/250px-Sel_Roti.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sel roti</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Nepal, the traditional treat for Tihar (the Nepali name for Diwali) is called sel roti. Made of rice flour, milk and ghee and (depending on custom) flavored with cardamom or clove, the sel roti is somewhat like a thin, circular doughnut. Many Nepalis exchange sel roti with one another as gifts throughout Tihar. A recipe for sel roti can be found at </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.indobase.com/recipes/details/sel-roti.php">http://www.indobase.com/recipes/details/sel-roti.php</a> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the far south of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>, many sweets are eaten leading up to Diwali and into the first day, notably those made from honey and unprocessed sugar cane. </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZuAfqqytqTfVbeDxbozz3x53muNqX0bVdZKjLdv4tMclzo8UHIRWFq6MK6wWXW_kIoWcW4yGMN4qYMFU223AW6DpKjNqozvVrpDeNuRASDCV8UUiUGmrBGsryjlJVSQRDjaBJUMduyRQ/s1600/AQ2IGZWCA7IAOMDCAFGEYUCCADJL733CAWYQ9VOCASP5PFYCAR67HGNCA7LX2KVCAIM9U2CCA3KQMJTCAJ54EIQCAEPWWU7CAZ0X8IGCAUKXKCOCANKRQ5VCA5ZHA1CCANJQL3OCA63LS0KCABM2CUFCAWVBL9D.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZuAfqqytqTfVbeDxbozz3x53muNqX0bVdZKjLdv4tMclzo8UHIRWFq6MK6wWXW_kIoWcW4yGMN4qYMFU223AW6DpKjNqozvVrpDeNuRASDCV8UUiUGmrBGsryjlJVSQRDjaBJUMduyRQ/s200/AQ2IGZWCA7IAOMDCAFGEYUCCADJL733CAWYQ9VOCASP5PFYCAR67HGNCA7LX2KVCAIM9U2CCA3KQMJTCAJ54EIQCAEPWWU7CAZ0X8IGCAUKXKCOCANKRQ5VCA5ZHA1CCANJQL3OCA63LS0KCABM2CUFCAWVBL9D.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mawa Kachori</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">In <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place> a special mix of cane sugar and coriander seeds is customarily eaten on the first day<b>.</b> In Rajasthan, many people traditionally begin the holiday by eating Mawa Kachori, a puffed pastry made with sweetened evaporated milk (mawa) and nuts. A recipe for Mawa Kachori can be found at: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2011/10/15/mawa-kachori-puffed-pastry/">http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2011/10/15/mawa-kachori-puffed-pastry/</a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Religious Significance Diwali</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiH36C2LHsl-5UyuHsMl2GdaK_DFrPTTJ1foML-6sWfm9uGowy2o5Yx7D8rWXAK9zOUAk37kHMhRwKgDGVwWIuIfsGJC1_5445woX7aQ2Ktn-mWSGQbBf1ttZGO0uxjUkP5Fwly627iwMp/s1600/800px-Krishna_Narakasura.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiH36C2LHsl-5UyuHsMl2GdaK_DFrPTTJ1foML-6sWfm9uGowy2o5Yx7D8rWXAK9zOUAk37kHMhRwKgDGVwWIuIfsGJC1_5445woX7aQ2Ktn-mWSGQbBf1ttZGO0uxjUkP5Fwly627iwMp/s320/800px-Krishna_Narakasura.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lord Krishna defeating Narakasura</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York</span></b> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Hindu Traditions </b></div><p><b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></b></p><p><b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></b><span>Diwali has three main Hindu religious stories attached to it. While some Hindu traditions have other associations as well, these three are the most widespreaed.</span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">First (and especially in <place w:st="on">South India</place>), the holiday of Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, and so the victory of good over evil. Narakasura -- himself a son of Vishnu -- had become power-crazed overwelming Indra and other Vedas. He also became horribly abusive to women, enraging Krishna's wife Stayabhama and her relative Aditi. At the pleading of the Vedas and Aditi, Krishna attacked the demon. Riding on the battle-eagle Garuda, Krishna withstood various attacks from the armies of Narakasura, then withstood the thunderbolts and trident attacks of Narakasura himself. Krishna then used his discus to behead the demon king. Before dying, though, Krishna was asked to celebrate the anniversary of his death as a holiday, to which Krishna agreed. As a result, the first day of Diwali is celebrated as such. <br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_EoKGHQA5629wPO43cmp3fT-74f1f6u-DVaApVBTYeGjUotEN9Me4oo7Gx04dv7-xvGTB5FByAdVkJ7o-3mpxY0fP_yi-o5y3RgAlQGrcnorbvGxVDjtRC14f5MWIgd67_t9FSbRwV9/s1600/rama_defeating_ravana.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_EoKGHQA5629wPO43cmp3fT-74f1f6u-DVaApVBTYeGjUotEN9Me4oo7Gx04dv7-xvGTB5FByAdVkJ7o-3mpxY0fP_yi-o5y3RgAlQGrcnorbvGxVDjtRC14f5MWIgd67_t9FSbRwV9/s200/rama_defeating_ravana.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rama defeating Ravana</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Second (and especially in North India), Diwali celebrates the return after 14 years of exile of King Rama and his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. The holiday marks their return after a war in which King Rama killed the demon Ravana. Because it was dark as they returned, people lit oil lamps to light their way and thus the link of light over darkness. <br /><br />Third, in Bhavishyottara and Bramhavaivarta Purana holy writings, Diwali is associated with Daitya king <place w:st="on">Bali</place>, who is allowed to return to earth once a year.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>The Significance of the Five Days</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><h2 style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin: auto 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For Hindus, each of the five days carries a different significance. The first day throughout <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> is customarily dedicated to honoring Dhanavantri (also called </span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">Dhanvantar</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">), the physician of the gods and the source of the Ayurveda (in Sanskrit, “the complete knowledge for long life”). Because of its association with Dhanavantri, the first day of Divali is often known as Dhanteras and includes the ritual lighting of oil lamps and veneration of the goddess Laxmi in her owl form. As with most pujas, Lord Ganesha – the deity who removes obstacles – is given honor at the opening of the holiday.</span></span></h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianVXhOWAhnYJlSOGmQnjFVm_DPoX71lJq0FsLu4S6KB4aE_odV74XJynM1eY0vgCWpQlklz3sbXndDc7ncEOHRzMziyu-fBwUp9o14bfMB17DnGx8WNb6kGhHYxXJ1eawC5Ch8gNi8-1F/s1600/dplus4.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianVXhOWAhnYJlSOGmQnjFVm_DPoX71lJq0FsLu4S6KB4aE_odV74XJynM1eY0vgCWpQlklz3sbXndDc7ncEOHRzMziyu-fBwUp9o14bfMB17DnGx8WNb6kGhHYxXJ1eawC5Ch8gNi8-1F/s200/dplus4.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Deepdaan</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span> </span><br /></p><h2 style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin: auto 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In many Hindu traditions, the first day of Diwali includes the ritual of Deepdaan in which worshipers light oil lamps for each member of their family and for often for their ancestors then set them afloat (usually) in a river or pond. Another Hindu tradition practiced in much of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> is the giving of gold and jewelry gifts to bring about prosperity, making Diwali a major day for jewelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">In northern <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> and <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place>, many Hindus celebrate Yamadeepdaan in which lamps are dedicated to the god of death Yamraj (or Yam) and kept lit all night long. In the far south of India, many Hindus celebrate the days leading up to Diwali as Asweyuja Bahula Thrayodasi, dedicated to the god of finance Lord Kubera in which shopowners whitewash their business, recite a special mantra to Lord Kubera and give coins to honor the goddess Laxmi. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">In <place w:st="on">West Bengal</place>, Diwali coincides with the Puja Kali. While the rest of <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> honors Laxmi on this day, in <place w:st="on">West Bengal</place>, Hindus honor Kali the Destroyer goddess of time and change. </span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_vm3HhNQ4-nCUjDDAk0HfvtORgBSWyv9CO1v-IW3lA3HTZ1zkaaVp7dczd9ObzNGIZ8Kp8rvH73-EhqKrfexv-SVNCOAPeVzOnEAZA33tkCrfWFjkrLAEHgNuS0bErK4IHAeSGCXuJGc/s1600/fireworks-017.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_vm3HhNQ4-nCUjDDAk0HfvtORgBSWyv9CO1v-IW3lA3HTZ1zkaaVp7dczd9ObzNGIZ8Kp8rvH73-EhqKrfexv-SVNCOAPeVzOnEAZA33tkCrfWFjkrLAEHgNuS0bErK4IHAeSGCXuJGc/s320/fireworks-017.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Diwali fireworks</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For many Hindu traditions, the second day of Diwali often begins with ritual bathing before the sun comes up, with an anointing of oil and scrubbing of the body with ubtan (a mixture of fragrances with grains or rough flour). In <place w:st="on">West Bengal</place>, as part of the Puja Kali celebrations, the second day is observed as the day the goddess Kali destroyed the demon <span style="color: #2c2c2c;">Raktavija</span>. Regardless of tradition, this is the traditional day for cracking open crackers (of the sort used in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Britain</place></country-region> on Christmas Day) and for setting off of firecrackers. Many areas have major firework displays on the second day of Diwali.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38bRxquUfye9nqgqO4E3_TkGjrva8WeuI5z83zCsbk69lpax_imOMO95UpioqQ6A9axY9ZW9lzC6QNJuRSrd9HK2H3fG5W1jB7sx5o1HsMU1CHKfvfhnCg5lh5LEk-WrrzFxcdV6_wu0H/s1600/Dayananda_Saraswati.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38bRxquUfye9nqgqO4E3_TkGjrva8WeuI5z83zCsbk69lpax_imOMO95UpioqQ6A9axY9ZW9lzC6QNJuRSrd9HK2H3fG5W1jB7sx5o1HsMU1CHKfvfhnCg5lh5LEk-WrrzFxcdV6_wu0H/s200/Dayananda_Saraswati.jpg" width="160" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Swami Dayananda Saraswati</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">The third day of Diwali for most Hindu traditions centers on the veneration of Laxmi. That said, the third day of Diwali also marks the anniversary of the death in 1883 of the founder of the Arya Samaj Hindu Reform Movement Swami Dayananda Saraswati.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The followers of the Arya Samaj therefore often mark the day as a day of remembrance for <span style="font-size: small;">Swami Dayananda Saraswati.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpep57GV-4fYEH6TjoQWp0g8yNAPzOhleVW7rQ7LIehVENegr-Ber60H9kRyZl0EnX50tS3jWD6vBZ-5odB7TZZZ_fcvaJM_hmPlTipc-auJqEcL4S5QYotx2enwppsnK-r-2kHbbvMaj/s1600/Lord+Krishna+lifting+Gorvadhan.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpep57GV-4fYEH6TjoQWp0g8yNAPzOhleVW7rQ7LIehVENegr-Ber60H9kRyZl0EnX50tS3jWD6vBZ-5odB7TZZZ_fcvaJM_hmPlTipc-auJqEcL4S5QYotx2enwppsnK-r-2kHbbvMaj/s200/Lord+Krishna+lifting+Gorvadhan.jpg" width="134" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lord Krishna </b><br /><b>lifting Gorvardhan</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fourth day of Diwali is celebrated in many Hindu traditions with a special <span lang="EN">Govardhan Puja</span>. This puja commemorates Lord Krishna’s defeat of the rain god Lord Indra by lifting <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Govardhan</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Mountain</placetype></place>. Some interpretations (there are many variations) explain that Lord Krishna needed to defeat the Lord Indra because the rain god had become to arrogant and filled with self-pride. In doing so Lord Krishna taught worshipers to pray to more than just the rains by embracing the whole of nature. This celebration is <span lang="EN">also called Annakut</span> (literally meaning “pile of grain”) because people in many parts of <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> decorate a mountain of grain symbolizing <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Govardhan</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Mountain</placetype></place>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the fifth Day of Diwali comes the Bhai Duj or Bhai Teeka, a final day of celebration. On this day traditionally, brothers visit the houses of their sisters to honor them and bring gifts. Sisters in turn feed their brothers special delicacies. The celebration commemorates the visit on this day of the death god Lord Yama to his twin sister Yami (also called Yamuna or Yamini), the first woman. Lord Yama gave his sister a special gift that whoever visited her on this day would be cleared of sins.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Diwali in Jainism and Sikhism</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned earlier, Diwali is not only practiced by Hindus. It is also a holiday for Jains and Sikhs. </span></div><p><span> </span><br /><b>Diwali Traditions in Jainism</b><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QFKutxWwD13q_S2lL84w39g9GYH0WuVEur1kJXqnJrK7C2BTVODzWs_QZTlzNYVEpNyyl1EN0qVB5mcJPrCaX40SKrGc0S5pfNliDkLnuhZNJfgjyVfxqETqJJd09oZ7deV7CuFpoK1/s1600/MAHAVIRL_small.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QFKutxWwD13q_S2lL84w39g9GYH0WuVEur1kJXqnJrK7C2BTVODzWs_QZTlzNYVEpNyyl1EN0qVB5mcJPrCaX40SKrGc0S5pfNliDkLnuhZNJfgjyVfxqETqJJd09oZ7deV7CuFpoK1/s1600/MAHAVIRL_small.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lord Mahavira</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span> </span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Jainism, Diwali is of particular significance. Jains, like Hindus, celebrate the holiday not only as the beginning of their New Year and as a time for a fresh start. Importantly, though, Jains also celebrate the holiday as the anniversary of Moksha (the attaining of nirvana) of Lord Mahavira, the founder of the religion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /><b>Diwali Traditions in Sikhism</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />In Sikhism, Diwali is celebrated as a commemoration of the release from prison of the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. When Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor succeeded his father -- the famously religiously tolerant Akbar the Great. Although he was not a particularly devout Muslim, Jahangir felt threatened by the non-Muslims in his empire, including the Sikhs but also many Hindus. As a result of his concerns regarding the Sikhs, Jahangir arrested Hargobind's father the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev. Jahangir tortured Guru Arjan Dev for five days before having him killed. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiXXBtWKBwamV8tKZeSOvt5x4DqKUhuXrXkbOO2wluSfxeXVxQlGJc03VTu2e7TeNq7bqIaRO0m1zCAXNTlHpY6W1D9JLVgcuPaSjQiG8xD7A0qEfBjJNZMbdAb2rDPWIjCSeCiAuxnp2/s1600/Bandi-Chhorh-Divas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiXXBtWKBwamV8tKZeSOvt5x4DqKUhuXrXkbOO2wluSfxeXVxQlGJc03VTu2e7TeNq7bqIaRO0m1zCAXNTlHpY6W1D9JLVgcuPaSjQiG8xD7A0qEfBjJNZMbdAb2rDPWIjCSeCiAuxnp2/s320/Bandi-Chhorh-Divas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji </b><br /><b>and the 52 Hindu Kings</b></td></tr></tbody></table>At this point, the young Hargobind -- only eleven years old at the time -- became the sixth Sikh Guru. Jahangir arrested the young Guru Hargobind but did not kill him as he had killed his father. Instead, Guru Hargobind was imprisoned (along with 52 Hindu kings) at Gwalior Fort. He remained there from 1617 until Diwali of 1619 when Guru Hargobind and the Hindu kings were freed. It is this release from imprisonment that the Sikhs celebrate at Diwali. The holiday is commonly called Bandi Chorh Divas or Prisoner Release Day.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Concluding Remarks</span></b><br /><br />This overview of Diwali is meant only as a very superficial summary. Also, nothing written here is meant to be an indication of one way or another as the proper or correct way to worship. This is meant solely as an attempt to provide a layperson's quick summary of Diwali. <br /><br />Because there are literally hundreds of separate traditions for celebrating Diwali, I could only cover a few here. Please do feel free to share any of your own traditions that I have not covered.<br /><br />Whatever your tradition, Happy Diwali! <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO-4d6koSWCdbdSIV6OiJOt-WTkP3BGye6Wy6raoIwOTTYYWbTIT6YhVLT4WJ-wwlGtitdkH0aNEQPNdCVBl3mYKgieW7pTSfn6mtkAJPZq4aCT8ts0uLInnawZjL_aobbT3hWxlqUI6E/s1600/diwali_lamp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO-4d6koSWCdbdSIV6OiJOt-WTkP3BGye6Wy6raoIwOTTYYWbTIT6YhVLT4WJ-wwlGtitdkH0aNEQPNdCVBl3mYKgieW7pTSfn6mtkAJPZq4aCT8ts0uLInnawZjL_aobbT3hWxlqUI6E/s200/diwali_lamp.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Want to learn more?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Hindu traditions, you may wish to look at</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/diwali/eventcoverage/10244929.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/diwali/eventcoverage/10244929.cms</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-traditions-customs.html">http://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-traditions-customs.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/10/yamadeepdaan-diwali-yamdeepdan.html">http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/10/yamadeepdaan-diwali-yamdeepdan.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaexpress.com/faith/festivals/dhistory.html">http://www.indiaexpress.com/faith/festivals/dhistory.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://festivals.iloveindia.com/diwali/index.html">http://festivals.iloveindia.com/diwali/index.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Sikh tradtions and the story of Guru Hargobind, turn to</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a href="http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-festivals-divali-bandi-chhorh-divas">http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-festivals-divali-bandi-chhorh-divas</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.sikhs.org/guru6.htm">http://www.sikhs.org/guru6.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/guruhargobind.asp">http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/guruhargobind.asp</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Jain traditions, turn to </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.jainuniversity.org/diwali.aspx">http://www.jainuniversity.org/diwali.aspx</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nikhil-bumb/jain-perspective-diwali_b_1032617.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nikhil-bumb/jain-perspective-diwali_b_1032617.html</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Opening "Happy Diwali" clipart: <a href="http://www.101kidz.com/holidays/diwali/clipart.html">http://www.101kidz.com/holidays/diwali/clipart.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Diwali spending over the years: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/brands/article/despite-excitement-among-the-public-for-diwali-this-year-the-consumer-sentiment-is-yet-to-match-the-pre-pandemic-times-yougov-report/articleshow/85999839.cms">https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/brands/article/despite-excitement-among-the-public-for-diwali-this-year-the-consumer-sentiment-is-yet-to-match-the-pre-pandemic-times-yougov-report/articleshow/85999839.cms</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Laxmi footprints: <a href="https://pipanews.com/diwali-2021-hang-these-3-things-on-the-main-door-of-the-house-maa-lakshmi-will-be-happy-diwali-2021-hang-these-3-things-on-the-main-door-of-the-house-for-prosperity-and-money/">https://pipanews.com/diwali-2021-hang-these-3-things-on-the-main-door-of-the-house-maa-lakshmi-will-be-happy-diwali-2021-hang-these-3-things-on-the-main-door-of-the-house-for-prosperity-and-money/</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Diwali oil lamps set before Laxmi and Ganesha: <a href="https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/news/diwali-lakshmi-ganesh-worship-5661.html">https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/news/diwali-lakshmi-ganesh-worship-5661.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Narkasur dancing, Goa: <a href="https://www.rakshaskitchen.com/5-types-poha-fov-make-diwali/">https://www.rakshaskitchen.com/5-types-poha-fov-make-diwali/</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Gulab jaman: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVDVMl9v8Pnf2_wMzqIfaTnpGUq34IsK3TC8N5S6BdAXni9jo1SbUUVFWxGUSLM59UUH3_PHjPbBsLXTbJnlUmkNdjdI0xm6xx3spnaohIV0D2hbu5-wv8cA0QmSgmoK88MAk2gXC8EO3/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG">https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVDVMl9v8Pnf2_wMzqIfaTnpGUq34IsK3TC8N5S6BdAXni9jo1SbUUVFWxGUSLM59UUH3_PHjPbBsLXTbJnlUmkNdjdI0xm6xx3spnaohIV0D2hbu5-wv8cA0QmSgmoK88MAk2gXC8EO3/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Poha: <a href="https://www.rakshaskitchen.com/5-types-poha-fov-make-diwali/">https://www.rakshaskitchen.com/5-types-poha-fov-make-diwali/</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Sel roti: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sel_roti">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sel_roti</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Mawa Pachori: <a href="http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2011/10/15/mawa-kachori-puffed-pastry/">http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2011/10/15/mawa-kachori-puffed-pastry/</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Lord Krishna defeating the demon Narakasura: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Krishna_Narakasura.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Krishna_Narakasura.jpg</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Rama defeating Ravana: <a href="http://www.les-108-upanishads.ch/images/rama_defeating_ravana.jpg">http://www.les-108-upanishads.ch/images/rama_defeating_ravana.jpg</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Deepdaan: <a href="http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110203/dplus4.jpg">http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110203/dplus4.jpg</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Diwali fireworks: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_EMbre5PgMThCvhso7Jbm0EQiAc0lAVZiPK12NEe1BzwR22knLfwPVuVdaKpRENluMFgfwXGRuKbILUIYXdL8sTS-tzXu2PlNAhx8czUK7V0GsiJX-imRmWzaJxm80NTsdmOJVVtAOzT/s1600/fireworks-017.jpg">https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_EMbre5PgMThCvhso7Jbm0EQiAc0lAVZiPK12NEe1BzwR22knLfwPVuVdaKpRENluMFgfwXGRuKbILUIYXdL8sTS-tzXu2PlNAhx8czUK7V0GsiJX-imRmWzaJxm80NTsdmOJVVtAOzT/s1600/fireworks-017.jpg</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Lord Krishna lifting Gorvardhan: <a href="http://www.graphics18.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/govardhan_puja.jpg">http://www.graphics18.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/govardhan_puja.jpg</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Swami Dayananda Saraswati: <a href="http://www.4to40.com/images/photo_gallery/Dayananda_Saraswati.jpg">http://www.4to40.com/images/photo_gallery/Dayananda_Saraswati.jpg</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Lord Mahavina: <a href="http://www.jainworld.com/photos/m.asp">http://www.jainworld.com/photos/m.asp</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"> </div><p>Release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and the 52 Hindu Kings: <a href="http://jattsingh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Bandi-Chhorh-Divas.jpg">http://jattsingh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Bandi-Chhorh-Divas.jpg</a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both;">Closing clipart <a href="http://www.indiainimages.com/blog/2010/05/diwali/happy-diwali/"> </a><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/164947/diwali_lamp.png">http://openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/164947/diwali_lamp.png</a></span></u></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-12890360309822158372021-10-31T15:24:00.002-04:002021-10-31T15:24:47.945-04:00Samhain, Halloween, All Saints Day, Día de la Muertos 2021<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">October 31 is the important <b>Wiccan and Neo-Pagan religious holiday of Samhain</b>, coinciding with the lighthearted secular North American celebration of <b>Halloween</b>. <b>November 1</b> is the <b>Roman Catholic and Anglican holiday of All Saints Day</b> and <b>November 2 is the Roman Catholic and Anglican holiday of the Feast of All Souls</b> (celebrated as the <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Día de los Muertos</b></i> </span>or Day of the Dead in Mexico and with variants in some other Latin American and Filipino traditions). Within the <b>Methodist Church, All Saints Day </b>is celebrated on the first Sunday of November (which for 2020 falls on November 1). For <b>Lutherans,</b> the Sunday on or before October 31, is celebrated as <b>Reformation Day</b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Samhain</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNxSNiFRhOi04gUtQpu3cDBvmYWf-PqwQu4E5uyktV0OKBJpU1U7ymlntiulnwOnDj7FmUEw7y0B7CmNRPbM0gXZRJ_DQdly8sf7xt7u6Hl23G81_ByE8BnTvAExuz7wh3c-xIrXFM027/s1600/Merry+Samhain.bmp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNxSNiFRhOi04gUtQpu3cDBvmYWf-PqwQu4E5uyktV0OKBJpU1U7ymlntiulnwOnDj7FmUEw7y0B7CmNRPbM0gXZRJ_DQdly8sf7xt7u6Hl23G81_ByE8BnTvAExuz7wh3c-xIrXFM027/s1600/Merry+Samhain.bmp" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Pronounced <i>SOW-in</i>, Samhain in Gaelic means “Summer’s End” and is a major holiday in both Wicca and in Neo-Pagan religions. It should be noted that some debate regarding when Samhain should be celebrated exists. Some traditions celebrate the holiday on November 1 and others – notably many Wiccans observe the holiday on November 7. Regardless of date, the holiday carries the same significance in marking the end of summer and the final harvest of the year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most traditions, the Sabbat of Samhain is celebrated for three successive evenings.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Within Wicca and most neo-Pagan traditions, Samhain marks the end of the calendar, and is thus the New Year’s celebration. For this reason, Samhain is a time for renewal as well as for giving thanks for the harvest as winter approaches. Traditionally, Samhain is the last chance for harvesting any remaining crops or picking any remaining produce from one’s garden. Samhain is also a time for remembering things past, especially those who have died. It is therefore a holiday for honoring the dead (both human and animal) and particularly for call to mind loved ones who have passed away. It is important to note that this is not a form of ancestor or spirit worship but rather an honoring of the Cycle of Life and Death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Samhain is also a time to honor animals – particularly pets and other animals among whom we share our lives – since animals are seen as providing us with sustenance in the form of food and clothing. Because of this, Samhain is a time to honor those pets who have died over the last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some traditions, animals are seen as protecting us from spirits that would harm us and other things that inhabit the darkness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relatedly, some who celebrate Samhain also believe that this is the time of year when the veil is thinnest between this world and the Otherworld (the realm of spirits and the home of the dead).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consequently, for worshippers who hold to this belief, Samhain provides an opportunity for communicating with the spirit realm and the dead. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyY2nTM_RCGQt6Vk3Q9bci4pE0wAU_smZepGNUK8HFX_ro1YyjvVFwizWTWgkK-h8q-F_EF0ZuSaRvC-b3kJOsMXSfRQuHqKm46gEFMBLaNRnJ1fEJAWdbAiaCZ-OR7B9Q8yIrhXD93OO/s1600/JoniSamhain_2008.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyY2nTM_RCGQt6Vk3Q9bci4pE0wAU_smZepGNUK8HFX_ro1YyjvVFwizWTWgkK-h8q-F_EF0ZuSaRvC-b3kJOsMXSfRQuHqKm46gEFMBLaNRnJ1fEJAWdbAiaCZ-OR7B9Q8yIrhXD93OO/s200/JoniSamhain_2008.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Samhain altar</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Within both Wicca and Neo-Paganism, Samhain is often marked by worship at an altar (or at times in the house at the kitchen room table) with offerings of the harvest.<br /><br />The altar shown at right is taken from a lovely gallery of Samhain altars posted at About.com on the Paganism/Wicca site at<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ig/Samhain-Altar-Gallery/%C2%A0The">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ig/Samhain-Altar-Gallery</a></span>/</span> The altar shown (at right) here was posted as Joni's altar. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Many people present their altar offerings in a horn of plenty (called a cornucopia, and now closely associated with the US secular holiday of Thanksgiving), and customarily include home-baked dark bread as well as nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TmceMxV02PKfDXqOqMrbU2M__gp4Rg1E_Iswt0YL17RA0OiDbyu7-JtIoc_UXhrD9VuxoSgMT0k-qWHL28fpwJgeaqsrsvNwh53OHYui8GzkFQOWJrMO9_NyyxQJKs-BIZfLyXHTCcXB/s1600/Soul+cakes+Samhain.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TmceMxV02PKfDXqOqMrbU2M__gp4Rg1E_Iswt0YL17RA0OiDbyu7-JtIoc_UXhrD9VuxoSgMT0k-qWHL28fpwJgeaqsrsvNwh53OHYui8GzkFQOWJrMO9_NyyxQJKs-BIZfLyXHTCcXB/s200/Soul+cakes+Samhain.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Soul Cakes</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Among the Samhain foods with the longest traditions is that of "soul cakes." Since pre-Christian times, people in the England, Scotland and Ireland have left muffin-like soul cakes accompanied by a glass of wine or milk for the souls of those who had recently passed away. The Celtic pagan tradition predates by centuries the adoption of "soul cakes" left on the eve of the Feast of All Souls, the Christianized version of Samhain (see below). </span>One recipe for soul cakes can be found at<br /><br /><a href="http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/8607/soul-cakes.aspx">http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/8607/soul-cakes.aspx</a><br /><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Often people include a a Wiccan Star or a statue of the Goddess. Candles are lit on the altar in many traditions, and are often accompanied by photographs of loved ones who have passed on to the other side. </span>Prayers honoring the day are said either before or after a festive meal is eaten featuring the offerings and often accompanied by cider or mulled wine and wild game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>All Saints Day</b></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Roman Catholicism</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNklKOp1UN7Saa9IaSV9zBR_Y0R5JoP9X9apA-Th_S8T4f0RtDe72WgyMfpodk4YNu-1x_QO_bSzTwaQD1f4V-Y37I0mcnZXgS_gjPCZJbMGNZmqPZHi54F20jGg8ejwxczTWyBv1c_S-A/s1600/All+Saints+Day.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNklKOp1UN7Saa9IaSV9zBR_Y0R5JoP9X9apA-Th_S8T4f0RtDe72WgyMfpodk4YNu-1x_QO_bSzTwaQD1f4V-Y37I0mcnZXgS_gjPCZJbMGNZmqPZHi54F20jGg8ejwxczTWyBv1c_S-A/s200/All+Saints+Day.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">All Saints Day is one of the 14 worldwide holy days of obligation of the Roman Catholic Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with all holy days of obligation, All Saints Day begins with a vigil on the night preceding it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A special Roman Catholic mass is conducted for All Saints Day to remember the saints and martyrs of the Church, both those known and unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many congregations, rituals include the use a crown and a sheaf of wheat. Many congregational services also make use of images of the saints and of the Manus Dei (the Hand of God with rays of light extending from it).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Another name in English for the holy day is All Hallowmas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Halloween is actually the name of the date of the vigil on the night before All Saints Day.. By the mid 1500’s as vernacular languages began to replace Latin in religious usage, the holiday was called All Hallowmas (the word Hallow – from to hallow -- meant Saint at the time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vigil on the night before All Hallowmas was called All Hallows Even (shortened by the 1600’s to Hallowe’en). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">All Saints Day is one of the oldest holy days of obligation in Christianity. As early as 407, St. John Chrysostom first assigned a date for All Saints Day; that date, however, was not November 1, but rather the first Sunday following Pentecost. This remains the date for Eastern Orthodox Christians where the holiday is officially known as the Sunday of All Saints. The original holiday was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and those martyred for the Church. (as by the early 5<sup>th</sup> Century there were so many martyred saints that they could no longer readily each have their own day on the Church calendar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As described below, Pope Gregory III <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(731-741) moved the date of All Saints Day within the Roman Catholic Church to its current date of November 1, making it a pilgrimage date within Italy, and in 835 Pope Gregory IV extended All Saints Day to apply worldwide.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Protestantism</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The role of saints became questioned among Protestants following the Reformation in the early 1500’s. The debate of the role of saints led to divisions in the traditions of how Protestants continued to observe All Saints Day. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Some Protestant movements continued (and still continue) directly to observe All Saints Day. In the Anglican Church, All Saints Day is observed on or immediately following October 31. The Anglican and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Episcopalian</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Churches</placetype></place> recognize saints as people who have been notably sanctified. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBlfirKyicTQ5RJR73EgEVYNSvKhi4Az1Y1QMplmFDcqGghFIxPcXCyQpyamahtnTr25R7cTDs3Yer0Jf3kWBab_XY7uo3uD55JB69TWwW9ZJIiOXz8tTbEy1aqLJg7tiKScZ0OA-WDEc/s1600/Swedish+cemetery+on+All+Saints+Day.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBlfirKyicTQ5RJR73EgEVYNSvKhi4Az1Y1QMplmFDcqGghFIxPcXCyQpyamahtnTr25R7cTDs3Yer0Jf3kWBab_XY7uo3uD55JB69TWwW9ZJIiOXz8tTbEy1aqLJg7tiKScZ0OA-WDEc/s320/Swedish+cemetery+on+All+Saints+Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Swedish cemetery on Alla Helgons Dag</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Swedish</placename> <placename w:st="on">Lutheran</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place>, All Saints Day (<i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alla Helgons Dag</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">) </span>continues to be a holiday and is observed as a national civic holiday on the Saturday following October 30 and as a religious holiday on the first Sunday of November. In <country-region w:st="on">Sweden</country-region>, the Saturday of <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alla Helgons Dag</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> became a national civic holiday only in 1952 and is used by people to visit the graves of family members who have passed away and to decorate their gravesites.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In both the Anglican and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Swedish</placename> <placename w:st="on">Lutheran</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place>, the holiday remembers saints. It should be noted that in these traditions, all Christians are saints, but particular honor for historical saints is allowed as representing individuals who have received extraordinary grace and as people who can inspire others to lead exemplary lives.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQvQj8-xw0dKJ0_PGMfDzGcca5zs_Lmmut9siTTEY2vqJTJz_q324kzmrZj6aqAwpKV1xznaVoIgD2B7FQzabfgyhrn0UBMB37WXXjtcQsNGGvsHIcijEFCVeF7ETzIUsBUhPXtBTsl35/s1600/methodist_logo.gif" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQvQj8-xw0dKJ0_PGMfDzGcca5zs_Lmmut9siTTEY2vqJTJz_q324kzmrZj6aqAwpKV1xznaVoIgD2B7FQzabfgyhrn0UBMB37WXXjtcQsNGGvsHIcijEFCVeF7ETzIUsBUhPXtBTsl35/s200/methodist_logo.gif" width="110" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">All Saints Day is one of the three main holidays (along with Easter and Christmas) of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">United</placename> <placename w:st="on">Methodist</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place>. Methodists celebrate the holiday on the first Sunday in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to note, though, that Methodists do not venerate or worship saints (and John Wesley specifically forbade Methodists from doing so). For Methodists, all people are saints (although they recognize important Biblical figures by their common names as saints). Methodists, therefore, do not worship or venerate the saints but rather honor all holy Biblical people on All Saints Day. The holiday is also used as a day of remembrance not only for Biblical saints but, significantly, for all who have died in their particular congregations. Thus, on All Saints Day in many Methodist congregations, an acolyte reads of the names of those congregational members who have died.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">Other Protestant denominations including the Presbyterians, Unitarian and a minority among some Baptist congregations also have some service recognizing All Saints Day.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Feast of All Souls and the <i>Día de los Muertos</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A13rvwysdCscOtKB5usuNvchFEPNBzzRkWb4OGiJ2HjJL592yFz53OU2bQz8LID2lOYEav0Bm4HrJSkz_QNK0DdcTfrWs7S_wGzBBcwe9a9FS06RzPJkMXWnXjOGQUJoK8x2DWyUbi3v/s1600/Saint+Odilo.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A13rvwysdCscOtKB5usuNvchFEPNBzzRkWb4OGiJ2HjJL592yFz53OU2bQz8LID2lOYEav0Bm4HrJSkz_QNK0DdcTfrWs7S_wGzBBcwe9a9FS06RzPJkMXWnXjOGQUJoK8x2DWyUbi3v/s200/Saint+Odilo.jpg" width="96" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Saint Odilo of Cluny</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">November 2 in Roman Catholicism is the Feast of All Souls. Its official name is <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed" and it commemorates those among the faithful who have passed away. The holiday dates to 998 when the holiday St. Odilo of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cluny</place></city> set November 2 as a time to pray for the dead in Purgatory at his Abbey of Cluny. The practice was widely copied and spread throughout much of <place w:st="on">Europe</place>, eventually transforming from a prayer for those in Purgatory to a commemoration of those among the faithful who had died. With Roman Catholicism as a whole, the Feast of All Souls is considered a minor religious observance, not on the same order as that of All Saints Day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0R0SA9-_YK37mJsyfoGuz4AjvAyboRSnEccOl-OTcQgJptU4yUOq160Jsr8FuxaTJ9MsfOeAqmBtgJzEz55mYSAzYwxkSYl6VjeraisZTofwcrT6Eo3K5z5PUhk41XloTybbuRY6BQCZt/s1600/mictecacihuatl.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0R0SA9-_YK37mJsyfoGuz4AjvAyboRSnEccOl-OTcQgJptU4yUOq160Jsr8FuxaTJ9MsfOeAqmBtgJzEz55mYSAzYwxkSYl6VjeraisZTofwcrT6Eo3K5z5PUhk41XloTybbuRY6BQCZt/s200/mictecacihuatl.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Mictecacihuatl </b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">By contrast, in several Roman Catholic national traditions, the Feast of All Souls has taken on a much greater significance than elsewhere. This is especially the case in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Mexico</place></country-region>, where the holiday is celebrated as</span><i><span lang="EN"> </span>Día de los Muertos</i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or Day of the Dead. A Day of the Dead had preceded Christianity by centuries in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Mexico</place></country-region>, with evidence of some practice of a related holiday dating back over 2000 years. When the Spanish arrived in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Mexico</place></country-region>, they found that their Feast of All Souls corresponded with the worship among Aztecs and others of the goddess Mictecacihuatl who was Queen of Mictlan or the Underworld. The Roman Catholic Church syncretized the worship of Mictecacihuatl, replacing her veneration with that of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. Mictecacihuatl, known as the <i>Sante Muerte</i> (Saint Death) or simply the </span><i>Dama de la Muerte</i> (<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lady of the Dead) is still present in some Mexican celebrations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm1s1GKtpkqZATfu8nhUQqxg7YQ0msy0wezXbvwxmKQ6hReXGJsJe-fWMEN7Zlg2LwM9PjwADjfN7xDiB3tBnWHVRwmw9v9rFheJlP4453qMs36L0QC3w3E3maxNewiSlbVhVYtml0Jmf/s1600/dia-de-los-muertos1th.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm1s1GKtpkqZATfu8nhUQqxg7YQ0msy0wezXbvwxmKQ6hReXGJsJe-fWMEN7Zlg2LwM9PjwADjfN7xDiB3tBnWHVRwmw9v9rFheJlP4453qMs36L0QC3w3E3maxNewiSlbVhVYtml0Jmf/s320/dia-de-los-muertos1th.gif" width="180" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">In <country-region w:st="on">Mexico</country-region>, the <i>Día de los Muertos</i> is major holiday on which people go to graveyards to visit the graves of their dead relatives. It should be noted that this holiday shares little if any of the North American uneasiness with death or with graveyards. Instead, the Mexican version of the holiday celebrates the unity between life and death and recognizes a strong sense of belief in the afterlife. The <i>Día de los Muertos</i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a very festive time with people bringing photos and favorite foods of their deceased loved ones to the gravesites. Commonly people bring to the cemetery skulls made of sugar or marzipan with the name of the deceased one on the forehead. Other special foods include<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>candied pumpkins and the sweet soft bun decorated with pretend bones called <i>pan de muerto</i> (bread of the day). Throughout <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Mexico</place></country-region>, marigolds (called Flores del Muerto or Flowers of Death) are used to decorate for the holiday (a tradition with origins in the Aztec rituals). It is also a time in which children are given toys, often with a skeleton theme (such as skeleton dolls or papier mache figures). In many homes, government offices and workplaces, people erect special altars centered around an image of the Virgin Mary with offerings to the departed placed there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">Many traditions for the <i>Día de los Muertos</i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> are regional in nature. These involve wearing skull masks, erecting skelton sculptures, having mariachi bands play while dressed as skeletons, having weddings of skeleton marionettes or of people dress as skeletons, wearing special clothing with regional ties to the holiday and holding dances or parades.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2008, the UNESCO officially inscribed </span><i>Día de los Muertos</i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> celebrations as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">Holidays similar to the Mexican <i>Día de los Muertos</i> are celebrated in the elsewhere in <place w:st="on">Latin America</place>. In Guatemala, the holiday is called <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Día de los Difuntos</span></i> (which also means Day of the Dead) and is celebrated by visiting graves, flying kites and eating a special salad called <i>fiambre</i> made up of up to 50 different ingredients and only eaten once a year during the holiday. <country-region w:st="on">Bolivia</country-region>’s indigenous people celebrate <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dia de los Natitas</span></i><span lang="EN"> </span>(Day of the Skulls) in which indigenous peoples bring to Church the actual (not sugar) skulls of their dead which many traditionally keep in their homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar practices (without the actual skulls) are conducted among the Quechua-speaking community in <country-region w:st="on">Ecuador</country-region> on All Souls Day. All Souls Day is also widely celebrated in <place w:st="on">Brazil</place> where it is also called <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Finados</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, and people visit the graves of relatives. Outside of Latin America, Day of the Dead celebrations are practiced widely in the Philippines where it is called Todos los Santos (<i>All Saints Day</i>) in Spanish but <i>Araw ng mga Patay</i> ("Day of the Dead") in Tagalog and celebrated as a two-day family with visits to the graveyard and parties for the extended family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">All Souls Day is an official public civic holiday for public employees in <country-region w:st="on">Angola</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Belgium</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Bolivia</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Brazil</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Ecuador</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Haiti</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Mexico</country-region> and <country-region w:st="on">Uruguay</country-region>. It is also an official holiday in the <country-region w:st="on">US</country-region> <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">territory</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Guam</placename></place>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Reformation Day</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Many Protestant denominations celebrate Reformation Day on the first Sunday on or following October 31. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reformation Day is a public civic holiday in the nation of <country-region w:st="on">Slovenia</country-region> as well as in the five predominantly Lutheran German Länder (states) of <state w:st="on">Brandenburg</state>, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and <place w:st="on">Thuringia.</place></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgGQymjgY7ynBn2IV2aV74uhpT6aE_vX80iF4_lEeLEhzpW3cxt2L4zjk7WbdsG2ujBo7VHiwp6WUREKd37UmMBSriJnWbai_CafLD1nPKqczUkDakOV0bIVKOvR3DpusJfZpLcaNAKaJ/s1600/Reformation+Day.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgGQymjgY7ynBn2IV2aV74uhpT6aE_vX80iF4_lEeLEhzpW3cxt2L4zjk7WbdsG2ujBo7VHiwp6WUREKd37UmMBSriJnWbai_CafLD1nPKqczUkDakOV0bIVKOvR3DpusJfZpLcaNAKaJ/s320/Reformation+Day.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Martin Luther began the Reformation by nailing his 95 Theses on the door of <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Wittenberg</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place> on the Eve of All Saints Day, October 31, 1517. Reformation Day is a holiday to commemorate this event for many Protestant denominations.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">For these denominations, Reformation Day was also a way of repurposing All Saints Day. These denominations are either opposed to the concept of All Saints Day, some because of its association with the Roman Catholic Church or because of their refutation of the concept of sainthood (or both). In many Protestant denominations, some of the features of All Saints Day are combined with those of All Souls Day as worshipers remember those among the faithful or among one’s local congregation who have passed away.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">The first recorded Reformation Day was decreed by law in 1569 in the officially Lutheran former German Duchy of Pomerania on what had been <place w:st="on">Saint Martin</place>’s Day (November 11), because it bore the name of Lutheranism’s founder, Martin Luther. The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>practice of observing Reformation Day was taken up by several other officially Lutheran States but without consistency as to practice or even date. Some uniformity took hold on the 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Reformation in 1617. In that year, Reformation Day was observed on October 31 and November 1 among all of the Lutheran nations throughout what is now <country-region w:st="on">Germany</country-region> (Germany as a single nation did not exist until 1871).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among Lutheran churches today, the observances are mixed. For many Lutheran churches, the observance of Reformation Sunday is on the Sunday on or before October 1, with a separate holiday of All Saints Day on the Sunday on or following November 1. Lutherans, it should be pointed out, do not generally believe in saints in the same way as do Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox or Anglicans. For Lutherans, therefore, All Saints Day is a lesser holiday used to remember saints both dead and living and to honor Jesus Christ.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;">Some Evangelical and Pentecostal Christian movements have begun to use Reformation Day as a way to repurpose the secular holiday of Halloween. For many Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians, Halloween is an offensive holiday. As the Evangelical Director of the Children’s Ministry International, Brad Winsted asks,<br /><br />“For so many Halloween presents a dilemma, what do you do with a holiday with roots in the occult?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/reformation_day.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/reformation_day.aspx</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 327.75pt;"><br />Minister Winsted’s answer is to repurpose Halloween as Reformation Day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween, <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oíche Shamhna </span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">and All Saints Eve</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2h3UYHKqoPU3Nl0BFKgKdBNCt03e-pGIKDTm4LL8_GgrRgfowRCWLWmVPd-J5yLlID566U9UkmFuPxn4rBY5V6_7m6MX4jyHcwNIkYbRwjWSmkzJCKqaiNT-MziNfVhlHYUT9Ef-R-Lh/s1600/01GhostCard2-Publisher2010.png" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2h3UYHKqoPU3Nl0BFKgKdBNCt03e-pGIKDTm4LL8_GgrRgfowRCWLWmVPd-J5yLlID566U9UkmFuPxn4rBY5V6_7m6MX4jyHcwNIkYbRwjWSmkzJCKqaiNT-MziNfVhlHYUT9Ef-R-Lh/s320/01GhostCard2-Publisher2010.png" width="210" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The secular version of All Hallows Eve or Halloween is an especially popular holiday in the English-speaking world. The secular holiday has its roots in the religious holidays of Samhain and is called </span></span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oíche Shamhna </span></i><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">(Samhain Night) in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ireland</place></country-region> even by those who do not practice Wicca or Neo-Paganism. The secular holiday has spread to many non-English-speaking countries beginning roughly in the 1990’s, where it has been viewed mostly as a <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">US</place></country-region> import.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">During Colonial times, <place w:st="on">North America</place> was largely opposed to Halloween celebrations. Celebrations of All Saints Day were banned and any suspected ties to witchcraft were highly condemned (although not all as dramatically as the Salem Witch Trials). There is no formal record of Halloween having been practiced anywhere until the mid-19<sup>th</sup> Century. Thus, Halloween was not commonly celebrated in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States</place></country-region> until the late 19<sup>th</sup> Century, following the Irish Famine of the 1840’s. The holiday seems to have grown out of Scottish immigration to <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Canada</country-region></place> in a similar manner.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr14o5X31DvkqEmVBgYKziKozakJ0-8wPXZ8DQaBU9Njty6GCIqkipgnLBpP7S0BJMAarjv8vukuxmJkQgOPWW5Gu0TQsiQlDnCI8T8Lug5IMuuTKiFzcKDbZrfEeyWqPV33WrNFb1RPzy/s1600/tricktreat2.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr14o5X31DvkqEmVBgYKziKozakJ0-8wPXZ8DQaBU9Njty6GCIqkipgnLBpP7S0BJMAarjv8vukuxmJkQgOPWW5Gu0TQsiQlDnCI8T8Lug5IMuuTKiFzcKDbZrfEeyWqPV33WrNFb1RPzy/w200-h151/tricktreat2.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b>The Commercialization of Halloween</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">By the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century, Halloween had devolved to an evening in which teenagers played pranks including property damage and assaults, a tradition grown from the English practice of Mischief Night (still practiced in some US cities as Devil’s Night on the night of October 30). Countering movements tried to commercialize Halloween as a night of safer entertainment in which children dressed up with the first commercially produced hand-made Halloween costumes appearing in the first decade of </span></span>the 20<sup>th</sup> Century. In 1912, the Boy Scouts of America became involved in ensuring the safety with a “Sane Halloween” campaign that was largely successful. It was from here that the custom of trick-or-treating from door to door had its roots in the <country-region w:st="on">United States</country-region> and <country-region w:st="on">Canada</country-region>. Halloween celebrants were encouraged to turn the celebration into what was called “Beggar’s Night” to request a treat in return for not carrying out a trick (e.g., property damage). This trick-or-treating grew considerably more widespread during the Depression. By the mid-1930’s, manufacturers began to sell mass-produced Halloween costumes and decorations. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b>Halloween in Hard Times: The Great Depression, Great Recession and COVID-19 Pandemic</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Halloween served both as a stress relief for adults during the Depression as well as a source of sweets (given by those better off) for poorer children who would not otherwise be able to afford them. This pattern may repeated itself in the Great Recession. In an interview, retail analyst Doug Johnson noted that </span></span>“Halloween has become more popular because of the relative low costs and the escape from daily worries and a chance to be a kid again.” <a href="http://www.wrn.com/2011/10/halloween-makes-a-killing-in-retail-sales/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.wrn.com/2011/10/halloween-makes-a-killing-in-retail-sales/</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">This pattern has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic, Halloween spending has increased. Phil Rist, Executive VP of Prosper Insights explains this: <i>“Although fewer are celebrating this year, the ones who are aren’t shying away from Halloween-related purchases, spending $11 more on average, primarily on decorations and candy.” </i><a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-anticipate-new-ways-celebrate-halloween-despite-covid-19">https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-anticipate-new-ways-celebrate-halloween-despite-covid-19</a> </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">In fact, the US National Retail Federation (NRF) found that in 2020 only 58% of Americans plan to celebrate, a massive drop from the highpoint in 2017 and 2018 with over 70% indicating they will celebrate the holiday (the figure was 72% in 2017, the highest percentage ever recorded). In both 2017 and 2018, sales of Halloween-related products and candy were over $9.0 billion (easily exceeding the previous record of 2016's $8.4 billion). The trend for high Halloween spending remains entrenched now with three years -- 2016, 2017 and 2018 --exceeding the previous record high of $7.98 billion in 2012. In 2018, sales fell mildly for only the third time since 2005 with <span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">sales of Halloween-related products and candy have been on an upward trajectory. In 2020, by contrast overall spending fell by a billion dollars to $8.05 billion. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">All of this reversed in 2021 where a combination of vaccination rates, relaxed restrictions and general pandemic fatigue resulted in a marked increase in Halloween spending in all categories. <b><i>Sales of costumes (for humans and pets) jumped from $62 per person in 2020 to $92 per person in 2021, a remarkable 49% jump.</i></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NjNtu5dKp6ObyKAd8dpH_-oc0MuD2OveBBYMhXrpHId8Vx5lYfmaZb24o_qZW46E0ByhkGCUKgQf9g7qpGJsSxeKZPg1mnUmUXl55A5_BKk7W3KwIJ_CA4z9hyphenhyphenXxzMMVcxVotfjdx7m2/s1400/Halloween+spending.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1400" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NjNtu5dKp6ObyKAd8dpH_-oc0MuD2OveBBYMhXrpHId8Vx5lYfmaZb24o_qZW46E0ByhkGCUKgQf9g7qpGJsSxeKZPg1mnUmUXl55A5_BKk7W3KwIJ_CA4z9hyphenhyphenXxzMMVcxVotfjdx7m2/s320/Halloween+spending.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Candy sales jumped by 60% from 2019 to 2021, at $3 billion, exceeding pre-pandemic sales. Likewise, home decor rose 21% in 2021 over 2020, reaching $3.2 billion.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>These data make Halloween for five years running second only to Christmas for per household spending on a holiday in the United States, regardless of the pandemic. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRy0LZOG6a48dqO2-aV0D6g4b8tUG_oog1TTKeHBcRi9iVIE20UrXhPiqxhG0RF7C2XmVOuSSzLv-QjabjicMWqaqDLr161IQ0Z9Z0DPYi6bnraOweyMHBcfFo4k4VD3EqEIQAfJzIfHH/s1600/costumebutton.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRy0LZOG6a48dqO2-aV0D6g4b8tUG_oog1TTKeHBcRi9iVIE20UrXhPiqxhG0RF7C2XmVOuSSzLv-QjabjicMWqaqDLr161IQ0Z9Z0DPYi6bnraOweyMHBcfFo4k4VD3EqEIQAfJzIfHH/s1600/costumebutton.jpg" /></a>As with previous years, spending is greatest on costumes with anticipated sales of $3.2 billion. One newly growing trend -- emerging noticeably in 2018 -- is an increase in the sale of costumes for pets, with 20% of Americans buying costumes for their pets. This is an jump of 16% in sales of pet costumes over 2017. Prosper Insights Vice President Phil Rist indicated that this trend is strongest among pet owners between the ages of 25-34: <i>"Out of the 31.3 million Americans planning to dress their pets in costumes, millennials (25-34) are most likely to dress up their pets, the highest we have seen in the history of our survey."</i> <a href="https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/halloween-spending-reach-9-billion">https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/halloween-spending-reach-9-billion</a><br /><br /> </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b>Religious-Based Objections to Secular Halloween</b></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbitgoogqs-tidbit-0"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite its overall popularity as a holiday, some Evangelical and Pentecostal Protestant groups are strongly opposed to Halloween as a holiday.</span><span lang="EN"> </span>For example, the Evangelical Christian preacher Pat Robertson said on the September 27 episode of his 700 Club television show that, “Halloween</span> is Satan’s night, it’s the night for the devil.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see the video of this please click on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaFiQfta6SM"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaFiQfta6SM</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Similarly, some Muslims also find Halloween offensive. The Islam.com website on About.com has devotes a page to Islam and Halloween in which it advises avoiding Halloween participation: “<span style="color: #333333;">Virtually all Halloween traditions are based either in ancient pagan culture, or in Christianity. From an Islamic point of view, they all are forms of idolatry (<i>shirk</i>). As Muslims, our celebrations should be ones that honor and uphold our faith and beliefs. How can we worship only Allah, the Creator, if we participate in activities that are based in pagan rituals, divination, and the spirit world?”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><a href="http://islam.about.com/od/otherdays/a/halloween.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://islam.about.com/od/otherdays/a/halloween.htm</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the blog “Stand Up 4 Islam” puts it, “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">If there’s a festival that must be so obviously un-Islamic, it’s got to be Halloween.”</span><span lang="EN"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: purple;">http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Some Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians have tried to strike a balance. For example, the website The Hem of His Garment Bible Study at <a href="http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org/Christian-Halloween-alternatives.html">http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org/Christian-Halloween-alternatives.html</a> suggests several "Christian Halloween alternatives" or, failing that it advises that "If your kids are just determined to go door to door on October 31st, do something a bit different.<br />*Dress up as Bible Heroes<br />*Politely refuse any candy offered to you.<br />*Instead, give out candy wrapped in the witnessing stickers to every home that you visit."<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Influence of Samhain on All Saints Day and Halloween</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkZpq7WKtSjuBojHgHF4YkO5vAIXT-tNU2PMwmLRDa3zA2BXBrpqv-JbNNwAS9EK7BFsCaKVZvBnj9kB5IzPsXz5ughlSmsvEJhadFNveEwDAzGj13R5y8Gs_deQhusSwJONwyY0BOwxK/s1600/Wicca+star.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkZpq7WKtSjuBojHgHF4YkO5vAIXT-tNU2PMwmLRDa3zA2BXBrpqv-JbNNwAS9EK7BFsCaKVZvBnj9kB5IzPsXz5ughlSmsvEJhadFNveEwDAzGj13R5y8Gs_deQhusSwJONwyY0BOwxK/s1600/Wicca+star.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It is not accidental that Samhain coincides with Halloween. This is because the secular celebration of Halloween actually has its root in the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. That said, it should be noted that within Wicca and many Neo-Pagan traditions, Samhain is a serious holiday and should not be lumped together in the same lighthearted attitude given toward Halloween.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It is also not coincidental that the Roman Catholic Church set the holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day on Samhain. At some point during the papacy of Pope Gregory III (731-741), All Saints Day was moved from the first Sunday after Pentecost to November 1. It should be noted that in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, All Saints Day continues to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Even the setting of the earlier date of the first Sunday after Pentecost had ties to pagan observances as this coincided with the Roman pagan holiday of Lemuria. Practices related to Lemuria were still widely celebrated even after Christianity became <place w:st="on">Rome</place>’s state religion and paganism was officially suppressed. Before the conversion of <city w:st="on">Rome</city> to Christianity, the ancient Romans believed that Lemures (also call Larvae) were vampire-like ghosts who haunted those relatives who were still alive. To protect against the Lemures, the male head of the household had to rise in the midnight and, after ritually washing their hands, throw black beans outside for the Lemures to collect. The head of the household then entreated the spirits to keep from harming his family. It is from Lemuria, in part, that the tradition of vampires and the spirits of the dead walking the earth derive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">By declaring the observance of All Saints Day Eve roughly at the time of Lemuria, the early Church was able to Christianize the pagan practice. This absorption of the pagan practices into All Saints Day Eve effectively worked in gradually eliminating Lemuria from memory altogether. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX7hlxV6qO_zYrpxkc5PaS2hICWA_kqq3OjxnhpEIb9qSScf4qWGDOngU67EVUNBSTcWJAI-NE-HGKEhoBqP-kDA1ji1ZCTriwKQwA0aT3avp454i7o-FgG95btPsVTYHw3pzU_3yNhFy/s1600/pomona-757954.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX7hlxV6qO_zYrpxkc5PaS2hICWA_kqq3OjxnhpEIb9qSScf4qWGDOngU67EVUNBSTcWJAI-NE-HGKEhoBqP-kDA1ji1ZCTriwKQwA0aT3avp454i7o-FgG95btPsVTYHw3pzU_3yNhFy/s200/pomona-757954.jpg" width="107" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Pomona</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">That said, practices tied to yet another pagan holiday – Pomona Day—remained strongly in place on and around October 31. In an historical irony, the pre-Christian celebration of Pomona Day was itself a direct influence of the Celtic Samhain. During <city w:st="on">Rome</city>’s 1<sup>st</sup> Century BCE Roman of the Celtic lands of northwest <country-region w:st="on">France</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Britain</country-region> and <place w:st="on">Ireland</place>, Roman troops became acquainted with the Celtic observances of Samhain. As these soldiers returned back home, they took with them many of the rites of Samhain. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To Romanize Samhain, the Pagan Roman authorities merged these Celtic Samhain rites with the veneration of the Roman Pagan harvest goddess <place w:st="on">Pomona</place>. <place w:st="on">Pomona</place>’s harvest symbol was the cornucopia or horn of plenty and her worship included the sharing of apples and nuts (from which arguably the tradition of giving of treats derived). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqCHRve8PxVnH_PERkkrAqe1SqZng_u1ETja-m9RCzhqVHrP2xjQ_o3A9VEKsy3gBI2d77c0yPgpE8WvjGvaZLTORM7uOP4GILy2WslkhFbZ8Yzk0IUnfdadA2g3XBFfquHdnFn90PTFV/s1600/StGregory_III.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqCHRve8PxVnH_PERkkrAqe1SqZng_u1ETja-m9RCzhqVHrP2xjQ_o3A9VEKsy3gBI2d77c0yPgpE8WvjGvaZLTORM7uOP4GILy2WslkhFbZ8Yzk0IUnfdadA2g3XBFfquHdnFn90PTFV/s200/StGregory_III.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Pope Gregory III</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">One argument as to why Gregory III moved All Saints Day from the first Sunday after Pentecost to November 1 may have been to absorb the vestiges of Pomona Day into the holiday just as the Church had absorbed those rites earlier associated with Lemuria into the holiday. In other words, by moving the date, Pope Gregory III effectively made the Italian Pomona Day pagan rites a part of Church-sanctioned practices. All Saints Day, however, was practiced only in <place w:st="on">Rome</place> itself where the All Saints Chapel in Saint Peter’s served as a pilgrimage destination. As a result, while the Pomona Day rites became Christianized in Italy, the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pagan and druidic practices continued to have a hold on the former Celtic lands, especially in Ireland, Brittany and Scotland and people still continued to celebrate Samhain even though they were officially Roman Catholic. In 835, Pope Gregory IV extended the All Saints Day to include all Christians wherever they were and extended the Day to honor all saints (not just <place w:st="on">Saint John</place> the Baptists and the early Church martyrs). In extending All Hallowmas beyond <city w:st="on">Rome</city>, the Church was able to syncretize the continuing Samhain practices in the traditionally Celtic lands, making them part of the Church’s acceptable practices just as it had done for the Pomona Day practices in <place w:st="on">Italy</place>. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In moving All Saints Day to November 1, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in Saint Peter’s in <place w:st="on">Rome</place>. Pope Gregory III ostensibly moved the date to November 1 to benefit from the harvest in <city w:st="on">Rome</city> as a means to accommodate pilgrims who would come to <city w:st="on">Rome</city> to observe All Saints Day. It seems at least arguable that (just as with the earlier dating of the holiday to coincide with Lemuria), Pope Gregory III may also have chosen to move All Saints Day to November 1 to make sacred the continuing pagan practices. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGPFdEeDPNLnI0fW0ibAG6EDkwbjNJbQZdM4TzVtsdBop_2TOj3ePl_eGSCK6ezHRIEuFjxL4QJvCXu6x56ZtDsaVK2rxCRgbN0N4w5Uk_K6MkGtdP47A8plojbhEtErnKvSf2-8AbODU/s1600/Gregory+IV.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGPFdEeDPNLnI0fW0ibAG6EDkwbjNJbQZdM4TzVtsdBop_2TOj3ePl_eGSCK6ezHRIEuFjxL4QJvCXu6x56ZtDsaVK2rxCRgbN0N4w5Uk_K6MkGtdP47A8plojbhEtErnKvSf2-8AbODU/s320/Gregory+IV.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Pope Gregory IV</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It is interesting to note how persistent the Samhain rites have remained. In a case of history repeating itself almost exactly, the pre-Christian Roman hierarchy had syncretized Samhain to their Pagan religious practices centuries before Popes Gregory III would syncretized the Roman Pagan rites of Pomona Day that were themselves syncretized from Samhain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />Pope Gregory IV would then do the same for the continuing practices in <country-region w:st="on">Great Britain</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Ireland</country-region> and <place w:st="on">Brittany</place>. Lutherans and other Protestants would then do the same by repurposing as Reformation Day the Roman Catholic All Saints Day which itself was a repurposed Pomona Day which was itself a repurposed of the original Samhain. In the holiday of Halloween, the holiday has been repurposed once more to reflect a more secular society’s approach to the same rites. That said, the practices in the <country-region w:st="on">United States</country-region> and <place w:st="on">Canada</place> continue to incorporate the original Samhain imagery of harvest (pumpkins, apple bobbing, sharing treats with others), the souls of the dead walking the earth (haunted houses, ghosts, and later vampires and zombies), and witchcraft practices (use of familiars such as black cats). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As with all of these messages, these observations represent my own understanding of these holidays, and are not meant to take a position on religious practice in any way. I welcome all feedback for corrections or to say that you appreciated this summary.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read more?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On Wiccan and Neo-Pagan Samhain holiday</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/samhain.shtml">http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/samhain.shtml</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/samhain_halloween">http://www.squidoo.com/samhain_halloween</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://msdelicia.tripod.com/witch/id1.html">http://msdelicia.tripod.com/witch/id1.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ht/Animals_Samhain.htm">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ht/Animals_Samhain.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/a/About_Samhain.htm">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/a/About_Samhain.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On Roman Catholic All Saints Day and All Souls Day</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm">http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://catholic.org/saints/allsaints/">http://catholic.org/saints/allsaints/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.churchyear.net/allsaints.html">http://www.churchyear.net/allsaints.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/All_Saints_Holy.htm">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/All_Saints_Holy.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On Protestant Practices of All Saints Day and Reformation Day</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/christian-perspectives-in-denver/october-31-the-birthday-of-the-reformation">http://www.examiner.com/christian-perspectives-in-denver/october-31-the-birthday-of-the-reformation</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.theholidayzone.com/reformation/">http://www.theholidayzone.com/reformation/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.orlutheran.com/html/saintori.html">http://www.orlutheran.com/html/saintori.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/all-saints-day">http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/all-saints-day</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.hemslojd.com/alla_helgons_dag.html">http://www.hemslojd.com/alla_helgons_dag.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/5818/9/">http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/5818/9/</a> (this Associated Baptist Press opinion piece reflects some of the debate among Baptists regarding the holiday)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/reformation_day.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/reformation_day.aspx</span></a> (Christian Broadcasting Networking calling for the repurposing of Halloween as Reformation Day)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On Day of the Dead</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.latino.si.edu/dayofthedead/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.latino.si.edu/dayofthedead/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.elpayaso.com/muerto2.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.elpayaso.com/muerto2.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.bolivialine.com/bolivia/newsletter/Newsletter200511.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.bolivialine.com/bolivia/newsletter/Newsletter200511.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://liveinthephilippines.com/content/2009/11/araw-ng-mga-patay/"><span style="color: purple;">http://liveinthephilippines.com/content/2009/11/araw-ng-mga-patay/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On Halloween as a Secular Holiday (including sales figures)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/halloween-spending-reach-9-billion">https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/halloween-spending-reach-9-billion</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1430">http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1430</a><br /><br />https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/halloween-spending-reach-record-91-billion<br /><br /><a href="https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/record-number-of-americans-buy-halloween-costumes">https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/record-number-of-americans-buy-halloween-costumes</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="color: purple;">https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-halloween-day-britain/from-trick-to-treat-after-years-of-antipathy-britain-embraces-halloween-idUKKBN1CZ1TL</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On Opposition to Halloween Celebrations</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Pat Robertson episode <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaFiQfta6SM"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaFiQfta6SM</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://islam.about.com/od/otherdays/a/halloween.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://islam.about.com/od/otherdays/a/halloween.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/halloween-and-islam/"><span style="color: purple;">http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/halloween-and-islam/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>On the Intertwined History of Samhain, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Pomona</city></place> Day, All Saints Day and Hallowe’en</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.floramex.com/lihallow.htm">http://www.floramex.com/lihallow.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.halloween-website.com/history.htm">http://www.halloween-website.com/history.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/boh/boh06.htm">http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/boh/boh06.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/halloween">http://www.history.com/topics/halloween</a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Clip Art Sources</b></span><br /><br /><br />The Samhain greeting is from<br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/samhain_halloween">http://www.squidoo.com/samhain_halloween</a><br /><br />The Samhain altar is from <a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ig/Samhain-Altar-Gallery/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ig/Samhain-Altar-Gallery</span>/</span></a><br />The image of soul cakes is at <a href="http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/8607/soul-cakes.aspx">http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/8607/soul-cakes.aspx</a><br /><br />The image for All Saints Day comes from<br /><a href="http://www.topnews.in/pope-celebrates-all-saints-day-282531">http://www.topnews.in/pope-celebrates-all-saints-day-282531</a><br /><br />The site about.com provides a wide assortment of holiday images for free. the Happy Halloween clip art is at <a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/desktoppub/1/0/l/h/3/01GhostCard2-Publisher2010.PNG">http://0.tqn.com/d/desktoppub/1/0/l/h/3/01GhostCard2-Publisher2010.PNG</a><br />while the cornucopia at the same site is at<br /><a href="http://desktoppub.about.com/library/holidays/pdh001.gif">http://desktoppub.about.com/library/holidays/pdh001.gif</a><br /><br />The picture of trick or treaters comes from the Hem of His Garment Bible Study page suggesting Christian Halloween alternatives at <a href="http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org/Christian-Halloween-alternatives.html">http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org/Christian-Halloween-alternatives.html</a><br /><br />The charts for Halloween sales is from the Market Watch at <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-americans-arent-afraid-of-this-halloween-spending-money-on-the-holiday-11634753121">https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-americans-arent-afraid-of-this-halloween-spending-money-on-the-holiday-11634753121</a><br />Pet costume photo is from extremehalloween.com at <a href="http://www.extremehalloween.com/pet.htm">http://www.extremehalloween.com/pet.htm</a><br /><br />The photo of a Swedish cemetery on All Souls Day is taken from <a href="http://jinge.se/dagens-bild/de-hadangangnas-dag-dagens-bild.htm">http://jinge.se/dagens-bild/de-hadangangnas-dag-dagens-bild.htm</a><br /><br />Thw image of Pomona is from the Wilson Almanac blog at <a href="http://wilsonsalmanac.blogspot.com/2005/09/month-of-september.html">http://wilsonsalmanac.blogspot.com/2005/09/month-of-september.html</a><br /><br />The image of Pope Gregory III is from the history site Mindserpent.com at<br /><a href="http://www.mindserpent.com/American_History/introduction/intro_010.html">http://www.mindserpent.com/American_History/introduction/intro_010.html</a><br /><br />The image of Pope Gregory IV is from the Gregory IV page of the Cultural Catholic website at <a href="http://www.culturalcatholic.com/PopeGregoryVII.htm">http://www.culturalcatholic.com/PopeGregoryVII.htm</a><br /><br />The image of St. Odilo of Cluny is from the Saints SPQN website at <a href="http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-odilo-of-cluny/">http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-odilo-of-cluny/</a><br /><br />The statue of Mictecacihuatl is taken from <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/mictecacihuatl/fatalignorance/Spanish%203/mictecacihuatl.jpg?o=1">http://media.photobucket.com/image/mictecacihuatl/fatalignorance/Spanish%203/mictecacihuatl.jpg?o=1</a><br /><br />The guitar-playing skeleton is from the free clip art collection Picture This at <a href="http://leehansen.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-of-dead-skeleton-musician.html">http://leehansen.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-of-dead-skeleton-musician.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://retailindustry.about.com/od/statisticsresearch/a/Halloween-Spending-And-Retail-Buying-Trends-2005-2010-Sales-Predictions_2.htm">http://retailindustry.about.com/od/statisticsresearch/a/Halloween-Spending-And-Retail-Buying-Trends-2005-2010-Sales-Predictions_2.htm</a></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-22284645039699337652021-09-12T10:36:00.006-04:002023-09-22T15:04:05.406-04:00Yom Kippur 2023<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpQ9odbYbFnd4-6j4JUdBlhWE1I1fo7IqLscPpC_YRuFEbDWrK4rzOw_i2uFkyjk2NNCgOGfBzInfgq5IYefcmV95NWPAoOPqoo3SqGI0686Rd6PkYEZTAUdmxnzvWgjwhsnWpz3e5Kv6/s1600/yom_kippur+banner.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpQ9odbYbFnd4-6j4JUdBlhWE1I1fo7IqLscPpC_YRuFEbDWrK4rzOw_i2uFkyjk2NNCgOGfBzInfgq5IYefcmV95NWPAoOPqoo3SqGI0686Rd6PkYEZTAUdmxnzvWgjwhsnWpz3e5Kv6/s1600/yom_kippur+banner.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpQ9odbYbFnd4-6j4JUdBlhWE1I1fo7IqLscPpC_YRuFEbDWrK4rzOw_i2uFkyjk2NNCgOGfBzInfgq5IYefcmV95NWPAoOPqoo3SqGI0686Rd6PkYEZTAUdmxnzvWgjwhsnWpz3e5Kv6/s640/yom_kippur+banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yom Kippur for 2023 begins<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT446_com_zimbra_date"><span style="color: darkblue;"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT926_com_zimbra_date"> at sunset on Sunset, September 24 </span></span></span>and continues through one hour past sunset on Monday, September 25. All employees, students and faculty requesting so </span><span style="font-family: times, serif;">should be accommodated. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement. It is a day to, in which "you shall afflict your souls" (Leviticus 16:29) and -- as the name indicates -- to atone for one's sins throughout the preceding year. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Together with Rosh HaShanah (which occurs 10 days earlier), Yom Kippur forms part of what are called the High Holy Days. The days following Rosh HaShanah and leading up to Yom Kippur are called the Days of Awe. <span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">As the culmination of the High Holy Days, Yom Kippur takes a special prominence. For more on this, please see my post on <a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2020/09/rosh-hashanah-2020.html" target="_blank">Rosh HaShanah. </a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <p style="margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><b><u>Yom Kippur: Conclusion of the High Holy Days</u></b></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxDmMmWLACCN8dZ7BWa0kK3JM9-c-IyF1so0Z-hkM7-tB4-N0BQ-aSaTZE8QP_s1_o-79k4sIuleYY77bpMKQAM30zguhAvqV_UowmSAy0eMSJ9-EWmmMyqHEd47T6xJ9ZX_wLPeCyEJH/s1600/scales.gif" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxDmMmWLACCN8dZ7BWa0kK3JM9-c-IyF1so0Z-hkM7-tB4-N0BQ-aSaTZE8QP_s1_o-79k4sIuleYY77bpMKQAM30zguhAvqV_UowmSAy0eMSJ9-EWmmMyqHEd47T6xJ9ZX_wLPeCyEJH/s200/scales.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">On Rosh HaShanah, Jews traditionally believe (whether figuratively or literally depending on their interpretation) that God opens the Book of Life (<i>Sefer Chaim</i>) and writes in it the fate of each person including "who shall live and who shall die." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">On Yom Kippur, that fate in the Book of Life is sealed. Starting with</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> Rosh HaShanah, through the Days of Awe and until the close of Yom Kippur, Jews believe that repentance, prayer and acts of lovingkindness (the somewhat lacking but rough translation of the Hebrews words <i>tshuvah, tefillah</i> and <i>tzedakah</i>) are able to "avert the stern decree." The decision is sealed and set at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><b>Importance Given Yom Kippur</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times";"><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Generally speaking, Yom Kippur can be considered the most important day of observance in Judaism. <span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd8cUHdFFGgC2KSTdua6ZqJ-yKzJbeFJiiYC07dmSfkd7ccN1ZMOCgrkQV34sFxSWCWkhVgl6PsBQNCYoRHWO-dbwttxcRKcKMpVrly0_z103bLxL6QcXjFtyv6KRwWsGzU0h89zuqlT8/s1600/0029aholiday.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd8cUHdFFGgC2KSTdua6ZqJ-yKzJbeFJiiYC07dmSfkd7ccN1ZMOCgrkQV34sFxSWCWkhVgl6PsBQNCYoRHWO-dbwttxcRKcKMpVrly0_z103bLxL6QcXjFtyv6KRwWsGzU0h89zuqlT8/s200/0029aholiday.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Among observant Jews, traditionally, the weekly observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays is the most important Jewish holiday. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">In practice, though, for many Jews who do might not regularly attend weekly Sabbath services, do attend services on the High Holy Days, and, especially, on Yom Kippur. </span></span> </span>(Please note that I am in no way attempting to take a stance on what is or is not proper observance for any religion in these updates, but rather simply trying to make the general community aware of the various religious practices as they affect activities for employees, students or others).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b>Dating Yom Kippur</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yom Kippur, like all Jewish holidays, appears to wander in the secular calendar. This is because the secular calendar is not consistent with the Jewish calendar. In the Jewish calendar, though, the holiday actually occurs on the same day of the Jewish calendar (the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Also, as the Jewish calendar is based on the moon, the day begins with sunset and ends with sunset. Traditionally, the holiday does not close until an hour past sunset to ensure that the sun has unarguably already set. This is a practice of adding an additional hour is usually observed by Orthodox and Conservative Jews but less often observed by Reform and Reconstructionist Jews.</span></div><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Fast</u></span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvzNUZRFCgeOLz5vbGma8T4XpPjGoVQhV1z5NqfT2gfWWXV5nF0gypt5yb50P9vTNgGVw5TtPjx7rT_KENxZkciLgNOATR-xi4H8kS_l3ksxXCgeyMlTl97tVAeHqKzpb6WPVa8IDaWUg/s1600/fast.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvzNUZRFCgeOLz5vbGma8T4XpPjGoVQhV1z5NqfT2gfWWXV5nF0gypt5yb50P9vTNgGVw5TtPjx7rT_KENxZkciLgNOATR-xi4H8kS_l3ksxXCgeyMlTl97tVAeHqKzpb6WPVa8IDaWUg/s200/fast.bmp" width="199" /></a></div>Yom Kippur is a complete fast day. This is a 25-hour fast that begins before sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur and continues until nightfall of the following day. Throughout Yom Kippur Jews, Jews abstain from <br /><ul><li>eating or drinking anything (including water)</li><li>wearing perfume or lotion</li><li>bathing</li><li>having sexual relations</li><li>wearing leather shoes (some Jews include any leather)</li></ul><div>Most Jews interpret the fast to include abstaining from smoking as well. </div><br />As with all Jewish fasts, health takes precedence over the fast. Women in childbirth or women who have given birth within the past three days are, for example, explicitly forbidden to fast even if they want to do so. Likewise children under nine are explicitly forbidden to fast even if they want to do so. Women who are pregnant and children between 9 and 13 are permitted to fast but must break the fast if they feel weak. Similarly, people with diseases requiring that they eat regularly (such as diabetes) or with conditions of weakened health are permitted to fast but are required to break the fast if they feel their health is being affected.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTO-bQS9pZD4hhYGC20BrhrnNwzPWb737VOXc4Ng6V8pm1yvCxMv6CAHqNLFnAQQsMgSbbLz-tZWpVaK4kr96lPlBya6kqam7VYE-g3u4M0ow3WEJVPq0VZJKEeqMvCX_3tbUhEV56MgX/s1600/No+work.bmp" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTO-bQS9pZD4hhYGC20BrhrnNwzPWb737VOXc4Ng6V8pm1yvCxMv6CAHqNLFnAQQsMgSbbLz-tZWpVaK4kr96lPlBya6kqam7VYE-g3u4M0ow3WEJVPq0VZJKEeqMvCX_3tbUhEV56MgX/s200/No+work.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>On Yom Kippur, Jews are prohibited from work of any kind. This includes writing, using the phone or computer, physical labor and the like. <br /><br />Because playing music is prohibited as well, the holiday concludes only after sunset so that it is possible to blow the shofar (or ram's horn). Please see the post on <a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/09/rosh-hashanah-2012.html">Rosh HaShanah </a>for more on this.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Yom Kippur Service</u></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Length of Service</u></b></div><br />Yom Kippur is the longest worship service in the Jewish calendar. This holds true for all branches of Judaism. <br /><br />While the length of services varies from one branch of Judaism to another, it is not uncommon for Orthodox and Conservative Jews to spend almost the entire day in the synagogue, leaving only to sleep at night. Even in the sometimes shorter Yom Kippur services of many Reform and Reconstructionist branches of Judaism, most worshippers still spend the vast majority of the day in services at the synagogue or temple.<br /><br /><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Kol Nidre Service</span></b></div><br /><u><b>The Kol Nidre Chant</b></u><br /><br />The service on Yom Kippur eve is centered on the Kol Nidre prayer. The prayer takes its name from its first two words which are <i>Kol Nidre,</i> meaning "all vows" in Aramaic.<br /><br />The prayer begins very soon after the evening service begins. This is because, to be valid, the Kol Nidre prayer must be recited before sunset.<br /><br /><b><u>The Kol Nidre Tune</u></b><br /><br />The Kol Nidre chant is among the oldest tunes in the Jewish liturgy, and its melody is intended to echo the sounds of sighing or sobbing. The origin of the current tune dates to at least the late 13th Century with the so-called melodies of "MiSinai" (literally "from Sinai"). The "MiSinai" melodies are a group of 52 liturgical melodies of which by far the most notable is Kol Nidre Chant. Music historians date nearly all of the "MiSinai" music back to Maharam of Rothenberg (who lived from 1220-1293). That said, it is neither known how old the melodies were when Maharam of Rothenberg learned them nor if any of the "MiSinai" melodies post-dated him (since the tunes themselves were handed down without being written down for centuries).<br /><br />While most versions of the Kol Nidre chant have a common origin in the "MiSinai" melodies, considerable variation exists within the interpretation of the music. Thus, there are, for example, German, Bohemian and Polish versions with minor differences. Additionally, each cantor or singer of the tune also adds a unique style as well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbfaUyIFy0GWJnQOInUyNd91V_siCB91rA_MAmXaUR6MrDDEDMQa-gjkZmPoyqqIiq-yR1rxL8oyAzVF2CBshObALDjezSTNLhPtI5C_kX3FLQkOPJiunMOze7CGLozd2mJJ2vDMtxkSQ/s1600/Kol+nidre+tune.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbfaUyIFy0GWJnQOInUyNd91V_siCB91rA_MAmXaUR6MrDDEDMQa-gjkZmPoyqqIiq-yR1rxL8oyAzVF2CBshObALDjezSTNLhPtI5C_kX3FLQkOPJiunMOze7CGLozd2mJJ2vDMtxkSQ/s400/Kol+nidre+tune.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Three regional variations of the Kol Nidre tune</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u>In Classical Music</u></div><br />Ludwig van Beethoven first brought the tune of the Kol Nidre prayer was popularized to the non-Jewish world in 1821 (although never credited so indirectly) as the basis of the central theme of the sixth movement of his String Quartet No. 14 (Opus 131).<br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7INJeLAJgZkHkyB6NKZi2mngp-RL8aXqaBaPjy5fGH9xAiNdxRkJkK1S1LIhk1NxB7qgsU6Z8aAX8mbJOUdXYH5Hiu26ExU_UXnOwi-eiohsiWmeDRM0jMHcPuvvZxUTy7Et0fV0EBJfz/s1600/Yo=yo+ma.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7INJeLAJgZkHkyB6NKZi2mngp-RL8aXqaBaPjy5fGH9xAiNdxRkJkK1S1LIhk1NxB7qgsU6Z8aAX8mbJOUdXYH5Hiu26ExU_UXnOwi-eiohsiWmeDRM0jMHcPuvvZxUTy7Et0fV0EBJfz/s200/Yo=yo+ma.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cellist Yo-Yo Ma recorded a famous version of </b><br /><b>Bruch's Opus 41 Kol Nidre for Cello and Orchestra</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Kol Nidre tune was first explicitly brought to the non-Jewish world 60 years later through Max Christian Friedrich Bruch's 1881 Opus 41 (Kol Nidrei). This piece features a variation inspired by the main tune of the chant played on cello backed by a full orchestra. <br /><br />To hear Yo-Yo Ma's 2005 performance of this piece, please listen to<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=4955739&m=4955759">http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=4955739&m=4955759</a><br /><br />Other classical composers to include at least part of the Kol Nidre tune in their works are Arnold Schoenberg (in 1938 with Opus 39, Kol Nidrei) and most recently John Zorn's 1996 Kol Nidre for String Quartet.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIMu8Qmb4hqIDS6nv6R4yOqlTyjk3r4KWopBY3nQA97-vPClvnxPqufqx1_8pSS1H8_Z1zeEQij1wnpLqqE5TaMjo5us684SAFH6BYkLy9bV7Xw70C8qd0293TyJSd2Qjv6tzB5lRBAQP/s1600/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIMu8Qmb4hqIDS6nv6R4yOqlTyjk3r4KWopBY3nQA97-vPClvnxPqufqx1_8pSS1H8_Z1zeEQij1wnpLqqE5TaMjo5us684SAFH6BYkLy9bV7Xw70C8qd0293TyJSd2Qjv6tzB5lRBAQP/s200/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Johnny Mathis recorded Kol Nidre </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium; text-align: center;"><b><u>In Popular Music</u></b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">In the area of popular culture, Kol Nidre has also been frequently featured. In the early beginnings of film, Al Jolson sings a version of the prayer in the 1927 movie <i>The Jazz Singer. </i></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div>In popular music, recordings of Kol Nidre have been made by such varied singers as Perry Como, Neil Diamond and Johnny Mathis.<br /><br /><br /><div><b><u>The Content of the Kol Nidre Chant</u></b></div><br />The content of the Kol Nidre chant itself is less of an actual prayer than a dry legal formulation. The wording is as follows:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>All vows ("kol nidre"), obligations, oaths, and anathemas, whether called 'ḳonam,' 'ḳonas,' or by any other name, which we may vow, or swear, or pledge, or whereby we may be bound, from this Day of Atonement until the next (whose happy coming we await), we do repent. May they be deemed absolved, forgiven, annulled, and void, and made of no effect; they shall not bind us nor have power over us. The vows shall not be reckoned vows; the obligations shall not be obligatory; nor the oaths be oaths. (translation from the Jewish Encyclopedia).</i></blockquote><br />Because Judaism teaches to take any vow with the utmost seriousness, the purpose of the prayer is to be forgiven from any rash vows made to God in the coming year that one can not fulfill. The Kol Nidre prayer does <i>not</i> absolve one from vows made to other people; <i>only</i> vows made between the worshipper and God.<br /><br /><br /><div><b><u>Debate Over Kol Nidre</u></b></div><br />Much debate exists over the prayer even within the Jewish community. This debate was carried on throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times on theological grounds. In modern times,several leaders in the early period of the Reform Movement in the 19th Century attempted to abolish the prayer, but for different reasons than those traditionally argued but instead as a means of disarming its use for excuses of anti-Semitism (see below).<br /><br /><b>Versions of the Kol Nidre Chant: Liturgical Differences</b><br /><br />The Kol Nidre chant is one of the oldest in Judaism, dating back in some version at least to the time of Amram Gaon during his leadership of the Jewish Talmud Academy of Sura (which means between 857 and 875 CE). Some sources suggest that this version itself was simply set down from a far earlier earlier version. In the prayer book (<i>siddur</i>) of Amram, the prayer is in Hebrew, not Aramaic (and thus is called Kol Nedarim vs. Kol Nidre). <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjkfTiAiC3nJz3s8kqRz3v3j7eJ_1cjBMxnCCialqSkMGEMOqHUPVMhkFUDdPXDcpgWKYX3fvKC5Pkaj1VjZRdlfIzoGjjZRILDI0o9UT9c-4sTWmV_9QaoV3RtzAWzhbhGJuVLSAOckt/s1600/508px-Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjkfTiAiC3nJz3s8kqRz3v3j7eJ_1cjBMxnCCialqSkMGEMOqHUPVMhkFUDdPXDcpgWKYX3fvKC5Pkaj1VjZRdlfIzoGjjZRILDI0o9UT9c-4sTWmV_9QaoV3RtzAWzhbhGJuVLSAOckt/s320/508px-Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg" width="271" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Kol Nidre Chant</b><br /><b>in the Machzor of Worms, Germany </b><br /><b>(ca. 1270-1280)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Hebrew version was still widely used in the Roman <i>Mahzor</i> (prayer book) dating to the 1480's. In the Hebrew version, the vows were absolved for the vows broken during preceding year (rather than the potentially unmet vows of the coming year). The Hebrew version was still the standard version for the Jews of Italy and Romanian (or <i>Balkin</i>) before their extermination during the Holocaust. Some of the surviving members of these communities continue this tradition of reciting the Hebrew version.<br /><br />The majority of Jews, however, recite the Aramaic version. That said, the version of the prayer differs depending on one interpretation or the other. One formulation of the prayer (called the old version) retains wording regarding the vows being from the preceding year while a second formulation (called the new version) carries the modification from the past year to the coming year. The "new version" dates to the early 1100's when the French Rabbi Meir ben Samuel (called the Ram) modified it. <br /><br />The Jews of Spain rejected the modifications of the "new version." The descendants of this Jewish community are called Sephardi Jews (from the Hebrew for Spanish). Today Sephardic Jews continue to recite the "old version" of the Aramaic prayer. The Ashkenazi Jews (the name for the Jews who settled in Central and Eastern Europe), by contrast, recite the "new version" of the Aramaic prayer.<br /><br />The Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews today, though, are no longer geographically determined. Sephardic Jews are no longer to be found in Spain (Jews were only permitted to return to Spain in 1968), but are spread around the world. For more on this, please see my post on Tisha B'Av at<br /><br /><a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/07/tisha-bav.html">http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/07/tisha-bav.html</a><br /><br />Following the forced expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, Sephardic Jews were distributed far from Spain, especially in the Netherlands, Morocco and (before the Jewish expulsions from most Arabic countries following the founding of Israel in 1948) from North Africa and the Middle East. Similarly, Ashkenazi Jews are similarly spread around the world, after the upheavals first of the 19th century Russian and Ukrainian pogroms, followed by the Holocaust and then the post-WWII persecution under the Soviet era. <br /><br />Today in the United States, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia and Israel, the two traditions live side by side. In some congregations, as a compromise, the prayer is repeated in both versions. <br /><br /><b><u>Anti-Semitism and the Kol Nidre Chant</u></b><b><u><br /> </u></b></div>It is important to clarify here that the Kol Nidre forgiveness of vows deals only with vows between worshippers and God. It does not negate vows between the one making the vow and any other person. The reason it is important to emphasize this is the long history of anti-Semitism associated with the misunderstanding of the Kol Nidre chant. As the Jewish Encyclopedia explains:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>The "Kol Nidre" has been one of the means widely used by Jewish apostates and by enemies of the Jews to cast suspicion on the trustworthiness of an oath taken by a Jew... so that many legislators considered it necessary to have a special form of oath administered to Jews ("Jew's oath"), and many judges refused to allow them to take a supplementary oath, basing their objections chiefly on this prayer</i>. <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre#anchor9">http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre#anchor9</a></blockquote>Attacks on Jews using Kol Nidre as a supposed proof of Jewish duplicity or untrustworthiness has a very long history. The earliest formally recorded accusation in a court dates back to 1240 when Jehuel of Paris was brought to trial to defend charges based on the Kol Nidre prayer. <br /><br />In many European countries throughout the Middle Ages through the emancipation of the Jews in the 19th Century, Jewish testimony was either given extra restrictions or prohibited altogether based, at least in part, on the excuse that the Kol Nidre prayer made their testimony untrustworthy. <br /><br />Well into modern times, the use of Kol Nidre chant to justify anti-Semitism was widespread ranging from Henry Ford's anti-Semitic diatribe in the <i>International Jew</i> (1921) through the citation of the prayer in anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda. <br /><br />It continues to be a staple among dozens of anti-Jewish hate groups today, as exemplified by the title of Pastor Mark Downey's 2009 sermon "Why We Hate Jews, Part 3: Lies Kol Nidre" on the Kinsman Redeemer Ministry site (I have chosen to withhold the web links here so as not to further promote such hate-mongering). <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Other Yom Kippur Prayers and Practices</span></b></div><br /><b><u>Extra Service Components</u></b><br /><br />As mentioned before, Yom Kippur is the longest prayer service in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur has five parts (for Reform and Reconstructionist Jews) or six parts (for Orthodox and Conservative Jews rather than the usual three of daily prayer in Judaism.<br /><br />In daily prayer, traditionally Judaism has only three services: Evening Prayers (Ma'ariv, in this case with the additional Kol Nidre service), Morning Prayers (Shacharit) and Afternoon Prayers (Mincha). On Kippur, there are five (rather than three) services. To the three just mentioned are added the so-called Additional Prayer Service (Musaf) which is also recited on the other major holidays as well as the Closing Prayers (Ne'ilah) which are recited only on Yom Kippur. <br /><br /><b>Ne'ilah</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK90K1oIF5eeqnWfgFW6j5jJQZBW8HwCFis4TB_hX2VkTNoJ04bN34ugUPepXCH-OK57w6jZZpgFIB9sYu_mOYJnqFvNsJkHbSsbl9c9lGFQisOqsceGpbTXrvvEMHGPI31wqjLochX03n/s1600/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK90K1oIF5eeqnWfgFW6j5jJQZBW8HwCFis4TB_hX2VkTNoJ04bN34ugUPepXCH-OK57w6jZZpgFIB9sYu_mOYJnqFvNsJkHbSsbl9c9lGFQisOqsceGpbTXrvvEMHGPI31wqjLochX03n/s200/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png" width="123" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Roses were given out at </b><br /><b>Ne'ilah in Germany </b><br /><b>before the Holocaust</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">The Closing Prayers or Ne'ilah last for roughly an hour and are said while standing the entire time as the day draws to an end. Because of the full day of intense prayer accompanied by fasting, many people may feel faint or weak. By Jewish law, anyone who feels this way must sit down. </div><br />In several cultures, specific Nei'ilah traditions arose to add strength in the final hour of the fast. For example, it is the custom of Jews in Chile to pass around an orange or lemon in which cloves have been placed so that the scent will give strength as the hour grows late. <br /><br />Similarly, for centuries it was the custom of the Jews of Germany to hand out roses to the women of the congregation to fortify them with its fragrance. Today, following the annihilation of Germany's Jews, some congregations regardless of origin continue this practice as a way of keeping alive the memory of those killed in the Holocaust.<br /><br /><b>Avodah Service</b><br /><br />In Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, there is also a special addition called the Avodah. This is not a prayer service in the same way as the other five but rather a form of re-enactment of the Temple service in ancient times. In the Avodah service, the descendants of the priests (the Kohanim) of the Temple in Jerusalem (more or less) conduct a version of what would have been the service done at the Temple had the Roman not destroyed it in 70 CE. The word "avodah" is Hebrew for work, referring to the work of the priests. <br /><br /><b>Other Special Prayers</b><br /><br />While Yom Kippur is full of special prayers, three are perhaps particularly noteworthy: <br /><br /><ul><li>the Ashamnu (short confessional</li><li>the Al Cheyt (long confessional and </li><li>the Unetaneh Tokef (more or less a prayer of being judged). </li></ul><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR45Nl1zWj-oLeTkKEWOKjfqw11cFfW9mY896_-G6_m-2eiXhNZ6BwjH-0n37xo8l5f9raYLq-0mJuhP8XL9m0AbFmYAloMqScJdWxjEpjyn2QPKzk0GhEUadqTySZ3FJTlYzwVJTWCSbV/s1600/Ashamru.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR45Nl1zWj-oLeTkKEWOKjfqw11cFfW9mY896_-G6_m-2eiXhNZ6BwjH-0n37xo8l5f9raYLq-0mJuhP8XL9m0AbFmYAloMqScJdWxjEpjyn2QPKzk0GhEUadqTySZ3FJTlYzwVJTWCSbV/s200/Ashamru.bmp" width="196" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It is customary to strike one's breast</b><br /><b>during the Yom Kippur confessionals</b></td></tr></tbody></table>All of the confessional prayers are in the second person plural ("we"). This communal confession serves many purposes, and is subject to much commentary in Judaism. Among these is the belief that by communally confessing, each person recognizes his or her responsibility for others. Thus, even if the individual worshippers may not have felt that they have committed this or that particular transgression, they remain culpable for not preventing others from doing so. Another often-cited commentary on the plural confession is that it allows the individual who may be too ashamed to confess a particular transgressing in public to confess it aloud to God as part of the whole congregation. In any case, while reciting the group confession, the individual also may include private petitions simultaneously.<br /><br /><b>The Short Confession or Ashamnu</b><br /><br />The Ashamnu takes its name from the opening word of the prayer "ashamnu" which means "we have transgressed" or "we have incurred guilt." The Ashamnu prayer consists of 24 lines written as an acrostic (that is the opening letter of each line begins with each successive letter in the Hebrew alphabet -- the Hebrew equivalent of an A to Z set of lines were the prayer to have been in English). <br /><br />The Ashamnu is said out loud by the entire congregation in the first person plural form (e.g., "We have transgressed, we have betrayed, we have stolen, we have spoken falsely" and so on). <br /><br />The Ashamnu is recited while standing with one's head bowed. With each item, the worshipper strikes his or her chest to imprint the words on the heart. <br /><br /><b>The Long Confessional or Al Cheyt</b><br /><br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0DpuVLBVM9yX814EUUtEA4gcZvJgC7lSERr-RzE_YKjusAhatv8KgmZ7X1QkO8HPBu5pewaAzB1xncJgw_na_uJqfOFzlvwfUX6bdydKpTiD9Xwdm56IUrEwZgXaK7M-PXs9ygh85AY-/s1600/yom_kippur_3_0.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0DpuVLBVM9yX814EUUtEA4gcZvJgC7lSERr-RzE_YKjusAhatv8KgmZ7X1QkO8HPBu5pewaAzB1xncJgw_na_uJqfOFzlvwfUX6bdydKpTiD9Xwdm56IUrEwZgXaK7M-PXs9ygh85AY-/s320/yom_kippur_3_0.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Maurycy Gottlieb</b><br /><b> <i>Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur</i> (1878)<br />Tel Aviv Museum of Art</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Long Confession or Al Cheyt takes its name from the opening words of each of the 48 lines of the prayer "Al Cheyt" which means "For the sin" in Hebrew. The 48 lines of the Al Cheyt prayer all begin with the phrase "For the sin which we have sinned against You..." with the following word forming a double acrostic (double alphabetical listing). <br /><br />The prayer is recited 10 times during Yom Kippur. As with the Ashamnu, the Al Cheyt is recited while standing with one's head bowed and with the worshipper striking his or her chest to imprint the words on the heart. <br /><br />Significantly, of the 44 sins recited, 40 deal with sins of person against person and only 4 deal with sins of person against God. Particular importance is given to confessing sins of speech, of which 12 of 44 are concerned (e.g., "for the sin which I have committed against You through harsh speech" or "for the sin which we have sinned against You for deceiving a fellow human being", etc. ).<br /><br /><b>Unetaneh Tokef</b> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-wlWA9OXkMmPIN42NOTNOUYzasehOAk8jhCqHCYIs3kcrKfOF23rlLSBAS4kIlAKJItvrnRQtblr9QMatBqRoZoxBaF_7ief_16oMmQaR-8FnplpwdlwMLNIZFe1FHkrpe3TAhX__E8_/s1600/booklif1.gif" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-wlWA9OXkMmPIN42NOTNOUYzasehOAk8jhCqHCYIs3kcrKfOF23rlLSBAS4kIlAKJItvrnRQtblr9QMatBqRoZoxBaF_7ief_16oMmQaR-8FnplpwdlwMLNIZFe1FHkrpe3TAhX__E8_/s1600/booklif1.gif" /></a></div>Probably the best-known prayer of both Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services after Kol Nidre is the Unetaneh Tokef prayer. The opening words of the prayer from which it takes its name means something along the lines of "We shall ascribe..." which leads into a longer introduction describing Yom Kippur as a Day of Judgement. <br /><br />The central section of the poem deals with judgement (see below). The prayer then closes with God's attributes and the worshippers' helplessness and ends with a recognition of God's enduring nature.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>All parts of the Unetaneh Tokef are important but the middle part of the prayer is perhaps the most widely-known outside of Jewish circles. This part of the prayer deals with the balance of one's behavior resulting in the decision of who shall be inscribed in the Book of Life (Sefer Chaim) and who shall die and in what manner.<br /><br />The wording of this section of the Untaneh Tokef prayer is as follows:<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>and on Yom Kippur will be sealed </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>how many will pass from the earth </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>and how many will be created; </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who will live and who will die; </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who will die at his predestined time </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>and who before his time; </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who by water and who by fire, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who by sword, who by beast, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who by famine, who by thirst, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who by upheaval, who by plague, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who by strangling, and who by stoning. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>Who will rest and who will wander, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who will live in harmony and who will be harried, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>who will be degraded and who will be exalted. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>But Repentance, Prayer, and Charity </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>avert the severe Decree!” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i>(</i>translation from: http://www.ou.org/chagim/roshhashannah/unetanehtext.htm<i> )</i></div></blockquote><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXCPYaXkYiUrlIgZMC3nzb9ymzrJE-ao1pTKkYzpQFV1gXMcwyyli0fu0GyGSz-phCxhcoDWKTVAM2RQnMZ4fjHpWw4GHqbGTZK_CHbllCAxSdiYT80fv3ZPUI_We-X_CKw85EAcNubH3/s1600/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXCPYaXkYiUrlIgZMC3nzb9ymzrJE-ao1pTKkYzpQFV1gXMcwyyli0fu0GyGSz-phCxhcoDWKTVAM2RQnMZ4fjHpWw4GHqbGTZK_CHbllCAxSdiYT80fv3ZPUI_We-X_CKw85EAcNubH3/s200/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire"</b><br /><b>is based on the Unetaneh Tokef</b> </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">This is because the prayer is commonly discussed in general theological discussions. It may also be known through its adaptations (as with Kol Nidre) in secular music, as in Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire" song.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">Although central to all branches of Judaism, considerable debate exists among them regarding how literally one should take the words of the prayer. These range from very literal among Haredi Jews to entirely symbolically among Reconstructionist Jews, with considerable variation in between.</div><br /><br /><br /><b>Ending the Service and Breaking the Fast</b><br /><br />The Yom Kippur service concludes with a single blast of the shofar. This is followed by a (usually rapidly recited) Havdalah service. "Havdalah" in Hebrew means "separation" and is used to mark a separation for all Jewish holidays from the ordinary days of the week.<br /><br />After this, most congregations break the fast at the synagogue or temple before people leave with some sort of light food and beverage (cake and juice, for example). After this people go home or gather at the houses of relatives or friends for a larger meal to break the fast.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuScCH-hvBfSYsmECSGloi1FdXQw6iYvmZ7EBMShqPJvKHyfU_khDoQ7Zg7slJV5P2RZs94MGI5Q-DYWZKQgyNmfpZzw3nWy727L8Ddrm1jEX4LQjtUlnrII2tqmMhOLK8ZmhsCqIZlOFi/s1600/kugel.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuScCH-hvBfSYsmECSGloi1FdXQw6iYvmZ7EBMShqPJvKHyfU_khDoQ7Zg7slJV5P2RZs94MGI5Q-DYWZKQgyNmfpZzw3nWy727L8Ddrm1jEX4LQjtUlnrII2tqmMhOLK8ZmhsCqIZlOFi/s200/kugel.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egg noodle kugel</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;">What people eat at the break fast meal differs from tradition to tradition. That said, most traditions break the fast with a dairy meal (as opposed to a meat meal) as this is easier to digest on an empty stomach. Often the meal is laid out in a buffet style featuring easy-to-provide offerings such as bagels with smoked fish and cream cheese. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium;"> </div><div></div>Many traditions include eggs or dishes made with eggs as a symbol of the birth of a new year. Egg noodle pudding (called lukshen kugel) often sweetened with raisins is a common choice. For a recipe for sweet egg-noodle kugel, please see <a href="http://kosherfood.about.com/od/dairymaindishes/r/kugel_noodle_d.htm">http://kosherfood.about.com/od/dairymaindishes/r/kugel_noodle_d.htm</a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz58ujwG2RQjjxaYaxyCKYYqkea5WWqoy1mHd0fVEIAaMi2tZfWsLLAKMXCoeJKiQOJB0nrpJlRUbdk0ayEKOovadRz8OYLRqJrPrUS4aSTcmTg-w_aQuE3fdOkhy08HNlAp0HGWjh7iY/s1600/232828_116.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz58ujwG2RQjjxaYaxyCKYYqkea5WWqoy1mHd0fVEIAaMi2tZfWsLLAKMXCoeJKiQOJB0nrpJlRUbdk0ayEKOovadRz8OYLRqJrPrUS4aSTcmTg-w_aQuE3fdOkhy08HNlAp0HGWjh7iY/s1600/232828_116.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheese blintz</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Finally, it is common to feature sweets, honey and jams to symbolically represent the coming of a "sweet" or good year. A popular choice for this is the cheese blintz, a sort of Jewish cheese-filled sweet crepe. For a recipe for cheese blintz with blueberries, please see:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828">http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828</a><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></b><br /><br />Yom Kippur is a very important holiday within Judaism, and this is only a brief overview. Nearly every aspect of the holiday's practice and liturgy have been subject to centuries of debate. It is not my intention in any way to suggest that either this post is a comprehensive coverage of these or that I am in any way taking a stand on any of these. Please feel free to share your comments.<br /><br />L'Shanah Tovah! To a Good Year Ahead!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR_tRf_3gT_dP3pWMSNAVd3Di6NjaUbzFq0GKlihKTsQ6KvgVmCPu4wXWJ1DIGj1sErP6USKpsqTxFHSIF8aBGEjvG8lW0KCMZh_7bK3EsFQO4-4o1t47S_iXMnUHhXlR5bCJry1SIBVP/s1600/yom_kippur.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR_tRf_3gT_dP3pWMSNAVd3Di6NjaUbzFq0GKlihKTsQ6KvgVmCPu4wXWJ1DIGj1sErP6USKpsqTxFHSIF8aBGEjvG8lW0KCMZh_7bK3EsFQO4-4o1t47S_iXMnUHhXlR5bCJry1SIBVP/s200/yom_kippur.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Further Reading</span></b><br /><br />Marsha Bryan Edelman, Reform Judaism Magazine, "Sounds of Kol Nidre," <a href="http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1274">http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1274</a><br /><br />Chabad.org, "What Is Yom Kippur?": <a href="http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-is-Yom-Kippur.htm">http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-is-Yom-Kippur.htm</a></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="word-spacing: 1px;">Irene Connelly, "</span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="word-spacing: 1px;"><span>No streaming, no singing: here’s how High Holidays will work in Modern Orthodox synagogues<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">," <i>The Forward</i>, August 7, 2020, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+streaming" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search?<wbr></wbr>client=firefox-b-1-e&q=<wbr></wbr>Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+<wbr></wbr>streaming</a></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></span>Rhodora Dagatan, Toptens.com, "Top 10 Traditions on Yom Kippur": <a href="http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/">http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/</a><br /><br />Dan Ehrenkrantz, PBS.org Relgion and Ethics Newsweekly, "Interview with Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz" (on the Yom Kippur service): <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/september-26-2008/rabbi-dan-ehrenkrantz/648/">http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/september-26-2008/rabbi-dan-ehrenkrantz/648/</a> <br /><br />Encyclopedia Brittanica, "Kol Nidre": <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/321300/Kol-Nidre">http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/321300/Kol-Nidre</a><br />Holidays.net "The Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur": <a href="http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/yom.htm">http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/yom.htm</a><br /><br />Ellen Frankel, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, " "A Reconstructionist D'var Torah: Yom Kippur Unetanah Tokef -- In the Wake of the Decree":<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b> </b><a href="http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=195">http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=195</a></span><br /><br />Lewis Eron, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, "A Reconstructionist D'var Torah: Yom Kippur Eleh Ezkarah -- Sacrifice and Martyrdom": <a href="http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=196">http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=196</a><br /><br />Sherwood Goffin, The Kosher Spirit, "Kosher Music": <a href="http://www.kosherspirit.com/Article.asp?Issue=17&Article=217">http://www.kosherspirit.com/Article.asp?Issue=17&Article=217</a><br />Jewish Encyclopedia, "Kol Nidre," <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre">http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre</a><br /><br />Avi Lazerson, Jewishmag.com, "Customs and Traditions of Yom Kippur": <a href="http://www.jewishmag.com/47mag/yomkippur/yomkippur.htm">http://www.jewishmag.com/47mag/yomkippur/yomkippur.htm</a></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /><br />Elazar Meisels, Partners in Torah, "Yom Kippur in 60 Minutes (or Less)": <a href="http://www.partnersintorah.org/jewish-holidays/yomkippur">http://www.partnersintorah.org/jewish-holidays/yomkippur</a><br /><br />Shaul Rosenblatt, Aish.com, "Yom Kippur: A Day of Reconciliation": <a href="http://www.aish.com/h/hh/yom-kippur/theme/48970706.html?s=mpw">http://www.aish.com/h/hh/yom-kippur/theme/48970706.html?s=mpw</a><br /><br />Shraga Simmons, Scribd.com, "Exploring the Al Chet Prayer": <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/6390128/Al-Chet-Prayer">http://www.scribd.com/doc/6390128/Al-Chet-Prayer</a></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Liam Stack, "For a Second Year, Jews Mark the High Holy Days in the Shadow of Covid," New York Times, September 6, 2021, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/06/nyregion/nyc-jewish-high-holy-days.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/06/nyregion/nyc-jewish-high-holy-days.html</a><br /><br />Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.com, "Al Cheyt: For the Misdeeds We Have Done Before You": <a href="https://theshalomcenter.org/node/238">https://theshalomcenter.org/node/238</a><br /><br />Michael Weiss, Slate.com, "The Anti-Semite's Favorite Prayer" <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2008/10/the_antisemites_favorite_jewish_prayer.html">http://www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2008/10/the_antisemites_favorite_jewish_prayer.html</a><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources:</span></b><br /><br />Opening banner: <a href="http://www.theholidayspot.com/yomkippur/">http://www.theholidayspot.com/yomkippur/</a><br /><br />Book of life with scales: <a href="http://www.rats2u.com/clipart/holidays/clipart_holiday3.htm">http://www.rats2u.com/clipart/holidays/clipart_holiday3.htm</a><br /><br />Yom Kippur star: <a href="http://www.catch-allclipart.com/holiday/yom_kippurclipart.html">http://www.catch-allclipart.com/holiday/yom_kippurclipart.html</a><br /><br />No eating clip art: <a href="http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/">http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/</a><br /><br />Three regional variations of the Kol Nidre tune: <a href="http://d5iam0kjo36nw.cloudfront.net/V07p542001.jpg">http://d5iam0kjo36nw.cloudfront.net/V07p542001.jpg</a><br /><br />Yo-Yo Ma: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4955739">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4955739</a><br /><br />Johnny Mathis Kol Nidre album: <a href="http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg">http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg</a><br /><br />Kol Nidre in the Machzor of Worms, Germany: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg</a><br /><br />Worshipper striking breast: <a href="http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/">http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/</a><br /><br />Book of Life: <a href="http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/yomkipur/booklife.htm">http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/yomkipur/booklife.htm</a><br /><br />Leonard Cohen album: <a href="http://www.technodisco.net/img/tracks/l/leonard-cohen/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg">http://www.technodisco.net/img/tracks/l/leonard-cohen/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg</a><br /><br />Rose clip art: <a href="http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png">http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png</a><br /><br />Maurycy Gottlieb, <i>Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur</i> (1878): <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7536/1681/1600/yom_kippur_3.0.jpg">http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7536/1681/1600/yom_kippur_3.0.jpg</a><br /><br />Egg noodle kugel: <a href="http://hungrygerald.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/kugel.jpg">http://hungrygerald.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/kugel.jpg</a><br /><br />Cheese blintz: <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828">http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828</a><br /><br />Closing clip art: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_CXTsXzl_Bx33_zNgAdibxB66RNNs0h_dSXH5ettUVgmVbiSCx8n1lQhouXFsKUZxmLLeYup5-Htv4obxw_AyIKrsnoBs_QuAoycipI1frp7NKT-OQsS2cJd9AHeFZTOIL4hvANjl1E/s1600/yom_kippur.jpg">https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_CXTsXzl_Bx33_zNgAdibxB66RNNs0h_dSXH5ettUVgmVbiSCx8n1lQhouXFsKUZxmLLeYup5-Htv4obxw_AyIKrsnoBs_QuAoycipI1frp7NKT-OQsS2cJd9AHeFZTOIL4hvANjl1E/s1600/yom_kippur.jpg</a></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-23755037832736816072021-04-12T16:37:00.004-04:002021-05-12T16:24:08.403-04:00Ramadan 2021: Observances, Worldwide Customs and the Pandemic<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br />The Islamic obs</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">ervance of the holy month of Ramadan (</span>رمضان)<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> for 2021 </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">begins on (or near to, depending on the sighting of the moon) the evening of Thursday, April 12 and ends on the evening of Saturday, May 12 with the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">concluding holiday of </span><span style="font-family: "times";">Eid al Fitr. </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxkMOZXqlt1VDFYFqJgiM2C4hFCutbD9XM2wtWH36Rvhl13ivjtzQXjUtIEhDI91giQj-wdLnKu0zoIRjxY2kLO_s25dey8EEfOcFwQPuJEWw4UFKPSR0eEIm4iLDvIz8N3tovHHc4tv0/s401/Ramadan+mubarek.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="401" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxkMOZXqlt1VDFYFqJgiM2C4hFCutbD9XM2wtWH36Rvhl13ivjtzQXjUtIEhDI91giQj-wdLnKu0zoIRjxY2kLO_s25dey8EEfOcFwQPuJEWw4UFKPSR0eEIm4iLDvIz8N3tovHHc4tv0/w400-h126/Ramadan+mubarek.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As with all Islamic holidays, the actual date depends on the sightability of the moon. While the most commonly accepted date for 2021 is for sunset of April 12, some debate exists among certain sects as to whether the sighting of the moon should be on the same day as the sighting of the moon in Mecca or the day following. Because I have received criticism for stating one date only in the past, let me state clearly here that this overview is meant to be informational only and is in no way intended to indicate that one view or the other is correct.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">All students, employees and faculty who request it, should be accommodated. For most Muslims, the first and last days of Ramadan are usually spent in worship and students, employees and faculty should be excused from activities if requested. Some Muslims also observe an exclusion period in the mosque (</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><u><i>Iʿtikāf</i></u></span></span> ) during the last 10 days of Ramadan and may need accommodation. <br /><br />Importantly, during the entire month of Ramadan, believers fast during the daylight hours. Part of accommodation should therefore include discouraging others from eating or drinking in class or in other settings where attendance is mandatory. Consideration should also be given to requiring attendance at meetings where food is served (as in serving meals or snacks during the meeting).</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ramadan: Islam’s Holy Month</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span color="windowtext">Ramadan is a time of worship and contemplation in Islam. Ramadan is observed by all sects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The month of Ramadan – the ninth in the Islamic lunar calendar -- is also when it is believed the first verses of the Koran were sent down from heaven in 610 CE.</span><span color="windowtext" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">It should be noted, however, that this was not the Koran in its entirety which was revealed through the Prophet Mohammed <span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">(</span><span face="sans-serif" lang="ar" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" title="Arabic language text">عليه السلام</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">) during</span> a 23-year span (only concluding in 632 CE).</span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><br /></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5; text-align: center;"><span color="windowtext" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shared Ramadan Observances</span></b></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><br /></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">While Ramadan customs vary from culture to culture, almost all Muslims share in common the observances of fasting, prayer and the conclusion of the month with <i>Eid al-Fitr</i>. <span color="windowtext" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The observance of Ramadan is a central practice of the faith, and its observance is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.</span></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><b><u>Fasting or <i>Sawm</i> (<span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">صوم</span>)</u></b></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTjXAp54jHQzgVLRSQD6tQyaitmQLLHjcJhIbE7Ms91VyHq4xlO9H9SJW9GpcVS5CbkVbzPo7hwBcAwGCUvHXZN4cFc9MhUnlOW7Xg75ChnVdoQ9-Lw-1PiQvRz33nEUYFTL_8XbwY4Ql/s1600/untitled.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTjXAp54jHQzgVLRSQD6tQyaitmQLLHjcJhIbE7Ms91VyHq4xlO9H9SJW9GpcVS5CbkVbzPo7hwBcAwGCUvHXZN4cFc9MhUnlOW7Xg75ChnVdoQ9-Lw-1PiQvRz33nEUYFTL_8XbwY4Ql/s200/untitled.bmp" width="166" /></span></a></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Muslims observing Ramadan fast during daylight hours. The fast includes all food, drink, recreational drugs, sex and tobacco. Most Muslims also consider the fast to include a ban on evil thoughts, gossip, lying, cheating and fighting from dawn to sunset. </span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span color="windowtext" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Those observing Ramadan will usually want to break their fast at sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast or lunch meetings, snacks brought for a class and the like should be reconsidered accordingly. Also, even employees, students and others who may not always observe the prayer at the setting of the sun (Maghrib) may do so during this month (note that if it is not possible for students to pray at the appointed times, they are permitted to pray as soon as they can after that – which might, for example, affect an student’s willingness to stay after class or an employee to stay late for a project). </span><span color="windowtext">Each day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the<i> iftar (</i><span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">إفطار</span> ).</span></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><i>Taraweeh</i> ( <span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">تراويح</span>) and the Recitation of the Koran</u></b></span></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C2-Lcnujze0RJIBg6PL-yDza3_RaPmwYRPuEDmHeesHQ7OWbqDRboG82yyhnYaSf7Qlt_BBBqehYaNi9shIh3s_YSCESymhgdjnkynjWC8HN_oZRlvtLgCOFHg79EKkS54c3VrIaI4I5/s1600/1282647222988584111mosque_svg_med.png" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C2-Lcnujze0RJIBg6PL-yDza3_RaPmwYRPuEDmHeesHQ7OWbqDRboG82yyhnYaSf7Qlt_BBBqehYaNi9shIh3s_YSCESymhgdjnkynjWC8HN_oZRlvtLgCOFHg79EKkS54c3VrIaI4I5/s200/1282647222988584111mosque_svg_med.png" width="161" /></span></a></div><div style="mso-outline-level: 5;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the evening following the <i>iftar</i> it is common for many people to go to the mosque for <i>Taraweeh</i> or night prayers. Many also go to visit family and friends and recite the prayers together there. Some schools of thought consider <i>Taraweeh</i> compulsory while others consider the prayers voluntary but strongly encouraged. The actually number and nature of the pairs of <span class="Unicode" title="Semitic transliteration"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>rakaʿāt </i>recited also vary according to sect and custom. Because feelings run very deeply on this issue and I do not wish to in any way appear to endorse one practice or another, it may be best to refer to the reading lists at the end of this post to read about these different views.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Many Muslims recite out loud the whole Koran during the month of Ramadan. This is in imitation of what the Prophet Mohammed <span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">(</span><span face="sans-serif" lang="ar" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" title="Arabic language text">عليه السلام</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">)</span> during his lifetime. Some families have a tradition of gathering together as an extended family or in groups of friends to recite the Koran as a group activity. In nations with Muslim majority populations or in which Islam is the state religion, the recitation of the Koran is often broadcast over radio and television stations. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u><i>Iʿtikāf</i> ( <span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">اعتكاف</span>)</u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_FbWD3pZaRjKkYtYw0vX-NjK05E0SnU2d0zDD-rqMfFDYU2MwLXxn9vbbXpRRhK3Xec2bcJKlwqQh_otC7_0uUUdxxWvYBZP8Ukc_KAiGNOPvhNfACpdc-S2S591S9RG_yY6sBLvmopl/s1600/laylat-al-qadr.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_FbWD3pZaRjKkYtYw0vX-NjK05E0SnU2d0zDD-rqMfFDYU2MwLXxn9vbbXpRRhK3Xec2bcJKlwqQh_otC7_0uUUdxxWvYBZP8Ukc_KAiGNOPvhNfACpdc-S2S591S9RG_yY6sBLvmopl/s200/laylat-al-qadr.jpg" width="158" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lailat ul Qadr</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Though not a requirement, many Muslims choose to go into a state of <span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Iʿtikāf</i> or seclusion (usually in a mosque) for a period during Ramadan. This is most commonly for the last ten days of Ramadan so that they can be praying and reading the Koran on <i>Lailat ul Qadr. </i></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Lailat ul Qadr </i>or the Night of Power was the night in which the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed <span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">(</span><span face="sans-serif" lang="ar" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" title="Arabic language text">عليه السلام</span>. The Koran teaches that "<i>Lailat ul Qadr </i>is better than a thousand months" (<i>Sura </i>97: 3) and so prayers are much greater in power then. Nevertheless, the actual night of <i>Lailat ul Qadr </i>remains unknown, except that it occurs within the last ten days (some believe last five days) of Ramadan.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>Conclusion of Ramadan with<i> Eid al-Fitr</i></u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Depending on sightability of the moon,</span> the evening of Thursday, May 12 will be the start of Eid al-Fitr.<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> T</span>he festival marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan and, indeed, the Arabic (<span dir="rtl" lang="ar">عيد الفطر</span>) </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">translates as "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast." Eid al-Fitr is sometimes called "Lesser Eid" to differentiate it from</span><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2020/07/eid-al-adha-2020.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> Eid al-Adha</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> (or "Big Eid" written about separately </span><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2020/07/eid-al-adha-2020.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">).</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eid al-Fitr is traditionally a time for meals with the extended family and friends that lasts for two or three days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_t92KTIJdB1STQqhSvcYdMUZA2_cwas61jbzUanw9dIoSmzuUiF1Wud8BpIwaX75gfh1seIHFTIOjfBnzmL0xcTg4P-Xd4AOtLSEthHJzXeSInZWjxXhFvgSVmcUnn0GgViIAp1xcy5l/s1536/Palestine+ghraybeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_t92KTIJdB1STQqhSvcYdMUZA2_cwas61jbzUanw9dIoSmzuUiF1Wud8BpIwaX75gfh1seIHFTIOjfBnzmL0xcTg4P-Xd4AOtLSEthHJzXeSInZWjxXhFvgSVmcUnn0GgViIAp1xcy5l/w124-h166/Palestine+ghraybeh.jpg" width="124" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Palestinian ghraybeh</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table> Customarily, people break the fast with sweets, so sometimes the holiday is known as "Sweet Eid". The sweet foods represent the "sweet" end to Ramadan. These sweets vary from country to country. In Turkey and Bosnia, <i>baclava</i> is traditional (although what constitutes proper <i>baclava</i> varies). In the eastern Mediterranean, cookies (biscuits) are the central treat though again the type of cookie varies. Ghraybeh (Palestinian Eid cookies) are S-shaped shortbread stuffed with pistachios. More foods are described below.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Muslims also give <i>Zakat</i> (<i> </i><span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">زكاة</span>) or alms to the poor throughout Ramadan. Muslims especially give alms to the poor in honor of Eid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This is called <i>Zakat al-Eid. </i></span> Typically, people give a donation (in food or cash or both) to the poor. Many Muslim communities set up charity tables and public food kitchens or booths for the poor Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of a month of particular piety and dedication to God, the holiday is also a time for giving forgiveness and praying for peace and unity.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The traditional Arabic greeting for the Eid is “Eid mubarak” which more or less translates as “Blessed Eid” or just “Happy Eid” (which can be said as well, of course).</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ramadan and the COVID-19 </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Pandemic </span></b><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This year in 2021 for Ramadan -- as was the case last year in 2020 -- Muslims must consider how the global COVID-19 pandemic will affect the holy month.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Restrictions around the world demand social distancing, curfews and stay-at-home lockdown laws in place to fight the spread of the virus. This, in turn, restricts gatherings for <i>iftar</i> and public charity tables and centers. These are now banned or heavily curtailed in most countries. Likewise Ramadan in many countries is a time of crowded street stalls and bazaars selling food, clothing and more. These too have been shut down or heavily limited because of the need to curb the spread of the virus.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />For example, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/oman-orders-night-time-movement-restrictions-during-ramadan-1.1197726" target="_blank">Oman, at the most extreme lockdown </a>, has banned<i> tarawih</i> prayers and <i>iftar</i> gatherings altogether while prohibiting all nighttime commercial activities and even the use of vehicles. Oman is also closing its borders to all non-Omanis throughout Ramadan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Almost as<a href="https://www.dohanews.co/breaking-qatar-ramps-up-restrictions-on-countrys-deadliest-covid-19-day/" target="_blank"> restrictive is Qatar,</a> which is dealing with a far worse COVID-19 wave than in 2020. Qatar has limited gatherings to a maximum of 5 people and only for those who are fully vaccinated. And while Qatar allows mosques to remain open during the day, as in Oman, mosques are prohibited from holding<i> tarawih</i> prayers. Nighttime curfews will remain in place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">Jordan has closed mosques for Friday prayers throughout Ramadan <span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">and instituted a curfew from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM -- one of the longest curfews in place. By way of contrast, </span><a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/tarawih-prayer-returns-to-mosques-in-arab-nations/2202669" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Algeria's curfew</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> runs from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM while even with its strong precautionary measures, Qatar's curfew runs only from 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tunisia-strengthens-virus-restrictions-ahead-of-ramadan/2021/04/08/50dec8b6-986c-11eb-8f0a-3384cf4fb399_story.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Tunisia has banned all public and private gatherings</a> <span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">and, </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">while stopping short of a nationwide lockdown, has closed all weekly markets and increased enforcement of social distancing and mask-wearing for the Holy month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I<a href="https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/legal/story/UAE_Ramadan_COVID19_rules_Avoid_Iftar_gatherings_tents_banned-SNG_204431026?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles" target="_blank">n the United Arab Emirates</a>, <i>tarawih</i> and <i>isha </i>prayers at mosques are restricted to no longer than 30 minutes. Gatherings are limited only to members of the same family already living in the same house while iftar meals at mosques, in tents and in (or in front of) homes and restaurants are banned altogether. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf/saudi-arabia/ramadan-2021-in-saudi-arabia-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-holy-month-during-covid-19-1.1198145" target="_blank">Saudi Arabia is allowing mosques to remain open this year,</a> although Friday sermons are limited to 10 minutes and <i>tarawih</i> prayers to 30 minutes. Those entering Mecca to perform umrah will be closely monitored for valid permits (including proof of complete vaccination) and for maintaining social distancing and mask-wearing. These standards contrast markedly to last year when the KSA ordered not only the shortening of prayers with public attendance at the Two Holy Mosques at Medina and Mecca, but the closure of all other mosques. Saudi Arabia will again prohibit <i>iftar</i> or other public gatherings at mosques, tents or outside banquets. This year's opening, however, remains tentative as <a href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/1832561/saudi-arabia" target="_blank">Dr. Nasser Tawfiq explained “With the continued increase in COVID-19 infections in the Kingdom, a decision may be made to prevent prayer in mosques.”</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Islam's third holiest place, the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, is also open this year when it had been closed to public attendance in 2020. </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">The <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/ramadan-2021-and-covid-19-are-mosques-open-in-my-country-1.1199848">Waqf (which oversees the mosque) has encouraged people </a>to be vaccinated before attending but does not appear to have an enforcement system in place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Iran, following its Naw Ruz (see my </span><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/naw-ruz.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">earlier post</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">) has found itself in the center of a fourth surge, this time of the highly contagious UK COVID-19 variant. As a result, Iran has imposed for most of </span><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/10/iran-imposes-10-day-restrictions-amid-explosive-covid-rise" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">the country a 10-day lockdown that began on April 10 and so in force at the start of Ramadan. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-indonesia-bans-ramadan-exodus-vaccine-travel-14499328" target="_blank">Indonesia</a> has banned the traditional Mudik, or mass migration to home towns, for 2021. Traditionally Indonesia -- the nation with the world's largest Muslim population -- sees roughly 30 million people traveling over the last five days of Ramadan.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/ramadan-2021-and-covid-19-are-mosques-open-in-my-country-1.1199848">Morocco and Turkey </a>have called for tarawih prayers at home but will maintain their current lockdowns.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/ramadan-2021-and-covid-19-are-mosques-open-in-my-country-1.1199848" target="_blank">Lebanon</a> is keeping all mosques, but with 30% capacity limits. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/muslims-navigate-restrictions-in-the-second-pandemic-ramadan/2021/04/12/50478e04-9b52-11eb-b2f5-7d2f0182750d_story.html" target="_blank">Some major Muslim countries have, however, bucked the trend</a> and left open or re-opened mosques. Iraq has no restrictions and Egypt only restricts staying overnight in their mosques. Afghanistan has left everything up to the individual worshipper. Kuwait maintains a night-time curfew but has only restricted mosques for women. Malaysia, which in 2020 had closed Ramadan bazaars and tarawih prayers, has allowed both this year (although with safety protocols still in place). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/1671296/world" target="_blank">Bangladesh has actually reversed its lockdown for Ramadan</a>. After a month of mosques being closed during the pandemic, Bangladesh -- the country with the fourth largest Muslim population -- has re-opened all mosques for the Holy Month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/813195-ramadan-2021-mosques-in-pakistan-to-remain-open-for-taraweeh" target="_blank">Pakistan,</a> which has the world's second largest population has kept mosques open with minor limitations. These include bringing one's</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> own prayer rug, limiting mosque attendance to those under 50 and restricting <i>iftar</i> at mosques. Yet last year,<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/muslims-navigate-restrictions-in-the-second-pandemic-ramadan/2021/04/12/50478e04-9b52-11eb-b2f5-7d2f0182750d_story.html"> most Pakistanis flouted the restrictions </a>and concerns of lack of enforcement remain strong for this year as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Finally, in Muslim-minority countries mosques (as most religious sites such as churches and synagogues) will remain closed for Ramadan as in <a href="https://www.archyde.com/muslims-in-europe-start-fasting-in-the-month-of-ramadan-on-tuesday/" target="_blank">Belgium</a>,<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210320-inter-regional-travel-prohibited-schools-remain-open-france-s-new-partial-lockdown-rules" target="_blank"> France</a>, limited in number of attendees or closed during night hours as in the <a href="https://nltimes.nl/2021/04/10/call-muslims-netherland-celebrate-ramadan-home-without-guests" target="_blank">Netherlands</a>, or left to individual communities. In other countries, mosques are opened but Islamophobic attacks have become so pervasive that many worshippers may fear attending services. This is especially the case in <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-11/islam-australia-mosques-hate-crimes-amid-month-ramadan/100015436">Australia</a> where roughly 1/3 of the nation's mosques have been targeted by hate crimes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What follows in the section below is a description of traditional Ramadan traditions in different countries. Almost all of these include public gatherings. Likewise the discussion above regarding joining in groups to break the fast and to go to the mosque involve large gatherings as well. Beyond the share observances described above, customs vary from country to country. Only a few of these are described below (but please add in the comment section those from your own traditions). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"></div><br /> <div dir="rtl" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ramadan Customs Around the World</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beyond the share observances described above, customs vary from country to country. Only a few of these are described below (but please add in the comment section those from your own traditions). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Albania</span></u></b><br /><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramadan (in Albanian Ramazani) has particular significance in Albania. Under Communist rule, Albanians were prohibited from signs of worship. Ramadan was significant, though, since fasting could not be detected by the atheist authorities. With the end of the repressive regime of Enver Hoxha in 1991, though, public worship for Muslims and Eastern Orthodox Christians alike began to flourish. It is significant that virtually no religious conflict occurs between Muslims and Christians in Albania (unlike the neighboring countries of the former Yugoslavia where religion had not been banned). Indeed, at Ramadan, Muslim children now commonly share trays of Ramadan treats with their Christian counterparts just as the Christian children share Easter eggs with their Muslim friends. It is also not uncommon for Muslims to be invited Christians to their homes to break the fast with them even though the Christians were not fasting, and some Christians hold meals for breaking the fast in their own homes for their Muslim friends.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcOIBo5Wqc-tB3KKdcFIBHHTEhoi6TtE8_uvVCS95RP2Wgdnj8qozJyVZXkN_lKYR2-8Vb7BwdhRqYAx5Li1sCH1nBnq3uCpeBCz4vWe-f_yG-z-HT3I46NdLLyv5HC3nKZxryepCzGEo/s1600/Albanian+lodra.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcOIBo5Wqc-tB3KKdcFIBHHTEhoi6TtE8_uvVCS95RP2Wgdnj8qozJyVZXkN_lKYR2-8Vb7BwdhRqYAx5Li1sCH1nBnq3uCpeBCz4vWe-f_yG-z-HT3I46NdLLyv5HC3nKZxryepCzGEo/s200/Albanian+lodra.jpg" width="136" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the fall of Communism, the Ramadan drumming of the <i>lodra </i>through the streets is common again. The <i>lodra</i> is the national instrument and appears on images for Radio Tirana. Men go through the streets beating a <i>lodra</i> so that people wake up to eat can eat before the sun rises. The man returns beating the <i>lodra</i> as the sun sets to announce the breaking of the fast. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-8rCEol3OSis_3OS97rrEWUjSDHY72UaNlxZBxRQZp4XImSbxYYwAXfi78F_FrWnC5fyOPsTS9LT1SgOYHqTsQ00_yf2I8eSwr19U0MiZR3v1LtTSbdYEGzPljNgPl_T6vdrkSH0ds2e/s1600/byrek" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-8rCEol3OSis_3OS97rrEWUjSDHY72UaNlxZBxRQZp4XImSbxYYwAXfi78F_FrWnC5fyOPsTS9LT1SgOYHqTsQ00_yf2I8eSwr19U0MiZR3v1LtTSbdYEGzPljNgPl_T6vdrkSH0ds2e/s200/byrek" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Albanian <i>byrek</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While Albanians offer a wide variety of food in different parts of the couuntry to break the fast, one of the most common Ramadan specialties is <i>byrek</i>. This is a a fried pastry made of phyllo dough and stuffed with spinach, meat or milk curd. People eat <i>byrek </i>cold or heated up depending on preference. A recipe for Albanian <i>byrek</i> is available at </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Albanian_Byrek"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Albanian_Byrek</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>Egypt</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Egypt comes alive at night during Ramadan. Shops, often closed during the day, stay open into to 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning and buildings are strung with lights and other decorations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPiEEwFgE31Lx7hvYyxs0FmqEVGecNHazb1mYpVVWgwWU8yZSVW4tw6wM0FFYjjPaLH0anrHbptUxFbZWNG-DzVe7KlA6qKUlRp6NGFzeAIGbLA6klkUC2upoXRv04Zc-Tpcbuy3Bb6Cz/s1600/ramadanlanterns6.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPiEEwFgE31Lx7hvYyxs0FmqEVGecNHazb1mYpVVWgwWU8yZSVW4tw6wM0FFYjjPaLH0anrHbptUxFbZWNG-DzVe7KlA6qKUlRp6NGFzeAIGbLA6klkUC2upoXRv04Zc-Tpcbuy3Bb6Cz/s200/ramadanlanterns6.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Fanoos</i> lanterns for sale</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in Cairo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Children celebrate Ramadan with a <i>fanoos</i> or traditional Ramadan lantern. These lantern are constructed of tin with colored glass (or sometimes plastic) panes through which shines the light from a candle placed in side.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">One particularity for Egypt is fairly modern as Egypt grew to become center for Arabic-language television. To mark Ramadan, the Egyptian entertainment industry introduces over half of all Egyptian TV serials produced each year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXr14O61qvXk9vpXao7FgXMwnIVBn2PYdmIaD07Bhuj8W1C2-EeZg30KjBoyvBIfbP8xYwbUn2j4tlFr_L3DyR9Y84oTJOT-uMTkbYVKbn65DplLWbGnSYB40JyWbR7bDqCnzvo_MZQo4/s1600/vegetables-ful-medames-flickr-dlisbona-379337899_thumbnail.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXr14O61qvXk9vpXao7FgXMwnIVBn2PYdmIaD07Bhuj8W1C2-EeZg30KjBoyvBIfbP8xYwbUn2j4tlFr_L3DyR9Y84oTJOT-uMTkbYVKbn65DplLWbGnSYB40JyWbR7bDqCnzvo_MZQo4/s1600/vegetables-ful-medames-flickr-dlisbona-379337899_thumbnail.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ful medames</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Special foods also mark Ramadan in Egypt. Traditionally, Egyptians begin their morning meal with <i>f</i><i>ul medames. </i>Often considered Egypt's national dish, <i>ful medames</i> dates back to the time of ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs. The dish is made of fava beans simmered together with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and other spices. One recipe for <i>ful medames </i>is available at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ful-Medames-Egyptian-Brown-Fava-Beans-352993">http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ful-Medames-Egyptian-Brown-Fava-Beans-352993</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">The traditional Ramadan drink of Egypt is called <i>Qamar el-din. </i>This is made from sheets of dried apricot paste boiled in water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>India and Pakistan</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHrQOSUXXruQACZhgeW4Pahnu6YL3N6F2hUnLxI6jOqQtboco8WNNLbplQYDObx0mSzVDXJuXdwS2n6dE9yBnToTmN6ZiaayaZqMzdCLiajuaNMSMnB3jPHhSrjKyDLprtpZMIehHX8mT/s1600/Henna+hands.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHrQOSUXXruQACZhgeW4Pahnu6YL3N6F2hUnLxI6jOqQtboco8WNNLbplQYDObx0mSzVDXJuXdwS2n6dE9yBnToTmN6ZiaayaZqMzdCLiajuaNMSMnB3jPHhSrjKyDLprtpZMIehHX8mT/s200/Henna+hands.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hands decorated with henna</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In India and Pakistan, Muslim girls traditionally dress festively with gold or multicolored bracelets and bangles. It is common for Ramadan in general -- and especially for Eid-- for girls to paint each others’ hands with mehndi (henna designs). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXPLxZUtXzvWqRuYTfFcLuLCiqYclJhLhI1Jse2T9UpgGbdlhYj1NSimw3-37u9hpyCUWgEKu00iNHHm6l7WAoQqCnJadmOjkPlY9XNqP9fM96-EVC4N7WcREg-k-Wer1FdxOz_PhgoRT/s1600/samosa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXPLxZUtXzvWqRuYTfFcLuLCiqYclJhLhI1Jse2T9UpgGbdlhYj1NSimw3-37u9hpyCUWgEKu00iNHHm6l7WAoQqCnJadmOjkPlY9XNqP9fM96-EVC4N7WcREg-k-Wer1FdxOz_PhgoRT/s200/samosa.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samosas</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While Ramadan foods vary from region to region throughout India and Pakistan, one food common to <i>iftar </i>throughout both countries is the <i>samosa</i>. A <i>samosa</i> is a fried, triangle-shaped pastry stuffed with any number of fillings. These can include vegetables, meat, chicken, potatoes and more.This accompanied with a dipping chutney of, from among others, mint, coriander, tamarind. In fact, there are so many varieties of <i>samosas</i>, that an entire site is dedicated to them at</span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="http://www.samosa-recipe.com/">http://www.samosa-recipe.com/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indonesia</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr2EMWBccAX60lNFPGDTRTp2vfvZsoCNv9I_LCd9dxj_UDXeirPci173HZdauZqmT0rSIBHUyXxgnzdL8xU9lddkRSOsm2Cbh0cokGNgUvhQ0pdMXjvvJPqGGsM9NiwG1pZhUf5VVIItq/s1600/bedug.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr2EMWBccAX60lNFPGDTRTp2vfvZsoCNv9I_LCd9dxj_UDXeirPci173HZdauZqmT0rSIBHUyXxgnzdL8xU9lddkRSOsm2Cbh0cokGNgUvhQ0pdMXjvvJPqGGsM9NiwG1pZhUf5VVIItq/s1600/bedug.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bedug</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The end of the day's fast in Indonesia is traditionally heralded by pounding of the <i>bedug</i>, a special drum for the occasion. Even in urban areas where an actual <i>bedug </i>may not be played, broadcasts of the sound of the drum are broadcast over radios and televisions. On the last night of Ramadan (called Lebaran), <i>bedug </i>players are often joined by large groups of musicians who play well into the night in a celebrative parade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitABm6Hh13OuOMClzCw2yzNwKRrNBpau5jnhO7qW50LIZFQnIX-F0c3zq-PlAWmDqfjpnf6w2nhw88iMxZ7ielQRqcdTPPcJ8bJMTZTQV8PHsVakbNKx85km3QiE-VSrKqIfPOpnndKnRU/s1600/Indonesian+panjat+pinang+pole+climbing.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitABm6Hh13OuOMClzCw2yzNwKRrNBpau5jnhO7qW50LIZFQnIX-F0c3zq-PlAWmDqfjpnf6w2nhw88iMxZ7ielQRqcdTPPcJ8bJMTZTQV8PHsVakbNKx85km3QiE-VSrKqIfPOpnndKnRU/s200/Indonesian+panjat+pinang+pole+climbing.bmp" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Panjat pinang </i>pole-climbing</b> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In many Indonesia towns and especially in Jakarta, <i>panjat pinang </i>pole-climbing competitions are held at Ramadan. The poles are made from nut trees that have been smoothed down and covered with grease. No one person is usually able to climb the pole, so the climbing is usually a group effort. At the top of the pole are a collection of small prizes called <i>panjat pinang. </i>When someone reaches the top and grabs any of the prizes, they share them with those who helped them up the pole.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the end of Ramada on Eid al-Fitr (called Idul Fitri in Bahasa Indonesia), it is customary in most Indonesian villages to go on <i>Mohon Maaf</i> visits following morning prayers. <i>Mohon Maaf</i> comes from the phrase “<i>Mohon Maaf Lahir Batin</i>” which means "forgive me from the bottom of my heart for my wrongdoings in the past year." Generally, the visits go in order of the most senior member of a family down and at each house, with food provided at each stop along the way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yv2fNYauRPF6mxhTjMB6tZZj05gX8lpYuAVxU0DyghEduzuBCAITwSw9dCcmakgX-vjT0rmKkHXyjHuIxup1Rj5xusBw4hclmvFYlFb3dhFjVnJbczAflFU6ZWdl581DkRvUwKxHo7FY/s1600/ramadan-indonesia2_1712808i.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yv2fNYauRPF6mxhTjMB6tZZj05gX8lpYuAVxU0DyghEduzuBCAITwSw9dCcmakgX-vjT0rmKkHXyjHuIxup1Rj5xusBw4hclmvFYlFb3dhFjVnJbczAflFU6ZWdl581DkRvUwKxHo7FY/s200/ramadan-indonesia2_1712808i.jpg" width="139" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <b>Indonesians trapped in traffic </b></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in Karawang at conclusion of Eid al-Fitr</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many Indonesians have roots in the countryside even if they live in the large cities. This poses a special problem for Indonesia each year at Ramadan, as millions of people leave the cities for their hometowns. While many people in other countries leave for their hometowns as well at Ramadan, the situation is arguably at its most extreme in Indonesia. The expatriate information site "Living in Indonesia" estimated that last year for Ramadan 2011 over 7 million people left Jakarta alone to go visit their traditional homes. The crush of traffic at both the beginning and end of Ramadan therefore predictably overtaxes the national transportation infrastructure each year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>Malaysia</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxopd51tgVjGB3xsw-puzzLkdkyKUkn9f_l0acr-9QIQVeq2H93CzSnSIPHPleGZBh3DYwCrmMUD7mGF3H7bZaSe21qrWPQ31k-IMNlgd_l-rI-4QKnHdyVr-9uc2Y9hDnHUqcEFBdC7U/s1600/Ramadan_2.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxopd51tgVjGB3xsw-puzzLkdkyKUkn9f_l0acr-9QIQVeq2H93CzSnSIPHPleGZBh3DYwCrmMUD7mGF3H7bZaSe21qrWPQ31k-IMNlgd_l-rI-4QKnHdyVr-9uc2Y9hDnHUqcEFBdC7U/s200/Ramadan_2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Malays shopping for flowers</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">for Ramadan</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For Malays, people traditionally visit not only living relatives but also to visit graveyards to visit those relatives who have passed on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Ramadan is often a time of brightly-colored decorations and clothing among Malays. Many people decorate their homes with flowers and women in particular often wear colorful headscarves. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIAmGnX2BSdMigUEWLc1DVRHTok0C2GoF-3L1HxwdQBLCpRKs_dL9HPqQLUpTcBmSQrb8VJV2T8hnT_i2IPsS28GEpfDbmZ89vhVsFOTZ31gWuEPvIlnWoCBR_7WgpZa8d3YKYCKjFQQT/s1600/Ramadan+Market,+KL.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIAmGnX2BSdMigUEWLc1DVRHTok0C2GoF-3L1HxwdQBLCpRKs_dL9HPqQLUpTcBmSQrb8VJV2T8hnT_i2IPsS28GEpfDbmZ89vhVsFOTZ31gWuEPvIlnWoCBR_7WgpZa8d3YKYCKjFQQT/s200/Ramadan+Market,+KL.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Ramadan Bazaar</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in Kuala Lumpur</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Throughout Malaysia on Ramadan, it is common to see "Ramadan bazaars." These are Ramadan counterparts to the year-round Malaysian night markets (<i>pasar malam</i>). Instead of opening at night, though, the Ramadan markets open in the late afternoon as people buy their food for the evening post-fasting meal. It should be noted that in Malaysia's multicultural society, the Ramadan bazaars are very popular with non-Muslims and Muslims alike.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qatar</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBBBX8cvNFbisHr7J9y-8CmE1BVmcv90N07QT7VQHhNOtkFkeF30S8ECTouBrZz11q_oENBwvAsFbPc35s9KwxS2G-pOVuDNZzRymEwuo3uPhAUL3IFw-Z1R47wSq2iQB_7JUD3BGj41w/s1600/garanga2+Qatar.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBBBX8cvNFbisHr7J9y-8CmE1BVmcv90N07QT7VQHhNOtkFkeF30S8ECTouBrZz11q_oENBwvAsFbPc35s9KwxS2G-pOVuDNZzRymEwuo3uPhAUL3IFw-Z1R47wSq2iQB_7JUD3BGj41w/s320/garanga2+Qatar.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qatari children dressed for <i>Garangao</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qataris celebrate the 14th day of Ramadan with a special celebration called <i>Garangao</i>. The night of <i>Garangao </i>is a children's celebration. Children dress in traditional clothing, sing a special <i>Garangao </i>song for their families at home and are rewarded with sweets. </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After this, the tradition is somewhat akin to the North American Halloween as the children go door to door for what is called a "nutting night out" as the children collect nuts and other treats from neighbors. Some Kuwaiti children, like their counterparts in Qatar, also celebrate <i>Garangao </i>in the middle of the holy month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>Kuwait</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QFeD97GLF9eQPV_Ga7IP0wut_UVkKKaDHFNHXOX3VwHD73PJFeL_BZqPr86x3aGjw-I1btMsPr-pCUwiKleKrNAX0RpvpuZM9Qp48WZxA5dZMAV5kDoKE0e-n86HlubCXfOFPHnR2N5H/s1600/kuwait-canon.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QFeD97GLF9eQPV_Ga7IP0wut_UVkKKaDHFNHXOX3VwHD73PJFeL_BZqPr86x3aGjw-I1btMsPr-pCUwiKleKrNAX0RpvpuZM9Qp48WZxA5dZMAV5kDoKE0e-n86HlubCXfOFPHnR2N5H/s200/kuwait-canon.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Firing the cannon</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">at Naif Palace</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the arrival of the first cannon in Kuwait in 1907, it has been a tradition at Naif Palace in Kuwait City to fire a cannon shot to mark the end of the fast. It is customary to bring children to the gather around the cannon before <i>iftar</i> so they can celebrate in the blast. In recent years, the children have been joined by tourists -- both Muslim and non-Muslim alike -- for whom the blasts have become a Ramadan attraction. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34F9oaYWhw0yzZZyKBTXLWJ-bl6BH3gmxvhXr48IltW2rv8wTpaZ5UODXFCNElLlj1zb8oKCo3a_4zCqMa74rs2L5-a1I-Tonx8hTpnaDKOLDWaIbvJ6JZW7-qQ6QJnyqDQXQqmxjBN3t/s1600/300px-Loukoumades.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34F9oaYWhw0yzZZyKBTXLWJ-bl6BH3gmxvhXr48IltW2rv8wTpaZ5UODXFCNElLlj1zb8oKCo3a_4zCqMa74rs2L5-a1I-Tonx8hTpnaDKOLDWaIbvJ6JZW7-qQ6QJnyqDQXQqmxjBN3t/s200/300px-Loukoumades.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luqmat Al-Qadi</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the eve of the first night of Ramadan, Kuwaitis celebrate with a pre-Ramadan festivity called <i>Graish</i>. At <i>Graish</i>, people gather with family and friends and welcome the holiday with the foods traditional to Ramadan in Kuwait. These include dates and special sweets such as <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Luqmat Al-Qadi. </i><i>Luqmat Al-Qadi</i> </span>are balls of dough mixed with saffron, cardamom, milk and butter that are boiled in fat and then rolled in syrup or sugar. A recipe for <i>Luqmat al-Qadi</i> can be found at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://helpcook.blogspot.com/2009/10/luqmat-al-qadi-arabic-sweet-balls.html"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://helpcook.blogspot.com/2009/10/luqmat-al-qadi-arabic-sweet-balls.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Incidentally during Ottoman times, <i>Luqmat al-Qadi</i> made its way from the Gulf countries to Turkey as <i>lokma </i>and Greece as <i>loukmades. </i> <i>Luqmat al-Qadi</i> is also the source from which the Indian and Pakistani <i>gulab jaman</i> originally derived.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kyrgyzstan</span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b>Traditionally at Ramadan, the Kyrgyz accompany their evening meal with drinks made from special Ramadan <i>kurut. </i>A <i>kurut</i> is a dried yogurt ball.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrmauVN7IBPLIBxPMvkRh3HNo6bHaRmR-mPO1t-fGJjBXz3r6LQwwpz_5ugP5Er7Uq1nhnz2TVM-reXZK6ZECpgV1yyZgAvf-J0Ndrd0YGTftPbGYzzE099VS6eYw9ijD3Z_FkWeqBlMk/s1600/Kurut+balls%252C+Kyrgyzstan.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrmauVN7IBPLIBxPMvkRh3HNo6bHaRmR-mPO1t-fGJjBXz3r6LQwwpz_5ugP5Er7Uq1nhnz2TVM-reXZK6ZECpgV1yyZgAvf-J0Ndrd0YGTftPbGYzzE099VS6eYw9ijD3Z_FkWeqBlMk/s200/Kurut+balls%252C+Kyrgyzstan.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Ramadan </b><b style="font-style: italic;">kurut </b><b>balls<br />Osh Bazaar, Bishkek</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Normal <i>kurut </i>are fairly small and extremely salty. By contrast, the special Ramadan <i>kurut</i> are roughly the size of someone's fist and are much salty. While regular, small-sized <i>kurut </i>are available all year long where they are sold throughout the country in plastic jars, the special Ramadan <i>kurut </i>are much harder to come by, and as a result are a special thing for most Kyrgyz. These special Ramadan <i>kurut</i> are sold only in the Osh Bazaar in the capital city of Bishkek.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Kyrgyz use Ramadan <i>kurut</i> to make a variety of Ramadan beverages. The balls are dissolved in carbonated water and mixed with tomatoes and onions for a savory drink. The balls are dissolved in hot water and mixed with sugar and creamy oil for a dessert drink. In either case, the <i>kurut</i> drinks are special for the holiday and represent a one-time-a-year tradition.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mauritania</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramadan in Mauritania is a time when traditional games are played, especially among women. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is particularly unusual in this tradition is that the games are primarily played by women in what is otherwise a primarily male-oriented society when it comes to competitions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the Mohamed Yahya Abdel Wedoud in his article "Mauritanians mark Ramadan with traditional games and neighbourly visits" explains: </span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After prayers, traditional games such as <i>ekrour</i> and <i>essik</i> dominate the Ramadan nightlife, especially for women. Women throughout the country form teams and compete with each other.</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <a href="http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/09/03/feature-02">http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/09/03/feature-02</a></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDjBH_mAoYY5fTJ5Ynpcs0akwEdXzjZySyOZ0Pij7OP01hZLo18168U3mExLDHD8KgI5DZtFSAj5kO1Ri891liQpB3GA79K-yUlAGOjwYpR0v3ejt4r9YUjQmFwltMVW6HSOmHecs5E6-/s1600/Mauritanian+woman+playing+traditional+game.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDjBH_mAoYY5fTJ5Ynpcs0akwEdXzjZySyOZ0Pij7OP01hZLo18168U3mExLDHD8KgI5DZtFSAj5kO1Ri891liQpB3GA79K-yUlAGOjwYpR0v3ejt4r9YUjQmFwltMVW6HSOmHecs5E6-/s320/Mauritanian+woman+playing+traditional+game.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Mauritanian woman playing traditional Ramadan game</b><i style="text-align: left;"> </i><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>Morocco</u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsrDv1tLPU3fvnpc4WdOX4UI36mYNjPm0tjLu-TBeEBNdG0a2TzhZ49r3VVzpl79T0BuRD0cuHUBlJ8a4RBMKFAoGalkvgl3_gajCYE4LLWBqKAVRuSH5L4BlyeuMrfd88cuG2d16GGb/s1600/n%2527far+Morocco.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsrDv1tLPU3fvnpc4WdOX4UI36mYNjPm0tjLu-TBeEBNdG0a2TzhZ49r3VVzpl79T0BuRD0cuHUBlJ8a4RBMKFAoGalkvgl3_gajCYE4LLWBqKAVRuSH5L4BlyeuMrfd88cuG2d16GGb/s320/n%2527far+Morocco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Morrocan <i>n'far </i>blowing his horn</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">In Morocco, a tradition exists in which a <i>n'</i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>far </i>(a special Ramadan equivalent to a town crier) walks down the streets playing a long, one-note <i>n'far </i>horn (similar to a brass vuvuzela) in the morning to wake everyone up in time for the last meal before sunrise. In many towns, being selected as the <i>n'far </i>is a high honor and usually bestowed upon an individual who knows everyone in the neighborhood well.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlTcKi6dAkX-_NR_VMmOsW2aX_GrSJ6cMfDcbeD8jwJY6XePa5uTgLbY-WOUg92XWihySBMqWQFx1UtLVaYxINmWKS7LWRf_EMpPGRCLG-C6pX-z3JPDfwLSdHZPAvURrEZDPWzWNixGR/s1600/chebakkia+Morocco.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlTcKi6dAkX-_NR_VMmOsW2aX_GrSJ6cMfDcbeD8jwJY6XePa5uTgLbY-WOUg92XWihySBMqWQFx1UtLVaYxINmWKS7LWRf_EMpPGRCLG-C6pX-z3JPDfwLSdHZPAvURrEZDPWzWNixGR/s200/chebakkia+Morocco.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Moroccan<i> chebbakia</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Morocco is famous for its many special Ramadan treats, especially sweets. These include the anise and sesame-seed bread called <i>qrashel</i>, the turnover-like <i>briwat</i>, the crepe-like <i>baghrir, </i>and especially that most famous of all Moroccan sweets: the honey-soaked, sesame-sprinkled <i>chebbakia. </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One recipe for <i>chebakkia </i>can be found at <a href="http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/tipsandtechniques/ss/How_to_make_Chebakia.htm">http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/tipsandtechniques/ss/How_to_make_Chebakia.htm</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>Turkey</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Ramazan (the Turkish name of Ramadan) is generally a festive time throughout Turkey. Buildings and trees, especially in rural areas, are decorated with colored lights and booths are set up for the month selling traditional foods, religious books and a wide variety of Ramazan specials. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrmL2U21jL0vWsfblyD3Vwfb7zKgrkP-nSZ1gOsUZFPW9nfdlFjivKeHQkb8rgzXnVYMShnnpCF-gOgRdAd2Prs49poEYNBjYpdQdHOXkLE0GCz4i8smU8i4iVO8G3UiJsbh-9UzgX-AA/s1600/turkish+delight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrmL2U21jL0vWsfblyD3Vwfb7zKgrkP-nSZ1gOsUZFPW9nfdlFjivKeHQkb8rgzXnVYMShnnpCF-gOgRdAd2Prs49poEYNBjYpdQdHOXkLE0GCz4i8smU8i4iVO8G3UiJsbh-9UzgX-AA/s200/turkish+delight.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Lokum (</i>Turkish delight)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Throughout the small towns of Turkey and even in some larger cities, special Ramazan drummers go through the street banging on drums. Their purpose is to wake people before the sun rises so they have time to eat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">The three days after Ramazan concludes is celebrated with the Sugar Festival (<i>Şeker Bayramı</i>) when -- as the name suggests -- sweets and candies are eaten. Traditionally, in addition to offering sweets to friends and family at home, children go from door to door ask for candy. Most famous of the many sweets offered is <i>lokum, </i>known through most of the world as "Turkish delight." A recipe for the treat can be found at</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.recipesource.com/ethnic/africa/middle-east/turkish/lokum1.html">http://www.recipesource.com/ethnic/africa/middle-east/turkish/lokum1.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Concluding Comment</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As with all of my commentaries, this overview is meant only as an informational message. It in no way is meant to suggest that one interpretation is in any way better than another regarding how to celebrate Ramadan </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That said, I am open to your input. Please feel free to share your comments for improvement (or support for that matter) with me. Ramadan Mubarek!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Want To Know More?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.e-cfr.org/blog/2017/05/26/statement-re-commencement-ramadan-1438hj-2017/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=1baeeedcae81a6c1b4686d00e2221e264fa7a04b-1618257737-0-AaPANkD-CLnssV_ItMelPePcPhvUGusIispsJKPSVztWXUjtRP7AGjZQc5JPr3BGBXD2X8zWXJBaCz5eNhFjIN_kNGSlr8vlot8Qkycj0XltEVRkZa4NGBuGcrZIW23nMN1V3LWF3epJD54OTM-EgVgWlYMD58MRpZv8Cac9QzKHACPKVdX9ebJD_BxB9qc1bZHGgfGGCzpWWH7512bKBfz_m7IGH-rO7vDZJC0LpUFbZEO8mRDv4ctqNZCgGC1ObnBQ9Jv5ZuJLGQe1zzxzqXlpzY5kZp6n3pFNiDwI1461s2UejytdH2DL7MCi9BtkrDafF8v6iiAVTTjsqknJ2DC9aRYEWQ0PkciXt7XqL6QkPd-2l9tKjZ890_M1eQV3xfn8RJ_4rhlDUi7zSP98VTp8PTeyF30WZ9eEDYaesmaC5U-6KmYfPVKXIqOa27jn4NVEG4jPnKgg7cDK003oW6A">"Ramadan Mubarek"</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Murray Candle, "Ramadan: A Mosaic of Traditions Around the World," </span><a href="http://murraycandle.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/ramadan-a-mosaic-of-traditions-around-the-world/" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">http://murraycandle.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/ramadan-a-mosaic-of-traditions-around-the-world/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Emel, ""Ramadan Across the Globe," <a href="http://emel.com/article?id=88&a_id=2446">http://emel.com/article?id=88&a_id=2446</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fisabilillah Publications, "Complete Guide to Ramadan," <a href="http://www.glasgowmuslims.com/sites/default/files/fisabilillah_complete_guide_ramadhan.pdf">http://www.glasgowmuslims.com/sites/default/files/fisabilillah_complete_guide_ramadhan.pdf</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Michael A. Fredericks, AllMalaysia.com, "Ramadan," <a href="http://allmalaysia.info/2011/08/19/ramadan/">http://allmalaysia.info/2011/08/19/ramadan/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Haq Islam, "Ramadan," <a href="http://www.haqislam.org/articles/ramadan/">http://www.haqislam.org/articles/ramadan/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Holidays.net, "Ramadan," <a href="http://holidays.net/ramadan/">http://holidays.net/ramadan/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Huda, About.com, "What is Ramadan?" <a href="http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/ramadanintro.htm">http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/ramadanintro.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Living in Indonesia, "Ramadan and Lebaran in Indonesia," <a href="http://www.expat.or.id/info/lebaran.html">http://www.expat.or.id/info/lebaran.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jennifer Maughan, "Ramadan Traditions," Life123, <a href="http://www.life123.com/holidays/more-holidays/september-holidays/ramadan.shtml">http://www.life123.com/holidays/more-holidays/september-holidays/ramadan.shtml</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Muhajabah.com, "Ramadan FAQ <a href="http://www.muhajabah.com/ramadan-faq.htm">http://www.muhajabah.com/ramadan-faq.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Juliette Schmidt, OnIslam.net, "In Ramadan: A Journey Around the World," <a href="http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/448896-ramadanaroundtheworld.html">http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/448896-ramadanaroundtheworld.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">TheEid.com, "Ramadan," <a href="http://www.theeid.com/ramadan/">http://www.theeid.com/ramadan/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Morocco World News, "Ramadan Life and Traditions in Ramadan," <a href="http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2014/06/132599/ramadan-life-and-traditions-in-morocco/">http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2014/06/132599/ramadan-life-and-traditions-in-morocco/</a></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Washington Post, "<span class="entry-title">How Muslims around the world celebrate the month of Ramadan,"</span> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/how-muslims-around-the-world-celebrate-the-month-of-ramadan/2012/07/17/gJQAu8X7qW_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/how-muslims-around-the-world-celebrate-the-month-of-ramadan/2012/07/17/gJQAu8X7qW_story.html</a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Clip-Art Credits</span></b></div><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opening clip art: <a href="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens19160628module157196200photo_1330258970aaa__a.jpg">http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens19160628module157196200photo_1330258970aaa__a.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramadan fast clip art (adapted from): <a href="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/224/f/3/RAMADAN_MUBARAK_1431h_by_bx.jpg">http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/224/f/3/RAMADAN_MUBARAK_1431h_by_bx.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mosque clip art: <a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/8/2/2/f/1282647222988584111mosque.svg.med.png">http://www.clker.com/cliparts/8/2/2/f/1282647222988584111mosque.svg.med.png</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lailat ul-Qadr clip art: <a href="http://sapnamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/laylat-al-qadr.jpg">http://sapnamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/laylat-al-qadr.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Radio Tirana <i>lodra</i>: <a href="http://web.mclink.it/MJ0350/libera/tirana/tiran19.jpg">http://web.mclink.it/MJ0350/libera/tirana/tiran19.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Albanian <i>byrek</i>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Evb%C3%B6re%C4%9Fi.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Evb%C3%B6re%C4%9Fi.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Egyptian <i>fanoos</i> lanterns for sale: <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ramadanlanterns.htm">http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ramadanlanterns.htm</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Henna hands: <a href="http://www.america.gov/multimedia/photogallery.html#/30145/multi_ramadan/">http://www.america.gov/multimedia/photogallery.html#/30145/multi_ramadan/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samosa: <a href="http://recipesnest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/samosa.jpg">http://recipesnest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/samosa.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Palestininan ghraybeh: </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://palestineinadish.com/recipes/ghraybeh-with-pistachios/</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Bedug </i>drum: <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kXYte55FGyo/SKQqfZtVKkI/AAAAAAAAAN8/wTs3t3m6iMo/s320/bedug.jpg">http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kXYte55FGyo/SKQqfZtVKkI/AAAAAAAAAN8/wTs3t3m6iMo/s320/bedug.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Panjat pinang </i>pole climbers: <a href="http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/panjat-pinang-a-slippery-tradition-of-thailand.html">http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/panjat-pinang-a-slippery-tradition-of-thailand.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indonesians trapped in traffic in Karawang at conclusion of Eid al-Fitr: <a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01712/ramadan-indonesia2_1712808i.jpg">http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01712/ramadan-indonesia2_1712808i.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramadan flowers for sale in Malaysia: <a href="http://www.america.gov/multimedia/photogallery.html#/30145/multi_ramadan/">http://www.america.gov/multimedia/photogallery.html#/30145/multi_ramadan/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ramada Bazaar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: <a href="http://allmalaysia.info/2011/08/19/ramadan/">http://allmalaysia.info/2011/08/19/ramadan/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Qatari children dressed for Garangao: <a href="http://www.cbq.com.qa/NewsDetails.aspx?id=344">http://www.cbq.com.qa/NewsDetails.aspx?id=344</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Iftar cannon, Naif Palace, Kuwait: <a href="http://www.q8nri.com/home/2010/08/17/iftar-cannon-a-source-of-attraction-in-kuwait-in-ramadan/">http://www.q8nri.com/home/2010/08/17/iftar-cannon-a-source-of-attraction-in-kuwait-in-ramadan/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Luqmat al-Qadi: </i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Loukoumades.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Loukoumades.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Ramadan </span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">kurut </span><span style="text-align: center;">balls, </span><span style="text-align: center;">Osh Bazaar, Bishkek: <a href="http://students.sras.org/what-bishkek-eats-for-ramadan/">http://students.sras.org/what-bishkek-eats-for-ramadan/</a></span></span><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mauritanian traditional game: <a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3269/2617080471_a7e13ef144_z.jpg">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3269/2617080471_a7e13ef144_z.jpg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Turkish delight: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:T_Honey.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:T_Honey.jpg</a></span><br /><b style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></b><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Morrocan <i>n'far </i>blowing his horn:<a href="https://bandbaji.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/cs6-1.jpg">https://bandbaji.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/cs6-1.jpg</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Moroccan</span><i style="text-align: center;"> chebbakia: <a href="http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/07/47742/moroccan-ramadan-pastry-recipe-for-chebbakia/">http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/07/47742/moroccan-ramadan-pastry-recipe-for-chebbakia/</a></i><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Lokum (</i>Turkish delight): <a href="http://food.detik.com/ramadan/read/2013/07/10/180832/2298527/297/6/legit-gurih-lokum-dan-baklava-sajian-buka-dari-turki">http://food.detik.com/ramadan/read/2013/07/10/180832/2298527/297/6/legit-gurih-lokum-dan-baklava-sajian-buka-dari-turki</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Closing clip art: </span><a href="http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs12/i/2006/265/5/9/Ramadan_Mubarak_by_Muslim_Women.jpg" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs12/i/2006/265/5/9/Ramadan_Mubarak_by_Muslim_Women.jpg</a><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div><br /></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-46746667754903937072021-02-12T11:42:00.003-05:002021-02-14T18:25:08.079-05:00Pre-Lenten Festivities and the Lenten Season: Coronavirus Version 2021<p><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJLt1lRdfY3Ww8s_Lyu7424UoJW2TsKytBf2Ov0T8dWLsDwfXCkx4H50KmxltmQhbxvdbCjD-tRN-2-BWUpBiobYtZQ1QL4n1_6qnyAoaAS1WzUb-jz1MZvA-4-orFhhq6bwhkh7ymxl/s1600/Ash_Wednesday.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJLt1lRdfY3Ww8s_Lyu7424UoJW2TsKytBf2Ov0T8dWLsDwfXCkx4H50KmxltmQhbxvdbCjD-tRN-2-BWUpBiobYtZQ1QL4n1_6qnyAoaAS1WzUb-jz1MZvA-4-orFhhq6bwhkh7ymxl/s200/Ash_Wednesday.jpg" width="135" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Praying woman with </b><br /><b>ashen cross on her forehead</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Introduction and Religious Significance</u></span></b></div><p><br />As part of my ongoing posts about religious holiday observance, I would like to share another religious tradition that starts this week: the Christian Lenten season.<br /><br />In 2021, for Christians in the <b>Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Anglican, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and several other Western Christian traditions</b>, the season begins on <b>February 17 with Ash Wednesday</b>.<br /><br />For Christians in the <b>Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Coptic traditions</b> using the Julian calendar), the season begins on <b>Monday, March 15, 2021 with Clean Monday</b>. The same holds true for 2021 in the <b>Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches,</b> when the Lenten Season <b>begins Abiy Tsom on March 15</b> as well. </p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ash Wednesday, Clean Monday and the season associated with Lent, Great Lent and Abiy Tsom are all very important holidays in their respective traditions, and <b>you should accommodate employees, students or others</b> <b>observing these holidays </b>who may need to miss activities during at least part of the day.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It should be noted that while many Protestant traditions observe Lent, other Protestant traditions specifically bar the observance of Lent. Some Protestant denominations are divided in their view of the season; for example, some United Church of Christ and Baptist congregations oppose its observance while others support its observance. Additionally, some Protestant denominations, such as the Mennonites, that formerly opposed the observance of Lent have begun to recognize its practice in varying degrees in recent years. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SSLQK0S3-pUSm-8zRkUO4B6Vg1O3qzo52dNj-HCVCafpCz7VrIQtTzRLdjcqOFQO0QmJ6W1_pDt_Quvr3lNE2_J58lxLt2fI0cjaIpEbMJGoPLNIfrJy5-pisSH-hXro5LPWmam9UUv/s1600/lent-new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SSLQK0S3-pUSm-8zRkUO4B6Vg1O3qzo52dNj-HCVCafpCz7VrIQtTzRLdjcqOFQO0QmJ6W1_pDt_Quvr3lNE2_J58lxLt2fI0cjaIpEbMJGoPLNIfrJy5-pisSH-hXro5LPWmam9UUv/s200/lent-new.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Variations in Dating the Holiday</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The season itself runs for 40 days and is called Lent in the Western traditions and Great Lent or the Great Fast in the Eastern traditions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a time of introspection for many Christians, and often focuses on questions of mortality and on Jesus' sufferings and sacrifice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Western traditions, Sundays are not counted in the 40 days. In the Eastern Orthodox traditions, Sundays are counted. Within the Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches the Lenten season lasts for 56 days in which period, traditionally only one meal per day is eaten.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To keep in the spirit of these somber subjects, many Christians observe some sort of restrictive behavior, for example many people abstain from alcohol or from attending parties. In some traditions, observers fast during the day or restrict themselves to one meal only. For others, observers maintain a vegetarian diet. For still other traditions, observers give up something they particularly enjoy such as sweets or ice cream. In many traditions, the fast or abstinence is lifted on the six Sundays during Lent. <b>In Irish tradition, the fast is lifted for St. Patrick's Day (<span class="object6">March 17</span>)</b>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Observance</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqDhOFmC53_QfVYobSE00KOglB2_e9gD4GroQPvlA5JIfBfYE6nE9qNLOIty2eyNBUsbRtoc_JEFugYYjVRB71ehHJWK2cSa__dOZgKP0lPHfhIjsuplUnhchThvcaQ-aIPcYBsCWtPfX/s1600/ash-wednesday.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqDhOFmC53_QfVYobSE00KOglB2_e9gD4GroQPvlA5JIfBfYE6nE9qNLOIty2eyNBUsbRtoc_JEFugYYjVRB71ehHJWK2cSa__dOZgKP0lPHfhIjsuplUnhchThvcaQ-aIPcYBsCWtPfX/s200/ash-wednesday.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Priest placing an ashen cross</b><br /><b>on worshiper's forehead</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Anglicans, Ash <span class="object7"><span style="color: darkblue;">Wednesday</span></span> is usually observed by attending Mass and having the priest mark one's forehead with ashes that have been blessed. The ashes are traditionally made from the palm fronds used in the preceding year’s Palm Sunday. The day is often observed as a full fast day. Ashes have a long traditional association with repentance in these traditions. Many other traditions have modified observance with sermons or other recognition of the holiday.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The holiday itself has its origins in the New Testament, which relates that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting before he began his ministry. While in the desert, Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Pre-Lenten Festivities</u></span></b></div><span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">Because the tradition of Lent is so somber, many Roman Catholic cultures have embraced a massive celebration on the <span class="object8">Tuesday</span> preceding Ash <span class="object9">Wednesday</span>. This will take place in 2021 on Tuesday, February 17. Many of the festivities traditionally begin (or would have begun) well before this date as well, but this but this year, the majority have cancelled the associated events.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">COVID Cancellations</b></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">In the age of Covid, many (if not most) of the annual Pre-Lenten festivities described below have been formally cancelled, gone to a video format or curtailed in other ways.</div><p>Venice's Carnevale cancelled as did the Binche, Belgium Carnival. Likewise all of Germany's Fasching and Karneval and Luxembourg's Fuesend celebrations are cancelled.</p><p>Brazil's main Carnavals were all first delayed, then (by the end of January) cancelled.</p><p>New Orleans has not "cancelled" 2021 Mardi Gras events but it has curtailed most events, after it received widespread criticism for the "super spreader" 2020 Mardi Gras. Essentially New Orleans is having a <a href="https://www.myworldevents.com/parade/mardi-gras.html">virtual Mardi Gras</a> for 2021</p><p>Most other US celebrations -- including Eureka Springs Arkansas' Krazo Krewe, and the Mardi Gras events of Vicksburg, Mississippi; Biloxi, Mississippi; Beaumont, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; Lafayette, Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida -- have totally cancelled for 2021.</p><p>Likewise Trinidad's Mas was cancelled fr 2021 after hosting the event in 2020, receiving considerable criticism.</p><p>Cape Verde cancelling Carnival in 2021, deciding only on February 4 to do so.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">NO COVID Cancellations</span></b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/travel/goa-to-host-two-carnival-parades-amid-covid-19-pandemic-101613100127909.html">Goa Carnival </a>will go ahead as planned with no changes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://abc13.com/mardi-gras-house-floats-galveston-texas-krewe-of-saints-2021/10109028/">Galveston, Texas</a> will continue as planned with its Mardi Gras.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.angop.ao/en/noticias/lazer-cultura/carnaval-2021-em-formato-live/">Angolan Carnival in Luanda </a>will proceed with reduced numbers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7CMZzVoUKMIAqOscUyctePwsYlmKR2iECvh9aKEaoRBq_sRM3Oib74et1DJl0OhMxdmRXtTKBPKHhyS0zyERvRYd_LoqveMKevU-40bWJ8fDHgJZlyj3Tt59czWSj0tRWlMwWs8O5N08/s1600/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7CMZzVoUKMIAqOscUyctePwsYlmKR2iECvh9aKEaoRBq_sRM3Oib74et1DJl0OhMxdmRXtTKBPKHhyS0zyERvRYd_LoqveMKevU-40bWJ8fDHgJZlyj3Tt59czWSj0tRWlMwWs8O5N08/s200/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png" width="187" yda="true" /></a> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">What follows is an overview of the major Pre-Lenten events. The data are all from before the pandemic began.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brazil</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ian </span>Carnaval </b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The most significant celebration of the day, however, is not in the US at all, but is the Carnaval of Brazil. The festival begins on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and runs until Ash Wednesday begins. Most Brazilian cities hold a Carnaval celebration (as do Brazilian communities worldwide). <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">While Rio is, by far, the largest Brazilian Carnaval celebration, it is far from the only one. Most regions and major cities of Brazil have their own Carnaval, each with its own distinctive traditions. Carnaval in Brazil from 1641 with official status coming in 1724.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u>Carnaval of Rio</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Z5Z0SmOSHYCJUFsEmUP3HI5mztQ34JuuDQBM-XEkRTAbcWbCd5OsHHtsenYlNfVNxmCCX_l9xo35ky3adnlAI8az4FISr-yY8ziLYkmUEF-Ba3T1FGIhTDFcQqVIcoOa6SOuXtM13xo/s1600/Rio-Carnaval.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Z5Z0SmOSHYCJUFsEmUP3HI5mztQ34JuuDQBM-XEkRTAbcWbCd5OsHHtsenYlNfVNxmCCX_l9xo35ky3adnlAI8az4FISr-yY8ziLYkmUEF-Ba3T1FGIhTDFcQqVIcoOa6SOuXtM13xo/s200/Rio-Carnaval.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Elaborate floats are part of </b><br /><b>the Rio Parade</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The largest of the Brazilian celebrations is the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro. It is claimed that the Rio Carnaval is the largest annual gathering of people in the world; although this claim is often disputed, it is unquestionably the largest annual gathering of people in South America. For example, the Rio Carnival annually attracts over 5 million people over 5 days, with between 2 and 2.3 million per day in the main streets. To put this in perspective, that same year, New Orleans' Mardi Gras hit a record for attendance of 1.2 million, about half that of the average Carnaval single-day street attendance, and roughly the number of just foreign-tourists alone at the Rio Carnaval.<br /><br />Carnaval in Rio has a major impact on the city's -- and country's -- tourism revenues. In 2017 (the last year with full figures at the time of this blog), Brazil's government estimated that there were roughly 1.1 million foreign tourists (up from 977,000 in 2015 and just 400,000 in 2011), generating US $431.9 million in foreign tourism alone.<br /><br />Nor is the economic impact simply limited to those watching. There are over competing samba schools at the Rio Carnaval. The samba schools spend US$ 5 million on the parade annually.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtD2Xp1E5AkR2eA374WWAD9PcmzLKCtmDkmD6V44rAl-K_o7glQEhzkKkekqjs0-QYY52TigV3pZy-noaP40EwY-yeMhkIo7Q5S501eZMBUZQ0diXnjCyaK3o3rTwQ0VK7d7onaFXo7OS/s1600/rio_carnival06.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtD2Xp1E5AkR2eA374WWAD9PcmzLKCtmDkmD6V44rAl-K_o7glQEhzkKkekqjs0-QYY52TigV3pZy-noaP40EwY-yeMhkIo7Q5S501eZMBUZQ0diXnjCyaK3o3rTwQ0VK7d7onaFXo7OS/s320/rio_carnival06.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Elaborate costumes at the Rio Carnaval</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Carnaval of Rio is also one of the oldest pre-Lenten celebrations, taking place annually since 1641. The Rio Carnaval has at its core the so-called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blocos </i>or block parades tied to individual neighborhood blocks. Participants dress in elaborate costumes with a particular theme for each year. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blocos </i>compose original music and dances which they combine with traditional songs and samba dances. Various samba schools prepare all year to compete in dance and music competitions, the most important of which are held at the 90,000-seat <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí for four consecutive nights from 8:00 PM until the following morning. The five winning samba schools then are allowed to parade on the Saturday following Ash Wednesday. </span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><u>São Paulo Carnaval</u></span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jNcQbyTJANqFE-QRe8AJ2Sl-dCxm8vlUjcPBFEtfIoXfTRrAKIC7r6Kc43lwRl6Jf5cuHz0TAqsMg4r1jK_Hps_20Z5OLVMn1IC-otpPYZOIbZAju3icSYIoTAq91UiZLp0Kz2aBwWd/s1600/samba2_gallery__470x312+Sao+Paulo.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jNcQbyTJANqFE-QRe8AJ2Sl-dCxm8vlUjcPBFEtfIoXfTRrAKIC7r6Kc43lwRl6Jf5cuHz0TAqsMg4r1jK_Hps_20Z5OLVMn1IC-otpPYZOIbZAju3icSYIoTAq91UiZLp0Kz2aBwWd/s200/samba2_gallery__470x312+Sao+Paulo.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Samba competitors </b><br /><b>at the Anhembi Sambodrome</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The <span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">São Paulo Carnaval, like that in Rio, centers on samba competitions with annual themes. The São Paulo competitions usually last for two nights are held at the 30,000-seat Anhembi Sambodrome. </span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The São Paulo Carnaval samba competition takes place on the Friday and Saturday before Lent. Since this occurs before Rio's Carnaval (on Sunday and Monday night), the timing allows attendance for both. </span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the Rio Carnaval may be Brazil's most famous and prestigious, the Säo Paulo Carnaval holds the world record for samba band people gathered in one spot. This took place at Republic Square in 2011 when 1,038 samba people gathered at one time for a massive performance.</span></span><br /><br />Considered the "poor person's alternative" to Rio, the São Paulo Carnaval by design keeps ticket prices at events purposely low to all all Paulistanos to be able to afford attendance.<br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cHbMJu49h0SLb0Pm-0w-pIWpGLeybVEhd7oBQ_HrpQSNQrefRokkjV9agW4Uzbii1Jx7JZr0BRdjhBmiti15zRRKoUJYxtM7CLDyGceV9KSxl-4LrIsfFu2bgz69u6xzvaQX-hmhq1Tu/s1600/carna%25201-tl-201100302.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cHbMJu49h0SLb0Pm-0w-pIWpGLeybVEhd7oBQ_HrpQSNQrefRokkjV9agW4Uzbii1Jx7JZr0BRdjhBmiti15zRRKoUJYxtM7CLDyGceV9KSxl-4LrIsfFu2bgz69u6xzvaQX-hmhq1Tu/s200/carna%25201-tl-201100302.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Trio Elétrico</i></span> </b><br /><b>at the <span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">São Paulo Carnaval</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The São Paulo Carnaval is additionally famous for the use of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">trio elétrico </span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(also called the </span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">carros alegóricos</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">) which are huge floats or trucks. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">trio elétrico</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> is fitted out with sound systems which amplify the performances of the singers who stand on their roof.</span></span> <br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><u>Bahian Carnaval</u></b></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trio elétrico</i> is the central focus of Carnaval in the state of Bahia, and indeed it was in Bahia that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trio elétrico</i> was first introduced.</span><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FD43-pFaRCbZ5YbUe8hB5-oWilwuR6IvDJ578QpgB88IHTpEK8ogl5TxgieZ3vjWKB_vJCfS0Vq5oIuf9YkyfeXeqlxN23HiBnAfZtG0uOButhSiP0ZupS_WexLxQHKWihaUHvSuTsaS/s1600/julianaribeiro_amorepaixao.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FD43-pFaRCbZ5YbUe8hB5-oWilwuR6IvDJ578QpgB88IHTpEK8ogl5TxgieZ3vjWKB_vJCfS0Vq5oIuf9YkyfeXeqlxN23HiBnAfZtG0uOButhSiP0ZupS_WexLxQHKWihaUHvSuTsaS/s200/julianaribeiro_amorepaixao.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b> <span class="Federo"><span style="font-family: "a59726c857c08c9212a74a20"; font-size: x-small;">Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio</span></span></b><br /><span class="Federo"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>atop a <i>trio elétrico </i>at the Salvador Carnaval</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The largest of the Carnavals in Bahia is in the city of Salvador, but most cities in the state have their own version. The festivities throughout the state last roughly for a week, each day going on for 16 hours. Salvador's Carnaval is primarily a Brazilian only event, with 600,000 tourists of whom only 10% are foreign.</span><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnay4SZpvvZ4rHwSeNU63hvowLucHsPx7tRCpT22LfLv66VZJRH0J8FzyT9ezZ_rar4t420MJ8mR5fJ-0CVVpSXMPXaYzRoM1JNCUur3D0mL3hRpiroTdVJxyP0zsbMzUT0vrpRPAU7-1S/s1600/afoxes.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnay4SZpvvZ4rHwSeNU63hvowLucHsPx7tRCpT22LfLv66VZJRH0J8FzyT9ezZ_rar4t420MJ8mR5fJ-0CVVpSXMPXaYzRoM1JNCUur3D0mL3hRpiroTdVJxyP0zsbMzUT0vrpRPAU7-1S/s200/afoxes.bmp" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i>Afoxés</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Bahian Carnaval has many elements that are quite separate from the Roman Catholic Church. These focus on the Afro-Brazilian </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">afoxés</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> who perform <i>puxada do ijexá</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> drumming that honors the </span><span color="windowtext"><i>orixás</i></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(dieties of the Afro-Brazilian religions of </span><span color="windowtext">Candomblé</span> and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Santería). Because of the influence of the Afro-Brazilian religions, the music and dance of the Bahian Carnavals differs significantly from that of those in Rio and </span><span class="mw-headline">São Paulo</span><span class="mw-headline">, with significantly greater African influences. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b><u>Carnaval in Pernambuco</u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Throughout the state of Pernambuco, cities and towns hold there own variety of Carnavals. The two largest of these are the Recife and Olinda Carnavals. Pernambuco Carnavals also differ musically from the rest of Brazil. As in Bahia, the celebrations last a week; however, unlike Bahia (or Rio or <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>São Paulo), the Recife and Olinda Carnavals have no group competitions. The music played and dancing performed in Pernambuco is unique to the state. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiVnzYi-mFFxgi9KfY2XstinLM2OGiI_WVU3u1mtAbnK1DHo3ADabVjqPTzSBtb3WsousQRBjdbeADp6eniQDwHNS4P1kp9BEztHlsZuBLISFLmnHTm2zs5znL-x_e73hSUegcoYMs_E7/s1600/frevo.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiVnzYi-mFFxgi9KfY2XstinLM2OGiI_WVU3u1mtAbnK1DHo3ADabVjqPTzSBtb3WsousQRBjdbeADp6eniQDwHNS4P1kp9BEztHlsZuBLISFLmnHTm2zs5znL-x_e73hSUegcoYMs_E7/s200/frevo.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><b><i>Frevo</i> dancer</b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are two main varieties: the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">frevo</i> and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maracatu</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frevo</i> is an intense, fast-paced form that is supposed to make performers (and viewers) feel as if the ground beneath them is boiling (the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">frevo</i> has its origins in the Portuguese word </span></span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ferver</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> meaning “to boil”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Frevo </i>danccers are called <i>passistas</i>, and they are famous for their athleticism, their endurance and especially their acrobatic dance moves based on the Brazilian martial art of <i>capoeira</i>. </span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The music of <i>frevo</i> has a polka-like element to it and is played largely by trumpets, trombones, tubas and saxophones accompanied by percussion. </span><br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YnYYGUFwNXtzQPYABFRlw4-sn8-tj8BKJh6VWCinr0lFVGhy4PevECoNYq4024HpxZNhCwrHM2O_GaKDY5zlmXvNHsTQoRAQbQCiTsxgmbJh04muNlRAojgUftuUM4uPAetbU_itCUiT/s1600/camale_o.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YnYYGUFwNXtzQPYABFRlw4-sn8-tj8BKJh6VWCinr0lFVGhy4PevECoNYq4024HpxZNhCwrHM2O_GaKDY5zlmXvNHsTQoRAQbQCiTsxgmbJh04muNlRAojgUftuUM4uPAetbU_itCUiT/s200/camale_o.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><b><i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> percussionists</span></b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maracatu</i> is actually the name of two dance forms unique to Pernambuco: <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">maracatu de nação</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and the <i>maracatu rural</i>. <i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> (national <i>maracatu</i>) has its roots in the Brazilian slave community when slaves would crown “Kings of the Congo” as leaders within their communities. The accompanying investiture ceremony was heavily influenced by the Afro-Brazilian religion of </span><span color="windowtext">Candomblé</span>, and the influence of the dance and music continue to carry rich symbolism from that religion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> is primarily based on Afro-Brazilian drumming with groups of up to 100 percussionists performing. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFC_Due1Qhlr70f0SMLUl8Jvac0cb-KKhNJiCNpRkjXLHghCBqBtJxlSabD1ahcIn9FYNSlFnmcR7HT-lY9G_mOEx483i7iWBMms4hQSfzjJJB9oG4x15KaE_4_H6Avp0GaephT5YWZPO/s1600/alfaias_16_18_and_20_inch2_ix0m.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFC_Due1Qhlr70f0SMLUl8Jvac0cb-KKhNJiCNpRkjXLHghCBqBtJxlSabD1ahcIn9FYNSlFnmcR7HT-lY9G_mOEx483i7iWBMms4hQSfzjJJB9oG4x15KaE_4_H6Avp0GaephT5YWZPO/s200/alfaias_16_18_and_20_inch2_ix0m.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Alfaias</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJJY9EDAMqVJLP8FUJ5pj5u5wCMSuf_Z7Xyj97k0OOc42xVfrBsJcQ_Z8LWMJzqUi9LLYJf8xPC6vnfEKsHIt0GYE5kMx-m-ZxbSrntydP_VH9n5_u1UIwsVDaY7s6wrUMadvug4kehNa/s1600/250px-Abe_agbe_afoxe.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJJY9EDAMqVJLP8FUJ5pj5u5wCMSuf_Z7Xyj97k0OOc42xVfrBsJcQ_Z8LWMJzqUi9LLYJf8xPC6vnfEKsHIt0GYE5kMx-m-ZxbSrntydP_VH9n5_u1UIwsVDaY7s6wrUMadvug4kehNa/s200/250px-Abe_agbe_afoxe.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><i>Afoxé</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many of the percussions instruments used are unique to Pernambuco. One of the most notable is these is the <i>afoxé, </i>a gourd rattle with threaded beads. The Afro-Brazilian drums too are unique to the area. Among the most notable of these drums is the <i>alfaia</i> (sometimes simply called the (maracutu drum). <i>Alfaias </i>come in a variety of sizes, but all have roping along their sides that the drummers use to tighten or loosen the drum head to give differing pitches. Other special drums include <i>caixa-de-guerra </i>(“war snare-drum”) and the <i>tarol </i>(a somewhat thin snare drum). Additionally, percussionists use <i>agbês </i>(special gourds filled with beads), <i>mineiros</i> (metal tubes filled with dried seeds) and cowbells. The singing that accompanies <i>maracatu de nação</i> is a unique call-and-response form with a male caller and female chorus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdDcA98AOv7pKH96fTMulgCErFyjRzk80cEcyELbIgy5QENJpg50TgvEj6syU5lKi1-cVMFT3TXteIhTBT1U0Lgf6Wd1uOaBLrRxdfMV8Jwh89qVZ_KHNVdDQqj8Z1ifCy3LBLdCRY8dV/s1600/800PX-~1.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdDcA98AOv7pKH96fTMulgCErFyjRzk80cEcyELbIgy5QENJpg50TgvEj6syU5lKi1-cVMFT3TXteIhTBT1U0Lgf6Wd1uOaBLrRxdfMV8Jwh89qVZ_KHNVdDQqj8Z1ifCy3LBLdCRY8dV/s200/800PX-~1.JPG" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Caboclo de lança</b> </i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The <i>maracatu rural</i> more closely resembles the sort of music performed elsewhere in Brazil. It combines elements of the <i>maracatu de nação</i> with brass instruments (especially trombones) and musical styles from elsewhere in Brazil. The name means “maracutu of the countryside” because <i>maracatu rural</i> grew out of the countryside among sugar plantation workers. <i> Maracatu rural</i> traditionally includes dancers in special costumes such as the <i>caboclo de lança </i>warrior.</span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><b>Carnaval de Olinda </b><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Carnaval de Olinda, the largest in Pernambuco, is cited by many in Brazil (especially those in Brazil's North and Interior) as the "real" Carnaval. While this can be easily debated, what is less subject to controversy is that the Olinda Carnaval is Brazil's most colorful. It is also the only major Carnaval event in Brazil in which most of the major events take place during the daylight hours rather than in the evening.</span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPswd6Afrhj7lhlsL2JB5iX_BWw3iP3ewNlONC0aysaRdQuntSQhBC1jtUMN6-MVjMhgpTGoxFhCe6PiDw0v-m1TkaR4mBWG8Plk-sITUfisIsbA7h5Ghpyo6d8KGPvsq-_Y2NxeKxG2KJ/s1600/Brazil-conference-call-900x676.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPswd6Afrhj7lhlsL2JB5iX_BWw3iP3ewNlONC0aysaRdQuntSQhBC1jtUMN6-MVjMhgpTGoxFhCe6PiDw0v-m1TkaR4mBWG8Plk-sITUfisIsbA7h5Ghpyo6d8KGPvsq-_Y2NxeKxG2KJ/s320/Brazil-conference-call-900x676.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Annually, the Olinda Carnaval host 500 group with over 200 events. </span>The most famous Olinda Carnaval event is the "Meeting of the Giant Puppets." These are massive puppets standing about 3.5 meters (12 feet) tall. The giant puppets depict political figures, sports heroes and folk characters.<br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span>The Carnaval de Olinda averages 2.7 million visitors a year with annual revenues of around US $150 million, making it the most important economic event in the region.<br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b>Recife Carnaval</b></span><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">T<span style="font-family: inherit;">he Recife Carnaval holds the world record for the most people in a parade. The <i>Guinness Book of World Records </i>verified that in 2013, Recife's </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Galo da Madrugada</i> parade reached 2.5 million participants (</span><a href="http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,galo-da-madrugada-publico-estimado-de-2-5-milhoes,995344">http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,galo-da-madrugada-publico-estimado-de-2-5-milhoes,995344</a>). The figure of 2.5 million participants actually marching in the parade is all the more staggering, considering that this was a million more people than the population of the entire city proper at the time (1.5 million).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFfkkUZIjCQNgYPXyNDgL0s0_Uo17wxHGGh_L7r-6f8Pa4Zn7p_gHoMq_U6FtrztosagmCVVIuatiZ1cZhFo8CqOc0ASk3dSLE-1a8b8nci4IdmmXQ9qxbryXi0LOTDT4PfUjclod3w2K/s1600/240594-970x600-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFfkkUZIjCQNgYPXyNDgL0s0_Uo17wxHGGh_L7r-6f8Pa4Zn7p_gHoMq_U6FtrztosagmCVVIuatiZ1cZhFo8CqOc0ASk3dSLE-1a8b8nci4IdmmXQ9qxbryXi0LOTDT4PfUjclod3w2K/s400/240594-970x600-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;">Recife’s 2013 <i>Galo da </i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;"><i>Madrugada</i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;"> parade</span></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold;">set the world record for most people in a parade </span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>While the 2013 record was remarkable, the annual influx of non-resident visitors at the Recife Carnaval is not. Indeed, even in the midst of the Zika outbreak, official estimates placed the number of non-resident visitors for the Recife Carnaval in 2016 at just under 1 million people.<br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As could be expected from the numbers attending, the centerpiece of the </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Recife Carnaval is its parade of the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Galo da Madrugada</i> (in English, "Rooster of the Early Hours"). That said, while the Recife Carnaval dates back for centuries, the first </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Galo da Madrugada</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> took place </span>only<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in 1978, a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene for such a major crowd generator. The parade is the culmination of an all-night party which concludes in the "early hours" of the next morning with the parade that follows a four-kilometer path through the center of the city.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknxpAPUWdyqQ8qB5Z9V-4aWeMk92DBNbj9O6j_XBtkHTdcnQ3hxvztFp09dlIc_MlT1iVDcAeixtDnvGiDfxrCrmcKUs4eSHYDFPHGGaqn73NA1k8y1pkRl9e0eeJtQ1KkPWmQSPWrzRD/s1600/Tambores-Silenciosos-de-Olinda.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknxpAPUWdyqQ8qB5Z9V-4aWeMk92DBNbj9O6j_XBtkHTdcnQ3hxvztFp09dlIc_MlT1iVDcAeixtDnvGiDfxrCrmcKUs4eSHYDFPHGGaqn73NA1k8y1pkRl9e0eeJtQ1KkPWmQSPWrzRD/s320/Tambores-Silenciosos-de-Olinda.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Recife's </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">Silenciosos</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although like other Pernambuco Carnavals, the Recife Carnaval does not host samba contest, Recife averages 3000 separate shows with 430 groups. Most unique to the Recife Carnaval is its strong emphasis on the Afro-Brazilian tradition. Chief among the events celebrating the Afro-Brazilian tradition is </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">the </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Silenciosos</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">(Night of the Silent Drums) honoring the 1000’s of slaves who died in prisons before abolition. As midnight approaches, the drumming reaches a frenzy and then -- at the stroke of midnight -- stops abruptly and everyone in complete silence raises their hands at the same time to honor the martyrs of these sad chapter in Brazilian history.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGDHidIs-yuOgXDndVTq2B2ahgcShuaR_eM-7ewJKOYjEU8wAaUreJgBIQMmUdu5hlkqNmPeeTzUT-Of1ymLL0bUm3SfmULVNaVyx1mHzR5vcqBrD-RruCbsIOWVIzHcRuAFUL0thGEVL/s1600/corso-teresina-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGDHidIs-yuOgXDndVTq2B2ahgcShuaR_eM-7ewJKOYjEU8wAaUreJgBIQMmUdu5hlkqNmPeeTzUT-Of1ymLL0bUm3SfmULVNaVyx1mHzR5vcqBrD-RruCbsIOWVIzHcRuAFUL0thGEVL/s320/corso-teresina-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Teresina's Carnaval holds the world record<br />for floats in a parade</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Carnaval de Teresina</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Teresina Carnaval in the state of Piauí is a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene, beginning only in 1940. The Carnaval de Teresina, though, like the Recife Carnaval, a record-holder in </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Guinness Book of World Records, </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">in this case for the most number of floats in a parade. The Teresina Carnaval first set the record in February of 2012, a record it has maintained ever since (</span><a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-parade-of-floats/" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-parade-of-floats/</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">). Guinness verified a total </span>off<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 343 floats paraded in the<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Corso do Zé Pereira. </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">The parade runs for 6-½ hours along a 7.3 kilometer (just over 4.5 mile) route.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Other Major Brazilian Carnavals</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Virtually every city in Brazil holds some sort of Carnaval. Space does not permit listing all of these, but some of the other more notable ones include:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <span style="color: black;">Carnaval Ouro </span><span style="color: black;">Preto</span><span style="color: black;"> in Minas </span><span style="color: black;">Gerais</span><span style="color: black;"> one of oldest, with today’s giving great attention on college students</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <span style="color: black;">Carnaval de </span><span style="color: black;">Vitória/Carnaval Capixaba</span><span style="color: black;"> in </span><span style="color: black;">Espírito</span><span style="color: black;"> Santo (one week before Rio), sadly the subject of attacks by gunmen shooting into the crowd this year in 2017</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <span style="color: black;">Carnaval de Manaus in Amazonas, arguably as famous for its free entrance and reduced-price beer stalls as for its floats and samba</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• Carnaval <span style="color: #252525;">de Uberlândia/ Uberfolia in </span><span style="color: #252525;">Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (which began as a Carnaval specifically for Afro-Brazilian samba dancers who were discriminated against in the early years of the Rio Carnaval</span></span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">• </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Carnaval de </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Magia</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">/Carnaval de </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Florianópolis</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> in Santa Catarina features many beach celebrations, and most famously the LGBT-centered Praia Mole Carnaval</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">* Carnaval de Brasilia, the capital is not a major Carnaval center and yet this is a growing attacking, with over 1.5 million people participating in 2017 (and increase of 58% from 2016)</span></div><div class="O1" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Brazilian Carnaval, see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.rio-carnival.net/rio_carnival/carnival_in_rio.php"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.rio-carnival.net/rio_carnival/carnival_in_rio.php</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/a/olindacarnival.htm">http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/a/olindacarnival.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a href="http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm">http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/brazil/recife/carnaval.htm">http://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/brazil/recife/carnaval.htm</a><br /><br />Attendance figures for 2017 <a href="http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazil-registers-surge-in-2017-carnival-attendance/">http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazil-registers-surge-in-2017-carnival-attendance/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">United States</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Mardi Gras</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcbyVdIIpk3RM6Tn6SWlEoYK6ZUMHtzhJXFy9Uls-Efy1tN4MlsmhO8wO4bt16iFALJQVg7iGenpBuBp_OE9-arz4Fk1BWgvNeFh8TNu5InNPHaduyDJdLeV-471sEO0zrHiqPjddAlew/s1600/Mardi+Gras.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcbyVdIIpk3RM6Tn6SWlEoYK6ZUMHtzhJXFy9Uls-Efy1tN4MlsmhO8wO4bt16iFALJQVg7iGenpBuBp_OE9-arz4Fk1BWgvNeFh8TNu5InNPHaduyDJdLeV-471sEO0zrHiqPjddAlew/s200/Mardi+Gras.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Mardi Gras in New Orleans</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The best known pre-Lenten celebration in the United States is the New Orleans' Mardi Gras. In French, Mardi Gras means "Fat <span class="object11"><span style="color: darkblue;">Tuesday</span></span>" and evolved from the French tradition of indulging on the last day before Lent, particularly eating fatty things which traditionally would be given up for Lent. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>New Orleans Mardi Gras</b><br /><br />In New Orleans, Mardi Gras activities run roughly for two weeks, culminating on Mardi Gras day. There are several local parades and a major central parade in which Carnival <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">krewes</i> parade on elaborate floats while wearing elaborate costumes. During the parade, participants throw special coins and necklaces of plastic beads to the spectators. Several special parades elect various monarchs. The most important of these are the Zulu King elected by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the King of Carnival elected by the Rex Krewe. Several older Krewe kings were disbanded when they refused to comply with anti-segregation laws that the United States began to enforce in 1991. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since at least 1699, with official New Orleans celebrations dating to 1703.<br /><br />Mardi Gras is not limited to New Orleans, however, with other notable US Mardi Gras celebrations in other Louisiana cities. Lafayette's Mardi Gras in the center of Louisiana's Cajun cultural region is the state's second largest, attracting 250,000 people annually. Other notable Mardi Gras celebrations take place in Baton Rouge, Houma, Shreveport, New Roads, Kaplan, Monroe, Thibadaux, Lake Charles, and Alexandria.<br /><br />Several other cities in the United States hold well-attended Mardi Gras events outside of Louisiana as well. The oldest Mardi Gras after New Orleans in the United States is actually that held in Pensacola, Florida, which dates to 1874 The largest of these is in Mobile, Alabama. Vicksburg, Mississippi holds a major Mardi Gras Ball along with its annual parade. Eureka Springs in the Ozark region of Arkansas began holding Mardi Gras events after the destruction in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and has continued the tradition ever since under the "Krewe of Krazo" (which is Ozark backwards). Other notable cities with Mardi Gras events include Portland, Oregon; La Crosse, Wisconsin; Saint Louis, Missouri; Port Arthur, Beaumont, Galveston and Austin, all in Texas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />For more about Mardi Gras, please see<br /><br /><a href="http://mardigrasday.com/">http://mardigrasday.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.mardigras.com/">http://www.mardigras.com/</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Caribbean: Trinidad Mas</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Carnival celebrations are also held in many Caribbean islands. The most famous of these is the one held at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, with its associated steel drum competition. Carnival is celebrated as well elsewhere in the Caribbean including Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Haiti, Belize, Cuba, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Carnival celebrations are also held in some cities in Colombia and Honduras. The Caribbean communities of Notting Hill in London as well as those in Brooklyn, New York and Toronto, Ontario also celebrate an annual Caribbean Carnival.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While Carnival is celebrated to varying degrees throughout much of the Caribbean, the biggest of these celebrations is the Trinidad Carnival in Port-of-Spain. Trinidad Carnival begins in January and lasts until Ash Wednesday; in other words, the festivities can last for months. The entire festival climaxes with the week before Ash Wednesday with Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday), J’Ouvert (also called Carnival Monday, with the name from the French Creole <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jour ouvert</i> or break of dawn) and on Tuesday with Mas (short for “masquerade”).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznULeHRQ-Bo-8220HKjMF_qYj2hUWaKSTihb8iq4zoctEYfNj1ApM-vQPIVMzuQhQrneUDIF09zd0l-XRsU_DESHTGpLXxvZ7HYk3u13esuCeipwlEFQXIBNt0ABNkL32VgTVeIbOh0U0/s1600/steel+band.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznULeHRQ-Bo-8220HKjMF_qYj2hUWaKSTihb8iq4zoctEYfNj1ApM-vQPIVMzuQhQrneUDIF09zd0l-XRsU_DESHTGpLXxvZ7HYk3u13esuCeipwlEFQXIBNt0ABNkL32VgTVeIbOh0U0/s200/steel+band.bmp" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Steel pan player</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Trinidad Carnival has its own unique traditions. These include the famous steel pan competitions held in the weeks leading up to Dimanche Gras. Other music competitions include those in soca, calypso and rapso (the combination of rapping with calypso). Additionally, there are stickfighting and limbo competitions.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIoGQlmZP0TD94beBALdCSAe6dhsYlD9lp8MywVG_AWDMIOdRvkUlwVpwCHaek16KbbIqhYrrJc-Yk0SHaJRe3Gs-F9StEtLtvSr2l0dt_UtGNYvN98eTLu_YCXbDva7UqECLOUUfQW-V/s1600/feteing+in+Trinidad.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIoGQlmZP0TD94beBALdCSAe6dhsYlD9lp8MywVG_AWDMIOdRvkUlwVpwCHaek16KbbIqhYrrJc-Yk0SHaJRe3Gs-F9StEtLtvSr2l0dt_UtGNYvN98eTLu_YCXbDva7UqECLOUUfQW-V/s200/feteing+in+Trinidad.jpg" width="150" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Man Feteing at Trinidad Mas</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Throughout Trinidad Carnival spectators and performers alike are encourage to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fête</i>, that is to burst into a free-form revelry of dancing, singing or whatever else may be inspired.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p>The Trinidad Carnival hosts numerous competitions for parades, costumes and music. On Dimanche Gras, the Calypso King and Queen are chosen in a costume competition. They are then the central figure in their own special float in the following parades. J’Ouvert features people dressing in politically-barbed satiric costumes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qFOCAzBhKX_Pe-SqYEGCvf0MP3B9IyD00rFNsNqd3sCpcFnVHDjIHGzvcbXMSm_c5-VcBkFQfOqBk93ENIo_d1M3cFqG0MBIPp29ilatRGqTM2JsVAbeudaYMw4r_xS0HiMBF433k6o/s1600/jab+jabs.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qFOCAzBhKX_Pe-SqYEGCvf0MP3B9IyD00rFNsNqd3sCpcFnVHDjIHGzvcbXMSm_c5-VcBkFQfOqBk93ENIo_d1M3cFqG0MBIPp29ilatRGqTM2JsVAbeudaYMw4r_xS0HiMBF433k6o/s200/jab+jabs.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Jab Jabs</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A J’Ouvert King and Queen are likewise chosen for the most politically astute commentary. J’Ouvert is also the day in which one sees running through the streets the famous “Jab-Jabs” (people dressed as red, blue and black devils with pitchforks).<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFHw30VXXsJagLe_2hZaMGvMGAdzMU_ok7CudCwZLrQrwz0SkmgLec6Xov3GfM1FaOsGdajCO5TM3pddXB8azlOKRnEE8NL5ifsE5zuWk2hKwYAzUoOxQa3A6kczAsMeWyjXfMopkYAA/s1600/tccmokojumbies.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFHw30VXXsJagLe_2hZaMGvMGAdzMU_ok7CudCwZLrQrwz0SkmgLec6Xov3GfM1FaOsGdajCO5TM3pddXB8azlOKRnEE8NL5ifsE5zuWk2hKwYAzUoOxQa3A6kczAsMeWyjXfMopkYAA/s200/tccmokojumbies.jpg" width="133" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Moko Jumbies</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Mas itself is marked by the most elaborate of costumes, usually enhanced with body paint and intricate wire extensions as well as “Mas boots” which are worn both as decoration and to ensure comfort during the long marches of the parades. Among the most distinctive traditional characters depicted for Mas are the Moko Jumbies, stilt walkers representing protecting spirits (Moko was an African god whose worship was brought over by slaves and "jumbie" is Caribbean patois for ghost). Other traditional characters are the Midnight Robber (who speaks in "Robber Talk" of exaggeratedly boastful claims), the Bookman (a devil with a book wearing special gown with a massive headmask with horns and a frightening stare) and various clowns and animals. Large cash prizes are awarded to winners on the central performance stage for best costume and music.<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Trinidad celebrations, please see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">India</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Goa Carn<span style="font-size: large;">i</span>val</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl83j50cXs7NmL5nK5bUQaek5KHvXGfBl0Ejta3DdcLoQWVdorPDwGWzcYpSGnxQy-200C40nXsMjhNg4B5dHEVpCCztDHH7t7bvLGN7o-9_kYkvTZYjemelgfSUUlYgJ3sMCyOtzLQX0/s1600/goa-map.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl83j50cXs7NmL5nK5bUQaek5KHvXGfBl0Ejta3DdcLoQWVdorPDwGWzcYpSGnxQy-200C40nXsMjhNg4B5dHEVpCCztDHH7t7bvLGN7o-9_kYkvTZYjemelgfSUUlYgJ3sMCyOtzLQX0/s200/goa-map.gif" width="200" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Indian state of Goa also has annual celebrations for Carnival (also spelled interchangeably as Carnaval) throughout the state. Goa was a Portuguese colony through 1961 and when the local cities and towns are taken over by the rule of the legendary King Momo. The largest of these is held in Panaji with a celebration that runs for three days and three nights.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6-cGENcrDj2RT5yIOTf2g-IUtbXAYCucHJir0PCgaR4SW_SrbPE51Zir3KowUUej5z0D-d0NkW5iKeQqEAngRTcUyqQZd0F3Bzhy6OVfxZv-ghB_2SoasMu3CT8RrJaI3qODPmue6eq/s1600/carnival2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6-cGENcrDj2RT5yIOTf2g-IUtbXAYCucHJir0PCgaR4SW_SrbPE51Zir3KowUUej5z0D-d0NkW5iKeQqEAngRTcUyqQZd0F3Bzhy6OVfxZv-ghB_2SoasMu3CT8RrJaI3qODPmue6eq/s400/carnival2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Goa Carnival</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The Goa Carnaval in 2013 begins on February 9 and runs through February 12. The Goa Carnaval has taken place annually for roughly 500 years, making it arguably the oldest annual Pre-Lenten celebration outside of Europe. For most of its 500-year-old history, the Goa Carnival was celebrated primarily by Goa's large Catholic population (who make up just under 30% of state's population). In recent years, however, the Goa Carnaval has become a major draw for tourists from all over India as well as an increasing number of tourist from abroad.<br /><br />The Goa Carnaval was cancelled in 2012. Sadly, in that year the Great Carnival Parade to the city of Panaji (formerly Panjim) which was scheduled this year for Saturday February 18 was cancelled following a terrible accident earlier in the day in which a school bus fell into the Kalvi River killing eight people, including five children. To read more on this accident please see:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/report/carnival-parade-in-panaji-called-off-after-road-mishap/20120218.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.rediff.com/news/report/carnival-parade-in-panaji-called-off-after-road-mishap/20120218.htm</span></a><br /><br />Other Carnival celebrations in 2012 did Goa did go on in the cities of Margoa, Ponda, Vasco and Mapusa.<br /><br />The Goa Carnival parade at Goa's capitall city of Panaji is by far the largest event. The parade usually runs for three or more hours Parades and feasts are also held in most other Goan cities. All of the events feature a mix of traditional feasts (usually centered on seafood), dancing and music. Panaji and several other locations hold firework displays as well. The music and dance of the Goan Carnival is unique to the state, blending influences of pre-Portuguese and post-Portuguese influences that over the centuries have blended tabla, ghumot and mridanga drums along with oboe-like shehnai mixed with Portuguese-style mandolins and violins. Dancing too is a blend of subcontinental and European styles. Sambas are particularly part of the celebratory dances.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Angolan Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As a former Portuguese colony, Angola in southwest Africa has a well-established Carnaval tradition, with the Luanda Carnaval in the capital city dating back to 1857.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTioEmzWpMrWy7JcKuFfg4Cxsx9ZoDBUrbWK3hOi5k8mzbQBW0o9DX_bCaFVFOl7f5bBBmqD36eJc58Ox4rHhjInJHoXOtSoTk7jlgd15Kn2KdChYwGPx4i8y8-MTVE7CMvrdwxeGnELa/s1600/luanda-carnival.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="576" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTioEmzWpMrWy7JcKuFfg4Cxsx9ZoDBUrbWK3hOi5k8mzbQBW0o9DX_bCaFVFOl7f5bBBmqD36eJc58Ox4rHhjInJHoXOtSoTk7jlgd15Kn2KdChYwGPx4i8y8-MTVE7CMvrdwxeGnELa/s320/luanda-carnival.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Luanda Carnaval</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Angola, in fact, has added much to the Portuguese traditions. This is because samba dancing, the mainstay of Brazil's Carnaval competitions, is actually taken from Angolan roots. The word <i>samba</i> with an "a" in Portuguese comes from the word <i>semba</i> with an "e" in the Angolan language of Kimbundu. <i>Semba i</i>n Kimbundu means "to invoke the spirits of the ancestors" which was done through music and dance. The word <i>semba </i>itself comes from the verb <i>masemba</i> which means to touch bellies. Slaves taken from Angola to Brazil beginning in the early 1600's took their religious tradition with them. The semba/samba tradition evolved from there.</div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cape Verde Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8fNNZSXh2w1ConWBQSBg5JAxloUhJzfGU_ahXN4iFTTl7oSno6svSVT4h9BXAqPa6sT9LHOCoSnHbESCoqj2DVAs0YOq5Y3zSOB7qRaOAU5ggj_NHifmiocTtih4znSquwarjcssWffc/s1600/carnaval-sao-vicente.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="620" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8fNNZSXh2w1ConWBQSBg5JAxloUhJzfGU_ahXN4iFTTl7oSno6svSVT4h9BXAqPa6sT9LHOCoSnHbESCoqj2DVAs0YOq5Y3zSOB7qRaOAU5ggj_NHifmiocTtih4znSquwarjcssWffc/s200/carnaval-sao-vicente.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Another former Portuguese colony with a Carnaval tradition is the West African island nation of Cape Verde (<i>Cabo Verde </i>in Portuguese). Three of the country's 10 islands hold an annual Carnaval. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The most dazzling of the Cape Verde Carnavals is in Mindelo on São Vicente but a strong <span style="text-align: center;">competition exists with its main competitor in Rebeira Brava on São Nicolau. The saying goes that "São Vicente has the show while São Nicolau has the heart." That said, most attendees agree that the Carnaval de Praia in the capital is the smallest of the three. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">East Timor Carnaval</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;">East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975 when it was taken over by Indonesia (which owns the</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXHgG99-R_AjnBMVrbWnMWfpglCWf1iXuZAZy_k8-3gkUjtnY9-wDDcn2_Gv76_OQZpuGrtcB5Iyng3AVQWQlmWNbyM01B3Jgrr3ATdXvjkpqzkhkDHFuDmR2DC9l33fDQ1ywuceImDQY/s1600/thumbs.web.sapo.io.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="555" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXHgG99-R_AjnBMVrbWnMWfpglCWf1iXuZAZy_k8-3gkUjtnY9-wDDcn2_Gv76_OQZpuGrtcB5Iyng3AVQWQlmWNbyM01B3Jgrr3ATdXvjkpqzkhkDHFuDmR2DC9l33fDQ1ywuceImDQY/s200/thumbs.web.sapo.io.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Dili Carnaval, East Timor</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">western half of the island). From 1975 until its independence from Indonesia in 2002, the Roman Catholic Portuguese tradition was suppressed by the Muslim-majority population. After independence, the country began to reach out to Brazil to rebuild its traditions. This resulted in the first state-sponsored Carnaval in 2008 in the capital Dili. The Carnaval has been growing ever since. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Poland</span>:</b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Polish American <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day and Polish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tłusty Czwartek</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TysWZGFZSVoiUfgre-nUFBqUjR4ZTP-dKAIqcfDVZDj3cfRW2Z-odHaevHXzktz0znVXhYSdDyRvkX6NgBkmP_25uPwTxIgRWxoGbWa-rLySivRVa0CAxYpJuWUO0nzZtC9gx73rO3JR/s1600/p%C4%85czki..jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TysWZGFZSVoiUfgre-nUFBqUjR4ZTP-dKAIqcfDVZDj3cfRW2Z-odHaevHXzktz0znVXhYSdDyRvkX6NgBkmP_25uPwTxIgRWxoGbWa-rLySivRVa0CAxYpJuWUO0nzZtC9gx73rO3JR/s200/p%C4%85czki..jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i>Pączki</i></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In Southeast Michigan, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Chicago and other areas with large Polish-American populations, Polish Americans celebrate “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day” after the Polish tradition of eating filled doughnuts called <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączki</span></i>. Pronounced “poonch-kee,” <i>pączki </i>are traditionally filled with prune, plum or rosehip jelly, though more modern interpretations include strawberry, apricot, raspberry, lemon and other jellies. A recipe for traditional <i>pączki </i>can be found at:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1918,151170-232196,00.html">http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1918,151170-232196,00.html</a><br /><br /> Incidentally, <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączki</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> is the plural of the word, a single pastry is called a</span><span lang="EN"> </span><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączek</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day is a major event for many local Polish-American communities. In Evanston, Illinois, an annual <i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">pączki</span></i>-eating contest takes place to see who can eat the most of the pastries (with the contest held on the weekend closest to the appropriate Tuesday). Arguably the strongest tradition of celebrating Paczki Day is in the heavily Polish-American city of Hamtramck (a city with so strong a Polish tradition that the late Pope John Paul II even visited the city). For more on the Hamtramck <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span><span lang="EN"> </span>Day, please see<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://localism.com/mi/hamtramck"><span style="color: purple;">http://localism.com/mi/hamtramck</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pączki</span> Day is celebrated in southeast Michigan, Chicago and Buffalo on the same Tuesday as Mardi Gras, the Polish equivalent in Poland itself is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tłusty Czwartek</i> actually means Fat <span class="object2">Thursday</span>. This is because in Poland itself, the celebration starts on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday (February 7 for 2013) to leave enough of time to celebrate the Polish <span lang="PL" style="mso-ansi-language: PL;">Karnawał</span> (Carnival). Shrove Tuesday itself <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">is marked not by eating <i>pączki</i> but rather herring and is sometimes called “Herring Day” or <i>Śledzik</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lithuania: Užgavėnės</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vrrv-rLser0ATbhILfIE6z_WOjqWmjbg-VHk4lU3sZSXdKDe4wlvGLnSEYpNum5XKAIfwMJuulaUXLHCB-XB7vAbqZv9cru46CTHGsSOZY4GSbTHh4pjLHF3UEmliFhRabdLonQofe2x/s1600/uzgavenes-more.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vrrv-rLser0ATbhILfIE6z_WOjqWmjbg-VHk4lU3sZSXdKDe4wlvGLnSEYpNum5XKAIfwMJuulaUXLHCB-XB7vAbqZv9cru46CTHGsSOZY4GSbTHh4pjLHF3UEmliFhRabdLonQofe2x/s1600/uzgavenes-more.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><i style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;">Lašininis </i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;">burnt in effigy</span> </b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The Lithuanian Pre-Lenten festival is know as </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Užgavėnės. The festival centers around a play battle enacted out by </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Lašininis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> (meaning "Fatso") who symbolizes winter and </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Kanapinis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> (or the Hemp Man) who stands for Spring. </span></span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Kanapinis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> is always victorious and the battle concludes with </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Lašininis</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> being burnt in effigy. Throughout the battle, people go through the crowds dressed as witches, ghosts and other characters.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ZZATM3ofnyrABvtIidPv0QPXSwI6eedUVtjZ6oUhHcu8mV9aBCLBfLZI9vrkKaSABXUY9rS5IisS7q1TJ67hI9QqoXM2KOdUwk2xJ61kCow7NijUTnoGliUYTjbas3FCxtB-DJiIHVi/s1600/_DSC2396+.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ZZATM3ofnyrABvtIidPv0QPXSwI6eedUVtjZ6oUhHcu8mV9aBCLBfLZI9vrkKaSABXUY9rS5IisS7q1TJ67hI9QqoXM2KOdUwk2xJ61kCow7NijUTnoGliUYTjbas3FCxtB-DJiIHVi/s1600/_DSC2396+.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><b>Varškės spurgos</b></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The traditional treat for the holiday is a pancake alternately called </span><i>sklindziai </i>or <i>blynai. </i>Also popular are the fried cakes known as <i>spurgos. Spurgos </i>differ from their Polish <span lang="EN"><i>pączki </i>counterpart in that they may be filled not only with fruit (as in Poland) or made with no fruit but a cottage cheese dough for a dough only version known <i>v</i></span><i>arškės spurgos.</i> A recipe for <span lang="EN"><i>v</i></span><i>arškės spurgos </i>can be found at Celtnet Recipes at <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-varskes-spurgos">http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-varskes-spurgos</a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">For more on </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Užgavėnės, please see <a href="http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/">http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/</a>.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Italy</span>:<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Carnevale and the Battle of the Oranges</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUfkEaHq6g-dkyTkpmbIRxrCdJ6VAXuRc1L1QkA4WGgOl43LExQGTH76zVEZeGqVPGSIiAWmRfA1WCwbmzWeM-D8xHMS4Wp9WEuUv0_dY2nfZB0L79pRyue-6T4Dmobh52pgLNHx35jjB/s1600/800px-Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUfkEaHq6g-dkyTkpmbIRxrCdJ6VAXuRc1L1QkA4WGgOl43LExQGTH76zVEZeGqVPGSIiAWmRfA1WCwbmzWeM-D8xHMS4Wp9WEuUv0_dY2nfZB0L79pRyue-6T4Dmobh52pgLNHx35jjB/s320/800px-Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Masks are the hallmark of the Carnevale of Venice</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In Italy, the <b>Carnevale of Venice</b> technically begins on <span class="object12">the Saturday before</span> and ends <span class="object13">on</span> <span class="object14">Tuesday</span> before Ash <span class="object15">Wednesday</span>. In reality, the Carnevale of Venice runs for weeks. It is a major celebration with masked parties, and is probably the oldest annual celebration of the season, having started in 1268. Roughly 3 million visitors descend on Venice each year for the celebration. Central to the Venice Carnevale are its elaborate masks and ach year, a competition takes place for the best mask.<br /><br /><br />You can read more about Carnivale on the official website at<br /><br /> <span class="object16"><a href="http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4</span></a></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />Another famous Italian Carnival-related tradition takes place annually in the city of<b> Ivrea with its “Battle of the Oranges.”</b> Since the Middle Ages, the people of Ivrea have participated in a three-day pre-Lenten battle among its citizens. For centuries, the combatants used beans, which changed in time to fruit and has been since the 19th century exclusively oranges. You can read more about the Battle of the Oranges at <span class="object17"><a href="http://www.carnevalediivrea.it/english/battaglia.asp" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnevalediivrea.it/english/battaglia.asp</span></a></span></div><p><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkhv1p4E3gWAHfXk3tCCJL3QRas_SRlEIGvBfcT8crqmf4fMPoAHJaI6WZvcmYO4RL19YEOWN1WEZs4XRmR4i9bE5j24ZzgDHbMBiGexsKghexQNvEP4DqVGmKq1hXh2m3EDTetZZE7O/s1600/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkhv1p4E3gWAHfXk3tCCJL3QRas_SRlEIGvBfcT8crqmf4fMPoAHJaI6WZvcmYO4RL19YEOWN1WEZs4XRmR4i9bE5j24ZzgDHbMBiGexsKghexQNvEP4DqVGmKq1hXh2m3EDTetZZE7O/s320/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Ivrea Battle of the Oranges</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Belgium</span>: <span style="font-size: large;">Carnival of Binche</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Many cities throughout Belgium have Carnival celebrations. These include those at the Walloon cities of La Calamine, Nivelles and Malmedy, the Flemish cities of Heist and Aalst, and the city of Eupen in the German-speaking region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By far the most famous of these, though, is the Carnival of Binche, which was named a UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage Masterpiece in 2010.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajEwHFbv1p9C4bJIHeAGkUfQbMUU8VbpfirHQL0-bOHAFfIDrdi5Idk_YG9eekjJlcoBAVLcTwpHOD-CyfmHH6Mf2LFYRFD94pZ-aMcSnTKSXjgsE-1BAbaDRZobw5aiBSxBQr3uHdSu2/s1600/800px-Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajEwHFbv1p9C4bJIHeAGkUfQbMUU8VbpfirHQL0-bOHAFfIDrdi5Idk_YG9eekjJlcoBAVLcTwpHOD-CyfmHH6Mf2LFYRFD94pZ-aMcSnTKSXjgsE-1BAbaDRZobw5aiBSxBQr3uHdSu2/s200/800px-Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Gilles at the Carnival of Binche</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Carnival of Binche dates to the 1300’s, making it among the oldest continuously held annual celebrations in Europe. Activities begin seven weeks before Carnival week and climax with the arrival of the Gilles on Shrove Tuesday. Roughly 1000 boys and men parade through the streets in the costume of a Gille: linen suits in the Belgian national colors with hunchbacks stuffed with straw, elaborate white lace cuffs and collars, bells hanging from their belts, wooden clogs (called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sabots</i>) and wax masks. Some also wear feathered hats. The Gilles carry <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ramons </i>– special branches for warding off evil spirits. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> appearance of the Gilles begins at 4:00 AM and lasts most of the day. In the morning they parade to the town all. In the afternoon, the Gilles remove their masks and parade through the city carrying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ramon </i>branch baskets filled with blood oranges that they throw at the spectators. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on the Carnival of Binche please see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/CarnivalOfBinche"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.squidoo.com/CarnivalOfBinche</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">German Catholic Regions: Fasching and Karneval</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Several pre-Lenten traditions are carried on the the Catholic German-speaking regions. Technically, what the Germans call the "silly season" (<i>die närrische Saison</i>) begins on 11-11 at 11:11 AM, the celebrations being in earnest only after Epiphany (January 6) and intensify in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday.<br /><br /><b><u>What's in A Name: Fasching? Karneval?</u></b><br /><br />The name of the silly season's main event varies from region to region thoughout the German-speaking world.<br /><br />In much of the southern German-speaking regions, the Alemannic German term Fasching or some variation of the word is used to denote the Carnival season. Fasching is actually the word used in Austria, Bavaria and Berlin. In Baden, the Alsace region of France, most of the German cantons of Switzerland as well as the Amish and Mennonite communities in the United States, people call the celebration Fastnacht or Fasnacht. In Franconia as well as in the city of Mainz, people use the word Fosnat or Fasenacht, while in Swabia people call the same holiday Fasnet. In Luxembourg, the holiday is known as Fuesend.<br /><br />In much of the north, the Latin-based word Karneval is used. Karneval is the name of the holiday in Cologne, which is the largest Carnival-related event in Europe. Karneval is also the name used in the Rheinland and the Pfalz. This is also term for the major carnival cities of Bonn, Düsseldorf, Eschweil and Aachen.<br /><br />Finally, in Brandenburg and Saxony, the names Fasching and Karneval are typically used interchangeably.<br /><br /><b><u>Kölner Karneval</u></b><br /><br />The Kölner Karneval or Cologne Carnival is the largest Carnival gathering not only in Germany, but in the whole of Europe. Unlike most other carnivals worldwide, the central culmination of the Kölner Karneval comes not on Fat Tuesday(<i>Weiberfastnacht), </i>but rather on the Monday before Ash Wednesday. This is called <i>Rosenmontag </i>or Rose Monday and consists of major parades, parties and notably major stage events and performances.<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtJAwzVTEf-9GAfXZaL9UJjEQgFMZusD7khNnD8ELr0w3a8p08vG-L4JT1ihyphenhyphen53zeQihilZY8cXPuGsn4K3Hetykyc50LjQ0SKyXD4EF_nit6hRzkyI-NGyiCy76SGnx1MzLY2n5JS_qR/s1600/549px-Dreigestirn_72.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtJAwzVTEf-9GAfXZaL9UJjEQgFMZusD7khNnD8ELr0w3a8p08vG-L4JT1ihyphenhyphen53zeQihilZY8cXPuGsn4K3Hetykyc50LjQ0SKyXD4EF_nit6hRzkyI-NGyiCy76SGnx1MzLY2n5JS_qR/s200/549px-Dreigestirn_72.jpg" width="183" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Die Dreigistirn</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Each year at the Kölner Karneval, three <i>Dreigestirn </i>are named. The <i>Dreigestirn </i>form the Karneval royalty and are comprised of the <i>Jungfrau </i>(Young Woman or Virgin and called "Her Loveliness"), the <i>Prinz</i> (Prince, called "His Craziness") and the <i>Bauer</i> (the Farmer, called <i>Seine Deftigkeit</i> or "His Hugeness" which refers to being hefty in size but in impolite terms has a ribald connotation). All three people are always men, including the <i>Jungfrau</i> who is a man dressed as a woman (the only exception being during the Nazi era, where the authorities intolerance of homosexuality outlawed the cross-dressing).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For more on the German celebrations, see<br /><br /><a href="http://www.germanpulse.com/blog/2012/02/16/fasching-or-karneval-is-there-a-difference/">http://www.germanpulse.com/blog/2012/02/16/fasching-or-karneval-is-there-a-difference/</a><br /><a href="http://www.carnaval.com/germany/">http://www.carnaval.com/germany/</a><br /><a href="http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020501a.htm">http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020501a.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Luxembourg: Fuesend and Karneval</span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Luxembourg, the pre-Lenten holiday season is known as <i>Fuesend</i>. Throughout the Grand-Duchy, parades and parties are held on the Tuesday before Lent begins. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The commune of Pétange is the home of the Grand-Duchy's largest pre-Lenten Karneval celebration. Annually hosting a calvalcade with roughly 1200 participants and thousand of participants, the official name is Karneval Gemeng Péiteng or Kagepe (the initials in Luxembourgish are pronounced Ka, Ge and Pe).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmSR_QIn27m5iow_R__DcE749f0T5P3BsU6tBlMnzd6LjUiQAqlxDaxu_6KTWupPSMDIiD184szRiOyD0mOnAbDEFEGUMRRnlds3R0On5S6kbnxlamOpX7xzsdDhxxCVrpSbpG231f7CM/s1600/2013_02-490_0008_10710349_remich_DSC4571_857044949.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmSR_QIn27m5iow_R__DcE749f0T5P3BsU6tBlMnzd6LjUiQAqlxDaxu_6KTWupPSMDIiD184szRiOyD0mOnAbDEFEGUMRRnlds3R0On5S6kbnxlamOpX7xzsdDhxxCVrpSbpG231f7CM/s1600/2013_02-490_0008_10710349_remich_DSC4571_857044949.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>The <span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The town of Remich holds a three-day-long celebration. Remich is notable for two special events in addition to its parades. The first of these is the Stréimännchen, which is the burning of a male effigy from the Remich bridge that crosses the Moselle River separating the Grand Duchy from Germany. The Stréimännchen symbolizes the burning away of winter. The other special event at the Remich Fuesend celebrations is the Buergbrennen or bonfire that closes the celebration.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Like Remich, the town of Esch-sur-Alzette also holds a three-day celebration. Other major Fuesend parades in Luxembourg are held in the towns of Diekirch and Differdange.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">For more on Fuesend, see <a href="http://yourlivingcity.com/luxembourg/lifestyle/luxembourg-life/luxembourgish-culture/top-carnivals-in-luxembourg/">http://yourlivingcity.com/luxembourg/lifestyle/luxembourg-life/luxembourgish-culture/top-carnivals-in-luxembourg/</a><br /><br /></div></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Greece: </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Greek Orthodox Celebrations</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />As noted above, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Ash Wednesday is not observed. Instead, Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Clean Monday as the start of what is called Great Lent (the equivalent holiday but so-named to differentiate the holiday from another observance called Winter Lent which corresponds to the Western tradition of Advent). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />Greek Orthodox adherents began celebrating Greek Orthodox Carnival with Triodion and ending on Clean Monday. <span class="object20"><span style="color: darkblue;"> </span></span> The largest of the celebrations is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tsiknopempti</span></i><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">or "Burnt Thursday" </span>with two weekends of Carnival: the Tsiknopempti Weekend and the Greek Carnival Weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Annually, the largest Greek Orthodox celebration of Carnival is centered at Patras, Greece’s third largest city. The Carnival at Patras often reflects current social themes, and is at times used as an outlet for social protest in some years. In other years, there is no social statement at all.</div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb9xBPu5qtYtUNvuRi4Ziw3iQaHzuAkO0Bc3yjneEMdHjM4l_oWw2hJcscCPeKSSDFjCTq0pPzdyAQugUP_N5aRD_R4i6N5Y5XaRQum0e9cYbWgYSAraqxTQnfjet26EpxwB00ncxRMIH/s1600/Patras+Children%27s+Carnival.bmp" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb9xBPu5qtYtUNvuRi4Ziw3iQaHzuAkO0Bc3yjneEMdHjM4l_oWw2hJcscCPeKSSDFjCTq0pPzdyAQugUP_N5aRD_R4i6N5Y5XaRQum0e9cYbWgYSAraqxTQnfjet26EpxwB00ncxRMIH/s200/Patras+Children's+Carnival.bmp" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Patras Children's Carnival</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In all years, though, the Patras Carnival includes a separate “Children’s Carnival” with thousands of costumed children on parade through the streets. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhRYvA3tBEAu3X177Ew4NTKjWNN01-_SpGHNvgIQO1Uyb6pTjGtVPxWI8PidEdP27jIHnSQAG03RHBc7i4nTqAw48IwLhjYGMdYwmCxWgVAXfxxkRWCrwt2Zizi8Wvf0adez-Fx1RaE8/s1600/Bourboulia_6.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhRYvA3tBEAu3X177Ew4NTKjWNN01-_SpGHNvgIQO1Uyb6pTjGtVPxWI8PidEdP27jIHnSQAG03RHBc7i4nTqAw48IwLhjYGMdYwmCxWgVAXfxxkRWCrwt2Zizi8Wvf0adez-Fx1RaE8/s200/Bourboulia_6.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><b>Bourboulia domino robes and masks</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Another unique feature of the Patras Carnival is the Bourboulia, a formal ball in which women come in identical costumes – the so-called domino robes and masks – and ask men, usually uncostumed, to dance with them without their dance partner knowing who is behind the disguise. Other Greek sites also have Carnival celebrations, including annual celebrations on the islands of Corfu and of Crete. To learn more about Greek Carnival traditions see<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://gogreece.about.com/od/carnivaltime/a/carnivaldates_2.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://gogreece.about.com/od/carnivaltime/a/carnivaldates_2.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more specifically on <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Patras Carnival, you can go to their official website at:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="object2"><a href="http://www.carnivalpatras.gr/index.php?" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.carnivalpatras.gr/index.php?</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Conclusion</u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are many more Carnival-related celebrations around the world. Feel free to share some of your own, or to add to what has been shared here.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As for the religious aspects of Ash Wednesday and the related observances, as always, this post is meant only to be informational. Please share your own views, and note that this post in no way indicates a point of view on what is or is not appropriate religious observance.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Further Reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For more on some of the general religious traditions, here are a few websites:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Roman Catholic traditions, see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/When-Is-Lent.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/When-Is-Lent.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.ash-wednesday.org/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.ash-wednesday.org/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and<br /><a href="https://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/">https://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Episcopalian traditions, see<br /><a href="http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20070201212131742"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20070201212131742</span></a><br /><span style="color: darkblue;">and</span><br /><span style="color: darkblue;"><a href="http://www.episcopalnet.org/TRACTS/5ThingsLent.html">http://www.episcopalnet.org/TRACTS/5ThingsLent.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Methodist traditions, see <span style="color: darkblue;"> </span><br /><a href="http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2514885/k.63E6/Lent_and_Easter_Resources.htm"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2514885/k.63E6/Lent_and_Easter_Resources.htm</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and<br /><a href="http://fmcusa.org/lenten-resources/">http://fmcusa.org/lenten-resources/</a><br /><br />For Lutheran traditions, see<br /><a href="http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=10484">http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=10484</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Eastern Orthodox traditions see<br /><a href="http://www.monachos.net/content/lent"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.monachos.net/content/lent</span></a><br />and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://lent.goarch.org/"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://lent.goarch.org/</span></a><br />and<br /><a href="http://www.spc.rs/eng/great_lent"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.spc.rs/eng/great_lent</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />For Coptic Lent traditions, see<br /><a href="http://www.copticworld.org/articles/1833/">http://www.copticworld.org/articles/1833/</a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo traditions, see </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Clip Art Sources</span></b><br /><br /></div><p>Praying woman with ashen cross on forehead: <a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm">http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm</a><br /><br />Lent image: Christ the King Anglican Church, Lansing, Michigan: <a href="http://ctklansing.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lent-new.jpg">http://ctklansing.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lent-new.jpg</a><br /><br />Priest placing ashen cross on worshiper's forehead: Life Assays: <a href="http://bobritzema.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ash-wednesday.jpg">http://bobritzema.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ash-wednesday.jpg</a><br /><br />Carnival cartoon clipart: Clip Art Today: <a href="http://www.clipartoday.com/_thumbs/022/Celebrations/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png">http://www.clipartoday.com/_thumbs/022/Celebrations/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png</a><br /><br />Rio parade with King Kong: <a href="http://blog.otel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rio-Carnaval.jpg">http://blog.otel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rio-Carnaval.jpg</a><br /><br />Rio Carnaval elaborate costume: Travelvivi.com <a href="http://www.travelvivi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rio_carnival06.jpg">http://www.travelvivi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rio_carnival06.jpg</a><br /><br />Samba competitors at the Anhembi Sambodrome: Sydney Morning Herald:<br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/18/samba2_gallery__470x312.jpg">http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/18/samba2_gallery__470x312.jpg</a><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Trio Elétrico</i></span> at the <span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">São Paulo Carnaval: <a href="http://im.r7.com/outros/files/2C92/94A4/2E64/8A75/012E/7830/7A6E/725D/carna%201-tl-201100302.jpg">http://im.r7.com/outros/files/2C92/94A4/2E64/8A75/012E/7830/7A6E/725D/carna%201-tl-201100302.jpg</a></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="font-family: "a59726c857c08c9212a74a20";">Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio: <a href="http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm">http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i>Afoxé: </i></span></span></span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afox%C3%A9">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afoxé</a><br /><i style="text-align: center;"><br /></i><i style="text-align: center;">Alfaias:<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"> </span></i><a href="http://www.brasilcultura.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/afoxes10.jpg">http://www.brasilcultura.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/afoxes10.jpg</a><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><i>Frevo</i> dancer: Está com tudo blogsite: <a href="http://estacomtudo.blogspot.com/2010/11/frevo_12.html">http://estacomtudo.blogspot.com/2010/11/frevo_12.html</a></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><i>Maracatu de nação</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> percussionists: Oficina do Barulho: <a href="http://www.oficinadobarulho.com/images/camale_o.jpg">http://www.oficinadobarulho.com/images/camale_o.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda: </span><a href="http://laprensa-sandiego.org/featured/brazilian-northeast-celebrates-carnival-the-old-fashioned-way/">http://laprensa-sandiego.org/featured/brazilian-northeast-celebrates-carnival-the-old-fashioned-way/</a><br /><br /></p><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recife’s 2013 <i>Galo da </i><i>Madrugada</i> parade </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">set the world record for most people in a parade: </span><a href="http://fotografia.folha.uol.com.br/galerias/13608-bloco-galo-da-madrugada-em-recife">http://fotografia.folha.uol.com.br/galerias/13608-bloco-galo-da-madrugada-em-recife</a></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Recife's </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Noite dos </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tambores</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;">Silenciosos: </span><a href="http://www.culturaalternativa.com.br/geral/materias/item/2591-noite-para-os-tambores-silenciosos-de-olinda-reverencia-fe-e-cultura-afro">http://www.culturaalternativa.com.br/geral/materias/item/2591-noite-para-os-tambores-silenciosos-de-olinda-reverencia-fe-e-cultura-afro</a></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-align: center;">Teresina's Carnaval hold the world record for floats in a parade: </span><a href="http://www.jfagora.com/qual-melhor-ze-pereira-de-teresina-timon-ou-o-de-jose-de-freitas.html">http://www.jfagora.com/qual-melhor-ze-pereira-de-teresina-timon-ou-o-de-jose-de-freitas.html</a></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">Mardi Gras in New Orleans: <a href="http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/getty/1/3/73376713.jpg">http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/getty/1/3/73376713.jpg</a></div><p><br />Steel drum player: <a href="http://serturista.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Theaterspektakel_2010_2010-09-04_19-02-50.jpg">http://serturista.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Theaterspektakel_2010_2010-09-04_19-02-50.jpg</a><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Man Feteing in Trinidad: Feteing in Trindad, How to Play Mas: <a href="http://www.rishisankar.com/Parties/Trinidad-Carnival-2005/Carnival-Tuesday-2005-23rd/S3600163/202578866_XhHuH-XL.jpg">http://www.rishisankar.com/Parties/Trinidad-Carnival-2005/Carnival-Tuesday-2005-23rd/S3600163/202578866_XhHuH-XL.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jab Jabs: <a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Moko Jumbies: <a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Map of Goa: <a href="http://www.jigneshbapna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/goa-map.gif">http://www.jigneshbapna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/goa-map.gif</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br />Goa Carnival: <a href="http://www.carnivalgoa.com/">http://www.carnivalgoa.com/</a><br /><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><br /></p><div>Luanda Carnaval: <a href="https://afktravel.com/101783/carnival-in-africa/2/">https://afktravel.com/101783/carnival-in-africa/2/</a></div><div><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><span>Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde: <a href="http://www.caboverdesite.com/city/sao-vicente/sobre-a-ilha/ilha-de-sao-vicente/">http://www.caboverdesite.com/city/sao-vicente/sobre-a-ilha/ilha-de-sao-vicente/</a></span></span><br /><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><span>Dili Carnaval, East Timor: <a href="http://noticias.sapo.tl/portugues/foto/1299406/">http://noticias.sapo.tl/portugues/foto/1299406/</a></span></span><br /><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></i><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Lašininis </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">burnt in effigy<span style="font-size: x-small;">: <a href="http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/">http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/</a></span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN"><span class="Federo"><i>Varškės spurgos: <a href="http://laisvalaikisvirtuveje.blogspot.com/2012/01/varskes-spurgos-su-obuoliu-idaru.html">http://laisvalaikisvirtuveje.blogspot.com/2012/01/varskes-spurgos-su-obuoliu-idaru.html</a></i></span></span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Venice Carnevale masks: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_%282010%29.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Ivrea Battle of the Oranges: The World's Dirtiest Festivals: <a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Battle+of+the+Oranges+painting&view=detail&id=65397B2AFD68F98358FC4C243290428EEE2955AF&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR"> </a><u><span style="color: #810081;"><a href="http://jetsetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg">http://jetsetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg</a></span></u></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Gilles at the Carnival of Binche: Photograph by Marie-Claire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br />Die Dreigistirn: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreigestirn_72.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreigestirn_72.jpg</a><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The </span><span style="font-size: small;">Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge: <a href="http://www.lequotidien.lu/le-pays/42292.html">http://www.lequotidien.lu/le-pays/42292.html</a></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Patras Children's Carnival: <a href="http://www.1000lonelyplaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/childrens-carnival1.jpg">http://www.1000lonelyplaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/childrens-carnival1.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Bourboulia domino robes and masks: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/el/7/79/Bourboulia_6.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/el/7/79/Bourboulia_6.jpg</a></span></span></span></span><br /></p><div><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="Federo"><br /></span></span></span></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-86961564837504709412021-02-10T13:44:00.003-05:002022-01-30T09:47:32.701-05:00Year of the White Metal Ox (2021): Some Background<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Friday, February 12, 2021 begins the Year of the Ox.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It is the beginning of the year 4718 (in some traditions, 4719) in the Asian lunar system, which is the Year of the White Metal Ox.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJYkQpc69UChKRtiTXElgY4bk0xIAVqlO6ej80LWiXRE9Fw2HEJ9e0QbgI1X2X0D3KudkPsBBU1_zENom7uFC2oCXCvtdEs9K60WUi8Se4f__laO0aHOKsTxPo4-nW73tzuBwOS0hDDuI/s800/Year+of+the+Metal+Ox%252C+Inner+Wisdom+Store.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJYkQpc69UChKRtiTXElgY4bk0xIAVqlO6ej80LWiXRE9Fw2HEJ9e0QbgI1X2X0D3KudkPsBBU1_zENom7uFC2oCXCvtdEs9K60WUi8Se4f__laO0aHOKsTxPo4-nW73tzuBwOS0hDDuI/s320/Year+of+the+Metal+Ox%252C+Inner+Wisdom+Store.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">Note that in both Chinese and Japanese, this is most commonly associated with the <b>OX</b>, the actual term for the <b>Year of the<span face="Optima, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></b></span><span class="brown" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b>牛 </b>(<i>niú</i> in Chinese; <i>kyōiku</i> in Japanese) </span></span><span class="brown" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">which can mean either an Ox or a Cow</span><span class="brown" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">. In Korea, the zodiac animal is more commonly associated with a cow, although <em>소 (so</em>)<em> </em>can mean cow or ox. Among Nepal's Gurung Ghurkas, the animal can only be a a cow. Finally, in the Vietnamese zodiac, the animal is a water buffalo (<i>sửu/trâu</i>). For all others, the ox/cow meaning is shared. For our purposes, we will refer to the zodiac animal as an ox unless specifically referring to where it is a cow or water buffalo.</span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">In today’s posting, I would like to share with you some specifics about the Year of the Ox as well as some background to the Asian Zodiac system as a whole. </span><br /><br /><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">1) <b><i><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html">One New Year: Many Traditional New Year Customs Around the World</a></i></b> </span><span face=""Arial", "sans-serif"">for differences in traditional celebrations around the world.</span><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSd2jkfExWfHjVWfd1ZSRzenlLJWZkQ_hjm_axOogbJ9DQcJZEy4n9WFMsBMGL51oj6AcCgdIACcUdQH1lcZHZrhzydy23riDF3qT9sjjpbv5egtjb20G37Lifa6I_G-sjzSU_baW5ixP/s1600/2019-Happy-Chinese-New-Year-with-Pig-paper-cutting-art-vector-06.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></span></span></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>2)</b> <b style="font-style: italic;">Business Impact </b></span></span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-style: italic;"></b>In years past, I have posted separately in the the business effects from travel to special editions of coins, stamps and gifts for the Lunar New Year around the world. I have not had the chance to do so this year. You may find the post from last year of value in giving an idea of this. Here is the post from the </span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-dog-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Dog 2018: Business Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-rooster-2017-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Rooster 2017: Business Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Monkey 2016: Business Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-sheep-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Sheep/Ram 2015: Business Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Horse 2014: Business Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake-business-impact_22.html" target="_blank">Year of the Snake 2013: Business Impact</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-business-impact.html" target="_blank">Year of the Dragon 2012: Business Impact</a><br /></li></ul><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>3) Celebrations around the world. </i></b>Likewise in years past I have listed roughly 250 celebrations, parades and festivals held around the world outside of countries where the majority of the population celebrates the Lunar New Year. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic, these were mostly cancelled both in 2020 and 2021. Before the the pandemic, in the PRC alone, travelers for the<i> Chunyun</i> travel period made roughly 3 billion individual trips. In 2020, that number had collapsed to roughly 1.5 billion trips -- to be sure still the largest movement of people for a single event that year, but a fraction of what it had been. The BBC chart below visually brings home the point.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxvszED2dynSyC-nCocbBJzVYQO42ZAjaxEfzMVVQZUusz3KGtb_7nrGeh1XSb5xqIwmR8Dicw7cgndxrvr8HMFgDy4OMUjtqMdSWZmn4tQ11RblcOaSgTC0zbRilgobx6W72JHeyFv4d/s1282/CNY+traccel+data.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1282" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxvszED2dynSyC-nCocbBJzVYQO42ZAjaxEfzMVVQZUusz3KGtb_7nrGeh1XSb5xqIwmR8Dicw7cgndxrvr8HMFgDy4OMUjtqMdSWZmn4tQ11RblcOaSgTC0zbRilgobx6W72JHeyFv4d/w400-h340/CNY+traccel+data.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55791858" target="_blank">BBC (Jan. 28, 2021)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div>To learn more of how this took shape in earlier years as well as a list of celebrations outside East Asia, here is the 2017 link as an example. for the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8696156483750470941?hl=en#" target="_blank">2017 lis</a>t.</div><div> </div><div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><b style="font-size: x-large;">The Asian Zodiac Briefly Explained </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The Asian Zodiac (or horoscope) associated with the Asian or Chinese Lunar New Year is taken very seriously by those who follow it in their tradition. The significance attributed to the combinations associated with the Asian horoscope affects business decisions, dates selected for important events such as weddings, and many other aspects of daily life. These views <b>are widely shared, with a larger following than <i>any single</i> religion</b> -- Western or Eastern. As a result, <b>these beliefs should be treated with the respect accorded a religious belief</b> (rather than with that of superstition as Western astrology is sometimes treated).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>The Lunar Calendar</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Because the Asian lunar calendar follows the moon, it seems to move within our solar-based Gregorian calendar. Moreover, the Gregorian calendar does not correspond fully with the Asian lunar calendar. Thus, <b>February 8 marks the beginning of the Asian lunar calendar only this year. </b>Last year in 2020 the Year of the Rat began on January 25. Similarly, the Lunar New year began February 5 for the Year of the Pig in 2019; on February 16 for the Year of the Dog in 2018, J<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">anuary 28 for the Year of the Rooster in 2017; </span>February 8, 2016 for the Year of the Monkey, and so forth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The lunar calendar runs on a cycle of 12 years each represented by an animal. The animals all have a balance of compatibility or incompatibility as represented in their place in the circle of the 12-year cycle. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">This year is the Year of </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">the Ox, the last and 2nd animal in the cycle. </span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrxOPs2sWbQjn0-vUMSa439QoIHOsSKMV8g0ElPHV6qRNQFQXbYCkfyt79D0T5EZHWD8d5C_h_Ijb2NG3nr8GbTD5HvaQDNL0FxmpcGYjYTDK_yL2xtMNHheVZYShBgoTc2l_oeTmwJK/s1600/chinese-zodiac-calendar-signs.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><b>The 12 Animals of the Zodiac</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The 12 animals in their order are</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rat</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Ox</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Tiger</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rabbit</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Dragon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Snake</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Horse</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Ram/Sheep/Goat</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Monkey</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Rooster</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Dog</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Pig</span></li></ol></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each animal corresponds to a month of the lunar year. <i>The ox, this year's governing animal,</i> corresponds to the 2nd animal in the cycle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b>The Five Elements of the Wu Xing Cycle</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Additionally, each 12-year cycle of animals runs on an additional cycle corresponding to the Wu Xing cycle of the five traditional Chinese elements. These are</span></div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">metal</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">fire</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">wood</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">water</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">earth</span></li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkzAJJfdsD-Y6Ctje80FfL7Nr9QXdCc69qI98HtYzA0aELp5WTnPAM7wKh7fABH4TbiHrjJmfIMFk05RxrQuBd0Njc1M6jniq7MGzsXr34bvk6N_AePJk1Ho-Dxby8sCquB_Of3jUHGoc/s1600/Wuxing_en.svg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkzAJJfdsD-Y6Ctje80FfL7Nr9QXdCc69qI98HtYzA0aELp5WTnPAM7wKh7fABH4TbiHrjJmfIMFk05RxrQuBd0Njc1M6jniq7MGzsXr34bvk6N_AePJk1Ho-Dxby8sCquB_Of3jUHGoc/s1600/Wuxing_en.svg.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Wu Xing Cycle</b></td></tr></tbody></table></ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN58JvC3Ro3UuPJmQgUPoGL5-bMoWY2OISL2FA9apCm0gA5chjpURHK-26C8icLi6HnjMpzDJPSHxv4gSb0ulQq6FBQxSordCySjlOKeKJsCrLjPGd7X26fYbvo_SA1XJ_kaCY1roWKAt/s1600/White+metal+ox.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN58JvC3Ro3UuPJmQgUPoGL5-bMoWY2OISL2FA9apCm0gA5chjpURHK-26C8icLi6HnjMpzDJPSHxv4gSb0ulQq6FBQxSordCySjlOKeKJsCrLjPGd7X26fYbvo_SA1XJ_kaCY1roWKAt/w200-h200/White+metal+ox.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The five elements are in balance with each other, the basis of much of</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>feng shui</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">.<i> </i>For this Lunar New Year, <i>the governing element is Metal.</i></span></span></span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Combined, each of the five elements combines with each of the 12 animals that forms a 60-year cycle. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The current 12-year cycle<b> combines the Ox with the element of Metal</b>.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each element is also associated with a color. In the case of earth, that color is white.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Thus, this year is the Year of the White Metal Ox.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentcolor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Spiritual Importance of the Asian Horoscope</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Many followers of the Asian zodiac have a formal religious belief in the importance of the animal element combinations associated with each year in the 60-year cycle. This is clearly the case for those practicing Taoism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Taoist Tradition</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPrqV9XzaeW7UgPTvvkwKp62oJljatO5Dgax8FdeAm60QBj8qWWxLbG5OgvvZeGsmDHJSa5NVQFoQvpXOY6xp1473kabzZfu2cpj32-W4A57k8mTW14rgfO2Y6EKBex7C2A0Iarl7YRI/s1600/YinYangAnim.gif" /></a><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">For Taoists, the New Year is always of religious significance. This because in Taoism, the Lunar New Year's first day is a time when lesser deities or spirits are believed to ascend to the throne of the Jade Emperor (King of Heaven). </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">In Taoist tradition, the 12 animals were in a contest to greet the Jade Emperor; a 13th animal – the cat – was tricked by the rat (about five variations of how exist), which explains why cats have hated rats ever since. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A children's version of this story is told in an very pleasant rendition at the Topmarks education site. I encourage you to take a look at this version at </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s1600/zodiaccolor.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSQJdyuvx4eu4DRCgqROVn5gbnFFsCd9KaJFi0Ejmh4iNyDdFtMugo9S2rHjIx8SiM6DtUdv44ILXeAXl-LfxHnms2drk1E15jvOJkV-RUaiv5leH5JBH2ffMOzCSq4NUOyegdu0XUOvr/s320/zodiaccolor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>The 12 Zodiac animals</b><br /><b>in their race</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: currentcolor;"><b>Buddhist Tradition</b></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The New Year is a religious event as well for a great number of the sects of Buddhism, and most famously for Tibetan and Burmese Buddhists. In Buddhist tradition, the 12 animals were in a race to do honor to Lord Buddha on the eve of his death. </span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>East Asian Folk Beliefs</b></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">East Asian folk beliefs are a broad grouping of folk practices that range from deeply-held religious traditions )to popular practices rooted in the local cultures. These practices are widespread, and have a far greater reach than those who claim a specific faith (Taoism or Buddhism) to those who claim a different belief or no belief at all. In Chinese, these have perhaps a dozen names such as "Chinese ethnic religion" or <i>mínjiān zōngjiào</i> (族宗教) or Shenxianism or <i>shénxiān jiào </i>(<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 14.000000953674316px;">神仙教).</span> In Mongolian, these practices are known as Tengrism or reverence of Tengri (the Mongolian name for the Jade Emperor). In Korean, the Great Race is included in the <i>Han'guk sinwha</i> or Korean mythological narratives associated with <i>Shindo (</i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 14.000000953674316px;">신도) </span>ith, followed as folk practices not only by Buddhists and those claiming no religion but even among some Christian groups as a local custom. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">The strength of these folk beliefs is often difficult for those in Europe and the Americas to understand. A counterpart to the range of adherence to these folk religions put in the context of Europe and the Americas would be the broad grouping of deeply-held religious beliefs as "Protestant" despite being separate faiths (e.g., Baptist, Unitarian, Methodist) to popular non-Christian but deeply-held semi-religious traditions (e.g., folk religion) practices rooted in the local culture such as Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree, the Easter Bunny, etc. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Additionally, though Confucianism is not technically a religion (but rather a philosophical system), </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">its followers also traditional observe the Lunar New Year to show reverence to their ancestors. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Because of this, even Christians and practitioners of other faiths in such countries as as Korea, Bhutan or Vietnam generally celebrate the holiday. The same holds true for those people in cultures with strong Confucian customs who have no religion at all or for those with mixed traditions.</span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><b>The Role of the Ox in the Great Race</b></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In all of the traditions, the arrival of the animals was the same in order. In other words, in all traditions, the ox arrived second even though seeming at first to have won the race. While each zodiac animal int the Great Race is significant, the story of the Ox in the great race is particularly important. All 13 animals (including the rat who arrived after the race ended) had to pass over land and water to reach the Jade Emperor/Lord Buddha. </span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">The ox was the strongest and most persistent of all the animals and was equally strong as a runner and a swimmer. When the ox reached the mighty river where the Jade Emperor/Lord Buddha was waiting, the cat and rat were already waiting on the bank. Because they could not swim, they asked the ox if they could ride on his back across the river. In return, they offered to guide the ox (who had poor eyesight) to the opposite side. The good-natured and trusting ox agreed. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">While riding on the ox's back, the rat pushed the cat into the river. The cat, unable to swim, was swept along the current and never finished the race (which is the explanation of the enmity between cats and rats to this day). Once on the other side, the ox easily reached the end of the race in what should have been first place. </div><div style="border: currentcolor;"> </div><div style="border: currentcolor;">Instead,<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> the rat was the first animal to greet the Jade Emperor/Lord Buddha. The rat had never left the ox's back. When the two reached Lord Buddha on the other shore, the rat jumped off the ox’s head, reaching the Jade Emperor/ Lord Buddha first. The rat, through his trickery and deception was rewarded with the first position in the zodiac, while the ox had to settle for second place. </span></div><div style="border: currentcolor;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor;">The after effects of the <i>rat and ox story are believed to govern behavior of those born in the Year of the Ox to this day.</i> Ox people are wary of dishonesty, twisted truths and scheming --- all characteristic of Rat people. <i>The Year of the Ox is a time for regrouping after the upheavals of the Year of the Rat which precedes it.</i><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><b>Chinese Astrology Not A Particular Accurate Term</b></span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The system discussed here is often called Chinese astrology. This is a misnomer for two reasons. First, the holiday is far more widely observed than in just China, especially in Korea, Singapore, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam as well as those from these backgrounds living in other countries. </span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7nQ4yPqrsoTodKooJiJE9CJKQXhEMCz-9aJuKgblkJcMLJrAyUjicl1f_sWeYH_y2fIEE2BF32sSG52k-Gnofe9A3QvtDymdOmY-zn-atpxssuvmguKcQFGFHZlVvgD0NlUQmTobj_qe/s1600/chinese-zodiac-signs-350px.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7nQ4yPqrsoTodKooJiJE9CJKQXhEMCz-9aJuKgblkJcMLJrAyUjicl1f_sWeYH_y2fIEE2BF32sSG52k-Gnofe9A3QvtDymdOmY-zn-atpxssuvmguKcQFGFHZlVvgD0NlUQmTobj_qe/s200/chinese-zodiac-signs-350px.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>East Asian lunar zodiac</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">That said, for all the culturally diverse places in which the Asian New Year is celebrated, the calendar on which it is based <i>does</i> have its origins in China. The first written records of the calendar and the celebration of the New Year date to China’s Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC), although traditionally it is believed to date back to the rule of the semi-mythical Yellow Emperor Huang Di around 2600 BC.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A second reason the phrase Chinese astrology is a misnomer is that the system really has nothing to do with constellations as astrology does in the West. It is less a reading of the stars than an interpretation of the importance of the time, date and year in which one is born. To the extent that when one is born matters to Western-style astrology, there is a correspondence. Moreover, there is another similarity as the five elements in the system, in fact, do correspond with the five planets known in ancient China.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9R0rl9_dRsVx1FprCZICZjLHKcmn2fCFzmzUHOe1hQrSYlEVn-3MEp9pu-LQpd_AnM9E8SkWOgVMP3p4KJvqToM7u6OhCZmJWcaSJXwbKDIWBzW-creUxVCCjuXXTP17S3KbnKhJiPRy/s1600/Zodiac+animals.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="359" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9R0rl9_dRsVx1FprCZICZjLHKcmn2fCFzmzUHOe1hQrSYlEVn-3MEp9pu-LQpd_AnM9E8SkWOgVMP3p4KJvqToM7u6OhCZmJWcaSJXwbKDIWBzW-creUxVCCjuXXTP17S3KbnKhJiPRy/s400/Zodiac+animals.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Tang Dynasty (8th Century), Shaanxi Archaeology Institute, Xian, China</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Because of these corresponding commonalities with Western astrology, many people call the Asian system’s combinations of animals and elements the lunar or Chinese “horoscope”. This is a bit of a misnomer, however, not only for the reasons just described but because the way in which people view the two “horoscopes” is very different. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The difference here is that many people (although with many exceptions) in Europe, Australia and the Americas consider the Western zodiac horoscope of star signs (Scorpio, Sagittarius, etc.) to be a form of superstition, a game or something believed only partially. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This is <b><i>NOT</i></b> the case with the Asian lunar horoscope cycle, where<i> people follow their sign very seriously. </i>As a result, the system, though it transcends that of any specific religion, s<i>hould be treated with the respect accorded religious beliefs.</i> In any case, the point here is that in a cross-cultural and inter-religious sense, the issue of lunar horoscope animal element signs should be treated with respect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Geomancy, Feng Shui and Zodiac Consultants' Influence</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The importance attributed to the predictions of the each animal affects business and political decisions for over one billion people. Among the notable masters, many have an influence among Chinese and other East Asian diaspora communities as well as a growing number of non-Asian adherents. Among the earlier populizers of East Asian zodiac forecasting were book authors such as Man-ho Kwok who published over a dozen books in English on the subject in the 1990s. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As the Internet grew and ties with East Asian business leaders became more intertwined, many other Masters grew in importance outside of East Asia. For example, the Trump organization and Donald <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/13/donald-trump-feng-shui-master-pun-yin">Trump himself relied on the guidance of New York-based Master Pun-Yin</a> in the building of Trump Tower. Canadian-based Paul Ng was notable already for a wide range of clients in 66 countries <a href="https://www.paulng.com/profileDtl.aspx">before his appearances</a> on US-based CNN in 2013, US-based Bloomberg TV and Canada's CTV in 2014 made him a recognizable figure thereafter to a wide audience. Likewise Hong Kong-based Grand Master Raymond Lo has had audience's well outside of China also appearing on the BBC, CNN, "Good Morning America" more. He has carried a wide following since his prediction of the fall of the USSR's <a href="http://www.raymond-lo.com/14519/biography">Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991</a> and the 2000 NASDAQ collapse. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><b>Personality Traits and Asian Astrological Year</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yIcyr-7DLKB_Y4R0wqAK3AH0Dnka7l-tHTt-bm1I7M5J1Gyk5Cpg6ZWdUQsKlLLuYDAM7tOfrrQQlKUt87bZl59Bi_6VhfLq-jXhhqYdTQcWICgLxhOh-sD0FiGPOGxKo-f8PQYLaJwy/s2048/36+Year+of+the+Ox+sidewalk+plate%252C+Philadelphia+Chinatown.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yIcyr-7DLKB_Y4R0wqAK3AH0Dnka7l-tHTt-bm1I7M5J1Gyk5Cpg6ZWdUQsKlLLuYDAM7tOfrrQQlKUt87bZl59Bi_6VhfLq-jXhhqYdTQcWICgLxhOh-sD0FiGPOGxKo-f8PQYLaJwy/s320/36+Year+of+the+Ox+sidewalk+plate%252C+Philadelphia+Chinatown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.23000000417232513px; text-align: left;">Year of the Ox sidewalk plate<br />Philadelphia Chinatown</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Many people attribute a great deal of significance to the personality traits attributed to the animal associated with the year in which they are born. These are not something that people take lightly.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Each animal has its own traits, and then each animal and element combination has their own subtraits. These are explained later in the blog.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As with all Asian Lunar zodiac animals, Ox people have both positive and negative attributes. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Positive Ox Traits</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Ox people (and thus t</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">he effects of the Year of the Ox) are associated with a strong but steady approach. As <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html">Master Pun-yin</a> puts it: <b><i>"The Ox is strong and patient. Refreshingly unpretentious and resolute." </i></b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Ox people work from the ground up, and disdain abstract plans, quick talkers and dishonesty. Ox people are reliable precisely because they are honest and trustworthy themselves.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZ233aglXevpVlTtEKgHQPDmadDGP73Tfje9C2AmSDpiCzkRSRSdnw2aitqul0nsGFknfMDE9kC0lhlrTaii6zYpa5I9r9pTSJPGwNkt9UDgHpHggRr6dIJpVGP__sn0k66_FvroK4-sk/s266/Ox-Mongolian+png.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZ233aglXevpVlTtEKgHQPDmadDGP73Tfje9C2AmSDpiCzkRSRSdnw2aitqul0nsGFknfMDE9kC0lhlrTaii6zYpa5I9r9pTSJPGwNkt9UDgHpHggRr6dIJpVGP__sn0k66_FvroK4-sk/s16000/Ox-Mongolian+png.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mongolian Zodiac Ox, 19th Century<br />National Library of Medicine, Bethesda MD<br /><br /></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Man-Ho Kwok in his book on </span><i>Chinese Astrology </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">builds on this, noting that Ox people:</span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">have a quiet and steady nature and are perseverant even in the most trying circumstances because once you have made a commitment you keep your word </i>(p. 14).</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Ox people have the tendency to see things through to the end. </span><span>Man-Ho Kwok</span><span> explains that Ox people</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">are well-liked because of your honesty and patience, and your close friends appreciate the fact that you are rather introverted and wary of new trends... </i>(p. 14)</span></blockquote><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The Year of the Ox is a year in which people recuperate and draw into the logical and the calm. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b>Negative Ox Traits</b></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The negative side of Ox people is the flip-side of their tenacity: stubborn. In her webinar to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cl3otbf0Uc">National University of Singapore Society, Master Lynn Yap</a>, Master Lynn Yap (January 28, 2021), points out that the </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i>Ox is also very stubborn and tends not to listen to anyone except himself or herself.</i></b></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Relatedly, ox people have difficulty dealing with uncertainty, crave security and, above all, cannot tolerate deception. As Moon-ho Kwok explains of Ox people:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><b><i></i></b><blockquote><b><i>when there are emotional upheavals, you will consider whether the blame lies with you; however, you do find it hard to forgive if you have been deceived. (p. 15)</i></b> </blockquote></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Compatibility With Other Signs</b><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><u>Poor compatibility.</u></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Ox people do not pair well with many other signs. They are at greatest risk with those born in the Year of the Horse, Goat/Ram, Dragon and Tiger. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans"; font-size: 16px;"> <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans"; font-size: 16px;"><u>High Compatibility</u></span><br /><br />Ox people are generally most compatible with people born in the Year of the Rooster, the Snake and -- despite the story of the Great Race -- the Rat.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSpcLAjl-gH1AYmQpXnOE5OvBDMANMbgrI1KKhB5U1vdKlnLNuwuPE7X1qP-ptn__0DnKc-bKjR7Dy7T53I7GX3IAXqJwUdmwkkK8ShOf5_YN5uw9zbDNiXaeUPEyuJEQ66YfKJdNKbID/s2000/Ox+Fuji+Omuro+Sengen+Shrine%252C+Yamanashi+Prefecture%252C+Japan.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSpcLAjl-gH1AYmQpXnOE5OvBDMANMbgrI1KKhB5U1vdKlnLNuwuPE7X1qP-ptn__0DnKc-bKjR7Dy7T53I7GX3IAXqJwUdmwkkK8ShOf5_YN5uw9zbDNiXaeUPEyuJEQ66YfKJdNKbID/w400-h300/Ox+Fuji+Omuro+Sengen+Shrine%252C+Yamanashi+Prefecture%252C+Japan.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ox Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ox people share with Rooster people a passion for detail. They are the most systematic and meticulous signs of the Zodiac. The introversion of Ox people is often offset by the outgoing nature of Rooster people, with each balancing the other. The Rooster gets the Ox to look outward more and the Ox restrains the Rooster from excessive grandstanding.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; widows: 1;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; widows: 1;">Ox people are compatible with Snake people because both value introspection and prefer the unvarnished truth to sugar-coating. Both strongly value loyalty and both risk suspicion of deception; that said, as long as each gives no cause for jealousy, this is a strong match.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="widows: 1;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans";"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="widows: 1;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans";"><span style="background-color: white;">Finally, Ox people match with Rat people equally well. Rat people spark passion that is often missing in the steady-going Ox personality. Ox people, in turn, tone down Rat people's less down-to-earth ideas. </span></span></div><div style="widows: 1;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans";"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="widows: 1;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxU2MJCkha-t6UaTxS1CsTKwol4WPSpwmInyWh1NRnZelkqNrX91810f_AhYQE_w7CTnvu4qcBjSHUUhxT0MKKbnN1LZ8nazYqnYuZb85dK4EeghMsrEnctldwdj3CNlV7ZkLvejKyNyz5/s3274/han-huang_five-bulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="3274" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxU2MJCkha-t6UaTxS1CsTKwol4WPSpwmInyWh1NRnZelkqNrX91810f_AhYQE_w7CTnvu4qcBjSHUUhxT0MKKbnN1LZ8nazYqnYuZb85dK4EeghMsrEnctldwdj3CNlV7ZkLvejKyNyz5/w640-h98/han-huang_five-bulls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Han Huang (723-787), "Five Oxen (五牛圖), Palace Museum, Beijing</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , "roboto" , "lucida sans"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Famous Ox People</b></span></span></div><b> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ox people usually <b>do <i>not </i>seek fame or power, but they frequently end up in leadership positions</b> despite this. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><u><b>Unwavering beliefs.</b> </u> When those outcomes are positive, this is inspiring by their example. The flip side of this, though, is that Ox people have <b>a disproportionate representation among fanatics and dictators </b>(famously, Adolph Hitler was born in the Year of the Ox)</li><li><u><b>Dedication to hard work</b>.</u> Because Ox people are the <b>most hardworking </b>animal of the zodiac, they simply do not give up when those from other signs would falter. This trait affects nearly all professions but is particularly notable in areas such as the <b>commitment to training needed to become world-class athletes </b>and strong work ethic in <b>professions such as acting demanding periods of hard work over long hours.</b></li><li><b><u>Calmness under pressure.</u></b> Because Ox people remain calm and focused, they often excel in tense crises or rapidly changing circumstances. Because of this, Ox people are do well not only as top-tier athletes but as world-class military leaders.</li></ol></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Once Ox people have made up their minds <b>hold to their beliefs with unmatched tenacity</b>. When others give up, the Ox moves on strong and steady regardless of the end. What were once unpopular views in time become the accepted position over time. makes them successful political leaders as <b>change agents such as political activists, entrepreneurs, or creative innovators in music and the arts</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>Famous Ox People -- Political Activists</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai">Mulala Yousafzai</a>, Women & Children's Rights Activist; youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X">Malcom X</a>, Human Rights Activist and Nation of Islam leader </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks">Rosa Parks</a>, Civil Rights Activist, central figure of the Montgomery Bus Boycott</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Wineland">Claire Wineland</a>, Cystic Fibrosis and Disability Rights Activist</li></ul><div><u>Famous Ox People -- Entrepreneurial Change Agents</u></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Brin">Sergei Brin,</a> Google Co-Founder, Internet Pioneer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Strauss">Levi Strauss</a>, Founder of Levi Strauss & Co. and Creator of Blue Jeans</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney">Walt Disney,</a> animator, film producer and entertainment innovator</li></ul></div><div><u>Famous Ox People -- Innovators in Art</u></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Van_Gogh">Vincent Van Gogh</a>, Modern Painter unrecognized in his time but now considered a pillar of modern art</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Auguste_Renoir">Pierre-Auguste Renoir</a>, Impressionist Painter </li></ul></div><div>Famous Ox People -- Innovators in Music</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong">Louis Armstrong</a>, Jazz Great, trumpeter, composer and singer who redefined popular music</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.B._King">B.B. King</a>, King of the Blues</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton%C3%ADn_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k">Antonín Dvorak</a>, Classical Composer, innovator of folk elements in symphonic music</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Springsteen">Bruce Springsteen</a>, "The Boss" Singer-Songwriter in multiple genres from rock to folk</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Mars">Bruno Mars,</a> Musician, Singer-Songwriter in multiple genres from Rock to Hip-Hop to Reggae</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Famous Ox People -- Military Strategists</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon">Napoleon Bonaparte</a>, arguably the greatest military strategist of all time</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geronimo">Geronimo (Goyaalé),</a> Apache Military Leader, medicine man </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell">Colin Powell</a>, US 4-Star General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State</li></ul></div><div>Famous Ox People -- World-Class Sports</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, Portuguese soccer great with soccer's world record for most goals</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Gretzky">Wayne Gretzky</a>, Canadian Hockey Great with most scores in NHL history</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Ledecky">Katie Ledecky,</a> US swimmer with 5 Olympic and 15 World Championship gold medals, the most for any female swimmer</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Biles">Simone Biles</a>, Most decorated US gymnast, with 30 Olympic and World Championship medals</li></ul></div><div>Famous Ox People -- Acting</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meryl_Streep">Meryl Streep</a>, Actress, nominated for record 21 Academy Awards (winning 3) and record 32 Golden Globes (winning 9)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Hoffman">Dustin Hoffman</a>, Award-Winning Actor and Filmmaker</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_Waller-Bridge">Phoebe Waller-Bridge</a>, Award-Winning Writer, Director and Actress, creator of "Fleabag"</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clooney">George Clooney</a>, Award-Winning Writer, Director and Actor, philanthropist</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal_Gadot">Gal Gadot</a>, Wonder Woman Actress</li></ul></div><div>Famous Ox People -- World Leaders (Positive)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama">Barack Obama,</a> 44th US President</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford">Gerald Ford</a>, 38th US President</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher">Margaret Thatcher</a>, UK Prime Minister, first woman to hold the office, "The Iron Lady"</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahathir_Mohamad">Mahathir Mohamad</a>, Malaysian Prime Minister</li></ul>Infamous Ox people -- World Leaders (Negative)<br /><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler">Adolph Hitler</a>, Nazi Dictator and perpetrator of the Holocaust</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_de_Oliveira_Salazar">António de Oliveira Salazar</a>, Portuguese Dictator and founder of the Estado Novo</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein">Saddam Hussein</a>, Iraqi dictator</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon">Richard Nixon</a>, dishonored 38th US President</li></ul></div> <br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Year of the Earth Ox Predictions</b></span></div><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Predictions for the Year of the Metal Ox are based on the personality attributes ascribed to the characteristics believed to describe all people born under the Ox zodiac sign. </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">The attributes of metal are then superimposed on this.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Whatever one's own view on such predictions personally may be, it is important to keep in mind that somewhere in the realm of one billion people believe such predictions to be true, with at least 500 million taking such predictions seriously enough to affect decisions on business, investments, marriage, and having children among others. </span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">The personality attributes of people born in the Year of the Ox were described in greater detail above. Generally speaking they are people who are, as Hong Kong-based astrologer J<a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2021/01/01/lifestyle/2021-year-ox/">upiter Lai describes them in the Japan Times</a>, "grounded, loyal, gentle and trustworthy." The same article (by Kathleen Wortley), summarizes Lai's predictions for the transition from the closing chaos of 2020's Year of the Rat to a more stable Year of the Ox:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><blockquote><b><i>In the Year of the Rat, the force was the fast, hard, active yang while the element was water, which Lai says is known for “changing all the time.” The ox’s earthly branch, meanwhile, is associated with yin, which is slow, soft and passive. Its element is earth, representing “stability and nourishment. It is believed these additional associations and the characteristics of the ox have great synergy and are mostly favorable.</i></b></blockquote></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Master Paul Ng, in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuq1yu1d1GY&feature=emb_logo">January 2021 interview with Nina Doiron on Toronto TV</a> predicted a <b><i>"much better 2021 than 2020."</i></b> As Doiron points out that Master Ng correctly predicted the pandemic the July before it struck, that would not take much. Master Ng (about 6 minutes into the interview) indicates that the coming year "<b>will be a significantly better year but the wound will take some time to heal."</b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxoVVflSLpXs1bHvpYpj5rO8vCh2uOrlgDvTTBb07ZWq6jS_aTgxONNVIor5ZUSllGwWFVo4cKH-qF4mxUxJwMN70USItzmhnQZfSTOAcXrLErDqgkkKhbHHAe67DUrIdQlsJX9KO8rBt/s670/Recumbent+oxpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxoVVflSLpXs1bHvpYpj5rO8vCh2uOrlgDvTTBb07ZWq6jS_aTgxONNVIor5ZUSllGwWFVo4cKH-qF4mxUxJwMN70USItzmhnQZfSTOAcXrLErDqgkkKhbHHAe67DUrIdQlsJX9KO8rBt/s320/Recumbent+oxpg.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okatama Ivory Netsuke Recumbent Ox (late 1700s)<br />Museum of Asian Art, San Francisco</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">In predictions, those making predictions emphasize that more is involved than the animal of the year -- in this case the Ox. The element -- in this case metal -- is just as important. As Master Raymond Lo explains with regard to the economic forecast of the coming <a href="http://www.raymond-lo.com/p/14533/nr/100049/2021-the-year-of-the-metal-ox-forecast">year,</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><blockquote><b><i>Industries belonging to the Fire Element can expect prosperity because Fire conquers Metal, and Metal is Fire’s money. Fire industries include energy, power generation, restaurants, and entertainment.</i></b></blockquote><blockquote><b><i>Next are industries belonging to the Earth Element because Earth conquers Water and produces Metal. Metal means activity and productivity, and Water inside the Ox also means money, and Water is Earth’s money. Earth industries include real estate, land development, mining, insurance, computer software, and technology.</i></b></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIIe8YA6UKK6bsGc26UW-cfnyJUYfJ_bar8v495OhdqdDS9dtVVHD2gud0lI0nczddJzJB1V1XwGHrOMOTxJZDmNqd8awEgiG8oaxHKRBebzecFWjH0xBVboO30C_H1KPzR927Qr5HH-S/s1536/Ox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="948" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIIe8YA6UKK6bsGc26UW-cfnyJUYfJ_bar8v495OhdqdDS9dtVVHD2gud0lI0nczddJzJB1V1XwGHrOMOTxJZDmNqd8awEgiG8oaxHKRBebzecFWjH0xBVboO30C_H1KPzR927Qr5HH-S/s320/Ox.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chou Dynasty Ox, <br />Science and Society <br />Picture Library<br />Wellcome Trust</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It is important to keep in mind that while many outside of East Asia may look at this as amusing, between 500 million to 1 billion people take such predictions quite seriously. It is hard to tell if the predictions draw people to behave in certain ways thus becoming self-fulfilling prophecies (the non-believer view) or are accurately foretold (the believers' view). The reality, though, is that t</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">he predictions of someone of the standing of Master Lo or Master Ng (or any number of other master chart readers) have a direct impact on decision-making both in business (mining precautions this year, for instance), when to take action (think first long and hard before speaking let alone acting on something) and politics (tread carefully as what appears peaceful on the surface may well not have much foundation beneath it). </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">It is important to note that the animal of one’s birth year is not seen as fully able to stand on its own in understanding an individual’s personality traits and tendencies. These must at a minimum, as we have discussed, take into account the associated five elements. Additionally, East Asian astrologers account for the inner or secret animal assigned by the day of the month and hour of the day on which one is born. In all, there are 8640 combinations (e.g., 12 months, 5 elements, 12 months, 12 times of day).</span></div></div></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The prediction must be based an extensive reading for each person that varies according to where one is located and what one's own zodiac sign and time of birth are.</span><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Whatever your outcome for the year, Happy Year of the Metal Ox!</span></span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNymDOhdx6fC9aN0xvF0SDtI7gxb17B58ZjMPnLc3Ls7G36ppbTrWCeBgCMZ8zhbGPDiElTdGw1XBqeFURyE0LYMpoF36eyC3s7YR9DdTe_O43jWM2Jdman1Tjn6PJ5zMS5oSnuym4HABy/s626/cny-2021-metal-ox-symbol-papercut-flower-circle-white-red-bull-zodiac-sign-chinese-new-year-mascot-horned-animal-oriental-calendar-greeting-card-design-peony-blossoms-around-ox_316839-313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNymDOhdx6fC9aN0xvF0SDtI7gxb17B58ZjMPnLc3Ls7G36ppbTrWCeBgCMZ8zhbGPDiElTdGw1XBqeFURyE0LYMpoF36eyC3s7YR9DdTe_O43jWM2Jdman1Tjn6PJ5zMS5oSnuym4HABy/s320/cny-2021-metal-ox-symbol-papercut-flower-circle-white-red-bull-zodiac-sign-chinese-new-year-mascot-horned-animal-oriental-calendar-greeting-card-design-peony-blossoms-around-ox_316839-313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Year of the Ox <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> opening <a href="https://creativemarket.com/AnnaPogulyaeva/5115911-Chinese-Design-Elements.-Bundle-2021">https://creativemarket.com/AnnaPogulyaeva/5115911-Chinese-Design-Elements.-Bundle-2021</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The 12 Animals of the Zodiac: <a href="http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif">http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif</a></span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Wu Xing Cycle: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png</a></span></span><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Yin Yang animation: <a href="http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html">http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html</a></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">East Asian Lunar Zodiac: </span><a href="http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ox from Tang Dynasty (8th Century), Shaanxi Archaeology Institute, Xian, China in Yongae Lim, "The 'Lion and Kunlun Slave' Image: A Motif of Buddhist Art Found in Unified Silla Funerary Sculpture, Sungkyun Journal of East Asian Studies, Vol. 18, no.2 October 2018, p. 169.</div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 12 Zodiac animals in their race: <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg%27">http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'</a></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.23000000417232513px;">Year of the Ox sidewalk plate, Philadelphia Chinatown: Own photograph</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="text-align: center;">"Mongolian Zodiac Ox,"19th Century, </span><span style="text-align: center;">National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, </span><a href="https://wayback.archive-it.org/7867/20190220143844/https://ceb.nlm.nih.gov/proj/ttp/mongolian-gallery.html">https://wayback.archive-it.org/7867/20190220143844/https://ceb.nlm.nih.gov/proj/ttp/mongolian-gallery.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div><span style="text-align: center;">Ox Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, photo by Keith Crowley, Tokyofotos, </span><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2021/01/01/lifestyle/2021-year-ox/">https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2021/01/01/lifestyle/2021-year-ox/ </a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">Han Huang (723-787), "Five Oxen (五牛圖), Palace Museum, Beijing, China Online Museum, <a href="https://www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/han-huang/five-bulls/">https://www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/han-huang/five-bulls/</a></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">Okatama Ivory Netsuke Recumbent Ox (late 1700s), </span><span style="text-align: center;">Museum of Asian Art, San Francisco </span><a href="http://searchcollection.asianart.org/view/objects/asitem/search@/2?t:state:flow=47769b37-2e30-4568-ac9c-2293e0b63a5e">http://searchcollection.asianart.org/view/objects/asitem/search@/2?t:state:flow=47769b37-2e30-4568-ac9c-2293e0b63a5e </a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Chou Dynasty Ox, Science and Society Picture Library, Wellcome Trust <a href="https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co126027/casts-of-chinese-zodiac-figures-tang-dynasty-statue">https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co126027/casts-of-chinese-zodiac-figures-tang-dynasty-statue</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>"Closing papercut flower circle ox," Cny 2021 metal ox symbol in papercut flower circle, white and red. bull, zodiac sign Chinese New Year</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/cny-2021-metal-ox-symbol-papercut-flower-circle-white-red-bull-zodiac-sign-chinese-new-year-mascot-horned-animal-oriental-calendar-greeting-card-design-peony-blossoms-around-ox_11601929.htm" target="_blank">Freepiik.com </a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Want to Learn More</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For Master astrologers influence referenced above, <i><b>please see the links already in the article</b></i> as well as</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sasha von Oldershausen (Sept. 13, 2016), "Meet Donald Trump's feng shui master," <i>The Guardian</i>,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/13/donald-trump-feng-shui-master-pun-yin">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/13/donald-trump-feng-shui-master-pun-yin</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><u>For more on the Year of the Ox for 2021, please see for serious astrologers:</u></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Nina Doiron (Jan. 28, 2021), "Feng Shui Master, Paul Ng, Interview, Toronto, Canada," Toronto TV, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuq1yu1d1GY&feature=emb_logo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuq1yu1d1GY&feature=emb_logo</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Kathleen Wortley (Jan. 21, 2021), After a year of anxiety, what can we expect from the Year of the Ox in 2021?" Japan Times, </span><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2021/01/01/lifestyle/2021-year-ox/">https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2021/01/01/lifestyle/2021-year-ox/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><br /><u><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">For more on the Asian Zodiac and Astrology in General, please see:</span></u><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Richard Craze, <i>Handbook of Chinese </i></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>Astrology, </i>Lorenz Books, 2013.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Man-ho Kwok, <span id="btAsinTitle"><i>Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your Chinese Horoscope,</i> Tuttle Publishing, 1997.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text">Theodora Lau and Laura Lau, <i>The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes </i>(7th edition), Collins Reference, 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Susan Levitt and Jean Tang, <i>Taoist Astrology: A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition</i>, Destiny Books, 1997.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">David W. Pankenier, <i>Astrology and Cosmology in Early China: Conforming Earth to Heaven</i>, Cambridge University Press, 2013.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Neil Somerville, <i>Your Chinese Horoscope for Each and Every Year, </i>Harper Thomsons, 2017.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Ruth Q. Sun and Norma Sun, <i>Asian Animal Zodiac, </i>Tuttle Publishing, 2012.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Xiaochun Sun, "Crossing the Boundaries Between Heaven and Man: Astronomy in Ancient China," in <i>Astronomy Across Cultures</i>, ed. Helaine Selin and adv. ed. Sun Xiaochun: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">David Twicken, <span id="btAsinTitle">Five Element Chinese Astrology Made Easy, iUniverse, 2000.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Derek Walters, </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrolog</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y, </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Watkins Publishing, 2005.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Suzanne White, <i>The New Chinese Astrology</i>, Thomas Dunne Books, 2015.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Charles Alfred Speed Williams. </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">(2000), New York: Castle Books.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shelly Wu, <i>Chinese Astrology: Exploring the Eastern Zodiac, </i>New Page Books, 2005.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shelly Wu, <i>The Definitive Book of Chinese Astrology, </i>Weiser, 2010.</span><br /><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Zhongzian Wu, </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>The 12 Chinese Animals: Create Harmony in your Daily Life through Ancient Chinese Wisdom</i>, Singing Dragon Press, 2010.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Zhongzian Wu and Karin Taylor Wu, </span><i>Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches: The Heart of Chinese Wisdome Traditions, </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Singing Dragon Press, 2016.</span><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Master Pun-Yin, "Chinese Zodiac," <a href="https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html">https://www.punyin.com/feng-shui/chinese-zodiac/index.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="reference-text"><br /></span><span class="reference-text">Ho-Peng Yoke, <span id="btAsinTitle"><i>Chinese Mathematical Astrology: Reaching Out to the Stars</i>, Routledge, 2003. This is the pre-eminent book on the mathematical science of Asian lunar horoscope calculations. It is downloadable at <a href="http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html">http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html</a></span></span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For general popular websites on Asian Astrology and the Zodiac, please see:</b></u><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">China Voc.com "Zodiac" <a href="http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp">http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp</a></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Chinese Fortune Calendar </span><a href="http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm</a><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Chinese Horoscope-e.com, "Basic Chinese Horoscope," </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html">http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html</a></span></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Malaysia Site, "Chinese New Year," <a href="http://www.malaysiasite.nl/newyear.htm">http://www.malaysiasite.nl/newyear.htm</a></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Online Chinese Astrology </span><a href="http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/</span></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="reference-text" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Topmarks Education, "Zodiac Story, Chinese New Year." <a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx">http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx</a></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"Your Chinese Astrology": <a href="https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/">https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/</a></span></div></div></div></div></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-35930564378309112672020-12-22T08:37:00.001-05:002020-12-22T08:45:17.010-05:00Yule 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTHiP866BGI-5QaHQw7ZAEsFCCsMH_uafUYWvnF1_EGwoqADCqWAvumjETXsmk_pIckUMMcxNqgc54NeF3_VF8fd1QKuK4vwEFY-FHlM4SX4GQLAipw9Z6hCrLoHzrZrtRFdvafOek3DP/s1600/BlessedYule.gif" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTHiP866BGI-5QaHQw7ZAEsFCCsMH_uafUYWvnF1_EGwoqADCqWAvumjETXsmk_pIckUMMcxNqgc54NeF3_VF8fd1QKuK4vwEFY-FHlM4SX4GQLAipw9Z6hCrLoHzrZrtRFdvafOek3DP/w266-h293/BlessedYule.gif" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Introduction</span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The winter solstice – or Yule -- is celebrated on December 21.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Yule is seen as an important sabbat (religious celebration) in Wicca and Thelema. In some Neo-Pagan traditions such as the Scandinavian Asatru Folk Assembly, the holiday extends for twelve days in a period called Yuletide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yuletide starts on the winter solstice and ends on January 1.<br />
<br />
Additionally, the winter solstice is celebrated in Zoroastrianism (or Parseeism) as Shab-e Yalda or (more simply) just Yalda.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Origins of Yule</span></strong></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Wiccan and Neo-Pagan holidays of Yule and Yuletide should not be confused with the Christian use of these terms, as they have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. The traditions of Yule were practiced in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region>, Scandinavia and northern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region> long before the introduction of Christianity to these regions. Rather, during the conversion of these regions, the Roman Catholic Church simply co-opted the use of the terms Yule and Yuletide in these same northern European Christian traditions to make Christianity feel more familiar. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Like Yule, the Zoroastrian Yalda long predates Christianity. Yalda has been celebrated as the victory of light over dark for at least 1000 years before the birth of Christ. Zoroastrians themselves, however, place the date somewhere around 1600 BCE. There may be a connection to Christmas, though remotely so. Some scholars argue that the early Church set the date of Jesus’ birth to coincide with the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia (for more on this theory, please see my earlier post at <span style="color: purple;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-day.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-day.html</span></a> ) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Saturnalia, in turn, arguably has its roots the mid-winter celebration of ancient <st1:place w:st="on">Persian Empire</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mid-winter celebration of ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on">Persia</st1:country-region>, in turn, is Yalda, since the primary religion of the ancient <st1:place w:st="on">Persian Empire</st1:place> was Zoroastrianism.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Note on Neo-Paganism</b></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>340</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1943</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Eastern Michigan University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2279</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The number of adherents to Neo-Pagan religions is notably
difficult to estimate for several reasons. First, many nations (including the
United States and France) do not conduct census data on religion. Second,
because of prejudice and persecution, many adherents of Neo-Pagan religions do
not openly identify as such while continuing to practice rituals. Finally, in
Europe many Neo-Pagan rituals are practiced alongside Christian ones among
those self-identifying as Christian. These are especially evident with Yuletide
practices and the observation of the midwinter solstice, but are also present
in the Midsummer Night’s bonfires of the summer solstice, Halloween practices,
and Eastertime practices that take on a syncretistic overlay of Neo-Pagan
Ostara practices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That said, estimates for those self-identifying as Wiccan,
Druid, Pagan, neo-Pagan, Goddess Worship, New Age or related faiths range from
one to six million worldwide. The data vary greatly. For instance, in the
United Kingdom, the Office for National Statistics in 2001 found only 42,262
self-identified as such while Oxford historian Ronald Hutton in 1999 estimated
250,00 practitioners (which would place the number larger than Hinduism in the
UK). Based on this, for the 2011 Census the UK’s Pagan Federation encouraged
pagans to self-identify as such, with the result that the number came to over
80,000. This suggests either that neo-Paganism roughly doubled in size over the
preceding decade (making it the fastest growing faith in the UK) or that (as Hutton
suggested) official data are grossly underreported for neo-Pagan
self-identification. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the United States, the growth in this century of Wicca and neo-Paganism is among the fastest of all faiths. The US Census Bureau Self-Identified Religious Identification Survey gathered religious information in 1990, 2001 and 2008. In 1990, only 8000 US Americans identified as Wiccan. By 2001, that number reached 274,000. In 2008 (the last year the survey took place), that number reached 702,00.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpntH442ZM_ZXZan96xEo882GS7OC9AgA1RYNaG1lVVGOLNDfbkR0gr56YJ9YfRmUhn1sSYfJ93SWWv1GmcvoidOTyRE-ybrJUmZOQKSiOPTrf5H-qUByxd8x-DZjo_dNHO8mpoE9ElBc/s1448/Wicca+Neo-Pagan+growth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1448" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpntH442ZM_ZXZan96xEo882GS7OC9AgA1RYNaG1lVVGOLNDfbkR0gr56YJ9YfRmUhn1sSYfJ93SWWv1GmcvoidOTyRE-ybrJUmZOQKSiOPTrf5H-qUByxd8x-DZjo_dNHO8mpoE9ElBc/w535-h399/Wicca+Neo-Pagan+growth.jpg" width="535" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To put this in perspective, this is larger (in 2008) than such religions as Unitarians (586,000), Christian Science (339,000), or Quaker (130,000) and roughly equal to adherents of the United Church of Christ (736,000). Moreover, this is just those willing to self-identify for a US Census Bureau survey. The numbers are likely much higher for two reasons. First, prejudice against pagan faiths has historically been very high. Second, many who practice pagan rites my not solely identify as such, calling themselves "new age" or "spiritual but not religious."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The recognition of neo-Pagan practices by various nations
may provide some idea of the growing recognition of their importance. For
example, Wicca has since 1990 been included in the <i><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Religious Requirements and
Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains</span></i><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">.</span> Since 2007, Wicca and “earth-based relgions”
have been formally recognized by the US military as an official religion,
including pentacles for gravestones and the 2011 inclusion of an “outdoor
worship center” at the US Air Force Academy.
In Iceland, the <span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ásatrúarfélagið (Asatru Fellowship) has been
recognized formally since 1973 and is the second largest faith in the country. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Yule Traditions</span></strong></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Yule Altar</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As with all sabbats, an altar is set up in honor of Yule. The Yule altar is part of virtually all Yule celebrations whether Wiccan, Neo-Pagan or Neo-Druidic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Wicca in particular, the Yule altar is arguably the most important observance of the holiday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzwgVVclKF4VZ4I74JkjF4V8eYv6Sa2hoh9m3dwcUZGLn-9NVaHzoKM0QUhnOi7CJdtw0orJqM8QV3-8_bIA8ve81Cz_7SsyamT19HVxVmKmnXZcW1BAARXM-RQh-FKjfe3J06LuVipM6/s1600/yule+altar.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzwgVVclKF4VZ4I74JkjF4V8eYv6Sa2hoh9m3dwcUZGLn-9NVaHzoKM0QUhnOi7CJdtw0orJqM8QV3-8_bIA8ve81Cz_7SsyamT19HVxVmKmnXZcW1BAARXM-RQh-FKjfe3J06LuVipM6/s320/yule+altar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yule altar</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Yule altar is set up facing north, the direction associated with winter in all of these traditions. In Wicca, at the center of the altar is a bowl (or cauldron). Usually, a candle is placed in the bowl to symbolize light over darkness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The colors of the Yule season are white, red and green. As a result, the altar usually is decorated with things of these colors. These often include tablecloths of these colors as well as red fruit, pine branches, holly leaves and holly berries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Yule altars are usually decorated with symbols of the sun in some form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This usually involves candles, often placed in the central bowl (in Wicca) or using gold-colored candleholders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other common sun decorations may include pictures of the sun drawn by children, sun ornaments or gold disks and coins. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Yule Food and Drink</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfR_Ng05qgFeK99zXnV0o5XnhCejxjkEFiZdHh9SiYEaSFS6c-dJ4uIasxXTb71GUL3FBxTQEih6nDGrJqNSbljWO4H6JVgxzKTgUF-EgWZPYrJapqGuF8k646J5PLnPD3DylBc7p5_na/s696/Mocha-Yule-Log_EXPS_HCA17_19476_C03_15_4b-4-696x696.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="696" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfR_Ng05qgFeK99zXnV0o5XnhCejxjkEFiZdHh9SiYEaSFS6c-dJ4uIasxXTb71GUL3FBxTQEih6nDGrJqNSbljWO4H6JVgxzKTgUF-EgWZPYrJapqGuF8k646J5PLnPD3DylBc7p5_na/w200-h200/Mocha-Yule-Log_EXPS_HCA17_19476_C03_15_4b-4-696x696.jpg" title="Mocha Yule Log" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mocha Yule Log</b></td></tr></tbody></table>
Traditional Yuletide foods often include roast poultry and game (such as venison), squash, and root vegetables. Items that include the colors of the season (red, white and green) are common, such as candy canes and fruits of those colors.<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Often desserts take the form of chocolate or nut bread rolls made to look like Yule logs. One recipe for a Wiccan Yule log can be found at </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 0, 128);"> <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/mocha-yule-log/">Taste of Home Mocha Yule Log </a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemDRv3HwgaVJkO5yLqZ8KWPgRmAanO86Q9lvoqWohOBMhnZjLFBMkQ2Hw10c_DF9JRUNFMS6JSHAnRjSsm2d4oXRAAzfn1haS2OOCq-AVRuA8perejbaswX38NzdpAqhxSq7SCNcQFld1/s320/Winter-Solstice-Wassail_-600x899-1-320x320.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemDRv3HwgaVJkO5yLqZ8KWPgRmAanO86Q9lvoqWohOBMhnZjLFBMkQ2Hw10c_DF9JRUNFMS6JSHAnRjSsm2d4oXRAAzfn1haS2OOCq-AVRuA8perejbaswX38NzdpAqhxSq7SCNcQFld1/w200-h200/Winter-Solstice-Wassail_-600x899-1-320x320.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Winter Solstice Wassail</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Traditional drinks include cider, mulled wine and Wassail. Wassail is a mix of sherry and brandy with various juices (often citrus) and berries (sometimes left whole) blended with eggs and completed with spices such as cloves, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. A recipe for Yule wassail can be found at </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.internationalcuisine.com/solstice-wassail/" target="_blank">Winter Solstice Wassail</a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Yule Traditions Shared with Christmas</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Many Yule traditions are familiar within the Christmas traditions of northern <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>. These include the mistletoe, the use of evergreens (holly, ivy and pine trees), and the burning of the Yule log.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Mistletoe</u></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35FglTs3Xq38w6q8Tr6guPlza1mGUX9dhZpJSJgmjvVE4nTcsrlows5eoBWazaPhlEcucl_5Bh6kJTr907324BNBXAjw-tQs0W-PulzgJzAnK_SXSsXeX5U0VyXBiu4g-vPfZtANNQrao/s1600/mistletoe-christmas1.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35FglTs3Xq38w6q8Tr6guPlza1mGUX9dhZpJSJgmjvVE4nTcsrlows5eoBWazaPhlEcucl_5Bh6kJTr907324BNBXAjw-tQs0W-PulzgJzAnK_SXSsXeX5U0VyXBiu4g-vPfZtANNQrao/s200/mistletoe-christmas1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mistletoe</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In Norse mythology, the god Baldur’s death and rebirth provided the explanation for winter and the apparent death of much of nature each year. As described in the Prose Edda <em>Gylfaginning, </em>Baldur was the god of all things fair and beautiful, and was associated with the sun. Baldur had a prophetic dream in which he predicted his own death. His mother Frigga (or Fraya) was so troubled by this that she went about asking all things on earth to vow that they would never harm Baldur. Frigga asked this vow from every object from which a weapon might be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She neglected, however, to ask the mistletoe, because she thought it was too insignificant to be made into a weapon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Every god in Norse mythology was associated with a plant. The mistletoe was the plant associated with Loki, the god of mischief. Loki felt jealous of the attention given to Baldur and slighted that his plant was not considered significant enough for Frigga to ask in her quest to protect Baldur. As a result, he crafted an arrow (or dart) from the mistletoe’s wood and poisoned it with the mistletoe’s berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PbHfdCzMtnXSaLl33gr_XveKVUuhed-xpdqXAztdsZ-GxLjwoz_7e7qfZ5nMh8eIveEMWvu0hUuRpz7g68MBod5HC6IgjFDqXUm8coU6iVzqnUyFV9xPtE9q5I3DHNzx5RqdIiKrfNVc/s1600/balders_death_full-296x300.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PbHfdCzMtnXSaLl33gr_XveKVUuhed-xpdqXAztdsZ-GxLjwoz_7e7qfZ5nMh8eIveEMWvu0hUuRpz7g68MBod5HC6IgjFDqXUm8coU6iVzqnUyFV9xPtE9q5I3DHNzx5RqdIiKrfNVc/s200/balders_death_full-296x300.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Death of Baldur</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
To celebrate Baldur’s indestructibility, all of the gods assembled to throw weapons at Baldur. Because the material from which each weapon was made had vowed that they would not harm Baldur, every weapon either bounced off of Baldur or failed to hit him no matter how hard they were thrown. When it was Loki’s turn to throw his weapon, he shot his poisoned mistletoe arrow, killing Baldur. At once, the world was plunged into cold and snow, and all plant life died. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
All of the gods were cast into mourning and so sent the messenger Hermod to carry a message from Frigga to plead with the death god Hel to allow Baldur to return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hel himself was distressed by Baldur’s death and agreed to allow Baldur to return on one condition. That one condition was that all objects and creatures weep for Baldur. All did with one exception: the giantess Thok (who, in turn, was presumed to be Loki in disguise). The result was that Baldur was allowed to return but only for part of the year, returning to the realms of Hel for the other part of each year, causing winter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Norse and Germanic pagans remembered this story by hanging mistletoe in the house at the midwinter solstice. By kissing under the mistletoe, they demonstrated that love and warmth (Baldur) was stronger than mischief (the mistletoe of Loki) or death – and that the rebirth of the world would come with Baldur’s return in Spring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In neo-Pagan traditions in general and the Asaturu Folk Assembly custom in particular, this is still the reason for kissing beneath the mistletoe in the house at Yule. It should be noted that for Wicca, the mistletoe is not a associated with these traditions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Evergreens</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Linked to this same story, the plant associated with the sun god Baldur were evergreens in general and the pine tree in particular. It is from this association that the Yuletide custom of hanging evergreen wreaths amd decorating pine trees derives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0nwTBZBR6SQVDoeWMBR1DZ37nP9DVjlocsxpKqazUQw2MjZcqtuSOYiQxz-BxMwtf31h4pIoTztcOh8q68cXRPs-8TWaUl04RasKghbtz_soiDqazQoBz5yNhztf5Qk9jzSZH8K2K2sT/s1600/yule-wreath-4.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0nwTBZBR6SQVDoeWMBR1DZ37nP9DVjlocsxpKqazUQw2MjZcqtuSOYiQxz-BxMwtf31h4pIoTztcOh8q68cXRPs-8TWaUl04RasKghbtz_soiDqazQoBz5yNhztf5Qk9jzSZH8K2K2sT/s200/yule-wreath-4.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yule wreath</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In pre-Christian Viking and Germanic traditions, evergreens were used to symbolize the continued presence and eventual return of the sun since they retained their full life when all other plants were barren in the dead of winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hanging of evergreen boughs on one’s doors protected those living inside. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In Druidic traditions in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the evergreens, though not associated with Baldur, were similarly hung on doors as a talisman to protect against evil spirits in wintertime. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In modern Wicca, the use of evergreens has no association with the Baldur story, regardless of its origins. This is true to of most other modern Yule traditions, although in some neo-Pagan traditions, these associations may still hold. In any case, in most Wiccan, neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic traditions for Yule, decorations of holly and ivy are still hung on doors and over hearths. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHKs6q0VVCURIrjrM96IpifVUt2MzcBHn1YUPDlw2QJOvdviUbKHPe1c_vjAVXJBQVtMFFBjpWoSP0M6Spc8Wpqlu2jvRQ0RIFxvWRwJt8nglm02nmQl6LakRjqQ2Lljocn7_ZNPPAwUM/s1600/christmas%2520tree%2520pagan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHKs6q0VVCURIrjrM96IpifVUt2MzcBHn1YUPDlw2QJOvdviUbKHPe1c_vjAVXJBQVtMFFBjpWoSP0M6Spc8Wpqlu2jvRQ0RIFxvWRwJt8nglm02nmQl6LakRjqQ2Lljocn7_ZNPPAwUM/s320/christmas%2520tree%2520pagan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yule trees in an English forest</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
For Wiccans and for most modern traditions, these decorations serve as symbols of everlasting life and the coming rebirth of the world with the growing length of days as Spring approaches. Similarly, a Yule tree is decorated for the same reason. Unlike the Christian tradition of cutting down a tree, though, many Wiccans and neo-Pagans decorate a live tree either still standing outside or set in a pot indoors which is then replanted once the ground thaws.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Yule Log</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FU6qs2qbSdc1PrqH7uWOyuO5k0VtK8HYQiz50V7vQCp1cwVpBitdJFgkTxaCo6WZG7dqt57-091YmoAfoHwNY4nRmS0C9SMb20_lUTVGAX-baiuyGkXP0owdvWMdpRs6vEmcerITUzco/s1600/yulelog.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FU6qs2qbSdc1PrqH7uWOyuO5k0VtK8HYQiz50V7vQCp1cwVpBitdJFgkTxaCo6WZG7dqt57-091YmoAfoHwNY4nRmS0C9SMb20_lUTVGAX-baiuyGkXP0owdvWMdpRs6vEmcerITUzco/s200/yulelog.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yule log</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The burning of the Yule Log is the central tradition of most Wiccan, neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic customs today. The Yule log is a short log of wood, decorated with evergreens or candles (or both). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The practice of burning a Yule Log indoors symbolizes the victory of light over dark and Spring over Winter. The Yule log is lit each year on the eve of the mid-winter solstice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
People traditionally keep a piece of charred wood from the previous year’s Yule Log throughout the year. Some do this as a talisman to protect the house and others simply as reminder of the happy celebration of Yule. Whatever the reason, it is customary to use the saved piece from the previous year’s Yule Log to start the fire for the present year’s Yule Log.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As with the mistletoe and evergreen, the burning of the Yule log has an ancient pedigree long pre-dating Christianity. The plants burned were often associated with Baldur (evergreen, pine, holly) but could also be the oak which was the tree associated with Wodin (or Odin) the god of wisdom. Those venerating other deities would use woods associated with these other gods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It is important to emphasize here that in Wicca, there is no association of the Yule Log with the Norse gods at all but rather as a symbol of the Goddess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in most modern neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic traditions (Asaturu Folk Assembly excepted), the Yule Log has less to do with worship of any particular deity than as a way to encourage the coming of longer days. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As with all posts, this overview is meant only to give a brief overview of some practices. Yule is celebrated in many traditions, and this is not meant to endorse or specify any one practice. If I have left out a practice from your own tradition, please share them with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Blessed Yule!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUU7kjoC16U9hz7hAjb4bX6QdFVRr_uiMzJFkl2sY40nbHvw4UNvbOaITl4_6xHfo86vY8vBH2MCwSj-Z9MkjstdcaSQsSUy1MDOOVGFU8ZQWCM0RuoimkOC_PT3pRuHtzAzd6Yfp-Yg43/s1600/blessed+yule.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUU7kjoC16U9hz7hAjb4bX6QdFVRr_uiMzJFkl2sY40nbHvw4UNvbOaITl4_6xHfo86vY8vBH2MCwSj-Z9MkjstdcaSQsSUy1MDOOVGFU8ZQWCM0RuoimkOC_PT3pRuHtzAzd6Yfp-Yg43/s1600/blessed+yule.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Want to Read Further?</span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Skye Alexander, “Winter Solstice or Yule,” Net Places: Wicca and Witchcraft,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/wicca-witchcraft/the-wheel-of-the-year/winter-solstice-or-yule.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.netplaces.com/wicca-witchcraft/the-wheel-of-the-year/winter-solstice-or-yule.htm</span></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tor Age Brinsvaerd, "Norse Mythology," <a href="http://www.fornsidr.no/2011/01/norse-mythology/">http://www.fornsidr.no/2011/01/norse-mythology/</a></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">H. R. Ellis Davidson, <span class="reference-text"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gods and Myths of <st1:place w:st="on">Northern Europe</st1:place></span></i></span><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. Pelican Books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Erin Frost, “Yule Traditions,” Examiner.com, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/yule-traditions"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.examiner.com/article/yule-traditions</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="citationweb"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ronald Hutton, </span></span><i style="color: #252525;">The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, </i><span style="color: #252525;"> University Press, 1999. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="citationweb"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Andrea Kannapelli, “Celebrations: It’s Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa: Let There Be Light!” New York Times, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/21/nyregion/celebrations-it-s-solstice-hanukkah-kwaanza-let-there-be-light.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/21/nyregion/celebrations-it-s-solstice-hanukkah-kwaanza-let-there-be-light.html</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Gwydion Cinhil Kirontin, “Wiccan Study: Yule History and Rituals,” <a href="http://herbalmusings.com/yule.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://herbalmusings.com/yule.htm</span></a> <span class="citationweb"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (2016) , "Polls estimating the number of U.S. adult Wiccans in the U.S.," <a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/estimated-number-of-wiccans-in-the-united-states-5.htm">http://www.religioustolerance.org/estimated-number-of-wiccans-in-the-united-states-5.htm</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">K. M. Midgley, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Legends of the Northmen.</i> <a href="http://midgleywebpages.com/northmen.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://midgleywebpages.com/northmen.html</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Pagan Christmas Traditions,” The Pythorium, <a href="http://pythorium.com/sabbats/yule/pagan_traditions"><span style="color: purple;">http://pythorium.com/sabbats/yule/pagan_traditions</span></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda "Death of Balder," <a href="http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/balder.html#death">http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/balder.html#death</a></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Calvin Thomas, <span class="reference-text"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An Anthology of German Literature</span></i></span><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, D. C. Heath & Co.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Patti Wiggington, “All AboutYule,” About.com: Paganism, <a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/a/About_Yule.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/a/About_Yule.htm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Patti Wiggington, “History of Yule,” About.com: Paganism, <a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/p/Yule_History.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/p/Yule_History.htm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Patti Wiggington, </span></span><span class="fn"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Setting Up Your Yule Altar - What to Put on a Yule Altar,” </span></span><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">About.com: Paganism, http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/p/YuleAltarDecs.htm<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mackenzie Wright, “How to Decorate a Wiccan Yule Altar,” Ehow.com, <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4578105_decorate-wiccan-yule-altar.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.ehow.com/how_4578105_decorate-wiccan-yule-altar.html</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Andrah Wyrdfire, “</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Celebrate the real reason for the season with Novices of the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Old Ways</st1:address></st1:street>,” Examiner.com, <span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/celebrate-the-real-reason-for-the-season-with-novices-of-the-old-ways">http://www.examiner.com/article/celebrate-the-real-reason-for-the-season-with-novic,"es-of-the-old-ways</a></span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">US Census Bureau (2011), Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population: 1990 to 2008 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2010/compendia/statab/130ed/tables/11s0075.pdf" style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2010/compendia/statab/130ed/tables/11s0075.pdf</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">“Yule,” The Pagan and Wiccan Parenting Page, <a href="http://paganparent-ivil.tripod.com/yule.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://paganparent-ivil.tripod.com/yule.html</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources</span></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Opening clip art: <a href="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/CopiousSilverBirch/BlessedYule.gif">http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/CopiousSilverBirch/BlessedYule.gif</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yule altar: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUVfXBcYVInWPShSOf3NvM9VeKYDlP6YaUCEvQrw_6qLj94A8CAR8NQqtYH17mRVigjTUJHf30DkBVPEn9viFzkIFrIoyn8Z-5LWBdbTLjWJ3q8ikMrmgM2moV0684P9NzrNJjY1dNDI/s1600/yule+altar.jpg">https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUVfXBcYVInWPShSOf3NvM9VeKYDlP6YaUCEvQrw_6qLj94A8CAR8NQqtYH17mRVigjTUJHf30DkBVPEn9viFzkIFrIoyn8Z-5LWBdbTLjWJ3q8ikMrmgM2moV0684P9NzrNJjY1dNDI/s1600/yule+altar.jpg</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yule log dessert: <a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/paganwiccan/1/I/C/7/-/-/ChocolateYuleLog.jpg">http://0.tqn.com/d/paganwiccan/1/I/C/7/-/-/ChocolateYuleLog.jpg</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Winter Solstice Wassail: <a href="https://www.internationalcuisine.com/solstice-wassail/">https://www.internationalcuisine.com/solstice-wassail/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A recipe for Yule wassail can be found at: <a href="http://www.the-wisdom-of-wicca.com/images/wassail2.jpg">http://www.the-wisdom-of-wicca.com/images/wassail2.jpg</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Death of Baldur: <a href="http://www.fornsidr.no/2011/01/norse-mythology/">http://www.fornsidr.no/2011/01/norse-mythology/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Mistletoe: <a href="http://www.lovespeaks.net/images/mistletoe-christmas1.jpg">http://www.lovespeaks.net/images/mistletoe-christmas1.jpg</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yule wreath: <a href="http://witchesofwalthamabbey.com/special-seasonal-events.htm">http://witchesofwalthamabbey.com/special-seasonal-events.htm</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yule trees in an English forest: <a href="http://www.blueworldgardener.co.uk/articles/xmas_tree_pagan.html">http://www.blueworldgardener.co.uk/articles/xmas_tree_pagan.html</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yule log: <a href="http://www.cauldronliving.com/images/articles/yulelog.jpg">http://www.cauldronliving.com/images/articles/yulelog.jpg</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Closing clip art: <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c6XySSTIIyM/TQtrtCqf0rI/AAAAAAAAAVs/6aj8ITYMloY/s1600/blessed+yule.jpg">http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c6XySSTIIyM/TQtrtCqf0rI/AAAAAAAAAVs/6aj8ITYMloY/s1600/blessed+yule.jpg</a></div>
</div>
David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-81328019101792383762020-12-10T11:17:00.005-05:002022-12-18T16:47:48.551-05:00Chanukah 2022<p> </p><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div><div class="gmail_default"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ8sKMa9o41MaZd-L7iZ2HjRYqB99KIWpt4Cm7sU-kCczW1hb91OZ4XrNd2dx1n0Q9c8OGlpvhSe2jMQf8uUZ0fHczzCkK5CeNpQ_3gmXhJH8MlxKN0vTF087KKfVrE-Mr5bi5jDf0BuT/s200/Menorah.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As part of my religious holiday observance descriptions, I would like to share with you that the Jewish holiday of <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> for 2022 begins at sunset tonight Sunday December 18</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="m_1652004734817344054gmail-OBJ_PREFIX_DWT452_com_zimbra_date"><span style="color: darkblue;"> </span></span>and</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> lasts for eight days </span></span></span></span></span></span>concluding at sunset</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> on Monday, December 26.</span></span><h3><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Dating the Holiday</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because the Jewish calendar follows the moon and so does not follow the standard solar secular calendar, the dates of <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> seem to travel between November and January. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For example if we look at the last six years, we can see how the holiday seems to "travel" in the secular Gregorian calendar. In 2021, Chanukah began on November 28 and ended on December 6. In 2020, <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> began on the evening of December 10 and ended at sunset December 18, In 2019, <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> began on the evening of December 22 and ended at sunset December 30. In 2018, the holiday began at sunset on December 2 and ended at sunset December 10. In 2017, the holiday began on December 12 and concluded at sunset on December 20. In 2016, the holiday began on the night of December 24 and ended at sunset on January 1, 2017. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">In fact, though, on the Jewish calendar, the dates are always the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev through the 3rd of the Hebrew month of Tevet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">As a side note, in 2013, <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> came at t<i>he earliest it had occurred in 133 years </i>starting on US Thanksgiving Day of November 27 and concluding at sunset on December 5. </span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">For those in the United States, 2013 holds a particularly significant dating for <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> since this was the first -- and ONLY -- time that the first day of <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> had or ever will begin on the US secular holiday of Thanksgiving.</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> Why? The last time <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> came that early was in 1861, two days before President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday. Technical adjustments to the Jewish Calendar that take place roughly every 250 means that the earliest <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> will fall will have changed to later than Thanksgiving. For more on this technical oddity, please see my </span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">special post on the subject from 2013: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank"><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> 2013 -- The First and Only Coinciding of US Thanksgiving with <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span>.</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><h2><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Holiday Name </span></b></span></h2></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKodEk0HvjBwxUsPyiXPRzI10j5t0gr62lSbDfAMIacCV31OqOHyXyzNzamubH6a-nQssKcHWFcxbJINntIVaq4yWzHxMmPKxhoPTIrX7mHbEE1EmUoNFfnmVkL-hovn1kvQE6e0y_sH6b/w168-h207/how-do-you-spell-hanukkah.gif" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another point of confusion is the spelling of the name. Since many sounds in the Hebrew alphabet do not have an equivalent in the English alphabet, there is no accepted way to spell the holiday in English. This carries over even into Hebrew where it already has two spellings: both </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE">חנכה</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span> or </span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE">חנוכ</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span>. <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a result, English spellings for the holiday have 12 variations in use today: <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span>, Hannukah, Hanukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Hanuka, Channukah, Hanukka, Hanaka, Haneka, Hanika and Khanukkah. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The word itself means “Dedication” in Hebrew, which itself is a shortening of <i>chanukat ha-mizbeiach</i> meaning “dedication of the altar” or <i>chanukat ha-bayit </i>meaning “dedication of the house” (in this case, the House of the Lord, the Temple in Jerusalem). In English, the holiday is commonly referred to as the “Festival of Lights” because of the candle-lighting ceremony.</span></span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="gmail_default"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Minor Holiday</span></b></span></h3></div></blockquote><div><div class="gmail_default"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> is one of the minor festivals in Judaism. As a result, while the holiday has been celebrated for centuries by Jews worldwide, it does not carry the importance of the Jewish New Year, Day of Atonement, Shavuot, Sukkot or Passover. <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> then is <i>not </i>as important as Christmas is to Christians.</span></div><div style="clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22C3qlF4_R446TxBfK2oI8lmML1SG5u9EFJX0H9tjC4TI0qDn_EgYC6jrluSEXxFGzmsnXcuOWMzCVicfSxd4ahA-Gk5gY0ijqG9L_KOcx2kFeRoWZKGVuVFyhIR0OArUL9sWT9otfnzv/s200/Hanukkah_Gelt1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That said, though, it is important to note that <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> has become especially significant among Jews living in Christian countries, especially the United States, Canada, France, Argentina, Brazil and Australia -- even among fairly non-religious or secular Jews --wanting to assimilate into the surrounding culture with an equivalent to the gift-giving season surrounding Christmas. <br /><br />Traditionally Jews exchange gifts on Purim. Historically, Jews actually did not exchange gifts on <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> aside from small items for children (chocolate coins, called <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span><i> gelt</i>, are an example). This is still largely the case both among Jews in Israel, India and Islamic-majority countries as well as among more traditional Jews in Europe and the Americas.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></div><div style="border: currentcolor; clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border: currentcolor; clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The History Behind the Holiday</span></b></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPj0by3FhQLB3pHNDxGaPdpzWQv4ngge5iJa81AbyJtCkzgpKoGSzH4QqJbpBBFy0N5DcaK0L402MnWtzuZUVGbIFnUikg5_JJ6-OQH_i1dADhV-7E1gWPJt44UsiRB1M2oCIRZTMAjEX/s1600/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Alexander the Great Mosaic<br />Naples National Archaeological Museum</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> remembers the freedom from persecution by the Seleucid (Greco-Syrian) Empire in the 2<sup>nd</sup> century BC (or BCE). The Seleucids had tried to forcibly assimilate the Jews into Greek culture. After Alexander the Great overthrew Darius III in 330 BC, Greeks ruled the entirety of the former Persian Empire, including what is now Israel. Following Alexander’s death in 323 BCE, his empire split up with one of his general’s Ptolemy I Soter (the “Saviour”) of Egypt, taking over the part of Alexander’s empire that had included Egypt and Israel whil<wbr></wbr>e another general, Seleucus, taking over what had been Babylonia. The portion under Seleucus became the Seleucid Greek Empire. Alexander the Great had allowed the free practice of all religions, including Judaism. This tradition of respecting freedom of religion was continued under Ptolemy I Soter. This practice of tolerance, however, was not a priority in the Seleucid Greek Empire. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQm7I20NLguqBMz0cE4KnptY62-8nKYNpennsw9-UrvSVoLGnjUCWrHh2P2nAiMnOQtFD9k9aU_EKSe0150es28dde1iFKKCesLpDCcTRkffCj_xSYguLiVJk4CFt4bbUkx2-erXSgF-R/w115-h170/250px-Antiochos_III.jpg" width="115" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Antiochus III</b> <br /><b>by Auguste Giraudon <br />The Louvre, Paris</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Greeks fought a series of wars (called the Syrian Wars), as the Seleucids tried to expand to the west. In 223 BCE, Antiochus III the Great ascended to the Seleucid throne, and successfully expanded his empire westward, winning the area that is now Israel, Lebanon and Syria in the Fifth Syrian War (202-195 BCE) taking Jerusalem in 200 BCE. When the Seleucid Greeks ousted the Ptolemaic Egyptians from Israel, the era of religious tolerance began to be erased.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Seleucid Greeks prided themselves on the universalism of their culture and believed strongly that their values could be promoted throughout the world. Moreover, most of the peoples the Greeks conquered readily assimilated to Greek culture. Indeed, before the Seleucid conquest of the region and the subsequent persecution of the Jews, the Ptolemaic Greeks had been quite successful in assimilating a large number of Jews. These assimilated Jews were called the Hellenist Jews. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Hellenist Jews gave up their religious practices but maintained and even shared with Greek society as a whole many of their cultural traditions (language, foods, non-religious tales). For Hellenist Jews, Greek culture was seen as progressive and modern. Greeks and Hellenist Jews alike considered those Jews who held to their faith and did not assimilate to be zealots and unenlightened. Many of the issues surrounding assimilation to various cultures throughout the centuries have been related to the <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> story as a result.</span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_t1EyslUBVMF-tBLLltLz8vyNbgrAGawFVtgNhocf6sueBrOj9ORa5zsEigWvZvML7_cEYO37byM67SUwentQ_VWPaQXB5SofEHOy1_rL9CMnLZ7nazjVybJj0DhyXd8pFpERPlrF1Cw/w128-h188/800px-Antiokhos_IV.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Antiochus IV Epiphanes<br />Altes Museum, Berlin</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Antiochus III’s successor as Seleucid ruler was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-163 BCE). Antiochus IV Epiphanes (meaning “God’s manifestation”) found that those Jews who refused to assimilate became intolerable. Antiochus IV outlawed Jewish religious practice making it illegal to observe the Jewish Sabbath or circumcise children, and requiring, among other things, that Jews formally recognize the Greek deity Zeus as the supreme deity and dedicated the Temple at Jerusalem to Zeus. The Seleucids also required Jews to sacrifice and eat pigs (which Jews consider unkosher). Jews who resisted were burnt at the stake, frequently with Torah scrolls wrapped around them to start the fire.</span> </span>In 167 BCE after the Jews resisted with force, Antiochus IV took extreme actions. According <i>2 Maccabees</i> 5:11-14:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i></span><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When these happenings were reported to the king, he thought that Judea was in revolt. Raging like a wild animal, he set out from Egypt and took Jerusalem by storm. He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their houses. There was a massacre of young and old, a killing of women and children, a slaughter of virgins and infants. In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the same number being sold into slavery.</span> </i></blockquote></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a side note, both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions consider both books of the Maccabees to be part of the Biblical canon. By contrast, neither Jews nor Protestants consider either of the two books of the Maccabees as canonical sources.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Significantly, the Jews were the only religion among the peoples that Antiochus conquered that he persecuted. For example, after his conquest of Babylon, Antiochus III actually rebuilt many of the temples and infrastructure that had been destroyed. Hellenic culture – generally considered one of the most enlightened in history – regularly incorporated values of other cultures into its own. </span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The Focus of the Celebration</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> celebrates the victory in 166 BC (or BCE) of the Hasmonean Jews – led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers – over the Seleucid (Greco-Syrian) Empire. However, as <i>Judaism disdains war</i> and therefore would not condone a holiday over a military event, <i>the holiday focuses instead on the “dedication”</i> (in Hebrew “<span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span>”) of the Temple in Jerusalem, which the Seleucids had desecrated by converting it into a center of idol-worship. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> Traditions</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div><div class="gmail_default"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Several traditions are associated with <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span>. During religious services, special psalms and prayers are recited. As the holiday centers around remembering the miracle of how a single day's oil burnt for eight days, Jews light candles for eight days and eat foods prepared in hot oil.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div><div class="gmail_default"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The Menorah Lighting</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0r65cdjlOgsH7M8XNij-_22TT7YLSji2Jo5fHeB0lqX0iPKmp_-jiWy_SG4o4Rsz2KeApybOj02WfzU8WdvrZ880HPYI5ZQJhcY1M2R5lw3hScVIBK3BqSDC62t4l-S4RxT0qVJC800W/s1600/man_lighting_menorah.gif" /></span></a><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br />The miracle of <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> occurred with the rekindling of the menorah (candelabra) in the Temple. The Jewish Talmud explains that when the Maccabees removed the idols of Greek gods from the Temple and attempted to light the six-branched menorah in the Temple, they could find only enough consecrated oil to light the holy lamp for one day. The miracle came when – as Jewish belief holds -- the oil continued to burn for eight days until new consecrated oil could be obtained. Hence, today Jews celebrate the holiday by lighting one candle on an eight-branched candle holder (called a menorah or <i>chanukiya</i>) each night for eight nights. The candles are lit from right to left (the same direction of Hebrew writing), with the first candle lit on the far right of the menorah. A separate candle, called the <i>shammes</i>, is used to light the other candles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";"><b><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> Foods</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eating special foods made in oil is part of the holiday, as the oil in which the food is prepared recalls the miracle of the oil in the Temple burning for eight days. Among those foods most typical are potato pancakes called <i>latkes. </i>These compact potato patties are served with an accompaniment of sour cream or of something sweet (usually applesauce or sugar). </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdHE6zWt1er_KKy93xGAivakjXtkFTtBeuiBTL1Y-xRWUa6lfrKiS7tz9Ee95fNZHa69FzMq-5bd0jpoTz2oWdGMhMyK8cfaPZ2ci7u-Im3TA6VwTkeKjmVl63kmjR3KccvaQUkc0XXg2/s926/BEST_POTATO_LATKES_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdHE6zWt1er_KKy93xGAivakjXtkFTtBeuiBTL1Y-xRWUa6lfrKiS7tz9Ee95fNZHa69FzMq-5bd0jpoTz2oWdGMhMyK8cfaPZ2ci7u-Im3TA6VwTkeKjmVl63kmjR3KccvaQUkc0XXg2/s320/BEST_POTATO_LATKES_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Potato Latkes</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The latke itself is not particularly Jewish in origin. The potato pancake made in the same manner as the Jewish latke is considered the national dish of Belarus and remains a traditional dish in Luxembourgish, German, Austrian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian and Latvian cuisines. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Other cuisines (notably, Irish, Indian, Persian, Swedish and Swiss) have variations of potato pancakes but differ from the compact patty of those just cited above including the latke. Polish-Canadian food blogger Ilona Orzechowska of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">The Cookful</a>, contrasts the ways in which the latke differs from these other potato pancakes in her<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank"> "Potato Pancakes vs. Potato Latkes."</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For a recipe on how to make latkes, please see celebrity chef <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Andrew Zimmern</a>'s step-by-step recipe in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Food & Wine</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">"Killer Potato Latkes"</a>. For the standard latke recipe used for the last 65 years, consider this one from Sara Kasdan's humorous 1956 classic Jewish cookbook <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank"> Love and Knishes </a>, reprinted on Kosher.com as <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">"Best Potato Latkes."</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></div><div style="border: currentcolor; clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTJJKhazlwuFE0o_saad3HbhXJVBYF4Q6BaBpSTQW9hxGeqPhzurcHN6Fk7rsxwKH5-_HaqsJzKbv1s9_sm01ZpBF8kgFFCrBY0F-TAZ54EJJcXoLEn-pMLqzXKT4YBkRfOgmpYZou-tG/s200/gallery_25849_641_37361+sufganiya.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Sufganiyah being injected with jelly</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another traditional food cooked with oil are special doughnuts called <i>sufganiyah </i>(plural: <i>suf<wbr></wbr>ganiot).</i> Sufganiot are round doughnuts that are deep-fried in oil. While still hot, the sufganiyah is then injected full of jelly. The dough has a spongy texture which is where the doughnut gets its name (<i>sfog</i> in Hebrew means "sponge"). Although more spherical in shape, the sufaniot are very similar to the Polish <i>p</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i>ączki</i>. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: times;">For a recipe with photos on how to make sufganiyot, please see eGCI Forum: Sufganiyot at</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">http://forums.egullet.org/<wbr></wbr>index.php?/topic/96166-egci-<wbr></wbr>demo-sufganiyot-soovganiot/</span></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The significance for both latkes and sufganiyot is that they are made in oil. In this way, they are both meant to recall the oil that burned in the lamps for eight days. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The giving out of<i> gelt</i> (or chocolate candies made to look like coins) comes as a reminder that the Seleucids had confiscated all the possessions of the Jews. It is from the giving of gelt that the tradition of gift-giving was developed in Christian countries as an assimilative gesture to Christmas.</span></div><h4><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Songs</span></span></h4><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">The song <i>Ma'oz Tzur</i> (often translated as "Rock of Ages") is a traditional song of the holiday. A common English translation is</span></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span><blockquote style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Rock of Ages, let our song, Praise Thy saving power<br />Thou amidst the raging foes, Wast our sheltering tower<br />Furious they assailed us, But Thine arm availed us<br />And thy word broke their sword, When our own strength failed us.<br />And thy word broke their sword, When our own strength failed us.</span></i></div></blockquote><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Another popular song in both Hebrew and English is <i>Mi Y'maleil? </i>or <i>Who Can Recall.</i> A common English translation of this song begins:</span></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span><blockquote style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><i>Who can tell of the feats of Israel<br />Who can count them?<br />In every age a hero arose to save the people.<br />Who can retell the things that befell us?<br />Who can count them?</i><br /><i>In every age, a hero or sage came to our aid.</i></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">For the Jews of Yemen traditionally <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> was a sort of Jewish “trick-or-treat” time when children would go door to door collecting wicks for the oil-burning menorahs used there. People would then give the children wicks along with candy and fruit. If the children received no wicks and treats, they chanted that these people were misers (the trick equivalent). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Probably the most famous (and funny) song of recent times is <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Adam Sandler's "<span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> Song,"</a> which first on <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Saturday Night Live</a></i> on December 3, 1994, then appeared on his 1996 comedy album <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">What The Hell Happened To Me?</a> </i>Sandler has issued updated versions of the now-classic song ever since.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Dreidel</span> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="gmail-CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQgJv5jPWYM0qQNyZUm1KTSa3wHr13RqG8YbLR3zAunVD7RLjcNBeRlrZ9Xlf1mkpQgURhKel5Ql8V22NwpZQ5dhyphenhyphen31nHaippK9vw3ADAK-dM4xhbWJARQ7PtbKxv72fIdqA-slQ8n3GN/s1600/dreidel.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">Dreidels</a></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another tradition is to play with a four-sided top called a <i>dreidel</i>. On the sides of the dreidel are the Hebrew letters of the first words of the four-word Hebrew phrase that translates: “A great miracle happened there.” In Israel, the fourth letters on the dreidel are different from elsewhere as the phrase translates as “A great miracle happened here.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As always, I welcome your comments and input. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Happy <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span>!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">David</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">David A. Victor, Ph.D.</span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Professor of Management and International Business</span></span><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">College of Business<br />Eastern Michigan University<br />Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 USA</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank"></a><i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-mexico" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Mexico: An Intercultural Approach</a></i><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-japan" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Japan: An Intercultural Approach</a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <i><a href="http://press.georgetown.edu/book/languages/seven-keys-communicating-brazil" target="_blank">The 7 Keys to Communicating in Brazil: An Intercultural Approach</a><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Co-Author: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Conflict-Management-Communication-Skills-Approach-dp-0205272940/dp/0205272940/ref=dp_ob_title_bk" target="_blank">Conflict Management: A Communication Skills Approach</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Author:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/International-Business-Communication-Victor/dp/0673460916/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"> International Business Communication</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Editor-in-Chief, <i><a href="http://commons.emich.edu/gabc/about.html" target="_blank">Global Advances in Business Communication Journal </a> </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Want to read more?</b><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";">You may wish to read more about the general background to the holiday at </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">Chabad.com's<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank"> </a></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>chabad.org/holidays/<span class="gmail-il">chanukah</span>/<wbr></wbr>article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/<wbr></wbr>What-Is-Hanukkah.htm#<span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">Mazornet.com's <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>mazornet.com/holidays/<wbr></wbr><span class="gmail-il">chanukah</span>/background-story.htm</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">Judaism 101's <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://www.jewfaq.org/<wbr></wbr>holiday7.htm</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">History Channel's <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://www.history.<wbr></wbr>com/topics/hanukkah</a></span></span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">Emily Krauser (November 21, 2021), "20 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Hanukkah." <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">ET Online</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">https://www.etonline.<wbr></wbr>com/20-facts-you-probably-<wbr></wbr>didnt-know-about-hanukkah-<wbr></wbr>137874 </a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">Jason Miller (December 30, 2011), "The Hanukkah Spelling Confusion," <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://blog.<wbr></wbr>rabbijason.com/2011/12/<wbr></wbr>hanukkah-spelling-confusion.<wbr></wbr>html</a> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "times";">Eyal Regev (2017), "The Original Meaning of <span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span>" TheTorah.com, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">https://<wbr></wbr>thetorah.com/article/the-<wbr></wbr>original-meaning-of-<span class="gmail-il">chanukah</span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentcolor; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Clip Art Sources</b></span><br /><br />Opening menorah <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>thetoymaker.com/Holidays/<wbr></wbr><span class="gmail-il">CHANUKAH</span>/1Chanukah.html</a><br /><br />However you spell it <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://blog.rabbijason.com/<wbr></wbr>2011/12/hanukkah-spelling-<wbr></wbr>confusion.html</a><br /><br />Alexander the Great Mosaic, Naples National Archaeological Museum: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great#<wbr></wbr>mediaviewer/File:Alexander_<wbr></wbr>the_Great_mosaic.jpg</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank"></a><br /><br />Antiochus III bust by Auguste Giraudon, The Louvre, Paris: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://blog.rabbijason.<wbr></wbr>com/2011/12/hanukkah-spelling-<wbr></wbr>confusion.html</a><br /><br />Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Altes Museum, Berlin: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.<wbr></wbr>org/wiki/Antiochus_IV_<wbr></wbr>Epiphanes#mediaviewer/File:<wbr></wbr>Antiokhos_IV.jpg</a><br /><br /><span class="gmail-il">Chanukah</span> gelt <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://www.ohnuts.com/<wbr></wbr>blog/Hanukkah_Gelt1.jpg</a><br /><br />Man lighting menorah <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://d.wapday.com/<wbr></wbr>animation/ccontennt/12121-m/<wbr></wbr>man_lighting_menorah.gif?__<wbr></wbr>sid=WTK81F50XWWD&lang=en</a><br /><br />Potato latkes <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">https://www.kosher.com/<wbr></wbr>recipe/best-potato-latkes-6356</a><wbr></wbr> <br /><br />Sufganiya <br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://www.istockphoto.com/<wbr></wbr>stock-photo-7546809-sufganiya.<wbr></wbr>php</a> <br /><br />Dreidels<br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7314004785313885549/8132801910179238376#" target="_blank">http://www.jewfaq.org/<wbr></wbr>holiday7.htm</a></div></div></div><br /><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-51220733288031232762020-09-24T18:55:00.000-04:002020-09-26T11:41:55.536-04:00Yom Kippur 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpQ9odbYbFnd4-6j4JUdBlhWE1I1fo7IqLscPpC_YRuFEbDWrK4rzOw_i2uFkyjk2NNCgOGfBzInfgq5IYefcmV95NWPAoOPqoo3SqGI0686Rd6PkYEZTAUdmxnzvWgjwhsnWpz3e5Kv6/s1600/yom_kippur+banner.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpQ9odbYbFnd4-6j4JUdBlhWE1I1fo7IqLscPpC_YRuFEbDWrK4rzOw_i2uFkyjk2NNCgOGfBzInfgq5IYefcmV95NWPAoOPqoo3SqGI0686Rd6PkYEZTAUdmxnzvWgjwhsnWpz3e5Kv6/s640/yom_kippur+banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Introduction</u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yom Kippur for 2020 begins<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT446_com_zimbra_date"><span style="color: darkblue;"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT926_com_zimbra_date"> at sunset on Sunday, September 27 </span></span></span>and continues through one hour past sunset on Monday, September 28. All employees, students and faculty requesting so should be accommodated. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement. It is a day to, in which "you shall afflict your souls" (Leviticus 16:29) and -- as the name indicates -- to atone for one's sins throughout the preceding year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Together with Rosh HaShanah (which occurs 10 days earlier), Yom Kippur forms part of what are called the High Holy Days. The days following Rosh HaShanah and leading up to Yom Kippur are called the Days of Awe. <span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">As the culmination of the High Holy Days, Yom Kippur takes a special prominence. For more on this, please see my post on <a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/09/rosh-hashanah-2012.html">Rosh HaShanah</a>.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /><h1 style="text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Yon Kippur and the Pandemic</span></h1><p style="margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span><span>In 2020 amid the pandemic, many temples and synagogues will hold video services either streamed or recorded. Among Orthodox and Conservative Jews, this is controversial because of the ban on using the computer. Most Conservative Jews have, after an initial ban, formally allowed some type of Zoom or streaming broadcast of services (including Saturday Sabbath services). By contrast, most Orthodox have not allowed the use of technology. Some Orthodox groups have attempted ways around the ban and the situation remains fluid. This current situation among Orthodox Jews is explained well in Irene Connelly's article <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+streaming" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></span></span></span></p><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><b><u>Yom Kippur: Conclusion of the High Holy Days</u></b></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxDmMmWLACCN8dZ7BWa0kK3JM9-c-IyF1so0Z-hkM7-tB4-N0BQ-aSaTZE8QP_s1_o-79k4sIuleYY77bpMKQAM30zguhAvqV_UowmSAy0eMSJ9-EWmmMyqHEd47T6xJ9ZX_wLPeCyEJH/s1600/scales.gif" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxDmMmWLACCN8dZ7BWa0kK3JM9-c-IyF1so0Z-hkM7-tB4-N0BQ-aSaTZE8QP_s1_o-79k4sIuleYY77bpMKQAM30zguhAvqV_UowmSAy0eMSJ9-EWmmMyqHEd47T6xJ9ZX_wLPeCyEJH/s200/scales.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">On Rosh HaShanah, Jews traditionally believe (whether figuratively or literally depending on their interpretation) that God opens the Book of Life (Sefer Chaim) and writes in it the fate of each person including "who shall live and who shall die." </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">On Yom Kippur, that fate in the Book of Life is sealed. Starting with</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> Rosh HaShanah, through the Days of Awe and until the close of Yom Kippur, Jews believe that repentance, prayer and acts of lovingkindness (the somewhat lacking but rough translation of the Hebrews words <i>tshuvah, tefillah</i> and <i>tzedakah</i>) are able to "avert the stern decree." The decision is sealed and set at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times";"><b>Importance Given Yom Kippur</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Generally speaking, Yom Kippur can be considered the most important day of observance in Judaism. <span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd8cUHdFFGgC2KSTdua6ZqJ-yKzJbeFJiiYC07dmSfkd7ccN1ZMOCgrkQV34sFxSWCWkhVgl6PsBQNCYoRHWO-dbwttxcRKcKMpVrly0_z103bLxL6QcXjFtyv6KRwWsGzU0h89zuqlT8/s1600/0029aholiday.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd8cUHdFFGgC2KSTdua6ZqJ-yKzJbeFJiiYC07dmSfkd7ccN1ZMOCgrkQV34sFxSWCWkhVgl6PsBQNCYoRHWO-dbwttxcRKcKMpVrly0_z103bLxL6QcXjFtyv6KRwWsGzU0h89zuqlT8/s200/0029aholiday.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Among observant Jews, traditionally, the weekly observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays is the most important Jewish holiday. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">In practice, though, for many Jews who do might not regularly attend weekly Sabbath services, do attend services on the High Holy Days, and, especially, on Yom Kippur. </span></span> </span>(Please note that I am in no way attempting to take a stance on what is or is not proper observance for any religion in these updates, but rather simply trying to make the general community aware of the various religious practices as they affect activities for employees, students or others).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Dating Yom Kippur</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yom Kippur, like all Jewish holidays, appears to wander in the secular calendar. This is because the secular calendar is not consistent with the Jewish calendar. In the Jewish calendar, though, the holiday actually occurs on the same day of the Jewish calendar (the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Also, as the Jewish calendar is based on the moon, the day begins with sunset and ends with sunset. Traditionally, the holiday does not close until an hour past sunset to ensure that the sun has unarguably already set. This is a practice of adding an additional hour is usually observed by Orthodox and Conservative Jews but less often observed by Reform and Reconstructionist Jews.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Fast</u></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvzNUZRFCgeOLz5vbGma8T4XpPjGoVQhV1z5NqfT2gfWWXV5nF0gypt5yb50P9vTNgGVw5TtPjx7rT_KENxZkciLgNOATR-xi4H8kS_l3ksxXCgeyMlTl97tVAeHqKzpb6WPVa8IDaWUg/s1600/fast.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvzNUZRFCgeOLz5vbGma8T4XpPjGoVQhV1z5NqfT2gfWWXV5nF0gypt5yb50P9vTNgGVw5TtPjx7rT_KENxZkciLgNOATR-xi4H8kS_l3ksxXCgeyMlTl97tVAeHqKzpb6WPVa8IDaWUg/s200/fast.bmp" width="199" /></a></div>
Yom Kippur is a complete fast day. This is a 25-hour fast that begins before sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur and continues until nightfall of the following day. Throughout Yom Kippur Jews, Jews abstain from <br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>eating or drinking anything (including water)</li>
<li>wearing perfume or lotion</li>
<li>bathing</li>
<li>having sexual relations</li>
<li>wearing leather (including leather shoes)</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Most Jews interpret the fast to include abstaining from smoking as well. </div>
<br />
As with all Jewish fasts, health takes precedence over the fast. Women in childbirth or women who have given birth within the past three days are, for example, explicitly forbidden to fast even if they want to do so. Likewise children under nine are explicitly forbidden to fast even if they want to do so. Women who are pregnant and children between 9 and 13 are permitted to fast but must break the fast if they feel weak. Similarly, people with diseases requiring that they eat regularly (such as diabetes) or with conditions of weakened health are permitted to fast but must break the fast if they feel their health is being affected.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTO-bQS9pZD4hhYGC20BrhrnNwzPWb737VOXc4Ng6V8pm1yvCxMv6CAHqNLFnAQQsMgSbbLz-tZWpVaK4kr96lPlBya6kqam7VYE-g3u4M0ow3WEJVPq0VZJKEeqMvCX_3tbUhEV56MgX/s1600/No+work.bmp" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTO-bQS9pZD4hhYGC20BrhrnNwzPWb737VOXc4Ng6V8pm1yvCxMv6CAHqNLFnAQQsMgSbbLz-tZWpVaK4kr96lPlBya6kqam7VYE-g3u4M0ow3WEJVPq0VZJKEeqMvCX_3tbUhEV56MgX/s200/No+work.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
On Yom Kippur, Jews are prohibited from work of any kind. This includes writing, using the phone or computer, physical labor and the like. <br />
<br />
Because playing music is prohibited as well, the holiday concludes only after sunset so that it is possible to blow the shofar (or ram's horn). Please see the post on <a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/09/rosh-hashanah-2012.html">Rosh HaShanah </a>for more on this.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Yom Kippur Service</u></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Length of Service</u></b></div>
<br />
Yom Kippur is the longest worship service in the Jewish calendar. This holds true for all branches of Judaism. <br />
<br />
While the length of services varies from one branch of Judaism to another, it is not uncommon for Orthodox and Conservative Jews to spend almost the entire day in the synagogue, leaving only to sleep at night. Even in the sometimes shorter Yom Kippur services of many Reform and Reconstructionist branches of Judaism, most worshippers still spend the vast majority of the day in services at the synagogue or temple.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kol Nidre Service</span></b></div>
<br />
<u><b>The Kol Nidre Chant</b></u><br />
<br />
The service on Yom Kippur eve is centered on the Kol Nidre prayer. The prayer takes its name from its first two words which are "Kol Nidre" meaning "all vows" in Aramaic.<br />
<br />
The prayer begins very soon after the evening service begins. This is because, to be valid, the Kol Nidre prayer must be recited before sunset.<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Kol Nidre Tune</u></b><br />
<br />
The Kol Nidre chant is among the oldest tunes in the Jewish liturgy, and its melody is intended to echo the sounds of sighing or sobbing. The origin of the current tune dates to at least the late 13th Century with the so-called melodies of "MiSinai" (literally "from Sinai"). The "MiSinai" melodies are a group of 52 liturgical melodies of which by far the most notable is Kol Nidre Chant. Music historians date nearly all of the "MiSinai" music back to Maharam of Rothenberg (who lived from 1220-1293). That said, it is neither known how old the melodies were when Maharam of Rothenberg learned them nor if any of the "MiSinai" melodies post-dated him (since the tunes themselves were handed down without being written down for centuries).<br />
<br />
While most versions of the Kol Nidre chant have a common origin in the "MiSinai" melodies, considerable variation exists within the interpretation of the music. Thus, there are, for example, German, Bohemian and Polish versions with minor differences. Additionally, each cantor or singer of the tune also adds a unique style as well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbfaUyIFy0GWJnQOInUyNd91V_siCB91rA_MAmXaUR6MrDDEDMQa-gjkZmPoyqqIiq-yR1rxL8oyAzVF2CBshObALDjezSTNLhPtI5C_kX3FLQkOPJiunMOze7CGLozd2mJJ2vDMtxkSQ/s1600/Kol+nidre+tune.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbfaUyIFy0GWJnQOInUyNd91V_siCB91rA_MAmXaUR6MrDDEDMQa-gjkZmPoyqqIiq-yR1rxL8oyAzVF2CBshObALDjezSTNLhPtI5C_kX3FLQkOPJiunMOze7CGLozd2mJJ2vDMtxkSQ/s400/Kol+nidre+tune.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Three regional variations of the Kol Nidre tune</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>In Classical Music</u> </div>
<br />
Ludwig van Beethoven first brought the tune of the Kol Nidre prayer was popularized to the non-Jewish world in 1821 (although never credited so indirectly) as the basis of the central theme of the sixth movement of his String Quartet No. 14 (Opus 131).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7INJeLAJgZkHkyB6NKZi2mngp-RL8aXqaBaPjy5fGH9xAiNdxRkJkK1S1LIhk1NxB7qgsU6Z8aAX8mbJOUdXYH5Hiu26ExU_UXnOwi-eiohsiWmeDRM0jMHcPuvvZxUTy7Et0fV0EBJfz/s1600/Yo=yo+ma.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7INJeLAJgZkHkyB6NKZi2mngp-RL8aXqaBaPjy5fGH9xAiNdxRkJkK1S1LIhk1NxB7qgsU6Z8aAX8mbJOUdXYH5Hiu26ExU_UXnOwi-eiohsiWmeDRM0jMHcPuvvZxUTy7Et0fV0EBJfz/s200/Yo=yo+ma.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cellist Yo-Yo Ma recorded a famous version of </b><br />
<b>Bruch's Opus 41 Kol Nidre for Cello and Orchestra</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Kol Nidre tune was first explicitly brought to the non-Jewish world 60 years later through Max Christian Friedrich Bruch's 1881 Opus 41 (Kol Nidrei). This piece features a variation inspired by the main tune of the chant played on cello backed by full orchestra. <br />
<br />
To hear Yo-Yo Ma's 2005 performance of this piece, please listen to<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=4955739&m=4955759">http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=4955739&m=4955759</a><br />
<br />
Other classical composers to include at least part of the Kol Nidre tune in their works are Arnold Schoenberg (in 1938 with Opus 39, Kol Nidrei) and most recently John Zorn's 1996 Kol Nidre for String Quartet.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIMu8Qmb4hqIDS6nv6R4yOqlTyjk3r4KWopBY3nQA97-vPClvnxPqufqx1_8pSS1H8_Z1zeEQij1wnpLqqE5TaMjo5us684SAFH6BYkLy9bV7Xw70C8qd0293TyJSd2Qjv6tzB5lRBAQP/s1600/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIMu8Qmb4hqIDS6nv6R4yOqlTyjk3r4KWopBY3nQA97-vPClvnxPqufqx1_8pSS1H8_Z1zeEQij1wnpLqqE5TaMjo5us684SAFH6BYkLy9bV7Xw70C8qd0293TyJSd2Qjv6tzB5lRBAQP/s200/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none; text-align: center;">
<b><u>In Popular Music</u></b></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
In the area of popular culture, Kol Nidre has also been frequently featured. In the early beginnings of film, Al Jolson sings a version of the prayer in the 1927 movie <i>The Jazz Singer. </i></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
In popular music, recordings of Kol Nidre have been made by such varied singers as Perry Como, Neil Diamond and Johnny Mathis.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>The Content of the Kol Nidre Chant</u></b></div>
<br />
The content of the Kol Nidre chant itself is less of an actual prayer than a dry legal formulation. The wording is as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>All vows ("kol nidre"), obligations, oaths, and anathemas, whether called 'ḳonam,' 'ḳonas,' or by any other name, which we may vow, or swear, or pledge, or whereby we may be bound, from this Day of Atonement until the next (whose happy coming we await), we do repent. May they be deemed absolved, forgiven, annulled, and void, and made of no effect; they shall not bind us nor have power over us. The vows shall not be reckoned vows; the obligations shall not be obligatory; nor the oaths be oaths. (translation from the Jewish Encyclopedia).</i></blockquote>
<br />
Because Judaism teaches to take any vow with the utmost seriousness, the purpose of the prayer is to be forgiven from any rash vows made to God in the coming year that one can not fulfill. The Kol Nidre prayer does <i>not</i> absolve one from vows made to other people; <i>only</i> vows made between the worshipper and God.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Debate Over Kol Nidre</u></b></div>
<br />
Much debate exists over the prayer even within the Jewish community. This debate was carried on throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times on theological grounds. In modern times,several leaders in the early period of the Reform Movement in the 19th Century attempted to abolish the prayer, but for different reasons than those traditionally argued but instead as a means of disarming its use for excuses of anti-Semitism (see below).<br />
<br />
<b>Versions of the Kol Nidre Chant: Liturgical Differences</b><br />
<br />
The Kol Nidre chant is one of the oldest in Judaism, dating back in some version at least to the time of Amram Gaon during his leadership of the Jewish Talmud Academy of Sura (which means between 857 and 875 CE). Some sources suggest that this version itself was simply set down from a far earlier earlier version. In the prayer book (<i>siddur</i>) of Amram, the prayer is in Hebrew, not Aramaic (and thus is called Kol Nedarim vs. Kol Nidre). <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjkfTiAiC3nJz3s8kqRz3v3j7eJ_1cjBMxnCCialqSkMGEMOqHUPVMhkFUDdPXDcpgWKYX3fvKC5Pkaj1VjZRdlfIzoGjjZRILDI0o9UT9c-4sTWmV_9QaoV3RtzAWzhbhGJuVLSAOckt/s1600/508px-Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjkfTiAiC3nJz3s8kqRz3v3j7eJ_1cjBMxnCCialqSkMGEMOqHUPVMhkFUDdPXDcpgWKYX3fvKC5Pkaj1VjZRdlfIzoGjjZRILDI0o9UT9c-4sTWmV_9QaoV3RtzAWzhbhGJuVLSAOckt/s320/508px-Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg" width="271" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Kol Nidre Chant</b><br />
<b>in the Machzor of Worms, Germany </b><br />
<b>(ca. 1270-1280)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Hebrew version was still widely used in the Roman <i>Mahzor</i> (prayer book) dating to the 1480's. In the Hebrew version, the vows were absolved for the vows broken during preceding year (rather than the potentially unmet vows of the coming year). The Hebrew version was still the standard version for the Jews of Italy and Romanian (or <i>Balkin</i>) before their extermination during the Holocaust. Some of the surviving members of these communities continue this tradition of reciting the Hebrew version.<br />
<br />
The majority of Jews, however, recite the Aramaic version. That said, the version of the prayer differs depending on one interpretation or the other. One formulation of the prayer (called the old version) retains wording regarding the vows being from the preceding year while a second formulation (called the new version) carries the modification from the past year to the coming year. The "new version" dates to the early 1100's when the French Rabbi Meir ben Samuel (called the Ram) modified it. <br />
<br />
The Jews of Spain rejected the modifications of the "new version." The descendants of this Jewish community are called Sephardi Jews (from the Hebrew for Spanish). Today Sephardic Jews continue to recite the "old version" of the Aramaic prayer. The Ashkenazi Jews (the name for the Jews who settled in Central and Eastern Europe), by contrast, recite the "new version" of the Aramaic prayer.<br />
<br />
The Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews today, though, are no longer geographically determined. Sephardic Jews are no longer to be found in Spain (Jews were only permitted to return to Spain in 1968), but are spread around the world. For more on this, please see my post on Tisha B'Av at<br />
<br />
<a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/07/tisha-bav.html">http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/07/tisha-bav.html</a><br />
<br />
Following the forced expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, Sephardic Jews were distributed far from Spain, especially in the Netherlands, Morocco and (before the Jewish expulsions from most Arabic countries following the founding of Israel in 1948) from North Africa and the Middle East. Similarly, Ashkenazi Jews are similarly spread around the world, after the upheavals first of the 19th century Russian and Ukrainian pogroms, followed by the Holocaust and then the post-WWII persecution under the Soviet era. <br />
<br />
Today in the United States, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia and Israel, the two traditions live side by side. In some congregations, as a compromise, the prayer is repeated in both versions. <br />
<br />
<b><u>Anti-Semitism and the Kol Nidre Chant</u></b><b><u><br /> </u></b></div>
It is important to clarify here that the Kol Nidre forgiveness of vows deals only with vows between worshippers and God. It does not negate vows between the one making the vow and any other person. The reason it is important to emphasize this is the long history of anti-Semitism associated with the misunderstanding of the Kil Nidre chant. As the Jewish Encyclopedia explains:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The "Kol Nidre" has been one of the means widely used by Jewish apostates and by enemies of the Jews to cast suspicion on the trustworthiness of an oath taken by a Jew... so that many legislators considered it necessary to have a special form of oath administered to Jews ("Jew's oath"), and many judges refused to allow them to take a supplementary oath, basing their objections chiefly on this prayer</i>. <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre#anchor9">http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre#anchor9</a></blockquote>
Attacks on Jews using Kol Nidre as a supposed proof of Jewish duplicity or untrustworthiness has a very long history. The earliest formally recorded accusation in a court dates back to 1240 when Jehuel of Paris was brought to trial to defend charges based on the Kol Nidre prayer. <br />
<br />
In many European countries throughout the Middle Ages through the emancipation of the Jews in the 19th Century, Jewish testimony was either given extra restrictions or prohibited altogether based, at least in part, on the excuse that the Kol Nidre prayer made their testimony untrustworthy. <br />
<br />
Well into modern times, the use of Kol Nidre chant to justify anti-Semitism was widespread ranging from Henry Ford's anti-Semitic diatribe in the <i>International Jew</i> (1921) through the citation of the prayer in anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda. <br />
<br />
It continues to be a staple among dozens of anti-Jewish hate groups today, as exemplified by the title of Pastor Mark Downey's 2009 sermon "Why We Hate Jews, Part 3: Lies Kol Nidre" on the Kinsman Redeemer Ministry site (I have chosen to withhold the web links here so as not to further promote such hate-mongering). <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Other Yom Kippur Prayers and Practices</span></b></div>
<br />
<b><u>Extra Service Components</u></b><br />
<br />
As mentioned before, Yom Kippur is the longest prayer service in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur has five parts (for Reform and Reconstructionist Jews) or six parts (for Orthodox and Conservative Jews rather than the usual three of daily prayer in Judaism.<br />
<br />
In daily prayer, traditionally Judaism has only three services: Evening Prayers (Ma'ariv, in this case with the additional Kol Nidre service), Morning Prayers (Shacharit) and Afternoon Prayers (Mincha). On Kippur, there are five (rather than three) services. To the three just mentioned are added the so-called Additional Prayer Service (Musaf) which is also recited on the other major holidays as well as the Closing Prayers (Ne'ilah) which are recited only on Yom Kippur. <br />
<br />
<b>Ne'ilah</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK90K1oIF5eeqnWfgFW6j5jJQZBW8HwCFis4TB_hX2VkTNoJ04bN34ugUPepXCH-OK57w6jZZpgFIB9sYu_mOYJnqFvNsJkHbSsbl9c9lGFQisOqsceGpbTXrvvEMHGPI31wqjLochX03n/s1600/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK90K1oIF5eeqnWfgFW6j5jJQZBW8HwCFis4TB_hX2VkTNoJ04bN34ugUPepXCH-OK57w6jZZpgFIB9sYu_mOYJnqFvNsJkHbSsbl9c9lGFQisOqsceGpbTXrvvEMHGPI31wqjLochX03n/s200/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png" width="123" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roses were given out at </b><br />
<b>Ne'ilah in Germany </b><br />
<b>before the Holocaust</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
The Closing Prayers or Ne'ilah last for roughly an hour and are said while standing the entire time as the day draws to an end. Because of the full day of intense pryaer accompanied by fasting, many people may feel faint or weak. By Jewish law, anyone who feels this way must sit down. </div>
<br />
In several cultures, specific Nei'ilah traditions arose to add strength in the final hour of the fast. For example, it is the custom of Jews in Chile to pass around an orange or lemon in which cloves have been placed so that the scent will give strength as the hour grows late. <br />
<br />
Similarly, for centuries it was the custom of the Jews of Germany to hand out roses to the women of the congregation to fortify them with its fragrance. Today, following the annhilation of Germany's Jews, some congregations regardless of origin continue this practice as a way of keeping alive the memory of those killed in the Holocaust.<br />
<br />
<b>Avodah Service</b><br />
<br />
In Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, there is also a special addition called the Avodah. This is not a prayer service in the same way as the other five but rather a form of re-enactment of the Temple service in ancient times. In the Avodah service, the descendants of the priests (the Kohanim) of the Temple in Jerusalem (more or less) conduct a version of what would have been the service done at the Temple had the Roman not destroyed it in 70 CE. The word "avodah" is Hebrew for work, referring to the work of the priests. <br />
<br />
<b>Other Special Prayers</b><br />
<br />
While Yom Kippur is full of special prayers, three are perhaps particularly noteworthy: <br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>the Ashamnu (short confessional</li>
<li>the Al Cheyt (long confessional and </li>
<li>the Unetaneh Tokef (more or less a prayer of being judged). </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR45Nl1zWj-oLeTkKEWOKjfqw11cFfW9mY896_-G6_m-2eiXhNZ6BwjH-0n37xo8l5f9raYLq-0mJuhP8XL9m0AbFmYAloMqScJdWxjEpjyn2QPKzk0GhEUadqTySZ3FJTlYzwVJTWCSbV/s1600/Ashamru.bmp" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR45Nl1zWj-oLeTkKEWOKjfqw11cFfW9mY896_-G6_m-2eiXhNZ6BwjH-0n37xo8l5f9raYLq-0mJuhP8XL9m0AbFmYAloMqScJdWxjEpjyn2QPKzk0GhEUadqTySZ3FJTlYzwVJTWCSbV/s200/Ashamru.bmp" width="196" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It is customary to strike one's breast</b><br />
<b>during the Yom Kippur confessionals</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All of the confessional prayers are in the second person plural ("we"). This communal confession serves many purposes, and is subject to much commentary in Judaism. Among these is the belief that by communally confessing, each person recognizes his or her responsibility for others. Thus, even if the individual worshippers may not have felt that they have committed this or that particular transgression, they remain culpable for not preventing others from doing so. Another often-cited commentary on the plural confession is that it allows the individual who may be too ashamed to confess a particular transgressing in public to confess it aloud to God as part of the whole congregation. In any case, while reciting the group confession, the individual also may include private petitions simultaneously.<br />
<br />
<b>The Short Confession or Ashamnu</b><br />
<br />
The Ashamnu takes its name from the opening word of the prayer "ashamnu" which means "we have transgressed" or "we have incurred guilt." The Ashamnu prayer consists of 24 lines written as an acrostic (that is the opening letter of each line begins with each successive letter in the Hebrew alphabet -- the Hebrew equivalent of an A to Z set of lines were the prayer to have been in English). <br />
<br />
The Ashamnu is said out loud by the entire congregation in the first person plural form (e.g., "We have transgressed, we have betrayed, we have stolen, we have spoken falsely" and so on). <br />
<br />
The Ashamnu is recited while standing with one's head bowed. With each item, the worshipper strikes his or her chest to imprint the words on the heart. <br />
<br />
<b>The Long Confessional or Al Cheyt</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0DpuVLBVM9yX814EUUtEA4gcZvJgC7lSERr-RzE_YKjusAhatv8KgmZ7X1QkO8HPBu5pewaAzB1xncJgw_na_uJqfOFzlvwfUX6bdydKpTiD9Xwdm56IUrEwZgXaK7M-PXs9ygh85AY-/s1600/yom_kippur_3_0.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0DpuVLBVM9yX814EUUtEA4gcZvJgC7lSERr-RzE_YKjusAhatv8KgmZ7X1QkO8HPBu5pewaAzB1xncJgw_na_uJqfOFzlvwfUX6bdydKpTiD9Xwdm56IUrEwZgXaK7M-PXs9ygh85AY-/s320/yom_kippur_3_0.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <b>Maurycy Gottlieb</b><br />
<b> <i>Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur</i> (1878)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Long Confession or Al Cheyt takes its name from the opening words of each of the 48 lines of the prayer "Al Cheyt" which means "For the sin" in Hebrew. The 48 lines of the Al Cheyt prayer all begin with the phrase "For the sin which we have sinned against You..." with the following word forming a double acrostic (double alphabetical listing). <br />
<br />
The prayer is recited 10 times during Yom Kippur. As with the Ashamnu, the Al Cheyt is recited while standing with one's head bowed and with the worshipper striking his or her chest to imprint the words on the heart. <br />
<br />
Significantly, of the 44 sins recited, 40 deal with sins of person against person and only 4 deal with sins of person against God. Particular importance is given to confessing sins of speech, of which 12 of 44 are concerned (e.g., "for the sin which I have committed against You through harsh speech" or "for the sin which we have sinned against You for deceiving a fellow human being", etc. ).<br />
<br />
<b>Unetaneh Tokef</b> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-wlWA9OXkMmPIN42NOTNOUYzasehOAk8jhCqHCYIs3kcrKfOF23rlLSBAS4kIlAKJItvrnRQtblr9QMatBqRoZoxBaF_7ief_16oMmQaR-8FnplpwdlwMLNIZFe1FHkrpe3TAhX__E8_/s1600/booklif1.gif" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-wlWA9OXkMmPIN42NOTNOUYzasehOAk8jhCqHCYIs3kcrKfOF23rlLSBAS4kIlAKJItvrnRQtblr9QMatBqRoZoxBaF_7ief_16oMmQaR-8FnplpwdlwMLNIZFe1FHkrpe3TAhX__E8_/s1600/booklif1.gif" /></a></div>
Probably the best-known prayer of both Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services after Kol Nidre is the Unetaneh Tokef prayer. The opening words of the prayer from which it takes its name means something along the lines of "We shall ascribe..." which leads into a longer introduction describing Yom Kippur as a Day of Judgement. <br />
<br />
The central section of the poem deals with judgement (see below). The prayer then closes with God's attributes and the worshippers' helplessness and ends with a recognition of God's enduring nature.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
All parts of the Unetaneh Tokef are important but the middle part of the prayer is perhaps the most widely-known outside of Jewish circles. This part of the prayer deals with the balance of one's behavior resulting in the decision of who shall be inscribed in the Book of Life (Sefer Chaim) and who shall die and in what manner.<br />
<br />
The wording of this section of the Untaneh Tokef prayer is as follows:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>and on Yom Kippur will be sealed </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>how many will pass from the earth </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>and how many will be created; </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who will live and who will die; </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who will die at his predestined time </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>and who before his time; </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who by water and who by fire, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who by sword, who by beast, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who by famine, who by thirst, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who by upheaval, who by plague, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who by strangling, and who by stoning. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>Who will rest and who will wander, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who will live in harmony and who will be harried, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>who will be degraded and who will be exalted. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>But Repentance, Prayer, and Charity </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>avert the severe Decree!” </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i>(</i>translation from: http://www.ou.org/chagim/roshhashannah/unetanehtext.htm<i> )</i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXCPYaXkYiUrlIgZMC3nzb9ymzrJE-ao1pTKkYzpQFV1gXMcwyyli0fu0GyGSz-phCxhcoDWKTVAM2RQnMZ4fjHpWw4GHqbGTZK_CHbllCAxSdiYT80fv3ZPUI_We-X_CKw85EAcNubH3/s1600/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXCPYaXkYiUrlIgZMC3nzb9ymzrJE-ao1pTKkYzpQFV1gXMcwyyli0fu0GyGSz-phCxhcoDWKTVAM2RQnMZ4fjHpWw4GHqbGTZK_CHbllCAxSdiYT80fv3ZPUI_We-X_CKw85EAcNubH3/s200/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire"</b><br />
<b>is based on the Unetaneh Tokef</b> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
This is because the prayer is commonly discussed in general theological discussions. It may also been known through its adaptations (as with Kol Nidre) in secular music, as in Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire" song.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
Although central to all branches of Judaism, there exists considerable debate exists among them regarding how literally on should take the words of the prayer. These range from very literal among Haredi Jews to entirely symbolically among Reconstructionist Jews, with considerable variation in between.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ending the Service and Breaking the Fast</b><br />
<br />
The Yom Kippur service concludes with a single blast of the shofar. This is followed by a (usually rapidly recited) Havdalah service. "Havdalah" in Hebrew means "separation" and is used to mark a separation for all Jewish holidays from the ordinary days of the week.<br />
<br />
After this, most congregations break the fast at the synagogue or temple before people leave with some sort of light food and beverage (cake and juice, for example). After this people go home or gather at the houses of relatives or friends for a larger meal to break the fast.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuScCH-hvBfSYsmECSGloi1FdXQw6iYvmZ7EBMShqPJvKHyfU_khDoQ7Zg7slJV5P2RZs94MGI5Q-DYWZKQgyNmfpZzw3nWy727L8Ddrm1jEX4LQjtUlnrII2tqmMhOLK8ZmhsCqIZlOFi/s1600/kugel.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuScCH-hvBfSYsmECSGloi1FdXQw6iYvmZ7EBMShqPJvKHyfU_khDoQ7Zg7slJV5P2RZs94MGI5Q-DYWZKQgyNmfpZzw3nWy727L8Ddrm1jEX4LQjtUlnrII2tqmMhOLK8ZmhsCqIZlOFi/s200/kugel.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egg noodle kugel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
What people eat at the break fast meal differs from tradition to tradition. That said, most traditions break the fast with a dairy meal (as opposed to a meat meal) as this is easier to digest on an empty stomach. Often the meal is laid out in a buffet style featuring easy-to-provide offerings such as bagels with smoked fish and cream cheese. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; border: medium none;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Many traditions include eggs or dishes made with eggs as a symbol of the birth of a new year. Egg noodle pudding (called lukshen kugel) often sweetened with raisins is a common choice. For a recipe for sweet egg-noodle kugel, please see <a href="http://kosherfood.about.com/od/dairymaindishes/r/kugel_noodle_d.htm">http://kosherfood.about.com/od/dairymaindishes/r/kugel_noodle_d.htm</a> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz58ujwG2RQjjxaYaxyCKYYqkea5WWqoy1mHd0fVEIAaMi2tZfWsLLAKMXCoeJKiQOJB0nrpJlRUbdk0ayEKOovadRz8OYLRqJrPrUS4aSTcmTg-w_aQuE3fdOkhy08HNlAp0HGWjh7iY/s1600/232828_116.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz58ujwG2RQjjxaYaxyCKYYqkea5WWqoy1mHd0fVEIAaMi2tZfWsLLAKMXCoeJKiQOJB0nrpJlRUbdk0ayEKOovadRz8OYLRqJrPrUS4aSTcmTg-w_aQuE3fdOkhy08HNlAp0HGWjh7iY/s1600/232828_116.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cheese blintz</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, it is common to feature include sweets, honey and jams to represent symbolically the coming of a "sweet" or good year. A popular choice for this is the cheese blintz, a sort of Jewish cheese-filled sweet crepe. For a recipe for cheese blintz with blueberries, please see:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828">http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></b><br />
<br />
Yom Kippur is a very important holiday within Judaism, and this is only a brief overview. Nearly every aspect of the holiday's practice and liturgy have been subject to centuries of debate. It is not my intention in any way to suggest that either this post is a comprehensive coverage of these or that I am in any way taking a stand on any of these. Please feel free to share your comments.<br />
<br />
L'Shanah Tovah! To a Good Year Ahead!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR_tRf_3gT_dP3pWMSNAVd3Di6NjaUbzFq0GKlihKTsQ6KvgVmCPu4wXWJ1DIGj1sErP6USKpsqTxFHSIF8aBGEjvG8lW0KCMZh_7bK3EsFQO4-4o1t47S_iXMnUHhXlR5bCJry1SIBVP/s1600/yom_kippur.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR_tRf_3gT_dP3pWMSNAVd3Di6NjaUbzFq0GKlihKTsQ6KvgVmCPu4wXWJ1DIGj1sErP6USKpsqTxFHSIF8aBGEjvG8lW0KCMZh_7bK3EsFQO4-4o1t47S_iXMnUHhXlR5bCJry1SIBVP/s200/yom_kippur.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Further Reading</span></b><br />
<br />
Marsha Bryan Edelman, Reform Judaism Magazine, "Sounds of Kol Nidre," <a href="http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1274">http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1274</a><br />
<br />
Chabad.org, "What Is Yom Kippur?": <a href="http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-is-Yom-Kippur.htm">http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-is-Yom-Kippur.htm</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="word-spacing: 1px;"><span>Irene Connelly, "</span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="word-spacing: 1px;"><span>No streaming, no singing: here’s how High Holidays will work in Modern Orthodox synagogues<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">," <i>The Forward</i>, August 7, 2020, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+streaming" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search?<wbr></wbr>client=firefox-b-1-e&q=<wbr></wbr>Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+<wbr></wbr>streaming</a></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></span>
Rhodora Dagatan, Toptens.com, "Top 10 Traditions on Yom Kippur": <a href="http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/">http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/</a><br />
<br />
Dan Ehrenkrantz, PBS.org Relgion and Ethics Newsweekly, "Interview with Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz" (on the Yom Kippur service): <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/september-26-2008/rabbi-dan-ehrenkrantz/648/">http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/september-26-2008/rabbi-dan-ehrenkrantz/648/</a> <br />
<br />
Encyclopedia Brittanica, "Kol Nidre": <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/321300/Kol-Nidre">http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/321300/Kol-Nidre</a><br />
Holidays.net "The Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur": <a href="http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/yom.htm">http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/yom.htm</a><br />
<br />
Ellen Frankel, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, " "A Reconstructionist D'var Torah: Yom Kippur Unetanah Tokef -- In the Wake of the Decree":<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b> </b><a href="http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=195">http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=195</a></span><br />
<br />
Lewis Eron, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, "A Reconstructionist D'var Torah: Yom Kippur Eleh Ezkarah -- Sacrifice and Martyrdom": <a href="http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=196">http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/dt.php?id=196</a><br />
<br />
Sherwood Goffin, The Kosher Spirit, "Kosher Music": <a href="http://www.kosherspirit.com/Article.asp?Issue=17&Article=217">http://www.kosherspirit.com/Article.asp?Issue=17&Article=217</a><br />
Jewish Encyclopedia, "Kol Nidre," <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre">http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9443-kol-nidre</a><br />
<br />
Avi Lazerson, Jewishmag.com, "Customs and Traditions of Yom Kippur": <a href="http://www.jewishmag.com/47mag/yomkippur/yomkippur.htm">http://www.jewishmag.com/47mag/yomkippur/yomkippur.htm</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<br />
Elazar Meisels, Partners in Torah, "Yom Kippur in 60 Minutes (or Less)": <a href="http://www.partnersintorah.org/jewish-holidays/yomkippur">http://www.partnersintorah.org/jewish-holidays/yomkippur</a><br />
<br />
Shaul Rosenblatt, Aish.com, "Yom Kippur: A Day of Reconciliation": <a href="http://www.aish.com/h/hh/yom-kippur/theme/48970706.html?s=mpw">http://www.aish.com/h/hh/yom-kippur/theme/48970706.html?s=mpw</a><br />
<br />
Shraga Simmons, Scribd.com, "Exploring the Al Chet Prayer": <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/6390128/Al-Chet-Prayer">http://www.scribd.com/doc/6390128/Al-Chet-Prayer</a><br />
<br />
Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.com, "Al Cheyt: For the Misdeeds We Have Done Before You": <a href="https://theshalomcenter.org/node/238">https://theshalomcenter.org/node/238</a><br />
<br />
Michael Weiss, Slate.com, "The Anti-Semite's Favorite Prayer" <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2008/10/the_antisemites_favorite_jewish_prayer.html">http://www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2008/10/the_antisemites_favorite_jewish_prayer.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Clip Art Sources:</span></b><br />
<br />
Opening banner: <a href="http://www.theholidayspot.com/yomkippur/">http://www.theholidayspot.com/yomkippur/</a><br />
<br />
Book of life with scales: <a href="http://www.rats2u.com/clipart/holidays/clipart_holiday3.htm">http://www.rats2u.com/clipart/holidays/clipart_holiday3.htm</a><br />
<br />
Yom Kippur star: <a href="http://www.catch-allclipart.com/holiday/yom_kippurclipart.html">http://www.catch-allclipart.com/holiday/yom_kippurclipart.html</a><br />
<br />
No eating clip art: <a href="http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/">http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/</a><br />
<br />
Three regional variations of the Kol Nidre tune: <a href="http://d5iam0kjo36nw.cloudfront.net/V07p542001.jpg">http://d5iam0kjo36nw.cloudfront.net/V07p542001.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Yo-Yo Ma: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4955739">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4955739</a><br />
<br />
Johnny Mathis Kol Nidre album: <a href="http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg">http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/6Johnny_Mathis_Kol_Nidre_single_copy_2.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Kol Nidre in the Machzor of Worms, Germany: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kol_nidre_in_the_machzor_of_Worms.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Worshipper striking breast: <a href="http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/">http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/10/07/top-10-traditions-on-yom-kippur-day/</a><br />
<br />
Book of Life: <a href="http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/yomkipur/booklife.htm">http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/yomkipur/booklife.htm</a><br />
<br />
Leonard Cohen album: <a href="http://www.technodisco.net/img/tracks/l/leonard-cohen/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg">http://www.technodisco.net/img/tracks/l/leonard-cohen/1221589-leonard-cohen-lover-lover-lover--who-by-fire.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Rose clip art: <a href="http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png">http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/pink-rose-clip-art-3.png</a><br />
<br />
Maurycy Gottlieb, <i>Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur</i> (1878): <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7536/1681/1600/yom_kippur_3.0.jpg">http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7536/1681/1600/yom_kippur_3.0.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Egg noodle kugel: <a href="http://hungrygerald.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/kugel.jpg">http://hungrygerald.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/kugel.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Cheese blintz: <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828">http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/highholydays/yom-kippur-recipes-kugels-blintzes/recipes/food/views/Cheese-Blintzes-with-Blueberry-Sauce-232828</a><br />
<br />
Closing clip art: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_CXTsXzl_Bx33_zNgAdibxB66RNNs0h_dSXH5ettUVgmVbiSCx8n1lQhouXFsKUZxmLLeYup5-Htv4obxw_AyIKrsnoBs_QuAoycipI1frp7NKT-OQsS2cJd9AHeFZTOIL4hvANjl1E/s1600/yom_kippur.jpg">https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_CXTsXzl_Bx33_zNgAdibxB66RNNs0h_dSXH5ettUVgmVbiSCx8n1lQhouXFsKUZxmLLeYup5-Htv4obxw_AyIKrsnoBs_QuAoycipI1frp7NKT-OQsS2cJd9AHeFZTOIL4hvANjl1E/s1600/yom_kippur.jpg</a></div>
David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-13342260278436705752020-09-21T14:34:00.008-04:002023-09-20T18:40:16.714-04:00Autumnal Equinox 2023: Mabon, Higan, East Asian Moon Festival, and Chuseok<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="gmail-separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUp5bTVaiUxNQTEw3tW3lTaaOln5HXGTY1aM7TF8FUY1veZw9G8-C8tUyQWUQLpEHr4We75k0n44JsZ7H8sYtYLDXvWlNXo6uvl8U6LzgLAnaZ_M2_-Wh36iv8GntCCe2nWePqgfWJhpI3/s1600/AutumnEquinox.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUp5bTVaiUxNQTEw3tW3lTaaOln5HXGTY1aM7TF8FUY1veZw9G8-C8tUyQWUQLpEHr4We75k0n44JsZ7H8sYtYLDXvWlNXo6uvl8U6LzgLAnaZ_M2_-Wh36iv8GntCCe2nWePqgfWJhpI3/s320/AutumnEquinox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">For 2023, the Autumnal Equinox falls on Friday, September 22 (at least in the Northern Hemisphere).</span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The Autumnal Equinox is a holiday in several traditions. In Wicca, neo-Druidic and neo-Pagan traditions, it is celebrated as Mabon,<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Alban Elfed<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>or <em>Mea'n Fo'mhair</em>.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In several East Asian Buddhist traditions, the Autumnal equinox is celebrated as the Moon Festival. In Japanese Buddhist tradition, it is celebrated as</span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> Shūbun no hi </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">秋分の日,one of two <i>Higan</i> (お彼岸), the other being at the Spring Equinox. In Japan it is an official state holiday, but in keeping with the separation of state and religion in Japan, the official name is called</span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> Shūbun no hi (お彼岸) </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">or Autumnaal Equinox Day.</span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist tradition, it is celebrated as the Moon Festival</span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><em style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Zōngqiū Jié<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></em><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">in Chinese and</span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><em style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Tết Trung Thu</em><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">in Vietnamese. In Korea, the holiday lasts three days and is known as </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Chuseok</i><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"> (한가위) or "the eve of Autumn." In the East Asian traditions, the holiday may be celebrated at dates varying from the actual equinox and may run for several days. In 2023, for instance </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">both </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Zōngqiū Jié</em><span> and </span><em>Tết Trung Thu</em><span> falls on September 29.</span><span> </span>In Korea, <i>Chuseok</i> in 2023 runs from September 29 through September 30. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">While this is a significant holiday for all of these faiths, it is not a day that would normally require the absence from class or work of faculty, staff or students. That said, those asking for accommodation should be allowed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">WICCAN, NEO-DRUIDIC AND NEO-PAGAN TRADITIONS</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">In neo-Druidic, neo-Pagan and Wiccan traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is viewed as a Major Sabbath. In all of these traditions, the holiday is celebrated as a harvest festival and as a time to recognize the balance in all things. </span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space" style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-MpCwtlpxtpK1Ms6pU00DS01aWed6JywADnSLCZ4goHpgC0Jh_1i0BXVmmMwRd_JopTWdDG8LfdTpRZkwoty-mM6naUhb_tsfk7cMU0SV04BI_Nwc2zRAfzEdt8xrOPoyE2e0ezloFHw/s1600/PattiMabonAltar200.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-MpCwtlpxtpK1Ms6pU00DS01aWed6JywADnSLCZ4goHpgC0Jh_1i0BXVmmMwRd_JopTWdDG8LfdTpRZkwoty-mM6naUhb_tsfk7cMU0SV04BI_Nwc2zRAfzEdt8xrOPoyE2e0ezloFHw/s1600/PattiMabonAltar200.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong>A Wiccan Mabon altar</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In all of these traditions, Autumn Equinox altars are set up that represent the balance of light and dark as well as the thankfulness for the harvest. Symbols of the balance of light and dark are placed on the altar (black and white objects of equal size and hanging balances). Symbols of the season on the altar typically reflect the fall colors (oranges, yellows and browns), the end of the harvest (sheaves of wheat, corn husks) and the bounty of the autumn harvest (squash, pumpkin, fall fruits). In some traditions (notably in Wicca), tools of the harvest (scythes and sickles) are also placed on the altar. <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
MEA'N FO'MHAIR</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxyhwNhVDN5pBxsfMYMW7vG1UXEn_0-DRFso0QJbcpPdvoSi1oZsxEOTmnEXyFVTDU7PFmQs-GgvDHPpQf1XfPEa8SOMNwDLnL680TEcZWGbkXR80-7JgIwJib9wuCnmxzH3eI4X7MANZ/s1600/greenman1_thumb.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxyhwNhVDN5pBxsfMYMW7vG1UXEn_0-DRFso0QJbcpPdvoSi1oZsxEOTmnEXyFVTDU7PFmQs-GgvDHPpQf1XfPEa8SOMNwDLnL680TEcZWGbkXR80-7JgIwJib9wuCnmxzH3eI4X7MANZ/s1600/greenman1_thumb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong>Green Man of the Forest</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">For neo-Druids and some pagans, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Mea'n Fo'mhair</em>. In this tradition, neo-Druids gather in wooded areas and<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>give offerings of the fall harvest (not only of berries but also of pine cones, acorns, apples and cider) to honor the Green Man of the Forest. <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>Such woodland harvest offerings are still practiced by neo-Druids and modern pagan (largely in England, Scotland and Ireland but with increasing practice in the US, Canada and New Zealand).<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
ALBAN ELFED<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In other neo-Pagan traditions (and notably in the Welsh tradition), the holiday has been known for centuries as<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Alban Elfed</em><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>or the “Light of the Sun.”<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>In this tradition, the same sort of offerings are proferred but to “The Lady” who is also called the “Spirit of the Land.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">MABON</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In Wicca and neo-Pagan traditions the Autumnal Equinox is known as Mabon. This is one of the four Major Sabbats in the eight points of the Wheel of the Year. Mabon marks the time at which day and night are in total balance, and is accompanied by personal efforts of members of these faith to find a similar balance in their lives. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEMuiyoz3g8nKNPfg4ohqHB6t73EBkc6RWcn0phUI-6mnkrURDI62rOnnwwlKLwBsvn6sgcSGlS-yStmvPm0BaZ7IvdGyyO9J74VoX8aYOxIh4GinmUSZoJNq8xfcZ9MZzeNOkDjVWV0Z/s1600/Mabon_Blessings_by_FullMoonArtists.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEMuiyoz3g8nKNPfg4ohqHB6t73EBkc6RWcn0phUI-6mnkrURDI62rOnnwwlKLwBsvn6sgcSGlS-yStmvPm0BaZ7IvdGyyO9J74VoX8aYOxIh4GinmUSZoJNq8xfcZ9MZzeNOkDjVWV0Z/s200/Mabon_Blessings_by_FullMoonArtists.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Mabon is primarily a Wiccan name for the Autumnal Equinox. Other names used by Wiccans and others include the Harvest Moon<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>or the Harvest Home. <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Unlike the ancient names of <em>Mea'n Fo'mhair<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>and<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Alban Elfed</em>, the Wiccan version of the holiday has been called Mabon only since the latter half of the 20th Century. Unlike many other Wiccan holidays, no corresponding name exists in ancient pagan traditions. Instead, the name was coined by the US Wiccan leader Aidan Kelley soon after the formation in 1967 of the NROOGD (New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn), one of the most important popularizers of the Wiccan faith.Kelley’s adoption of the name Mabon was to honor the early Welsh pagan divine son deity Mabon fab Mellt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> CELEBRATION PRACTICES </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Both in ancient Druidic tradition and in modern neo-Druidic, pagan and Wiccan practice, offerings are often proffered in a horn of plenty called a cornucopia. As a result, Cornucopia is another name some practitioners use for the holiday. </span><br />
<br />
In Wicca, the holiday recognizes balance in all things. Mabon altars are set with symbols of balance as well the autumn harvest.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It should be noted that while the name Mabon has been growing in popularity in the UK and Ireland, many neo-Druids strongly oppose the term as a neologism. As a result, while it would be appropriate to wish a Wiccan a “Happy Mabon,” this may not be as appreciated for some neo-Druids and modern pagans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
RELATIONSHIP TO CHRISTIANITY'S MICHAELMAS</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSAq6lyKdYvoJ5qC2ovn6BonDrtULbkN3g0GSnt51sARsUR5lE53RleZ12_f1zIMgstJHMpVDVh5U_31dRFKKtMctI0MRGP9EFQvbOC1AGTQU9gVr5I0s0SNG2gA8Tw8jlq6mDTkSUHfj/s1600/Guido_Reni_031+Archangel+Michael.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSAq6lyKdYvoJ5qC2ovn6BonDrtULbkN3g0GSnt51sARsUR5lE53RleZ12_f1zIMgstJHMpVDVh5U_31dRFKKtMctI0MRGP9EFQvbOC1AGTQU9gVr5I0s0SNG2gA8Tw8jlq6mDTkSUHfj/s320/Guido_Reni_031+Archangel+Michael.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong>Archangel Michael trampling Satan</strong><br />
<strong>by Guido Reni (1636)</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">When Christianity first spread in the Celtic regions, the Roman Catholic Church attempted to syncretize existing pagan practices by co-opting the celebration of the Autumnal Equinox with a Christian overlay.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">To this end, the Church placed great emphasis on Michaelmas which, falling on September 29, came near the same time. </span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In this co-opting Catholic tradition, the Archangel Michael came to represent the power of light over darkness, an important attribute as the length of daylight began to shorten. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Today, religious services honoring the Archangel Michael are still practiced in some Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran congregations, especially in the United Kingdom.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>A folk custom still in evidence in the parts of the British Isles warns that it is unlucky to harvest blackberries after Michaelmas, as they have been cursed at that time by Lucifer.This custom that it is unlucky to harvest in the woods most likely has its origin in the woodland offerings of the autumnal harvest in pre-Christian Britain described above.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">EAST ASIAN BUDDHIST TRADITIONS</span> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as a significant festival, centered on the moon. It is sometimes called the Moon Festival as a result.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b>HIGAN</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i>Higan </i>is the Japanese celebration of the equinoxes. <i>Higan </i>is celebrated at both the Autumnal Equinox and the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. On both days, the holiday is an official public holiday in Japan. Buddhists of all major sects in Japan observe Higan.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvPpafV4O5GkCu-kI6uf6q4H9irFryDNKhChewWCPDAGcpObe8C0wj0JVHDOQXLkGGztJJzXti7nRphcgnHYQcM4wZFY8E8Z_Kymj_wsrVLxGap7-PT7mqFoNOQS49yKyDpVyrtUd5Yen/s1600/220px-Emperor_Shomu.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvPpafV4O5GkCu-kI6uf6q4H9irFryDNKhChewWCPDAGcpObe8C0wj0JVHDOQXLkGGztJJzXti7nRphcgnHYQcM4wZFY8E8Z_Kymj_wsrVLxGap7-PT7mqFoNOQS49yKyDpVyrtUd5Yen/s200/220px-Emperor_Shomu.jpg" width="125" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong>Emperor Shomu</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The holiday has its origins with the institution of worship on that day by the 8th Century Japanese Emperor Shomu. The first official records of its celebration date to the year 806 CE when the government of Japan required all priests in Kokubun-ji temples to recite the Diamond Sutra at the Autumnal Equinox. <i>Higan </i>is also traditionally one of the days for the beginning of pilgrimages among the country's temples by the devout. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i>Higan </i>in Japanese literally means "the Other Shore." The term can refer to crossing to the other shore from the material world (i.e., to Enlightenment). The term can also refer to the transitory nature of the the material world (as all things are impermanent and must die, thus crossing to the other shore).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
In Japan, <i>Higan </i>is traditionally a day for honoring the graves of the dead. The<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Guide to Japanese Buddhism<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>of the Japanese Buddhist Federation explains:</div>
<blockquote class="gmail-tr_bq">
<em>During this period, it is customary for Buddhists throughout the country to visit temples and graves. They bring flowers, incense, water or their favorite food to be offered to the deceased and greet them with refreshed minds to report on their well-being.</em></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7314004785313885549" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><em></em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Traditionally, Japanese Buddhists decorate the graves with the red spider lilies (<i>lycoris radiata</i>) whose Japanese name <i>higanbana </i>literally means "<i>Higan</i>flower."<br />
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAurBfmhHCLyzjdL91XfWqsU2v9H3c736kw83CViIhbzAPsvH1SOg8m8qiXdn_lxlkBcgkyLNqdFxKKD2_Zv3bg_efDmUhp55ZLDb4uTO7H1DCzcpj7jsx9x4MD4z9oX90-hUMK5uUH9zG/s1600/220px-Red_Spider_Lily----Lycoris_radiata.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAurBfmhHCLyzjdL91XfWqsU2v9H3c736kw83CViIhbzAPsvH1SOg8m8qiXdn_lxlkBcgkyLNqdFxKKD2_Zv3bg_efDmUhp55ZLDb4uTO7H1DCzcpj7jsx9x4MD4z9oX90-hUMK5uUH9zG/s1600/220px-Red_Spider_Lily----Lycoris_radiata.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Japanese higanbana</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b>CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE MOON FESTIVAL</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as the Moon Festival or Moon-Cake Festival in Chinese and Vietnamese traditons. In both countries, the holiday is an official day off. Also in both countries, the holiday dates back thousands of years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T034pRoHgajpbZ4L0s7cqN8Buto6NaR3caWsx_gMTVypf-CHf4W5alWO6XNhBgGtSEF-DL7-c6iD0OQLFCaAY4lodWColzvZ56azEKuMnr6d_sgrry7eYlAreelWzL-XTFGbVne5Jrss/s1600/full_moon2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T034pRoHgajpbZ4L0s7cqN8Buto6NaR3caWsx_gMTVypf-CHf4W5alWO6XNhBgGtSEF-DL7-c6iD0OQLFCaAY4lodWColzvZ56azEKuMnr6d_sgrry7eYlAreelWzL-XTFGbVne5Jrss/s320/full_moon2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong>Vietnamese Moon Festival Lion Dancers</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In Vietnam, the holiday is called<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Tết Trung Thu.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>The holiday focuses in large part on children, and has its origins in giving parents the opportunity to be with their children after long periods out of their company during the traditional harvest time. Because of this, the holiday is often called the "Children's Holiday."<br />
<br />
<em>Tết Trung Thu</em><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>is the second most important in the year after Tet. In China, the holiday is also given considerable importance. The holiday is particularly marked by the traditional Lion Dance with lion dancers going door to door asking to dance. These are often performed by children, although professional lion dancers are a part of main events.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgXj032M2qWclgib8oX14ig2m_rgEFKwIWi_LtkmlvOzgZrBUufx6GEQ7l2r1jYOqkf6_JaGHSgfBA5jYkxo4FtlSsEIkVahnkhjmJXivAv8WhuEC2aMETviXsUNGLUgARbY5lJ15NEUp/s1600/396px-The_Moon_Goddess_of_Chang'e_(Shi_Yu).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgXj032M2qWclgib8oX14ig2m_rgEFKwIWi_LtkmlvOzgZrBUufx6GEQ7l2r1jYOqkf6_JaGHSgfBA5jYkxo4FtlSsEIkVahnkhjmJXivAv8WhuEC2aMETviXsUNGLUgARbY5lJ15NEUp/s320/396px-The_Moon_Goddess_of_Chang'e_(Shi_Yu).jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong>Chang-E's flight to the moon</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In China, the holiday is known as<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Zōngqiū Jié</em>. In Chinese tradition, the holiday has its origins in the tale of the mythical Chang-E who ate her husband's dangerous elixir to save him, and flew to the moon as a consequence where she became the moon goddess. As with Vietnamese traditions, the Moon Festival is tied to the Fall Harvest.<br />
<br />
While the origins of the Chinese Moon Festival predates historical records, the first known observances go back to at least the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE).<br />
<br />
In many Han Chinese traditions, sacrifices are made to the moon. In many Chinese ethnic minorities, unique customs are practiced. For example, among the Dong people, there is a custom of "stealing" harvested vegetables and fruit (this is, however, only symbolically stolen as these are set out for the purpose). The Bouyei people worship the Moon Grandmother, and bring rice cakes to her shrine. The Maonan people put incense in a hanging grapefruit, to represent the moon. Finally, in some Mongolian traditions, there are practices centered on chasing the moon.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
In all traditions, the festival celebrates the autumnal harvest. As the name Moon-Cake Festival suggests, it is customary to eat Moon Cakes at this time.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gmail-tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiJtakoXDyRSCRdVJ8gcS0ggrgrWzdpkVLRTkLyS5ygxtVtLd3W8OAKQbhyCNycfraMyotD1W-HpdBT28MqaCTqseECoxvpDgmWb3gqmMqD3Mz2efDx9nrKu468eyK29FSlmxtgInq5vS/s1600/tet-trung-thu-mooncakes.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiJtakoXDyRSCRdVJ8gcS0ggrgrWzdpkVLRTkLyS5ygxtVtLd3W8OAKQbhyCNycfraMyotD1W-HpdBT28MqaCTqseECoxvpDgmWb3gqmMqD3Mz2efDx9nrKu468eyK29FSlmxtgInq5vS/s200/tet-trung-thu-mooncakes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="gmail-tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><strong> Vietnamese<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>B<span style="font-size: x-small;">anh trung thu</span></em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In Vietnam, Moon Cakes are called<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>banh trung thu</em><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>and are made up of ground beans, lotus and egg yolks. These are sold at street corners throughout Vietnam and made at home as well. A recipe for<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>banh trung thu</em> can be found on the Viet World Kitchen site at:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html">http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>CHUSEOK</b></span><br />
<br />For Koreans, Chuseok is a major holiday. The holiday is celebrated much like the US Thanksgiving, with family gatherings and large meals. The holiday, however, has a more Confucianist aspect as well centered on three traditions: <i>Charye</i> (차레), <i> </i><i>Beolcho</i> (벌초), and<i> Seongmyo</i> (성묘).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Charye involves eating special foods that are set on one table for one's dead ancestors (called a Charyesang) and on another table for the living descendants who have gathered for the festival. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7hLZrGaWa-ecSXhe0-A7GpiF54LniJGLhgS1tzvm_9QqpY2QExqpl5gsPKkdi17bF6edY_T82M02wrI83f0o2Nc7NqzTWd8Bm0J3Ur-Nzea3thYpc7N5RwFfCIA1_nWUKVkloggV1z-/s702/Charye.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="702" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7hLZrGaWa-ecSXhe0-A7GpiF54LniJGLhgS1tzvm_9QqpY2QExqpl5gsPKkdi17bF6edY_T82M02wrI83f0o2Nc7NqzTWd8Bm0J3Ur-Nzea3thYpc7N5RwFfCIA1_nWUKVkloggV1z-/s320/Charye.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Charyesang</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Traditionally, Koreans bow twice toward the table of the dead and once toward the elders among the living. This is no ordinary bow, though, but rather one in which those bowing kneel and then place their foreheads on the ground. Generally during Charye, people choose a specific deceased ancestor to whom to pay particular respect. People write the name of the ancestor on a piece of special paper and burn it. After this, the window is opened for the spirits of the ancestors to join them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The other two traditions take place at the graves of one's ancestors. <i>Beolcho</i> comes the day before <i>Charye,</i><i> </i>and involves grass trimming, grave cleaning and clearing away of leaves or dirt. The day after <i>Charye </i>is when<i> Seongmyo</i> takes place. This involves bowing to the cleaned grave sites and honoring one's ancestors. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">CONCLUSION</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This in no way endorses one practice or another. It is merely meant to be informational.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7314004785313885549" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile).<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">May you have a balance in your life on this Autumnal Equinox and a happy Moon Festival!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">WANT TO READ MORE?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b>On Wiccan, neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic traditions:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Celtic Druid School, "Autumn Equinox":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="http://www.druidschool.com/site/1030100/page/874527"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.druidschool.com/site/1030100/page/874527</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Crystal Links, "Autumn Equinox -- Mabon":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.crystalinks.com/autumn.html">http://www.crystalinks.com/autumn.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Mabon 2023: A Witch's Guide to Embracing and Celebrating the Harvest," Moonfall Metaphysics, <a href="https://www.moonfallmetaphysical.com/s/stories/mabon-2023" target="_blank">https://www.moonfallmetaphysical.com/s/stories/mabon-2023</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Mystic Familiar, "Alban Elfed -- Autumn Equinox":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/witchcraft/alban_lfed.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/witchcraft/alban_lfed.html</span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Sagento A, Spell Research, "A Mabon Outline":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://spellresearch.com/spellbook/1993/10/12/a-mabon-outline.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://spellresearch.com/spellbook/1993/10/12/a-mabon-outline.html</span></a></span><br />
<br />
Wicca Chat, "Mabon":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.wicca-chat.com/witch_sabats/mabon.htm"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.wicca-chat.com/witch_sabats/mabon.htm</span></a><br />
<br />
Wiggington, Patti, About.com -- Paganism/Wicca, "All About Mabon, the Autumn Equinox":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<b>On Higan</b><br />
<br />
Japanese Buddhist Federation,<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Guide to Japanese Buddhism</em>, "Major Japanese Buddhist Festivals":<a href="http://www.buddhanet.net/nippon/nippon_partII.html">http://www.buddhanet.net/nippon/nippon_partII.html<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></a><br />
<br />
Zenku Smyers, Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago, "The Other Shore":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.zbtc.org/downloads/zenku-othershore.html">http://www.zbtc.org/downloads/zenku-othershore.html</a><br />
<br />
Time and Date, "September Equinox Customs":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox-customs.html">http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox-customs.html</a><br />
<br />
<b>On the Moon Festival</b><br />
<br />
China Culture, About.com, "The Moon Festival":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa093097.htm">http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa093097.htm</a><br />
<br />
Michael Tartaski, Holidaysia, "Tet Trung Thu 2013 – Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.holidaysia.com/events/tet-trung-thu/">http://www.holidaysia.com/events/tet-trung-thu/</a><br />
<br />
Passion Vietnam, "Full Moon (Mid-Autumn) Festival":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html">http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html</a><br />
<br />
Travel China Guide, "Mid-Autumn Festivals":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn.htm">http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn.htm</a><br />
<br />
Fang Yang, Xinhua News Agency, "The Mid-Autumn Festival and Its Traditions":<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-09/12/c_131134150.htm">http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-09/12/c_131134150.htm</a><br />
<br />On Chuseok</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Chuseok.org, "Chuseok 2020", <i>https://www.chuseok.info/customs/</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">Imagine Your Korea, "Traditional Korean Holiday of Bountiful Harvest, Chuseok," <a href="https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650">https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="text-align: center;">CLIP ART SOURCES</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
Autumn equinox opening clip art:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID22753/images/AutumnEquinox.jpg">http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID22753/images/AutumnEquinox.jpg</a><br />
<br />
A Wiccan Mabon altar:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/MabonAltarDecs.htm">http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/MabonAltarDecs.htm</a><br />
<br />
Green Man of the Forest:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://salemsmoon.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/greenman1_thumb.jpg?w=198&h=205">http://salemsmoon.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/greenman1_thumb.jpg?w=198&h=205</a><br />
<br />
Mabon blessings:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Mabon_Blessings_by_FullMoonArtists.jpg">http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Mabon_Blessings_by_FullMoonArtists.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Guido Reni's Archangel Michael Trampling Satan:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guido_Reni_031.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guido_Reni_031.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Emperor Shomu:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Emperor_Shomu.jpg/220px-Emperor_Shomu.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Emperor_Shomu.jpg/220px-Emperor_Shomu.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Japanese Higanbana: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata</a><br />
<br />
Vietnamese Moon Festival Lion Dancers:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html">http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html</a><br />
<br />
Chang-E's Flight to the Moon:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/The_Moon_Goddess_of_Chang%27e_%28Shi_Yu%29.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/The_Moon_Goddess_of_Chang%27e_%28Shi_Yu%29.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Vietnamese<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>banh trung thu</em><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>:<a href="http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html">http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Charyesang: <a href="https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650">https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650</a></div>
</div>
David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-91659996256763342002020-09-18T09:58:00.011-04:002021-09-05T11:16:24.646-04:00Rosh HaShanah 2021<div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #313131; word-spacing: 1px;">For 2021, the Jewish New <span style="color: black;">Year, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, begins on Monday<span class="gmail_default"> </span>September 6<span class="gmail_default"> </span>at sundown <span class="gmail_default"></span></span><span style="color: black;">and concludes at sunset -- depending on practice -- either o<span class="gmail_default">n</span> Tuesday September 7<span class="gmail_default"> </span><span class="gmail_default"></span></span>or<span class="gmail_default"> Wednesday</span><span class="gmail_default"> September 8. </span><span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default"></span>For Orthodox and Conservative Jews, the holiday lasts for two days concluding at sundown on September 8. M<span class="gmail_default">any</span> Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, however, observe the holiday only for one day (so for them, the holiday would conclude at sundown on <span class="gmail_default">September 7</span>).</span><span style="color: #313131; word-spacing: 1px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb62WFj5hh5j_OB2Wb26l_h1aNvnMY4FPVCmjyeZaBAbjwESx_jOkTEUBB-w7Zmd16-iQRr3KWQvt5CIYknBl-ypCmALP_kx-lX2kNt9BtLNztkqUAIkOlFsAJKJC39BV_IKi_Z4lMycT/s1600/Rosh-Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb62WFj5hh5j_OB2Wb26l_h1aNvnMY4FPVCmjyeZaBAbjwESx_jOkTEUBB-w7Zmd16-iQRr3KWQvt5CIYknBl-ypCmALP_kx-lX2kNt9BtLNztkqUAIkOlFsAJKJC39BV_IKi_Z4lMycT/s200/Rosh-Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.jpg" width="200" /></a>While definitions vary as to levels of practice from person to person, work is prohibited during the holiday. For Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, this is defined generally as no manner of work whatsoever (including school, telephone use, email, Internet surfing, etc.)<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> during</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>HaShanah</span>. <br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Because some Jews observe only one day, it is easy to make the mistake that the second day is not as important to those Jews observing both days. But for Conservative and Orthodox Jews, the two days are equally important and indeed can be understood as a single very long day. <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Rosh Ha Shanah and the Pandemic</b></span></h1><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Last year, 2020, amid the height of the pandemic, many temples and synagogues held video services either streamed or recorded. For many where COVID restrictions remain in place, the same will be done in 2021. Where pandemic restrictions have been lifted, many congregations allow for a mix of streaming, Zoom or in person worship. Among Orthodox, this is controversial because of the ban on using the computer. Last year after formal rabbinic rulings, most Conservative Jews formally allowed some type of Zoom or streaming broadcast of services (including Saturday Sabbath services). By contrast, most Orthodox have not allowed the use of technology. Some Orthodox groups have attempted ways around the ban and the situation remains fluid. This current situation among Orthodox Jews is explained well in Irene Connelly's article <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+streaming" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><h2><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: 1.5rem;">The Jewish New Year and Its Significance</b></span></span></h2></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is the Jewish New Year; the Hebrew means “Head of the Year.” This year is 57<span class="gmail_default">81</span> in the Jewish reckoning. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Unlike the secular New Year, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is a very solemn day as it is the day Jews ask God for forgiveness for sins of the past year. Perhaps the only similarity to the secular New Year is that many Jews make resolutions to lead a better life in the coming year. Most of the day is spent in the synagogue or temple. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Together with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) which occurs 10 days later (beginning this year on September 15 at sunset), <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> forms part of what are called the High Holy Days. The days between <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> and Yom Kippur are known as the <span lang="EN">Yamim Noraim</span> (or “Days of Awe”) which act as days of repentance. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Generally speaking, the High Holy Days are the most important days of observance in Judaism. Among observant Jews, traditionally, the weekly observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays is the most important Jewish holiday. In practice, though, for many Jews who do not regularly attend weekly Sabbath services, the High Holy Days often take place of prominence. (Please note that I am in no way attempting to take a stance on what is or is not proper observance for any religion in these updates, but rather simply trying to make the general community aware of the various religious practices as they affect activities for employees, students or others). </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">While <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, like all Jewish holidays, appears to wander in the secular calendar, this is only because the secular calendar is not consistent with the Jewish calendar. In the Jewish calendar, though, the holiday actually occurs on the same day of the Jewish calendar. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Interestingly, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>does not occur at the beginning of the Jewish calendar; rather, it occurs on the first two days of Tishrei, the <i>seventh </i>month (not the first). This seeming inconsistency rests in the Jewish concept of four different yearly cycles described in the Jewish Talmud. <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>represents the new year for relationships among people (including legal contracts) as well as for animals. The day marks the anniversary of the sixth day in the Creation story in which God created Adam and Eve, the first people. There is considerable variance among Jews as to whether this anniversary of the creation of humankind is viewed as the literal date or simply a symbolic anniversary. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the Jewish Torah (first five books of the Bible), the name “<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>” never appears for the holiday. Instead, the Torah refers to the holiday as either the Zicaron Terua or “remembrance of the blowing of the horn” (as in Leviticus 23:24) or as the Yom Terua or “day of the blowing of the horn” (Numbers 29.1). Even in the Jewish liturgy of prayers used for the<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>day, <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>Rosh</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>HaShanah</span> is generally referred to either as the Yom HaZikaron (the “Day of Remembrance”) or the Yom HaDin (“Day of Judgment”).</span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">The Shofar</span></b></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEGJfLizSs-SfrISivVTODzuGi1kps7TrcSNTii01gkwcUBQGkrMy-nI9PePANdxOA2SF-E4lPgtqeeOzIrRzid1dhhDgYz1c5tabjswOTtdblPn03cBAtpU9HxOrsZZ4C37bCi9gvr-B/s1600/1330976499_Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-35-45cm-L.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEGJfLizSs-SfrISivVTODzuGi1kps7TrcSNTii01gkwcUBQGkrMy-nI9PePANdxOA2SF-E4lPgtqeeOzIrRzid1dhhDgYz1c5tabjswOTtdblPn03cBAtpU9HxOrsZZ4C37bCi9gvr-B/w171-h171/1330976499_Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-35-45cm-L.jpg" width="171" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> Ram's horn shofar</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">The horn referred to above is called a shofar. The blowing of the shofar is a central part of the religious observance of the holiday of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>HaShanah</span> (and concludes the service on Yom Kippur).</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Here too the COVID-19 restrictions come into play. For all Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, listening to a recording (including a live-stream or broadcast) of the shofar blast does not fulfill the commandment of hearing the shofar in person. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWv41z-yR7d77RZAAeOQv9YZQqOk-CHnCt7BHdSfpfgouF-CMCLr0MYHN737rzYCadJ95ciCDdTYT0N63Nuk0CRz_KRkf5bCGTKeKxFqOhYNo4eBCq16FWBDUDtpY1bJx4FLhEb8hPVo7/s2048/shofar+blower+outdoors.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWv41z-yR7d77RZAAeOQv9YZQqOk-CHnCt7BHdSfpfgouF-CMCLr0MYHN737rzYCadJ95ciCDdTYT0N63Nuk0CRz_KRkf5bCGTKeKxFqOhYNo4eBCq16FWBDUDtpY1bJx4FLhEb8hPVo7/w231-h174/shofar+blower+outdoors.jpg" title="Shofar Blowing above entrance" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blowing shofar above synagogue entrance<br />Congregation Beth Shalom, Pittsburgh</b></span> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Yet blowing the shofar spreads airborne particles, increasing the risk of disease spread. Numerous strategies have come into use. Blowing the shofar outdoors. Other strategies for indoor use include blowing the shofar behind a curtain or in a separate room apart from the congregation. In a combination of the indoor/outdoor strategies, some congregations in 2020 had the shofar blower stand outside the building while the congregants sat inside the building with the windows open. <br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Traditionally among Jews of Eastern and Central European origin, the shofar is made from a ram’s horn. This is also the majority choice among the Jews of the United States, Canada and Australia. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Among those Jews using a ram's horn, one of the associations of the ram's horn is with the Biblical story of the ram that appeared to Abraham at the binding of Isaac in the Book of Genesis:</span></span></p><blockquote><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><i>And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.</i> <wbr></wbr> -- Genesis: 22:13</span></span></p></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjtICsnJQBa8OVoMNuWnHexEigYzEU46AAeaJRhOv4NNeEMZR_K0mb1nKFXeu8GGO6KOzRF8Eabj9Db0_a-dLlgRPSk5nIxX2xMlj0PzTpYStgoRj90qIBl8h2VHa1LuFrk8WK-Loc3hO/s1600/Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjtICsnJQBa8OVoMNuWnHexEigYzEU46AAeaJRhOv4NNeEMZR_K0mb1nKFXeu8GGO6KOzRF8Eabj9Db0_a-dLlgRPSk5nIxX2xMlj0PzTpYStgoRj90qIBl8h2VHa1LuFrk8WK-Loc3hO/s320/Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Yemenite kudu horn shofar</b></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">That said, other animal horns such as those of antelopes are allowable. In fact, among Yemeni Jews, the shofar is customarily made from the long, curlicued horn of the kudu antelope. This was also the practice among the Jews of Iraq for centuries until their expulsion in 1951<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">, following the founding of the state of Israel</span>.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinix91hyphenhyphencM8ZqPKlyRVu3EAfLLwpcfOoOOcfYwEtkM8ygMpe9O3apXpadMrCMMcywD7_yyvD1UxVpcjS5kd7HvczqyuHPf69RHswuuqAWLJN9tpnkw-kx47wKbCAktw5ngI-e77cACaQz0/s1600/goat+horn+shofar.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinix91hyphenhyphencM8ZqPKlyRVu3EAfLLwpcfOoOOcfYwEtkM8ygMpe9O3apXpadMrCMMcywD7_yyvD1UxVpcjS5kd7HvczqyuHPf69RHswuuqAWLJN9tpnkw-kx47wKbCAktw5ngI-e77cACaQz0/s200/goat+horn+shofar.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Goat horn shofar</b></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Among Italian Jews, the preferred shofar is made from a goat's horn. This was also the custom among the Jews of Spain before the Alhambra Edict which expelled them from the country in 1492 (it was only formally rescinded in 1968). In the years following the expulsion, thousands of Spanish Jews took this custom with them to the Low Countries and the New World where they had fled. As a result, today the goat's horn shofar is common in the Netherlands and present among some communities in South America. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGudfVi6ou_6XzYcip8SDyt454iS9tdJ1dxM3n9SFDmafXz1mE-3AZneCxFG8d1FeeDL8PGtFPpcqTtGsFBKyisVtKfyazpT7-lqg9JyCD8Y-zH2U5zCKm-1PPEObvtLM6TMoGmWON9OXE/s1600/moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGudfVi6ou_6XzYcip8SDyt454iS9tdJ1dxM3n9SFDmafXz1mE-3AZneCxFG8d1FeeDL8PGtFPpcqTtGsFBKyisVtKfyazpT7-lqg9JyCD8Y-zH2U5zCKm-1PPEObvtLM6TMoGmWON9OXE/s200/moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Oryx horn shofar</b></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Many Moroccan Jews today blow a shofar made of an oryx horn (where it has long been the traditional horn used) However, some Jewish communities use an oryx horn as a way of remembering the suffering of the crypto-Jews of Iberia. Among the roughly 200,000 <i>conversos</i> (those who had converted before the expulsion eliminated that option in Spain or had been forcibly converted in Portugal in 1497) who remained in Iberia, several thousand continued to practice as secret Jews. The appropriate term for these people is crypto-Jews or secret Jews (and not as <i>marranos </i>meaning "pigs" in the Spanish of the time and <i>marrãos </i>which still means "pigs" in modern Portuguese<i> </i>). Among crypto-Jews, the preferred shofar was made of the long and totally straight horn of the oryx. This shape allowed them to carry the shofar surreptitiously held by their belt and down their trouser leg. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Taschlikh</span></b></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuJs-f3ejELCX4qD2-SjoNclK7CzZ_HcgWCOrE4P5mb1Eh6cveOwhI-1ZprmlYTdb7z2mCiuac5xkYxA9s1b0GqZ5dT0zKPr1BvWDOWStwyOWIbiOdtKNBkW6wDfJij7lY7zO7ZUAevoN/s1600/tashlit-006.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuJs-f3ejELCX4qD2-SjoNclK7CzZ_HcgWCOrE4P5mb1Eh6cveOwhI-1ZprmlYTdb7z2mCiuac5xkYxA9s1b0GqZ5dT0zKPr1BvWDOWStwyOWIbiOdtKNBkW6wDfJij7lY7zO7ZUAevoN/s200/tashlit-006.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Waterside <i style="font-size: 0.8rem;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">T</span>aschlikh</i> ceremony</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the first afternoon of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, Jews traditionally participate in the Taschlikh <span class="gmail_default"></span>ceremony. The name comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to cast."</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In this ceremony, Jews carry bread crumbs to a stream, river or other naturally flowing source of water. There they say prayers asking to “cast their sins into the waters” with the bread crumbs symbolically representing the sins.</span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;"><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> Foods<br /></span></b></span></p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>, as with many holidays, is usually marked by eating traditional foods. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWzyH3VfHwfG2j0AuUljojzO4zyzUp88Z9KDYhvHCP7z4Cz3FVeC8OmD9D-_z_GfqWQ4r5q2SSTpgjohINJpaHIRZ0LlEydAuSGwTn-ATCG7OGbmyfDztkQXZ7e9XmGranievOvoyTcaa/s1600/25649.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWzyH3VfHwfG2j0AuUljojzO4zyzUp88Z9KDYhvHCP7z4Cz3FVeC8OmD9D-_z_GfqWQ4r5q2SSTpgjohINJpaHIRZ0LlEydAuSGwTn-ATCG7OGbmyfDztkQXZ7e9XmGranievOvoyTcaa/s1600/25649.jpg" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Round Challah</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the foods most associated with <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is <span class="gmail_default">a</span> round challah<span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>The traditional Jewish bread used on holidays is called challah. Challah used each week on the Jewish Sabbath is normally baked in long, braided loaves. On <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>HaShanah</span>, though, the challah is made in totally round loaves. The circle of the loaves represents the continuation of life (which is part of the central prayers of the holiday). </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySrqfaiAiip0km2kyUFccobXNbiddproUBOJx48py6wcZNt6z_X8H-LauhdDc7U4oG_QLhdDYiX2DVnXngUGtVx36VMsS5qC1wTm8rmqfIAXUpldBCmaKkzsqQDCQLalQS49w1fZegduQ/s1600/1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySrqfaiAiip0km2kyUFccobXNbiddproUBOJx48py6wcZNt6z_X8H-LauhdDc7U4oG_QLhdDYiX2DVnXngUGtVx36VMsS5qC1wTm8rmqfIAXUpldBCmaKkzsqQDCQLalQS49w1fZegduQ/s200/1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Apples and honey</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Another notable food tradition for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Ha<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>Shanah</span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>is the eating of apples dipped in honey. This represents a wish for a sweet and abundant year to come with the honey standing for sweetness and the apples for abundance. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqg92oo_etXNLdiM7AKTFfMB4J6JqiMrTyEr8kIHb1Km11ar7peqB7QzBGDNlf42opDxF-QX5Qiea3MLyzIWkJqO47-Gd1-OjfK6rI19fJEKnMPNs4jpxKgp1mPNnFgisEPOUR6DffrYE/s1600/pomegranate.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqg92oo_etXNLdiM7AKTFfMB4J6JqiMrTyEr8kIHb1Km11ar7peqB7QzBGDNlf42opDxF-QX5Qiea3MLyzIWkJqO47-Gd1-OjfK6rI19fJEKnMPNs4jpxKgp1mPNnFgisEPOUR6DffrYE/s200/pomegranate.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Pomegranate</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">For many Jews (especially among Orthodox and Conservative Jews), on the second day of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> people eat a fruit that is new to the season. This allows Jews to say a prayer of thanksgiving (called the <i><span lang="EN">shehechiyanu</span></i>) for being allowed to reach a new season. A common choice for this fruit is a pomegranate since (in folk tradition) that fruit has 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments in the Torah. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7lZAzCJU_WIZcwf0um5FeiL900Qs8t3GTr7nWJnrb9BIHk0XPXK26maPCfcMqMYRFo64LpfTnzSsSSwfW8qBimIYaRQBvi6lbPFhbOaa6soqFjAg_63AFO5ulZeyY4Q3RzPcO3capoqM/s1600/Sea+bass+with+honeyed+apples.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7lZAzCJU_WIZcwf0um5FeiL900Qs8t3GTr7nWJnrb9BIHk0XPXK26maPCfcMqMYRFo64LpfTnzSsSSwfW8qBimIYaRQBvi6lbPFhbOaa6soqFjAg_63AFO5ulZeyY4Q3RzPcO3capoqM/s1600/Sea+bass+with+honeyed+apples.jpg" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Sea bass with honeyed apples</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Finally, in some Jewish traditions, it is customary to eat fish on <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>. In this custom, the fish plays two symbolic roles. First, since the fish’s eyes are always open, it symbolizes total awareness. Second, because fish are plentiful, the meal represents the wish for a fruitful and plenteous year to come. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Because of the dipping of apples in honey, honey or apples (or both) is often used to prepare the fish. For example, one recipe for sea bass with honey and apples can found a<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>t<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> the "All Recipes" site at</span>:<br /><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-Apples/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/<wbr></wbr>Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-Apples/<wbr></wbr>Detail.aspx</a><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"> <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BfWJJH1-B-7xo4r3pt7rZnRtn1PpAsvpml77fqGD1v9Z05ffoHL4fMC0Q7qByrKMWTGq1hoYq9H7l0jk9xXtoTfYJ36HAYLhwvOpoZvaldvzQxvBr4gT6_O-PmTbz1hkTp84H2rxkBAU/s1600/applecake1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BfWJJH1-B-7xo4r3pt7rZnRtn1PpAsvpml77fqGD1v9Z05ffoHL4fMC0Q7qByrKMWTGq1hoYq9H7l0jk9xXtoTfYJ36HAYLhwvOpoZvaldvzQxvBr4gT6_O-PmTbz1hkTp84H2rxkBAU/s200/applecake1.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Traditional <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>Apple Cake</b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Finally, desserts and other sweets are an important part of the festive meal, symbolizing a wish for a sweet year to come. These too tend to emphasize the traditional pomegranates, apples and especially honey. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Among the most typical <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>HaShanah</span> desserts is the honey or apple cake. A recipe for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShana<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>h<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span>apple cake can be found at <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">the "My Jewish Learning" site <br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.myjewishlearning.com/recipe/apple-cake-for-rosh-hashanah/" target="_blank">https://www.myjewishlearning.<wbr></wbr>com/recipe/apple-cake-for-<wbr></wbr>rosh-hashanah/</a><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Conclusion</span></b></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">The simplest traditional greeting for <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> is <i>L’Shanah Tovah</i> (May you have a good year). The response back is the same. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Many other greetings are also used among Jews during the holiday and the Days of Awe between it and Yom Kippur. One common such greeting is <i>L’Shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim</i>. This means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." This refers to the belief that one asks to be inscribed in the Book of Life on <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> and that this be sealed in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur. Using this greeting may be said in English, and its use would show a significant understanding of the holiday. </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This is meant only to be informational and not to indicate that one or another practice is or is not acceptable. Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). </span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><p style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1QV62JySLCFeMu8s7iOl3B2J9yqRAPAuju8S8TgUodZKv4dnBlPlg5uvIyDF1TEvsUW8oKPRTna0SKxlMRiAMalBFJyrNrTkwYcH26OyRUClws0bg4PzqHCmxbOqnv7o2u572trnWR4q/s1600/L'+Shanah+Tovah.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1QV62JySLCFeMu8s7iOl3B2J9yqRAPAuju8S8TgUodZKv4dnBlPlg5uvIyDF1TEvsUW8oKPRTna0SKxlMRiAMalBFJyrNrTkwYcH26OyRUClws0bg4PzqHCmxbOqnv7o2u572trnWR4q/s320/L'+Shanah+Tovah.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Further Reading</span></b></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rabbi Raymond Apple, Oz Torah, "A Guide to the <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>services"<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <span class="gmail_default">retrieved September 18, 2020</span></span>:<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><a href="http://www.oztorah.com/2010/08/a-guide-to-the-rosh-hashanah-services/" target="_blank">http://www.oztorah.com/<wbr></wbr>2010/08/a-guide-to-the-rosh-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">ha<wbr></wbr>shanah</span>-services/</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Barsheshet Rebak <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">S</span>hofar <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">M</span>akers, "Types of Shofars," <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">retrieved September 18, 2020:</span> <a href="http://www.shofarot.com/index.php/the-shofar/typesofshofars/" target="_blank">http://www.shofarot.com/index.<wbr></wbr>php/the-shofar/typesofshofars/</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Chabad.org, "The High Holidays: <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span> and Yom Kippur"<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <span class="gmail_default">retrieved September 18, 2020</span></span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>: <a href="http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4830/jewish/How-is-Rosh-Hashanah-Observed.htm" target="_blank">http://www.chabad.org/<wbr></wbr>holidays/JewishNewYear/<wbr></wbr>template_cdo/aid/4830/jewish/<wbr></wbr>How-is-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>-Observed.<wbr></wbr>htm</a><br /></span><span face="arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Irene Connelly, "</span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No streaming, no singing: here’s how High Holidays will work in Modern Orthodox synagogues<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">," <i>The Forward</i>, August 7, 2020, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+streaming" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search?<wbr></wbr>client=firefox-b-1-e&q=<wbr></wbr>Orthodox+Judaism+high+holiday+<wbr></wbr>streaming</a></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Dinka Kumer, "What is Taschlikh?"<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> Chabad.com retrieved September 18, 2020:</span> <a href="http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/564247/jewish/What-is-Tashlich.htm" target="_blank">http://www.chabad.org/<wbr></wbr>holidays/JewishNewYear/<wbr></wbr>template_cdo/aid/564247/<wbr></wbr>jewish/What-is-Tashlich.htm</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Tracey Rich, </span> "<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>"<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> Judaism 101, 2020</span>: <a href="http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Ariela Pelaia, "What is <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>HaShanah</span>?<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span>"<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span><span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>About.com/Judaism</i>, January 25, 2019,</span>: <a href="http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/roshhashanah.htm" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>judaism.about.com/od/holidays/<wbr></wbr>a/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">roshhashanah</span>.htm</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Adam Reinherz, "Shofar blowing strategies revamped to address COVID-19 concerns," <i>Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, </i>September 8, 2020, <a href="https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/shofar-blowing-strategies-revamped-to-address-covid-19-concerns/">https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/shofar-blowing-strategies-revamped-to-address-covid-19-concerns/</a></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Torah.org, "Seven Questions People Ask About <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span>,": <a href="http://roshhashanah.torah.org/learning/yomtov/roshhashanah/survival2.html" target="_blank">http://<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);"><wbr></wbr>roshhashanah</span>.torah.org/<wbr></wbr>learning/yomtov/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">roshhashanah</span>/<wbr></wbr>survival2.html</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Rabbi Randy Wise, "Understanding the High Jewish Holidays of <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span><span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span> and Yom Kippur" <span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Torah.org</i>, </span>retrieved September 18, 2020:<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span>https://torah.org/learning/yomtov-roshhashanah-survival2/<span class="gmail_default" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Clip Art Sources</b></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Opening clip art image with shofar: <a href="http://wallpapers.dgreetings.com/images/wallpapers/rosh-hashanah/Rosh-Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.jpg" target="_blank">http://wallpapers.<wbr></wbr>dgreetings.com/images/<wbr></wbr>wallpapers/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">hashanah</span>/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<wbr></wbr>Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.<wbr></wbr>jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Ram's horn shofar: <a href="http://www.shininglight.eu/shininglight.eu/originals/1330976499_Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-35-45cm-L.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>shininglight.eu/shininglight.<wbr></wbr>eu/originals/1330976499_<wbr></wbr>Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-<wbr></wbr>35-45cm-L.jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Yemenite kudu horn shofar: <a href="http://www.shofarsfromafar.com/files/742858/uploaded/Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.shofarsfromafar.<wbr></wbr>com/files/742858/uploaded/<wbr></wbr>Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Goat's horn shofar: <a href="http://www.noahsarkwinston.com/bible_land_gifts/22232" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>noahsarkwinston.com/bible_<wbr></wbr>land_gifts/22232</a></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;">Blowing shofar above synagogue entrance, </span><span style="text-align: center;">Congregation Beth Shalom, Pittsburgh </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/shofar-blowing-strategies-revamped-to-address-covid-19-concerns/">https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/shofar-blowing-strategies-revamped-to-address-covid-19-concerns/</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Oryx horn shofar: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefALVu65YWSqu2bvVI-SmUVHuOKBbb6ytOWUIVstnNrl8nc4r7kLd_7qZtuaVzru4B8HkAuagLw9QQ75fv9QIjDTSZ37-Cf4sCFQZgd8Sed8xsyJT53a-vVDlQeF99RdNpTMkv6S_hF4/s240/moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg" target="_blank">http://3.bp.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/_mK6JpKiBQHM/R6x0yqUaLjI/<wbr></wbr>AAAAAAAAADQ/_OE8moz7i6k/S240/<wbr></wbr>moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Tashlikh: <a href="http://sank63.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/tashlit-006.jpg" target="_blank">http://sank63.files.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/2008/09/tashlit-<wbr></wbr>006.jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Round Challah: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Rosh-Hashanah/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">http://allrecipes.<wbr></wbr>com/HowTo/<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span>-<span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Hashanah</span>/<wbr></wbr>Detail.aspx</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Apples and honey: <a href="http://ingenieriaypaisajismo.com/uploads/posts/2011-05/1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>ingenieriaypaisajismo.com/<wbr></wbr>uploads/posts/2011-05/<wbr></wbr>1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Pomegranate: <a href="http://dailyfitnessmagz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pomegranate.jpg" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>dailyfitnessmagz.com/wp-<wbr></wbr>content/uploads/2012/02/<wbr></wbr>pomegranate.jpg</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Sea bass with honeyed apples: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-Apples/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">http://allrecipes.com/<wbr></wbr>Recipe/Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-<wbr></wbr>Apples/Detail.aspx</a></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="auto" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; word-spacing: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Traditional <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">Rosh</span> <span style="background-color: rgba(253, 239, 193, 0.5);">HaShanah</span> <wbr></wbr>apple cake: <a href="http://kosherfood.about.com/od/koshercakerecipes/r/apple-cake.htm" target="_blank">http://kosherfood.about.<wbr></wbr>com/od/koshercakerecipes/r/<wbr></wbr>apple-cake.htm</a></span></span></p></div>David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-71349677423983985982020-07-30T16:38:00.002-04:002021-05-12T15:49:55.150-04:00Eid al-Adha 2021<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTc8AGO5tq3SYotXTIpG8BmeSB6_QdZJXRHERXec92gmOfOYMnTME4pAqMs48nQ8yfZEWdbrdSTqNGTGpjxnVDFChoKRNUW22yB5MoQ64HN0NYqAVYypbjKAJN7muwbyG_T2OqHmcBW5T/s1600/eid-mubarak.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTc8AGO5tq3SYotXTIpG8BmeSB6_QdZJXRHERXec92gmOfOYMnTME4pAqMs48nQ8yfZEWdbrdSTqNGTGpjxnVDFChoKRNUW22yB5MoQ64HN0NYqAVYypbjKAJN7muwbyG_T2OqHmcBW5T/s1600/eid-mubarak.jpg" /></a>I<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">n </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">2021,<b> </b>beginning on the evening of Monday, July 19<span id="m_6107191250410594154m_3346531958472386791gmail-OBJ_PREFIX_DWT456_com_zimbra_date"><span style="color: darkblue;"> and </span></span>concluding on the evening of Tuesday, July 20 at sunset</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">, </span>(d</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">epending on the sighting of the moon) is the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha or the Festival of the Sacrifice. For many Muslims, the holiday lasts for three days. Students, staff and faculty sho</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">uld be accommodated for observance of the holiday. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some debate exists as to whether the holiday should </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">be marked by when it occurs over Mecca or when it occurs in th</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">e location in question (for instance, North America). For some, therefore, the holiday may begin on July 18 at </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">sunset. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I take no stance on this, and am merely stating that some differences may exist in interpret</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">ation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7314004785313885549" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Dating the Holiday</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The holiday actually begins every year on the 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. However, since the Gregorian calendar (the one used in the secular United States) is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, the date of Eid al-Adha (as with all Islamic holidays) appears to travel within the Gregorian calendar. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">About Eid al-Adha</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eid al-Adha is Arabic for the Festival of Sacrifice, and is named in remembrance of the readiness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son. In the Koran (37:99–111), the son whom Ibrahim is willing to sacrifice is not named; however, in Islamic tradition, the son is believed to be Ismail (Ishmael), not (Ishaq) Isaac as in the Jewish and Christian versions of the story. In Islam, both sons are considered prophets. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another name for the holiday is Eid al-Kabir or the Greater Eid (in contrast to the earlier Eid al-Fitr, the Lesser Eid that marks the end of Ramadan). Eid al-Kabir is the name more commonly used in North Africa, Yemen and Syria. Because of this, in French, the name of the holiday is Aid el-Kebir. In Turkish, the holiday is called Kurban Bayrami and as a result, the holiday is called by some variant of Kurban in many of the languages of those nations formally under the rule of the Ottoman Empire including Kurdish, Albanian, Serbo-Croatian and Azeri as well as borrowed from the Turkish in many other languages including Russian, Pashto, Sindhi, Kazakh, Farsi, Pashto and Tatar. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Association with the Hajj</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eid al-Adha also marks the end of the Hajj to Mecca (Makkah). The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, required of every Muslim once in his or her lifetime. For this reason, the holiday is sometimes called the Festival of the Hajj (Hari Raya Haji in Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Hajj 2020 and the Coronavirus Pandemic</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2020 Hajj and 2021 will be remembered as two of the most unique in history because of the Pandemic. In 2019, the Hajj saw over 2.5 million pilgrims. In 2020, in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the Saudi government limited the Hajj to a mere 1000 pilgrims and with no visitors allowed from outside the kingdom. Although plans are not firm yet at the time of this writing, it appears likely that the Saudi government will once again repeat the strict limitations for 2021. </span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In 2020, t<span style="font-family: inherit;">he city of Mecca itself allowed no more than 10,000 people allowed into the city </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As explained in the Arab Weekly:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This year’s event, in fact, has been limited to about 1,000 pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, 70% of whom will be foreign residents of the kingdom.</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The remaining 30% will be drawn from Saudi healthcare workers and security personnel who have recovered from the coronavirus, as a gesture of thanks for their sacrifice. </span><a href="https://thearabweekly.com/pandemic-casts-shadow-hajj-eid-al-adha" target="_blank">https://<wbr></wbr>thearabweekly.com/pandemic-<wbr></wbr>casts-shadow-hajj-eid-al-adha</a></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_Ky5gb5lH5UgoFTHqHYzyEPC4tkRZ5N-KcWzwrYcXtQAmp2gUrK932qIF_q7-9WURrlcWZYwNKLntFUcIOJ1Fz8lscRWGg8y_puyxaWr-1rg-m-U6kh_d7fDbnfZ1MaTqWvPkqSjUVXW/s1600/Hajj+2020.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_Ky5gb5lH5UgoFTHqHYzyEPC4tkRZ5N-KcWzwrYcXtQAmp2gUrK932qIF_q7-9WURrlcWZYwNKLntFUcIOJ1Fz8lscRWGg8y_puyxaWr-1rg-m-U6kh_d7fDbnfZ1MaTqWvPkqSjUVXW/s320/Hajj+2020.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The 2020 Hajj</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvhoSpNDjaKDYupJSHHQAN1D3yqlHTP_B3XmWHMaHW0oDqYD7JBpXn7A9izSYGnGhPVZuXx1tzCyOZIAzV0ltUOW7C2JbLbXHKxd1PC4Fjwgb3CPKY4rD3ItQoH3KiIWftWS03_pgJN24/s1600/Hajj.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874963000&usg=AFQjCNGKn6eXVB-D_db60LCc2Tnfznk-hg" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvhoSpNDjaKDYupJSHHQAN1D3yqlHTP_B3XmWHMaHW0oDqYD7JBpXn7A9izSYGnGhPVZuXx1tzCyOZIAzV0ltUOW7C2JbLbXHKxd1PC4Fjwgb3CPKY4rD3ItQoH3KiIWftWS03_pgJN24/s1600/Hajj.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvhoSpNDjaKDYupJSHHQAN1D3yqlHTP_B3XmWHMaHW0oDqYD7JBpXn7A9izSYGnGhPVZuXx1tzCyOZIAzV0ltUOW7C2JbLbXHKxd1PC4Fjwgb3CPKY4rD3ItQoH3KiIWftWS03_pgJN24/s320/Hajj.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims during the Hajj Pilgrimage in Mecca, 2018<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Those attending the 2020 pilgrimage have practiced strict social distancing and wear masks over their noses and mouths.<br />
<br />
The contrast between the crowds are evident in the photos here -- with 1000 people in 2020 and 2.37 million in 2018,<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04VySsFBJr1B-SoC0s29aRSU_Z_ZB2yuOLA9ehZhtJiAgn0BjnaCZaOxuTlGqbActCpUW733fIF4bwDog0pf1dbBSqWdR74E9prVBfeNmGb-f7c3eaQoPFXx0GJEur4pTRif1AldYtfdi/s1600/2020+hajj.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04VySsFBJr1B-SoC0s29aRSU_Z_ZB2yuOLA9ehZhtJiAgn0BjnaCZaOxuTlGqbActCpUW733fIF4bwDog0pf1dbBSqWdR74E9prVBfeNmGb-f7c3eaQoPFXx0GJEur4pTRif1AldYtfdi/s400/2020+hajj.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px;"><b>Coronavirus precautions in force during the 2020 Hajj</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Return to Over 2 Million Pilgrims 2017-2019</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To understand the significance of the Saudi handling of the 2020 Hajj, it bears summarizing the history of the Hajj for the last two decades. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Last year was the culmination of Saudi Arabia's carefully controlled and masterfully organized crowd management effort</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 2019, the Hajj attracted over 2.5 million worshippers. In fact, the Hajj accommodated 2 million or more pilgrims every year from 2017-2019. This is all the more remarkable considering the difficulties (explained below) that began with the 2013 Hajj and continued until reforms several years later. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Hajj in 2017 had already broken that record when the Saudi government recorded over 2.35 million pilgrims. This was the first time the number of pilgrims had been allowed to once again pass the 2 million mark after a series of restrictions had been in place. The number grew again if only slightly in 2018, when the number of pilgrims exceeded 2.37million. In each, the Saudi authorities were able to ensure a safe and efficient handling of the huge influx of people This is all the more remarkable when considering the disasters that occurred in earlier years.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Years of Unmanaged Growth 2001-2012</b></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7314004785313885549" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The numbers of pilgrims allowed to participate in the Hajj grew rapidly from the beginning of the 21st Century. For over a decade, with only one exception (2003), each year set a record over the previous number of pilgrims. In 2000 and 2001, the Hajj fell just short of 2 million visitors with 1.91 and 1.94 million pilgrims respectively. That 2 million mark was passed in 2002, when 2.04 million pilgrims took part. By 2007, the Hajj had reached 2.45 million people. </span>The Hajj numbers had regularly grown but reached its apex in 2012 when 3.2 million worshippers participated in the pilgrimage, the largest Hajj ever.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This decline was notable since the number of pilgrims had consistently risen before the 2013 concerns.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> For each year, the number of visitors had marginally though steadily grown (for instance, 2.8 million in 2010; 2.9 million in 2011). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">During this time, though, the Hajj was afflicted with crowd control issues and deaths by trampling. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2001 35 pilgrims trampled to death</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2003 14 pilgrims were crushed to death in the crowds. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2004 244 people were killed in less than 30 minutes in a stampede</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2005 3 pilgrims killed in stampede (but note how the Hajj went relatively smoothly) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2006 346 pilgrims killed and hundreds others injured in largest stampede in Hajj history</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Saudi authorities began to implement controls after this, and the Hajj ran smoothly from 2007-2015, at least from a crowd management perspective. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Disease Fear Years 2013-2014</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was not without controversy as numbers were dropped markedly with the 2013 MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) that spread across the Arabian peninsula. This was the first major coronavirus outbreak -- an unheeded warning of the COVID-19 pandemic that was to break out 7 years later. Because MERS was seen as localized to the Middle East, the drop in pilgrims resulted more from the fear of going to Saudi Arabia than from Saudi limits of pilgrims coming to the Hajj. That said, </span>Saudi officials DID curtail pilgrims based on fears from another virus -- the Ebola outbreak. The Saudi government banned pilgrims from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, effectively preventing 7400 Muslims scheduled to come from those nations. Combined, the fear of MERS and Ebola saw the number of pilgrims fall to just 1.98 million (with 1.38 million from outside Saudi Arabia). Even greater restrictions followed so that 2014 was among the smallest pilgrimages in years: 1.4 million from abroad and 700,000 from within Saudi Arabia.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b>The Troubled Years 2015-2016</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
In 2015 saw much greater numbers of pilgrims. While there were still<span style="font-family: inherit;"> fears over MERS, Saudi concerns regarding the Ebola outbreak had lessened notably. As a result, in 2015, the Hajj saw</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 1.95 million pilgrims, just shy of the 2 million mark. While this represented an increase of 600,000 visitors, this was still far short of the figures reached before Saudi authorities began placing greater restrictions on the number of visitors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Unfortunately, the increased number of pilgrims coupled with inadequate crowd control resulted in two disasters: the Mecca Crane Collapse and the Mina Stampede. First on September 11, 2015 in the days leading up to the hajj, a crane collapsed on a crowd of worshippers, killing 111 and injuring scores of others. The crane, ironically, had been working to improve the safety of Mecca's Grand Mosque. Far worse, though, came during the 2015 hajj itself. At approximately 9:00 AM on September 24, 2015 for reasons still not clear, pilgrims began to stampede. The uncontrolled crowd panicked and when it had subsided, at thousands of pilgrims had died from suffocation or being crushed or trampled to death. The figure provided by the Associated Press and Al-Jazeera was 2177 dead. Iran's government announced that over 4700 people had died (although they provided no evidence for their claim). <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/19/hajj-disaster-death-toll-over-two-thousand.html&source=gmail&ust=1596222874963000&usg=AFQjCNGnQ9EBdblhI7lTYEzxIQ8ykzcPew" href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/19/hajj-disaster-death-toll-over-two-thousand.html" target="_blank">http://america.<wbr></wbr>aljazeera.com/articles/2015/<wbr></wbr>10/19/hajj-disaster-death-<wbr></wbr>toll-over-two-thousand.html</a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2016, the hajj pilgrim numbers fell again, though only slightly to 1.86 million pilgrims. This may have been in response to the 2015 disaster, and officially limiting numbers. So when the numbers rose -- and did so smoothly from 2016 to 2019, the safety of pilgrims was rightly seen as a great success. This places the 2020 COVID-19 into perspective.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Nature of the Hajj</b><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1liak-6BbOic33dryKlWdJLFTxwMdfc2c01b1grp56POEJhunlwohNIYE_cej1J3EU8nvbIQ0A45S8kMla9VMYYaB0_XNIa06IbYQudSDLFzS9gMBA-I6CrsQKhz4TfOFdwaH6Ddjjq3/s1600/kaaba-md.png&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNFz1_SKZ7flTQmZ914z0uLu-M8nCA" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1liak-6BbOic33dryKlWdJLFTxwMdfc2c01b1grp56POEJhunlwohNIYE_cej1J3EU8nvbIQ0A45S8kMla9VMYYaB0_XNIa06IbYQudSDLFzS9gMBA-I6CrsQKhz4TfOFdwaH6Ddjjq3/s1600/kaaba-md.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1liak-6BbOic33dryKlWdJLFTxwMdfc2c01b1grp56POEJhunlwohNIYE_cej1J3EU8nvbIQ0A45S8kMla9VMYYaB0_XNIa06IbYQudSDLFzS9gMBA-I6CrsQKhz4TfOFdwaH6Ddjjq3/s200/kaaba-md.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The Qaabah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Hajj itself runs for five days, starting on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah (that is, beginning two days before Eid al-Adha begins) and continues through the end of the Eid on 12 Dhu al-Hijjah. The Hajj involves many rituals and special prayers, and this overview makes no effort to fully describe them. Among the most notable of these is the Tawaf. The Tawaf is the counterclockwise circling seven times of Islam’s holiest site, the Qaabah (or Kaabah). The Qaabah is a large granite, cube-shaped structure which Muslims believe that Ibraham and Ismail built together after Ismail moved to Mecca. The Qaabah is covered with black silk and gold. Inside the Qaabah is the Black Stone (<span lang="EN">al-Hajr al-Aswad) which is the focal point of the Tawaf. Many Muslims believe that the Black Stone was given to Adam and Eve to tell them where to build an altar. The Black Stone was then placed in the Qaabah by Abraham and Ismail. The Black Stone was already an object of worship when the Prophet Mohammed first visited it and kissed it. Following the Prophet’s example, pilgrims traditionally kissed the Black Stone on each of the seven circuits around the Qaabah. As the throngs of pilgrims grew, this has largely become impossible so today the pilgrims point toward the stone with their hand as they near it. The movement of the pilgrims during the Tawaf is felt to symbolize the unity of ummah (the community of all believers) as they worship the unity of Allah.</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another important ritual is the <span lang="EN">Ramy al-Jamarat or Stoning of the Devil. </span><span lang="EN"> </span>Islam views the sacrifice as a test of Ibrahim and Ismail. During this test, Muslims believe that both Ibrahim and Ismail were tempted by Shaytaan (Satan). Ibrahim and Ismail threw stones at Shaytaan, and this is re-enacted by pilgrims at the Hajj in the ceremony of the stoning of the jamarat. Pilgrims throw pebbles at three pillars in Mina, each of differing size and symbolically representing Shaytaan’s temptation of Ibrahim, Hagar (Ismail’s mother) and Ismail to stop the sacrifice. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
While the pilgrims on the Hajj are at the center of the most significant observance on the Eid al-Adha, it is by no means limited to them alone. Indeed, Muslims the world over celebrate Eid al-Adha. On the Eid, Muslims bathe in the morning and then traditionally dress in their best clothing before going to the mosque for special prayers. The services usually conclude with a khutba (or speech) with a spiritual message usually encouraging those listening to give up any grudges or ill will. After this, it is customary for worshippers to hug one another and to wish one another a Happy Eid. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<b>Eid al-Adha Traditions and Food</b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In most traditions, believers, if (they can afford to do so) sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or sheep, although traditions vary) in commemoration of the animal God provided to Ibrahim for sacrifice in place of his son. Indeed, in West Africa the holiday is called Tabaski after this sacrifice. (For a video of Eid sacrifices on Tabaski, please see <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://jangawolof.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/happy-tabaski/&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNHw9ZDAIZw9VtmRGRHxPIifTMTQqw" href="http://jangawolof.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/happy-tabaski/" target="_blank">http://jangawolof.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/2007/12/19/<wbr></wbr>happy-tabaski/</a>). Where animals are sacrificed, the meat is shared with others, particularly those who are less fortunate. Many Muslims also donate food of all sorts – not just the sacrificed animal -- to the poor on the holiday.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-F8PNFXWzBT-H_Ol2Supd0kei1o03__QuscTySv6_Xk5NAR5Pnd5D0yLbFpjHNc1dyQr8_57ZD7FhpzfwErfbGc-ujNje7C0IEQlRd1ktcfKnJQaXxHNkSpH7_fgOZfblDa1nTjpP9jS/s1600/tabaski.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNFx7NWPCy9tiMNWa-7Abz9RIoSNVA" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-F8PNFXWzBT-H_Ol2Supd0kei1o03__QuscTySv6_Xk5NAR5Pnd5D0yLbFpjHNc1dyQr8_57ZD7FhpzfwErfbGc-ujNje7C0IEQlRd1ktcfKnJQaXxHNkSpH7_fgOZfblDa1nTjpP9jS/s1600/tabaski.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-F8PNFXWzBT-H_Ol2Supd0kei1o03__QuscTySv6_Xk5NAR5Pnd5D0yLbFpjHNc1dyQr8_57ZD7FhpzfwErfbGc-ujNje7C0IEQlRd1ktcfKnJQaXxHNkSpH7_fgOZfblDa1nTjpP9jS/s320/tabaski.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px;"><b>"Good Tabaski to all..."</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd9-Q9wG5mX6QA5sJ2hEEZJSwd77u9XbUvamCr0F6wR1nYdCcaxdcOyIDhtcN3s4picfmVzVWl9kfkV7HOSxHzTH0kDbgb_TRM8HSJuem8VF0igrcY7vxedtaAU5qGmiJMmQAXMzn7Ejs/s1600/Sheer+Korma.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNFKFtgGJfj0Em60x6amPyqgtuNjCw" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd9-Q9wG5mX6QA5sJ2hEEZJSwd77u9XbUvamCr0F6wR1nYdCcaxdcOyIDhtcN3s4picfmVzVWl9kfkV7HOSxHzTH0kDbgb_TRM8HSJuem8VF0igrcY7vxedtaAU5qGmiJMmQAXMzn7Ejs/s1600/Sheer+Korma.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd9-Q9wG5mX6QA5sJ2hEEZJSwd77u9XbUvamCr0F6wR1nYdCcaxdcOyIDhtcN3s4picfmVzVWl9kfkV7HOSxHzTH0kDbgb_TRM8HSJuem8VF0igrcY7vxedtaAU5qGmiJMmQAXMzn7Ejs/s200/Sheer+Korma.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b>Sheer korma</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Traditions vary somewhat around the world for Eid al-Adha. In Pakistan and India after special morning Eid prayers, Muslims traditionally eat a dish called sheer korma. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sheer korma is a mix of sweet milk, dates and vermicelli. Later in the day, South Asian Muslims also often eat dishes made from the sacrificed animal, with mutton biryani (sheep with saffron rice), mutton korma (sheep stew) and kofta (meatballs in special gravy). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Lnmrdd28-yEBqnQ7HEgbB2eS1YxQrRc5LLXFUTqJ0ImvS9y9OKkmCR7QJ7Gt7b_cZ1aj7F21X9WYlfuW1rXxwpXJqMrMJo9_GvULrKXno3u4zyGg3hSyINu5jn62L4Roqy-ZMdZJt1h/s1600/boulfaf.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNFst4_LTBIokD7wyEe-SADcTI3mTA" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Lnmrdd28-yEBqnQ7HEgbB2eS1YxQrRc5LLXFUTqJ0ImvS9y9OKkmCR7QJ7Gt7b_cZ1aj7F21X9WYlfuW1rXxwpXJqMrMJo9_GvULrKXno3u4zyGg3hSyINu5jn62L4Roqy-ZMdZJt1h/s1600/boulfaf.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Lnmrdd28-yEBqnQ7HEgbB2eS1YxQrRc5LLXFUTqJ0ImvS9y9OKkmCR7QJ7Gt7b_cZ1aj7F21X9WYlfuW1rXxwpXJqMrMJo9_GvULrKXno3u4zyGg3hSyINu5jn62L4Roqy-ZMdZJt1h/s1600/boulfaf.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b>Moroccan boulfaf</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Morocco, the post-prayer breakfast is customarily herbel (wheat porridge with sugar, milk, honey and orange-flower water). The main meal of the day usually includes lamb, especially boulfaf (grilled lamb liver kababs). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTylgNJKAGKLjiukK_3h2FsWiC7WHT7mLiXXcvOJbC_gs7HpKK4jlLlEalvajbaC7Fi_YLA1edMpmlG0zG9_qcnseV0SfG8Y52u4dyS-bcgvVsjH4nuzPZKnKb-cX-l9wCGL5dKzMZMol7/s1600/Bosnian+lonac.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNE0Qa1EA67Ibbz5Wv75P-Uxn6AKpw" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTylgNJKAGKLjiukK_3h2FsWiC7WHT7mLiXXcvOJbC_gs7HpKK4jlLlEalvajbaC7Fi_YLA1edMpmlG0zG9_qcnseV0SfG8Y52u4dyS-bcgvVsjH4nuzPZKnKb-cX-l9wCGL5dKzMZMol7/s1600/Bosnian+lonac.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTylgNJKAGKLjiukK_3h2FsWiC7WHT7mLiXXcvOJbC_gs7HpKK4jlLlEalvajbaC7Fi_YLA1edMpmlG0zG9_qcnseV0SfG8Y52u4dyS-bcgvVsjH4nuzPZKnKb-cX-l9wCGL5dKzMZMol7/s200/Bosnian+lonac.jpg" width="194" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b>Bosnian Lonac</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Bosnia and Herzegovina, people traditionally follow morning services with a large lunch of Bosnian lonac (vegetable and meat stew made in a clay pot), dolmas (stuffed onions with paprika) and sarmas (stuffed cabbage). This is usually followed by sweet desserts such as baklava.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_5vjNRePZBfRyMm5erzuWvql2NC3j7PMD76CUr_xspfKcnTloVN36uB9eWciv8FB1c3RqMrlK8qfItziofAY3ZkRRQ8ouav69cmzTvAUsq6S51kYk4VngbySjAQa07CynNPEUmmUa_kD/s200/eid_stamp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="156" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px;"><b>USPS first Eid stamp (2001)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the United States, traditions greatly vary with people often dressing in clothes and eating foods from their ethnic origin. Eid al-Adha, as with other Islamic holidays, has received greater public attention in recent years. In 2001, the US Postal Service began releasing Eid stamps (covering both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha). The stamps continue to be sold each year at Eid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 1999, then-First Lady Hilary Clinton hosted what became a tradition of Eid dinners at the White House. In 2003, George W. Bush was the first President to publicly wish Happy Eid from the White House. This tradition continued under President Barack Obama. In 2017, President Donald Trump discontinued the dinner, although he and First Lady Melania Trump continued the tradition of sending formal Eid greetings from the White House. (For more on the White House Eid dinners, please see Trump breaks "White House Eid dinner tradition," BBC: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40402211&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNGgIXOWpcuVLUzoQFFqH6gY77Aucg" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40402211" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/<wbr></wbr>world-us-canada-40402211</a><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As always, I welcome your corrections (or praise) and any other input. In closing, let me wish you all an Eid Mubarek and a Blessed Eid!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKralOo3THd02TPFL6usV_ZC6fKMAOEEQEZbBElbxBvlH7fYTxjkQLEegl4DUqV_deY_11mmu2x41K-NDw3VuL9miTwrbd9ZVKfhIhD2ttDETGna43P-djJHGTlxdMpQqPmWKkqStZvtv/s1600/10162767-modern-and-stylish-eid-mubarak-islamic-celebration-design.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNFkesQKWkChBDpFeUZ17VX5Em4T0Q" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKralOo3THd02TPFL6usV_ZC6fKMAOEEQEZbBElbxBvlH7fYTxjkQLEegl4DUqV_deY_11mmu2x41K-NDw3VuL9miTwrbd9ZVKfhIhD2ttDETGna43P-djJHGTlxdMpQqPmWKkqStZvtv/s1600/10162767-modern-and-stylish-eid-mubarak-islamic-celebration-design.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKralOo3THd02TPFL6usV_ZC6fKMAOEEQEZbBElbxBvlH7fYTxjkQLEegl4DUqV_deY_11mmu2x41K-NDw3VuL9miTwrbd9ZVKfhIhD2ttDETGna43P-djJHGTlxdMpQqPmWKkqStZvtv/s1600/10162767-modern-and-stylish-eid-mubarak-islamic-celebration-design.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Want to Learn More?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For more detail on all aspects of the Hajj, look at the Saudi government website from the Ministry of the Hajj :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.hajinformation.com/main/f.htm&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNHqb-UMzfcp3WqmtR2Q69gUJz39Wg" href="http://www.hajinformation.com/main/f.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3333cc;">http://www.hajinformation.com/<wbr></wbr>main/f.htm</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.hajinformation.com/display_news.php?id%3D2188&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNGZ-kRGP6U777f51rR398TyGOiW-w" href="http://www.hajinformation.com/display_news.php?id=2188" target="_blank">http://www.hajinformation.com/<wbr></wbr>display_news.php?id=2188</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For official Hajj statistics see the "Hajj Statistics," Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics site at: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/page/93&source=gmail&ust=1596222874963000&usg=AFQjCNHehfwWIvKeh3zCjFkToEGxCwycGQ" href="https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/page/93" target="_blank">https://www.stats.gov.sa/<wbr></wbr>en/page/93 </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For more on the 2013 situation, please see <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?379857-Hajj-2013-Statistics&source=gmail&ust=1596222874963000&usg=AFQjCNGk6asjShxQzVSerBXzH44qYUMskQ" href="http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?379857-Hajj-2013-Statistics" target="_blank">http://www.ummah.com/<wbr></wbr>forum/showthread.php?379857-<wbr></wbr>Hajj-2013-Statistics</a> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article529551.ece&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNGYSAR84IkiFuSJUuR1VNgie7faoA" href="http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article529551.ece" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6c006e; text-decoration: none;">http://<wbr></wbr>arabnews.com/saudiarabia/<wbr></wbr>article529551.ece</span></a> and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/11/05/saudi-arabia-hosts-nearly-3-million-hajj-pilgrims/&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNHsgMuyyZCqsZFKAHIrssH6JxPPKw" href="http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/11/05/saudi-arabia-hosts-nearly-3-million-hajj-pilgrims/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6c006e; text-decoration: none;">http://<wbr></wbr>blogs.voanews.com/breaking-<wbr></wbr>news/2011/11/05/saudi-arabia-<wbr></wbr>hosts-nearly-3-million-hajj-<wbr></wbr>pilgrims/</span></a> . For more on the 2014 hajj including Ebola concerns, please see: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29461229&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNGDqDIfyMqtCxK1aI1dgrCY4kuLOg" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29461229" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.com/news/<wbr></wbr>world-middle-east-29461229</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For more on the 2015 hajj, please see </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.readthespirit.com/religious-holidays-festivals/hajj-2015-2-million-muslims-gather-for-worlds-largest-annual-pilgrimage/&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNGRpu_trCOtFt43H6daVHKh2eHN0A" href="http://www.readthespirit.com/religious-holidays-festivals/hajj-2015-2-million-muslims-gather-for-worlds-largest-annual-pilgrimage/" target="_blank">http://www.readthespirit.<wbr></wbr>com/religious-holidays-<wbr></wbr>festivals/hajj-2015-2-million-<wbr></wbr>muslims-gather-for-worlds-<wbr></wbr>largest-annual-pilgrimage/</a></div>
<br />
For figures over time, see, Number of Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia 1995-2019, Statista: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.statista.com/statistics/617696/saudi-arabia-total-hajj-pilgrims/&source=gmail&ust=1596222874964000&usg=AFQjCNGuYl5ZD7oXurbya9g8q43-77Tzjg" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/617696/saudi-arabia-total-hajj-pilgrims/" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>statista.com/statistics/<wbr></wbr>617696/saudi-arabia-total-<wbr></wbr>hajj-pilgrims/ </a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Clipart Sources</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For Eid Mubarak <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://us.cdn1.123rf.com/168nwm/hypnocreative/hypnocreative1108/hypnocreative110800030/10162767-modern-and-stylish-eid-mubarak-islamic-celebration-design.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNHEU38kEK1FUHNrSqTYy7cJpZ46jQ" href="http://us.cdn1.123rf.com/168nwm/hypnocreative/hypnocreative1108/hypnocreative110800030/10162767-modern-and-stylish-eid-mubarak-islamic-celebration-design.jpg" target="_blank">http://us.cdn1.123rf.<wbr></wbr>com/168nwm/hypnocreative/<wbr></wbr>hypnocreative1108/<wbr></wbr>hypnocreative110800030/<wbr></wbr>10162767-modern-and-stylish-<wbr></wbr>eid-mubarak-islamic-<wbr></wbr>celebration-design.jpg</a></span><br />
For Eid pilgrimage at Mecca, 2018: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-08-16/how-globalization-has-changed-the-hajj-pilgrimage-to-mecca&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNGazwkHe8OBu_w3tjQsJj3glAQZug" href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-08-16/how-globalization-has-changed-the-hajj-pilgrimage-to-mecca" target="_blank">https://www.usnews.com/<wbr></wbr>news/best-countries/articles/<wbr></wbr>2018-08-16/how-globalization-<wbr></wbr>has-changed-the-hajj-<wbr></wbr>pilgrimage-to-mecca </a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the Qaaba, </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.clker.com/clipart-kaaba.html&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNFHCNNt_fNn0oPP--h5Yd90rPAGMg" href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-kaaba.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">http://www.clker.com/<wbr></wbr>clipart-kaaba.html</a><br />
For "Bonne fête du Tabaski a tous..." see <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://demsy8995.skyrock.com/3190300919-BONNE-FETE-DE-TABASKI-A-TOUS.html&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNEWvbdamuLEo7g30vFFtWLvpXEXkA" href="http://demsy8995.skyrock.com/3190300919-BONNE-FETE-DE-TABASKI-A-TOUS.html" target="_blank">http://demsy8995.skyrock.<wbr></wbr>com/3190300919-BONNE-FETE-DE-<wbr></wbr>TABASKI-A-TOUS.html</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the image of sheer korma <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTj5BKQwiNW3-65IqgO3B2QyB2Xh3JD_BCppuAuyY3NPgykk_6z-ZwqR99OffNyhK7khCfBp_MUbOGvjdqcAND3iJaT3epavjiinARrFH_DzixMKqHUd3h0MGlyRYAzw3ib8RpWm4IsW4/s400/sheerkorma.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNFUXFNEU5vLA1yISDcnGuIWMji6Kw" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTj5BKQwiNW3-65IqgO3B2QyB2Xh3JD_BCppuAuyY3NPgykk_6z-ZwqR99OffNyhK7khCfBp_MUbOGvjdqcAND3iJaT3epavjiinARrFH_DzixMKqHUd3h0MGlyRYAzw3ib8RpWm4IsW4/s400/sheerkorma.jpg" target="_blank">http://2.bp.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/_tnYmLdrZ9jc/S7hdTKcr7tI/<wbr></wbr>AAAAAAAAAcE/UoisHks-eCE/s400/<wbr></wbr>sheerkorma.jpg</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the image of boulfaf <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://0.tqn.com/d/moroccanfood/1/I/H/4/-/-/boulfaf.JPG&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNHwZkwSKm9_F10_GcaSdBHczz27pA" href="http://0.tqn.com/d/moroccanfood/1/I/H/4/-/-/boulfaf.JPG" target="_blank">http://0.tqn.com/d/<wbr></wbr>moroccanfood/1/I/H/4/-/-/<wbr></wbr>boulfaf.JPG</a>E</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the </span><span style="text-align: center;">Coronavirus precautions in force during the 2020 Hajj:</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thearabweekly.com/pandemic-casts-shadow-hajj-eid-al-adha&source=gmail&ust=1596222874965000&usg=AFQjCNEEz2wHjHOZ8URcYpDQ3EEuUzndtQ" href="https://thearabweekly.com/pandemic-casts-shadow-hajj-eid-al-adha" target="_blank">https://thearabweekly.<wbr></wbr>com/pandemic-casts-shadow-<wbr></wbr>hajj-eid-al-adha</a><br />
For the 2020 Hajj:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-hajj-mecca-pilgrims.html</div>
</div>
David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314004785313885549.post-49813262885380335732019-03-17T15:19:00.004-04:002024-03-17T11:20:40.613-04:00Saint Patrick's Day Parades and Celebrations Around the World: 2024 Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-9114482542896172243" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 18.2px; position: relative; widows: 1; width: 490px;">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Parties and Parades </span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmXvbS7zV3tkHtZcCn8sztM_u3tmboSGpKB4Bpilxs7w_mM_ElMXIsrJkzXD5xcomOZpe44WnKwnluKY8RPfrAmvm-PgWoKlxEAc4_MzbN5VBi6m3lKDZjyDjJmVFC9DEECBfkJa6axaJ/s1600/st-patricks-day-events-houston-2018-696x407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="696" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmXvbS7zV3tkHtZcCn8sztM_u3tmboSGpKB4Bpilxs7w_mM_ElMXIsrJkzXD5xcomOZpe44WnKwnluKY8RPfrAmvm-PgWoKlxEAc4_MzbN5VBi6m3lKDZjyDjJmVFC9DEECBfkJa6axaJ/s320/st-patricks-day-events-houston-2018-696x407.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In Ireland until very recent times, Saint Patrick's Day was reserved primarily for religious observance. Indeed, until the 1970's, pubs were officially closed and the serving of alcohol prohibited on Saint Patrick's Day.<br />
<br />
This article is about the parades and celebrations that have come to be associated with the holiday. For information on the serious religious background to Saint Patrick's Day, please see my post <a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2019/03/saint-patricks-day-some-background-to.html">Saint Patrick's Day: Some Background to the Holiday</a><br />
<br />
For the "greening" campaign out of Ireland to have monuments and buildings worldwide glow green for Saint Patrick's Day, please see my post <a href="https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2019/03/saint-patricks-day-and-greening-of.html">Saint Patrick's Day and the Greening of Monuments</a> which has gone from its meager start in 2009 to over 600 greenlit landmarks 12 years later at its height in 2021.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
By contrast to Ireland, in the <country-region w:st="on">United States</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on"></country-region><country-region w:st="on">Australia and elsewhere outside of Ireland</country-region>, the holiday has almost always been more about pride in Irish ethnicity and indeed has become increasingly more secular over the years. While many US Roman Catholics continue to celebrate the holiday as a religious event, many other Americans - including non-Catholics - celebrate the holiday by wearing green and coloring things green. Such items include cookies and pancakes dyed green, beer tinted green with food coloring, and so on. Major parades are held annually in cities with large ethnic Irish populations.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0GNOXZb-MxGMwZAAzT-F-oUa4GQZ3n0iBmehIE1S5SDMuOfqDVuph7HMW02mQBvy___AlNNZDKx_IqCkUHwGIRWTeS4Q2T8L8-R-oVj7d3gLLQzdspCIef6q1qIEECPCAlK1LFGXPPAL/s1600/Shamrock_17.png" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0GNOXZb-MxGMwZAAzT-F-oUa4GQZ3n0iBmehIE1S5SDMuOfqDVuph7HMW02mQBvy___AlNNZDKx_IqCkUHwGIRWTeS4Q2T8L8-R-oVj7d3gLLQzdspCIef6q1qIEECPCAlK1LFGXPPAL/s200/Shamrock_17.png" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="153" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Shamrock</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border: medium;">
In St. Patrick Day festivities, it is common to dress in green (the national color) and to use various symbols of Ireland. Some of these, such as the harp, predate Christianity but carry no pagan symbolism. Others, symbols commonly used on St. Patrick's Day such as leprechauns ironically would had been spurned by Saint Patrick himself (who, in fact, attempted to convert people away from traditional Irish non-Christian beliefs),</div>
<div style="border: medium;">
<br /></div>
That said, at least one of the symbols is directly associated with him: the Shamrock. Now a national symbol of <place w:st="on">Ireland</place>, the three-leafed shamrock was used by Patrick to explain to early converts about the Catholic concept of the Trinity, Patrick would hold the shamrock up to the potential convert to explain how there could be one God who has three parts - Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- just as the shamrock is one plant with three leaves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">St. Patrick's Day in Ireland</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY5EDeDNzkm9V7FyZvZhHQZAcmUbh1NghXn2KjqaF123Pmie7ICtvPFtbAono7AiB-51p4hiXm2OjRKsroc9KkYIv2aPGBpp5J3Yn9NbyQcsTuJitmS21hwH7LW5I_3XDLIzv10Z171_S/s1600/5800692-green-outline-map-of-republic-of-ireland.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY5EDeDNzkm9V7FyZvZhHQZAcmUbh1NghXn2KjqaF123Pmie7ICtvPFtbAono7AiB-51p4hiXm2OjRKsroc9KkYIv2aPGBpp5J3Yn9NbyQcsTuJitmS21hwH7LW5I_3XDLIzv10Z171_S/s1600/5800692-green-outline-map-of-republic-of-ireland.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" yda="true" /></a></div>
In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day still remains an essentially religious holiday. Church service is an essential part of the day.<br />
<br />
As noted above, Ireland is very much a late-comer to the festive, non-religious celebrations so common elsewhere. Those interested in promoting tourism to Ireland saw this as something of a missed opportunity and by the 1970's the sale of alcohol once banned (as it was on Sundays and all Roman Catholic holidays)<br />
was lifted, but the holiday remained still primarily religious in nature.<br />
<br />
In 1995, the government of Ireland itself began to promote the idea of sponsoring St. Patrick's Day parades and festivals. As Borgna Brunner explains:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="border: medium; color: black; overflow: hidden;">
<i>struck by the strange paradox of parts of the world (the U.S., Canada, and Australia) making a bigger hoopla out of St. Patrick Day than the Emerald Isle itself—began a national campaign to transform St. Patrick's Day into an authentic Irish celebration.</i></blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY5m6rnuZi92tToWrTJ40nBt6j6W8R8W8-zD8CrZ-O5EaKO4VVfIzRTEa6Axw5wvqujK_JqJpW1Yym7eR2U6djj46CpQdsIASnmioO1llsE2yV3pru6moUezcIqwlV29E67hEEZO6zbUp/s1600/Dublin.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY5m6rnuZi92tToWrTJ40nBt6j6W8R8W8-zD8CrZ-O5EaKO4VVfIzRTEa6Axw5wvqujK_JqJpW1Yym7eR2U6djj46CpQdsIASnmioO1llsE2yV3pru6moUezcIqwlV29E67hEEZO6zbUp/s200/Dublin.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border: medium; color: black; overflow: hidden;">
<br />
The first formal St. Patrick's Day parade in Ireland took place on March 17, 1995 in Dublin. The Dublin parade is now a major tourist event at the heart of a three-day festival. Today there are more than 30 St. Patrick's Day Parades sprinkled around the Republic of Ireland. Indeed, even Northern Ireland got into the act when (in the wake of the peace talks), Belfast began hosting a St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1998.<span style="background-color: transparent;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border: medium; color: black; overflow: hidden;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TgVOFwXXTicGZ6XV_BRjk1FwHe03grgR815gkylPDJrhzvhNt15x5cgKLjlFiETH0gW6gqIPXqPqyUPPXksbNKXc5z4AdaZbOBiE3Ojj8WFUBVCL_Wpg2Vk89KIUAGgqVfbRL26sJb9_/s1600/p_mpfs.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TgVOFwXXTicGZ6XV_BRjk1FwHe03grgR815gkylPDJrhzvhNt15x5cgKLjlFiETH0gW6gqIPXqPqyUPPXksbNKXc5z4AdaZbOBiE3Ojj8WFUBVCL_Wpg2Vk89KIUAGgqVfbRL26sJb9_/s200/p_mpfs.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>The floats actually float </b><br />
<b>at Navan's Shamrock Festival</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some of the most notable of these new events in Ireland are the St. Patrick's Day Festivals held on the Beara Peninsula (divided between Counties Cork and Kerry), at Athlone, County Westmeath and on Achill Island in County Mayo, at Clane in County Kildare, and at Longford in County Longford. As a sidenote feature, a unique twist on the idea of St. Patrick's Day floats can be seen at the Shamrock Festival at Navan in County Meath.There the floats actually float -- all entries are on boats that float down the River Boyne.<br />
<br />
Additionally, major tourist-themed parades are held. Some of the most prominent of these are at Limerick in County Limerick; at Blarney, Cobh and Cork in County Cork; Letterkenney and Donegal Town in County Donegal; at Waterford in County Waterford; at Galway and Clifden in County Galway; at Trim in County Meath, and at Thurles in North Tipperary County.</div>
<div style="border: medium; color: black; overflow: hidden;">
</div>
<div style="border: medium; color: black; overflow: hidden;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">St Patrick's Day in the United States</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
St. Patrick's Day has from colonial times been observed as day to celebrate Irish heritage in the United States. The Irish who emigrated to the United States commonly did so to avoid persecution and to protest English rule of the island. As a result, St. Patrick's Day rather rapidly took on a political significance on top of its religious one. This reached its height in the mid-19th Century with the Great Famine, largely viewed by Irish Americans as the result of intentional British neglect of the Irish under their rule.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As the Irish became more assmilated iinto the United States and as the political situation in Ireland improved (and especially after the Republic of Ireland became independent), the parades became much less politicized and much more reflective of a pride in Irish ethnicity. The celebration of St. Patrick's Day by the mid-20th Century had become open to Irish and non-Irish alike with common slogans such as "On Saint Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish" and the like. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What follows is a sampling of some of the different St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><b>New York City</b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0oa-Jqelub7oPH8zOsNnSXbLrBcgMgCjcYdpowdmr3eMp81a6J0tCgdCqDb27MC6WXz7DTfX7XdLuEQ2n4zuYhpv5i-FUlQBNhDYAbS3Ctp1L_4Fbb3O1zBDKDehbV-iwkD-TtdClNb2/s1600/stpats+parade+new+york.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0oa-Jqelub7oPH8zOsNnSXbLrBcgMgCjcYdpowdmr3eMp81a6J0tCgdCqDb27MC6WXz7DTfX7XdLuEQ2n4zuYhpv5i-FUlQBNhDYAbS3Ctp1L_4Fbb3O1zBDKDehbV-iwkD-TtdClNb2/s200/stpats+parade+new+york.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The massive annual parade in <place w:st="on">New York City</place>is the largest St. Patrick's parade worldwide with between 150,000 and 200,000 marchers each year. The 2002 New York St. Patrick's Day Parade honoring the "heroes of 9/11" in the wake of the terrorists attacks in September 2001 hit the record, with 300,000 marchers. Each year an estimated 2 million spectators line the route along Fifth Avenue. New York has had an official parade on Saint Patrick's Day since 1762, giving it the title of the oldest such parade in the United States, predating the birth of the Republic by 14 years. For more on the New York parade, please see:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://nycstpatricksparade.org/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://nycstpatricksparade.org/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Boston</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWCMJU1lqTK7uY5wsEfBp583Mw6YpTglIVK6f060lprmnlzjkspm53mUDaeg1sD61papMy50qWtYbU5Md6efceOHLUyAQmULzdsJ-5KhLjChCIBM5QtgHS1v20dn-4O4DLyj-WSGgW1mb/s1600/Boston+SP+parade.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWCMJU1lqTK7uY5wsEfBp583Mw6YpTglIVK6f060lprmnlzjkspm53mUDaeg1sD61papMy50qWtYbU5Md6efceOHLUyAQmULzdsJ-5KhLjChCIBM5QtgHS1v20dn-4O4DLyj-WSGgW1mb/s200/Boston+SP+parade.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While New York can claim the oldest<i>official</i> St. Patrick's Day Parade, Boston can actually make the claim to the first unofficial St. Patrick's Day Parade. Indeed, the St. Patrick's Day Parade of March 17, 1737 was the first parade in honor of Saint Patrick ever. That said, Boston only began to run the parade as an official annual event in 1804. Today, the South Boston Saint Patrick's Day Parade is annually either the second or third largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States. For more on the South Boston parade, please see:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://southbostonparade.org/index.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://southbostonparade.org/index.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Savannah, Georgia</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The great competitor with Boston for second largest St. Patrick's Day parade is that of Savannah, Georgia. Savannah, <country-region w:st="on">Georgia</country-region>, with an estimated 400,000 spectators(an often more) has the second largest annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the <place w:st="on">United States</place>… and for several year’s actually held the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the world (a major point of pride among Georgians). The earliest private parade in Savannah dates to 1813, with the public sponsorship of the parade beginning in 1824. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU2Pa1lu-aG0gayQPcTMsEuUdR5vNlncHWIQWKTbjWCYezhNbpZ7HZxz1gfEMGzCHO93J9OCangFZk5-01hciKn86YbruDTG-zfZtNRTCEkWpNNWkv1_J6MSIcx_6wbi-2QVkfG6fooom/s1600/Savannah.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU2Pa1lu-aG0gayQPcTMsEuUdR5vNlncHWIQWKTbjWCYezhNbpZ7HZxz1gfEMGzCHO93J9OCangFZk5-01hciKn86YbruDTG-zfZtNRTCEkWpNNWkv1_J6MSIcx_6wbi-2QVkfG6fooom/s200/Savannah.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Forsyth Park Fountain flows green</b><br />
<b>in Savannah, Georgia</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Savannah's celebrations extend far beyond the parade. The city's famous fountains flow green on St. Patrick's Day. This tradition started in the early 1970's as an anonymous prank, but the idea caught on and now dye is dumped into the fountains on purpose every year, starting with the parade's Grand Marshal ceremonially dumping green dye into the Forsyth Park Fountain on St. Patrick's Day Eve. The city hosts a series of events, fairs and performances in celebration. For more on the Savannah activities please see:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-ykiVDcc6FlaiHjvOxau5xNX0izJPl4OMDdw7Wf-pdqZMv3TQz9icqxxD12EMSOQZOmc9EETbZKVhpzieAf-kBehrgRoLGbEGfpw9MQzc5RLthOs59tDyMvZzNpwjL30I0pMhM7KnU3x/s1600/saintpatricksparade+Philly.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-ykiVDcc6FlaiHjvOxau5xNX0izJPl4OMDdw7Wf-pdqZMv3TQz9icqxxD12EMSOQZOmc9EETbZKVhpzieAf-kBehrgRoLGbEGfpw9MQzc5RLthOs59tDyMvZzNpwjL30I0pMhM7KnU3x/s200/saintpatricksparade+Philly.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Philadelphia's St. Patrick's Day Parade</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade vies with New York for the oldest official such parade. As with New York, Philadelphia officially began running a St. Patrick's Day parade during colonial times, with the first one taking place on March 17, 1771. Philadelphia holds its parade on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day unless March 17 itself is a Sunday. The parade is famous for its many awards ranging in categories from traditional dance to different age classes of bands and so on. For more on the Philadelphia parade, please see:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com/parade_awards.asp" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com/parade_awards.asp</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Louisville. Kentucky</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTdg6oJTnJygTxsH5be9pAzO3Una1p5-z4j4kVQCGYaSj4tbLFmJScj9g3DNW-Y4s-gV80LkkBWN-M7pkPcWgqgngd0EJ3OaJxNVxytmaw2l7yTNGI8XD1XcXFgJsJmrK-hazSDecHwom/s1600/louisville-bluegrass-brewing-company.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTdg6oJTnJygTxsH5be9pAzO3Una1p5-z4j4kVQCGYaSj4tbLFmJScj9g3DNW-Y4s-gV80LkkBWN-M7pkPcWgqgngd0EJ3OaJxNVxytmaw2l7yTNGI8XD1XcXFgJsJmrK-hazSDecHwom/s200/louisville-bluegrass-brewing-company.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Louisville's "Blessing of the Beer" takes</b><br />
<b>place at the Bluegrass Brewing Company</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In one of the odder celebrations, Louisville hosts on the eve of St. Patrick's Day the "Blessing of the Beer" and the "Tapping of the Keg" events. Louisville's Ancient Order of Hibernians' Father Abram J. Ryan Division is in charge of both events, The ceremonial "Blessing of the Beer" takes place at the city's Bluegrass Brewery Company and the "Tapping of the Keg" follows at O'Shea's Irish Pub an hour later.<br />
<br />
Louisville also hosts the more traditional St. Patrick's Day celebration of a major downtown parade on St. Patrick's Day itself. For more on the two beer events, please see:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.louisvilleirish.com/blessing-beer" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.louisvilleirish.com/blessing-beer</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Morristown, New Jersey</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
One of the most remarkable parades hosted by a smaller town in the United States is that of Morristown, <state w:st="on">New Jersey. W</state>ith a population of less than 19,000, Morristown has an annual turn-out of 50,000 for its Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade. The parade features the usual bagpipers, marching bands and floats along with a "Native Dogs of Ireland" procession. In addition to the parade, Morristown hosts on the weekend before the parade a 5K St. Patty's Day Run.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G5YUkZ1YbzdU32a0uad_cfy3Q2lES9x5Q3OUAl7hdwG_M5M554j6AySiMa-Mx89ylUHmu61ZEhH_FqycLR6h8k926QeFlNYD-AdNrVZcDAjIFj3AW-NMPx6cDhdEqfUjmy_IyJqQV2mR/s1600/Morristown+Saint+Patrick%27s+Day+Parade.jpg" style="color: #436590; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G5YUkZ1YbzdU32a0uad_cfy3Q2lES9x5Q3OUAl7hdwG_M5M554j6AySiMa-Mx89ylUHmu61ZEhH_FqycLR6h8k926QeFlNYD-AdNrVZcDAjIFj3AW-NMPx6cDhdEqfUjmy_IyJqQV2mR/s400/Morristown+Saint+Patrick's+Day+Parade.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><b>Morristown's Saint Patrick's Day Parade </b><br />
<b>features a "Native Dogs of Ireland" procession</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<u><b>Butte, Montana</b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxchaf3DOZbdQ1mxgqzWyDm4hX9eAgpMw4FcTLrL9xwpF1fJOBQa4rMgWHE1Xdjley6FSAcEjHrK5e4-v1NBKDNlpTpxcVVblQk2tLMWNg0gRp7gGMMrGscGF-SiUAANVwG_pMvFYzzOLl/s1600/History-1881-Parade.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxchaf3DOZbdQ1mxgqzWyDm4hX9eAgpMw4FcTLrL9xwpF1fJOBQa4rMgWHE1Xdjley6FSAcEjHrK5e4-v1NBKDNlpTpxcVVblQk2tLMWNg0gRp7gGMMrGscGF-SiUAANVwG_pMvFYzzOLl/s320/History-1881-Parade.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Butte's St. Patrick's Day Parade</b><br />
<b>began in 1881 in the midst of the </b><br />
<b>American Wild West</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Perhaps most remarkable of the annual parades is that in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Butte</city>, <state w:st="on">Montana</state></place>.<city w:st="on">Butte</city> has a population of under 34,000 and (unlike Morristown located in the heavily populated Eastern Corridor) is the only significant population center for miles around in the mostly unpopulated Western Montana… yet each year <place w:st="on">Butte</place>’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade somehow manages to attract an annual turn-out of 30,000 people.<br />
Butte has run the parade annually since 1882 when the town was an outpost in the American Wild West. Billing itself as "Ireland's Fifth Province," Butte has a largely Irish-American population with its next largest ethnic group consisting of Finnish-Americans. For this reason, Butte actually begins its festivities with events honoring Finnish St. Urho's Day on March 16. In addition to the parade itself, Butte hosts several musical venues, a Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick Dinner, and (on the weekend closest to March 17) the Duggan Dolan Blarney Stone 5K Fun Run.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<b><u>Chicago, Illinois</u></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gn67ot1wenVzJALndASas2kScQgRFXdRdQF3TQxKwulduQBd6ntsLCPl1I8O2SXacuXEY71AacytJvVjen-aYDAV6dcdtVbc7KIk-RfSzlRymS6slyAPjvn8ZtQ8udUZH5_6B_fu8Wjs/s1600/Green+Chicago+River.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gn67ot1wenVzJALndASas2kScQgRFXdRdQF3TQxKwulduQBd6ntsLCPl1I8O2SXacuXEY71AacytJvVjen-aYDAV6dcdtVbc7KIk-RfSzlRymS6slyAPjvn8ZtQ8udUZH5_6B_fu8Wjs/s200/Green+Chicago+River.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Chicago River dyed green for </b><br />
<b>St. Patrick's Day</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The city of <city w:st="on">Chicago</city> has annually dyed the<place w:st="on">Chicago River</place> green each St. Patrick’s Day since 1962. They use 100 pounds of green vegetable dye… enough to keep the river green for up to a week.<br />
<br />
Additionally, Chicago has a South Side Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Temporarily suspended in 2010 when the organizers felt the parade had gotten too large to manage, the parade is once again regularly being offered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<u><b>San Antonio, Texas</b></u><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKFSWCTedHvEXC8RucjZv5tJ_rpVeApZ4bJLlvVaGmo_0AHY5_WDCrATptdBAgiNgMDsL6LQMOCSK0BlWCcdSKGc_zHmc9iT2RKOQPgYdnfkhTXGVEUlMq0kQ8xX4jZkeki4-h5AROFr7/s1600/San+Antonio.jpg" style="color: #436590; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKFSWCTedHvEXC8RucjZv5tJ_rpVeApZ4bJLlvVaGmo_0AHY5_WDCrATptdBAgiNgMDsL6LQMOCSK0BlWCcdSKGc_zHmc9iT2RKOQPgYdnfkhTXGVEUlMq0kQ8xX4jZkeki4-h5AROFr7/s200/San+Antonio.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Declaring the San Antonio River<br />to be the River Shannon</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not to be outdone by Chicago, San Antonio too dyes its river green... and crowds gather along the city's Riverwalk tourist zone to watch the San Antonio River officially renamed "The River Shannon" (after the longest river in Ireland). Once the river is appropriately emerald in color, the city hosts a "parade" of barges down the river.<br />
<br />
In addition to the river activities, San Antonio annually puts on a string of St. Patrick's Day activities including Irish musical performances on Arneson Stage and various Irish-themed games and food in La Villita.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border: medium;">
<b><u>Tampa, Florida</u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="border: medium;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts9dQJcpOXX15Qr95C_4r0v6By1EWlegwm8DVqVxRyLP0oMEWGxnmye8SU227cYdBzy3qzsltx52euiVMY0sS5WExvpyx72gwe7Sq2ThMLh5aikAxgqOshX_Y0W0uZHaNIj4SDSNtSCx8/s1600/riverogreen_fireboat+Tampa.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts9dQJcpOXX15Qr95C_4r0v6By1EWlegwm8DVqVxRyLP0oMEWGxnmye8SU227cYdBzy3qzsltx52euiVMY0sS5WExvpyx72gwe7Sq2ThMLh5aikAxgqOshX_Y0W0uZHaNIj4SDSNtSCx8/s1600/riverogreen_fireboat+Tampa.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Tampa's River O'Green Fest<br />on the Hillsborough River</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Among the latest entries to the river-dying cities, Tampa began dying part of its Hillsborough River green in 2012 after electing an Irish American mayor Bob Buckhorn. The ongoing greening of the Hillsborough is part of Tampa's larger "River O'Green Fest" that features live music, feats of strength competitions, sack races and potato tosses, among other activities.<br />
<br />
While 2012 was the first time Tampa had ever dyed its river green, the city did have a private sector precedent. A few years earlier -- 2009 -- the Tampa Attractions Association and Yacht StarShip Cruises had begun dying the city's Garrison Canal green for their own Irish recognition of the holiiday.</div>
<b><u>Indianapolis, Indiana</u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Indianapolis annually dyes its main canal green. The "Greening of the Canal" has taken place since 1997. Indianapolis hosts a major parade with an accompanying Parade Tent Party with free admission for access to the entertainment stage along with food vendors and a beer garden.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC8tAbuG6hT99MGPFNvsYlWLs6dzcPYVJL25yo8KvC78tta4CmNMsTE4DDwhZrpvB9IbxOFBxjQsK3vAnxidZM1NtEcQMbKae6uI1YpR57kGHxHsppNqT_zeHABnWBTmC0VGg9W4HeupK/s1600/Indianapolis+canals.png" style="color: #436590; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC8tAbuG6hT99MGPFNvsYlWLs6dzcPYVJL25yo8KvC78tta4CmNMsTE4DDwhZrpvB9IbxOFBxjQsK3vAnxidZM1NtEcQMbKae6uI1YpR57kGHxHsppNqT_zeHABnWBTmC0VGg9W4HeupK/s400/Indianapolis+canals.png" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><b>Indianapolis has dyed its canals green for St. Patrick's Day since 1997</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Indianapolis also hosts a 4-Mile Shamrock Run/Walk. In the evening, Indianapolis hosts "ShamRockin' the Circle," a free concert at its Monument Circle. Finally, the city awards an "Irish Citizen of the Year" for each year on St. Patrick's Day. For more information on the Indianapolis events, please see:</span><a href="http://www.indystpats.com/greening/index.htm" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.indystpats.com/greening/index.htm</a><br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>New Orleans, Louisiana</u></b><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">New Orleans actually has three major parades and celebrations annually for St. Patrick's Day. These go along with the strong neighborhood traditions of the city.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The Irish Channel Parade centers appropriately enough on the Irish Channel Neighborhood. The events begin there on St. Patrick's Day Eve at St. Mary's Assumption Church with a Mass there, followed by a the Irish Channel Saint Patrick's Day Parade and concluding with Tracey's St. Paddy's Day Party on Magazine Street as well as Saint Patrick's Day parties in various restaurants, such as the Parasol Block Party.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VNE38AhgRmHOxHrIOLY8x-jY1UWYobGR57xCtKpypokNcrda3BCU6BWe1Y1T1K_7ltaRfAKi17vOSgRZIlAgmCIo1LYVAU6ZdT8T2wjS8m3ZULs-1hWkoxFQCUo49fokcpGuYMFBYgKl/s1600/st-pats+cabbage+New+Orleans.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VNE38AhgRmHOxHrIOLY8x-jY1UWYobGR57xCtKpypokNcrda3BCU6BWe1Y1T1K_7ltaRfAKi17vOSgRZIlAgmCIo1LYVAU6ZdT8T2wjS8m3ZULs-1hWkoxFQCUo49fokcpGuYMFBYgKl/s320/st-pats+cabbage+New+Orleans.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Traditional "throws" in the New Orleans Downtown Parade<br />include Irish foods such as cabbages</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">On Saint Patrick's Day itself, New Orleans hosts the Downtown Irish Club Parade that runs from the Bywater area to Bourbon Street. In keeping with the New Orleans Mardi Gras custom of tossing "throws" to the crowd, participants on the various floats throw various Irish-themed items ranging from green beads and shamrocks to "Irish" food such as cabbages, carrots, onions and "moon-pies."</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Other Irish parades in the New Orleans area include the Molly at the Market's Irish Parade in the French Corner, the Irish Italian Isleno Parade in St. Bernard Parish (usually in the first week of March), and the Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade in Metairie (on the week following St. Patrick's Day)</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>Cincinnati, Ohio</u></b><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Cincinnati hosts a month of Irish-related events sprinkled through the weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day itself when the city opens up to its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The events include Irish music concerts and special masses. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIsCugVuiqj8QPmz4kfUCcduJhLSzlCUhL8hyFUf0kAbnT4zrnYA5BmXH9C5laig7q8ZgsTyuvChntKxUUeklT34z_9aJJnXw_s5WFmQ86lrt86xBSzsdhIB6OD_RZQ4G_3ysUNiPfEMQ/s1600/Cincinnati+state+of+St.+Patrick.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIsCugVuiqj8QPmz4kfUCcduJhLSzlCUhL8hyFUf0kAbnT4zrnYA5BmXH9C5laig7q8ZgsTyuvChntKxUUeklT34z_9aJJnXw_s5WFmQ86lrt86xBSzsdhIB6OD_RZQ4G_3ysUNiPfEMQ/s200/Cincinnati+state+of+St.+Patrick.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="132" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>The "Stealing of St. Patrick"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Perhaps the most unique event for the holiday, though, is the annual "Stealing of St. Patrick." Following mass on the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day, members of Cincinnati's chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians dressed in kilts march up the steep incline to the top of Mount Adams to Immaculata Church where they remove the 6-foot (1.82 meter) statue of St. Patrick. After this, they parade the statue through the streets in a sort of mini-parade accompanied by bagpipers before returning the statue to its place. This odd tradition began with a prank in 1970 (when a formerly German parish merged with a primarily Irish one), and after that, the prank became an annual tradition.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">For more on the "Stealing of St. Patrick," please see:</span><br />
<a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120218/NEWS0103/302180035/Annual-prank-kick-off-St-Patrick-s-Day-activities" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120218/NEWS0103/302180035/Annual-prank-kick-off-St-Patrick-s-Day-activities</a><br />
<br />
<u style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Rock City Illinois/Davenport, Iowa</b></u><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmYxEC_CBcrNC5OCdxslkcely31w-DkJATXeZZxr8WMAZV8jjmuBOxMm_QwSX7grC3uKe4kc_tsq9yZ91xJtmjVjbDhapTpiqdaIeUAdtN6gvSQU2nFo5qWdXMaTj6c_xpSiHFEguRt0G/s1600/Centennial+Bridge.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmYxEC_CBcrNC5OCdxslkcely31w-DkJATXeZZxr8WMAZV8jjmuBOxMm_QwSX7grC3uKe4kc_tsq9yZ91xJtmjVjbDhapTpiqdaIeUAdtN6gvSQU2nFo5qWdXMaTj6c_xpSiHFEguRt0G/s320/Centennial+Bridge.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>The Quad Cities' Grand Parade<br />crosses the Mississippi from Illinois to Iowa</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Promoted as the "only interstate St.Patrick's Day Parade in the USA," the Grand Parade in the Quad Cities region runs from Rock Island, Illinois across the Centennial Bridge over the Mississippi River into Davenport, Iowa.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The Grand Parade attracts tens of thousands of viewers along its route for over a quarter of a century to watch a range of floats, marching bands and bagpipers. </span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Prizes are awarded annually for best Irish-themed and non-Irish-themed floats, best "Irish Family Walking Unit", best school group and "Most Unique Entry."</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">For more on the Quad Cities Saint Patrick Day festivities, please see:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.stpatsqc.com/GrandParade.htm" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.stpatsqc.com/GrandParade.htm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<u style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Salt Lake City, Utah</b></u><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEiL_NdmAAIjfc6B_LF-Z2n1CYCWC7TMnpLrV496AfPlSD0Arvlno09zUWOMxm7fI2vs7LkacSn_5bPYFQ_88K-i4UWBvGAxV2R-EDnUvcPHAERjvx6Iu_PpJOL8CF3ubZ2Oo-i3xP3rQ/s1600/Siamsa_020.88123707_large.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEiL_NdmAAIjfc6B_LF-Z2n1CYCWC7TMnpLrV496AfPlSD0Arvlno09zUWOMxm7fI2vs7LkacSn_5bPYFQ_88K-i4UWBvGAxV2R-EDnUvcPHAERjvx6Iu_PpJOL8CF3ubZ2Oo-i3xP3rQ/s200/Siamsa_020.88123707_large.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Dancers at Salt Lake City's Siamsa</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The Hibernian Society of Utah holds a series of major events annual in Salt Lake City. The Hibernian Society sponsors as might be expected the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade but also many other activities.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The Society sponsors a St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church (followed by a corned beef and cabbage meal there) and an annual Siamsa (gathering of traditional Irish entertainment -- in Gaelic Siamsa means "entertainment of the land"). The Siamsa features Irish dancers, Irish musicians and Irish food and drink. Finally, the activities conclude with the annual "Night With The Irish Poets."</span><br />
<br />
<u style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>O'Neill, Nebraska</b></u><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifv5vY38d9u7MmsCjFgRt-PAUCY5qTMpInbny9QiKw_79JKLzT1k_kBnhBRVLHoJk6OoXXZZ3qyHq9Q2u1upWcxIN4zNDSl1IL4Cp-lC9TZLGsMw0cYF9sL_3QXx0vaHvDbU8XFEtFLA09/s1600/O'Neill+Nebraska+giant+shamrock.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifv5vY38d9u7MmsCjFgRt-PAUCY5qTMpInbny9QiKw_79JKLzT1k_kBnhBRVLHoJk6OoXXZZ3qyHq9Q2u1upWcxIN4zNDSl1IL4Cp-lC9TZLGsMw0cYF9sL_3QXx0vaHvDbU8XFEtFLA09/s320/O'Neill+Nebraska+giant+shamrock.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>O'Neill, Nebraska's annual painting<br />of the "World's Largest Shamrock"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The northern Nebraskan town of O'Neill proclaims itself on the sign entering the city limits as the "Irish Capital of Nebraska" and as such Saint Patrick's Day is the annual highpoint for Irish celebration. </span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Each year on Saint Patrick's, the city's 3500-plus residents paint what is billed as the "World's Largest Shamrock" on its main intersection. The giant shamrock, in turn, becomes the focal point for O'Neill's St. Patrick's Day festivities featuring a large parade with a St. Patrick's Day King and Queen, a Fun-Run and culminating in a major performance by Irish dancers.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">For more on the O'Neill St. Patrick's Day festivities, please see: </span><a href="http://www.oneillchamber.org/" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.oneillchamber.org/</a><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>New London, Wisconsin</u></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVghzJwzcABMXIk5P-YVjzddicwDzaySmmBoeIOYkVHX5FwBouJUmlcpc6QkY6BbTTpHaQmFDX6nPH7XkFF5PvCD9qwIszaWvusJgHFQ_Idin2wKP2g7cfLlbW8kKiymbKLdEx74Nd3zgb/s1600/NewDublin-leprechauns.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVghzJwzcABMXIk5P-YVjzddicwDzaySmmBoeIOYkVHX5FwBouJUmlcpc6QkY6BbTTpHaQmFDX6nPH7XkFF5PvCD9qwIszaWvusJgHFQ_Idin2wKP2g7cfLlbW8kKiymbKLdEx74Nd3zgb/s200/NewDublin-leprechauns.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Leprechauns annually rename</b><br />
<b>New London to New Dublin for </b><br />
<b>the week leading to St. Patrick's Day</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Each year in the week leading up to St. Patrick's Day, a group of leprechauns change the name signs entering the town from New London to New Dublin. This annual tradition of the members of the "Shamrock Club of New Dublin" initiates a week-long celebration of Irish activities that swells population of the north-central Wisconsin town of under 8000.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">New London/New Dublin sponsors a week-long event called the Irish Fest. The Irish Fest features an Irish céili of traditional Irish music and dancing accompanied by Irish food.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Despite the small size of the host town, the New Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade annually features around 125 groups featuring various floats, marching bands, bagpipers, clowns and the like.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnfBDi1HNGN2_SYNWZJe-LGXG3KzT-OGKJTizs6avzyMwfjPyHVv8ed4Xib9aRbh73BSyjNTYZxs8lCUxPkxNjt7wAbKje8CxKFf2BQ6biyIKGIDcgCha5AdkXkxmzQp_MdA6uslJlRPg/s1600/Finnegan's+Wake+New+London,+Wisconsin.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnfBDi1HNGN2_SYNWZJe-LGXG3KzT-OGKJTizs6avzyMwfjPyHVv8ed4Xib9aRbh73BSyjNTYZxs8lCUxPkxNjt7wAbKje8CxKFf2BQ6biyIKGIDcgCha5AdkXkxmzQp_MdA6uslJlRPg/s320/Finnegan's+Wake+New+London,+Wisconsin.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>The New Dublin Finnegan's Wake re-enactment</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Arguably the most unique feature of the New Dublin St. Patrick's Day celebrations, though, is the annual Finnegan's Wake, begun as a joke in 1983 and repeated every year thereafter. This parody of the Irish classic song features a green hearse that drives through the main street with a wicker coffin. The wicker coffin is taken from the hearse and carried through the streets while periodically outs pops a mannequin of the not-so-dead Finnegan. </span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">For more on the New London/"New Dublin" festivities, please see:</span><a href="http://www.newdublin.com/" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.newdublin.com/</a><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>Hot Springs, Arkansas</u></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEile4fAElO3rjfbuOt9vFAj0J26mpblcVV0CcgpX1HhfArFVXxOiVQckAD85FveNmAv_jEu5-ni19fqcj9B_OG2bNPvLVTkLBBziDOeZuMRweuB2EYR9f2IECoZHRX8iNsz8sY07vGkB50h/s1600/Hot+Springs+parade.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEile4fAElO3rjfbuOt9vFAj0J26mpblcVV0CcgpX1HhfArFVXxOiVQckAD85FveNmAv_jEu5-ni19fqcj9B_OG2bNPvLVTkLBBziDOeZuMRweuB2EYR9f2IECoZHRX8iNsz8sY07vGkB50h/s200/Hot+Springs+parade.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>World's shortest parade</b><br />
<b>at Hot Springs</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Home to neither the oldest nor the largest parade, Hot Springs' St. Patrick's Day Parade has made the record books for the </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">shortest</i><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">parade. Every March 17, Hot Springs runs a parade along Bridge Street whose mere 98 feet (29.87 meters) -- which is in the record books (both Guinness and Ripley's Believe It Or Not) as the shortest city street. Although the parade travels less than a football field in length, it goes on for over an hour of floats, bands, musicians, leashed Irish wolfhounds and invited celebrities. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MCtvSd8b6RY7d90FW0DAbwzGqubqesWpvbujo0VBsdgxLKLgPHAOKLzHXlka0rh7RoZ40GDm27CwIYf_DYSVPIXTzESmzMR7uGh-IzAzQnANMetgjI0GxUPq3b21f6eOPHVzJyw2WQIK/s1600/Hot+Springs+Blarney+Stone.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MCtvSd8b6RY7d90FW0DAbwzGqubqesWpvbujo0VBsdgxLKLgPHAOKLzHXlka0rh7RoZ40GDm27CwIYf_DYSVPIXTzESmzMR7uGh-IzAzQnANMetgjI0GxUPq3b21f6eOPHVzJyw2WQIK/s200/Hot+Springs+Blarney+Stone.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Hot Springs Blarney Stone Kissing Contest</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
The world's shortest parade, however, is not all Hot Springs has to offer for St. Patrick's Day. Before the parade, the city conducts a Blarney Stone Kissing Contest. Finally, following the parade, Hot Springs then opens the town up to street dances and open-air entertainment. For more on the Hot Springs festivities, please see:</div>
<a href="http://www.shorteststpats.com/" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.shorteststpats.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>Other Cities in the United States</u></b><br />
<br />
<div style="border: medium;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">What follows is a list of 342 St. Patrick's Day parades in the United States for 2024. The list does not include the many St. Patrick's Day festivals or 5K runs and bar crawls elsewhere -- only parades. There are probably more (please help me update the list. I have tried my best to keep this current (for example, adding the inaugural Denham Springs, Louisiana; Milford, Pennsylvania; West Peoria, Illinois; and Cheboygan, Michigan parades for 2024), The list is divided by US region for easier identification of a parade near you.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b>New England (33)</b></div>
<ul style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Abington, Massachusetts </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bath, Maine</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bennington, Vermont</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bondville, Vermont</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Boston, Massachusetts</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bridgeport, Connecticut</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Yarmouth)</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Danbury</span><span style="color: #274e13;">,</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Essex, Connecticut</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Greenwich, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Hartford, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Holyoke, Massachusetts</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Lawrence, Massachusetts</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Manchester, New Hampshire</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Milford, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Mystic, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">New Haven, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">New London, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Newport, Rhode Island</i></b><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Norwalk, Connecticut</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Norwich, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Old Orchard Beach, Maine</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Pawtucket, Rhode Island</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Portland, Maine </span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Providence, Rhode Island</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Saint Alban's, Vermont</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Scituate, Massachusetts </span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Springfield, Massachusetts</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Stamford, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Waterbury, Connecticut</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">West Warwick, Rhode Island</span></i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Worcester, Massachusetts</span></i></b></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b>Mid-Atlantic (101)</b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Albany, New York</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Allentown, Pennsylvania </span></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Amagansett, New York</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Asbury Park, New Jersey</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Atlantic City, New Jersey </span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Baltimore, Maryland</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bay Shore, New York</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bayonne, New Jersey</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bayport-Blue Point (Sayville), New York</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bay Ridge, New York</span></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bayside (Queens), New York</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Beacon, New York</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Belmar, New Jersey </span></i></b></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bergenfield, New Jersey</span></i></b></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bethpage, New York (Nassau County)</span></i></b></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Binghamton, New York</span></i></b></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Brentwood, New York</span></i></b></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Brookhaven, New York</span></i></b></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Buffalo, New York</span></i></b></i></b></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Center Moriches, New York</span></i></b></i></b></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Chesterton, New York</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Conshohocken, Pennsylvania</span></i></b></i></b></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><b><i><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Dover, Delaware</span></i></b></i></b></i></b></i></b></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Dutchess County, New York</span></i></b></i></b></i></b></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">East Islip, New York</span></i></b></i></b></i></b></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rutherford, New Jersey</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Eastchester, New York</span></em></strong></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Freehold, New Jersey</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Gaithersburg, Maryland (Greater Washington, DC)</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Girardville, Pennsylvania</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Glen Cove, New York (Long Island) </span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Gloucester City, New Jersey</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Goshen/Mid-Hudson, New York</span></em></strong></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Greenwood Lake, New York</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Hackettstown, New Jersey</span></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Hamilton, New Jersey</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Harrisburg, Pennsylvania</span></i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Highlands, New Jersey</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Hoboken, New Jersey</span></i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #38761d;"><i>Hoosick Falls, New York </i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #38761d;"><i>Huntington, New York</i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #38761d;"><i>Jamesport, New York</i></b></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #38761d;"><i>Jersey City, New Jersey</i></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Keansburg, New Jersey</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Keyport, New Jersey</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Kings Park, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Kingston, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Lake George, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Mamaroneck (Sound Shore), New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Medford (Burlington County), New Jersey</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Milford, Pennsylvania</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Milton, Delaware</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Mineola New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Montauk, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Morristown, New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>New York, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Newark, Delaware</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Newark, New Jersey</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Newton, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>North Wildwood (Cape May), New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Nutley, New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Ocean City, Maryland</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Old Forge, New York</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Oswego, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Patchogue, New York </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Pearl River, New York</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Peekskill, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Pittston, Pennsylvania</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Ringwood, New Jersey</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Robinsville, New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rochester, New York</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><b><i>Rockaway, New York</i></b></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rockville Centre, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rocky Point, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Ronkonkoma, New York</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rumson (Red Bank), New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Saint James, New York</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Saranac Lake, New York</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Scranton, Pennsylvania</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Sea Isle, New Jersey</span></em></strong></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Seaside Heights, New Jersey</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Somerville, New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>South Amboy, New Jersey </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><b><i>Staten Island, New York</i></b></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Syracuse, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, New York</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Throggs Neck (the Bronx), New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Trenton, New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Union, New Jersey</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Utica, New York </i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Wappingers Falls, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Washington, DC</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>West Orange, New Jersey</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Westhampton Beach, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>White Plains, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Wildwood, New Jersey</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Williamsport, Pennsylvania</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Wilmington, Delaware </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Woodbridge, New Jersey</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Woodside/Sunnyside, New York</i></b></span></li><li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Yonkers, New York</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>York, Pennsylvania </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b>South (79)</b></div>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Atlanta, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Augusta, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Austin, Texas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Baton Rouge, Louisiana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Biloxi, Mississippi</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Birmingham. Alabama </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cape Coral, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Charleston, South Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Charlotte, North Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Columbia, South Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Conyers, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cottleville, Missouri</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Dallas, Texas</i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Delray Beach, Florida</i></b></span></li><li style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><b><i>Denham Springs, Louisiana</i></b></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Dublin, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Dublin, Texas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Erin/Houston County, Tennessee</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Fayetteville, Arkansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Fort Lauderdale, Florida</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Fort Smith, Arkansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Fort Worth, Texas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Fredericksburg, Virginia</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Greenville, North Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Greenville, South Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hendersonville, North Carolina </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Hilton Head, South Carolina</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hollywood, Florida </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hot Springs, Arkansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Huntsville, Alabama</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Jackson, Mississippi</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Jamesport, Virginia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Jensen Beach, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Kansas City, Missouri</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Lake Jackson, Texas</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Key Largo, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Lake Worth, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Little Rock, Arkansas </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Long Beach (Gulf Coast), Mississippi</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Louisville, Kentucky</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Madison County (Huntsville), Alabama</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Manassas, Virginia (Greater Washington, DC) </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Marco Island, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Memphis, Tennessee</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Mobile, Alabama</i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Myrtle Beach, South Carolina</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Nag's Head, North Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Naples, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Nashville, Tennessee </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>New Orleans, Louisiana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Norfolk, Virginia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Onancock, Virginia </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Pass Christian, Mississippi</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Pinehurst, North Carolina</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Raleigh, North Carolina</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Roanoke, Virginia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Rock Hill, South Carolina</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rolla, Missouri </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Saint Augustine, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands</b></i></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Saint Louis, Missouri </i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>San Antonio (Alamo), Texas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Savannah, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Shamrock, Texas</b></i></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sherman, Texas</span></i></span></span></b></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Shreveport, Louisiana</b></i></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Spotsylvania (Fredericksburg), Virginia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Spring, Texas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Springfield, Missouri</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Tallahassee, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Tampa, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Townsend, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Tybee Island, Georgia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Vero Beach, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Waveland, Mississippi</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>West Palm Beach, Florida</i></b></span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Wilmington, North Carolina</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Winter Park, Florida</i></b></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b>Midwest and </b><b>Great Plains (82)</b></div>
<ul style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Akron, Ohio</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bay City, Michigan </i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Boardman, Ohio</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Calvin, North Dakota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cedar Rapids, Iowa </i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cheboygan, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cincinnati, Ohio</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Clare, Michigan </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cleveland, Ohio </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Crosslake, Minnesota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Crown Point, Indiana</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Davenport, Iowa</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Deadwood, South Dakota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Des Moines, Iowa </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Detroit, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Dublin, Ohio</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Dyersville, Iowa</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Emmetsburg, Iowa</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Erin, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Fond du Lac, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Fox Lake, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Gaylord, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Galena, Illinois</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Grand Ledge, Michigan</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Grand Rapids, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Green Bay, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hastings, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Holland, Michigan</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Hopkins, Minnesota</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Huntington, West Virginia</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Indianapolis, Indiana</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Ireland, Indiana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Kalamazoo, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>La Crosse, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Lake Villa, Illinois</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Lawrence, Kansas </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Ludington, Michigan</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Madison, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Manhattan, Kansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Manitowoc, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Maple Lake, Minnesota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Milwaukee, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Minneapolis, Minnesota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Monroe, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Muncie, Indiana</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Muskegon, Michigan </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Naperville, Illinois</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>New London, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">New Ulm, Minnesota</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Omaha, Nebraska </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>O'Neill, Nebraska</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Oshkosh, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Palatine, Illinois</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Pierre, South Dakota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Plymouth, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Port Huron, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Portsmouth, Ohio</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Racine, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rhinelander, Wisconsin</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">River Falls, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Rock City, Illinois</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Royal Oak (Detroit area), Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Saint Charles, Illinois</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Saint Paul, Minnesota </i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Saint Peter, Minnesota</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Saugatuck, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Shawnee, Kansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Sioux Falls, South Dakota</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Siren, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">South Bend, Indiana</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Springfield, Illinois</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Toledo (Lucas County), Ohio</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Topeka, Kansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Traverse City, Michigan</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Wentzville, Missouri</i></b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>West Peoria, Illinois</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Wichita, Kansas</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Youngstown, Ohio</i></span></b></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b>West (47)</b></div>
<ul style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Anaconda, Montana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bellingham, Washington</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Billings, Montana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Bremerton, Washington</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Butte, Montana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cashmere, Washington </i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Cody, Wyoming</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Coeur d'Alene, Idaho</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Colorado Springs, Colorado</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Denver, Colorado</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Dublin, California</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Fort Collins, Colorado</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Great Falls, Montana</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Healdsburg, California</b></i></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Helena, Montana</b></i></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Henderson</b></i><b><i>, Nevada</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Heppner, Oregon</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hermosa Beach, California</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hilo, Hawaii</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Hillsboro, Oregon</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #38761d;"><i>Honolulu (Waikiki Beach), Hawaii</i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #38761d;"><i>Ketchikan, Alaska</i></b></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Kingman (Chloride), Arizona</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Lake Oswego, Oregon</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Leederville, Washington</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Long Beach, California</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Missoula, Montana</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Pendleton, Oregon</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Petersburg, Alaska</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Phoenix, Arizona</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Portland, Oregon</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Price City, Utah</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Ronan, Montana</span></em></strong></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Sacramento, California</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Salt Lake City, Utah</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>San Diego, California</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>San Francisco, California</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Sedona, Arizona </i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Soldotna, Alaska</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Spokane, Washington</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Springdale, Utah</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i></i></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Tucson, Arizona</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Twin Falls, Idaho</i></b></span></li>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b></b></span>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Ventura, California</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Virginia City, Nevada</i></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Vista, California</i></b></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
If I missed your city, please forgive me... and add a note about it in the comments section if you would like to do so.</div>
<br />
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Saint Patrick's Day in Australia</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Just under a third of Australians claim Irish heritage and the celebration of St. Patrick's Day has a long and very strong tradition in the country. The Irish population of Australia is closely tied to the country's founding as a penal colony of England. Beginning as early as 1791, Irish political dissenters were forcibly "transported" to Australia for speaking out against the British occupation of Ireland. While Irish opponents to English rule were sent to Australia in every year between 1791 and the end of the policy in 1867, a great number of Irish transplants came in three great waves of forced Irish transportation: the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the 1803 Irish Rising, and during the Great Famine of the 1840's with the resultant violent clashes between the Young Ireland movement and the British authorities.</div>
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Many towns and cities in Australia offer St. Patrick's Day events. Two of the most notable are those in Sydney and Brisbane.</div>
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>Sydney</u></b><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The Sydney St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of the largest in the world outside the United States. The Sydney parade is also one of the oldest St. Patrick's Day parades outside the United States, dating to 1810. </span><br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Sydney's St. Patrick's Day Parade is the only major such parade in the world that is entirely hosted by the Irish Community alone. The parade has themes and, following a tradition practiced in Brisbane (see below), the 2012 will have a theme of historical education. The seven themes from which entrants can choose include Ireland of the Past, 1788 (the year of the first Irish in Sydney), Convincts & Rebels, Free Settlers, the Modern Irish in Australia, Ireland of the Present, and Cultural Connections (a sort of catch-all category).</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTTWmW3tvGy7iM4KeCNFi0pPB9kqY0OqQL8WmEJ9BaLVJkhRHUfWwurdhIyp-XqfsBoDDWPauhNxzKAJHvIYaDgofqcHxHtVe6hP77YBhUSw_LYpkUbVSwxOiwZqJTTGj8IVvQkD0U0yg/s1600/Sydney+Opera+House+Lit+Green+St+Patrick+Day+IFY_sdFLBr1l.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTTWmW3tvGy7iM4KeCNFi0pPB9kqY0OqQL8WmEJ9BaLVJkhRHUfWwurdhIyp-XqfsBoDDWPauhNxzKAJHvIYaDgofqcHxHtVe6hP77YBhUSw_LYpkUbVSwxOiwZqJTTGj8IVvQkD0U0yg/s200/Sydney+Opera+House+Lit+Green+St+Patrick+Day+IFY_sdFLBr1l.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Sydney's Opera House lit up in green</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
In addition to the parade itself, Sydney hosts a Gaels Got Talent Contest, Bachelor of the Year Contest (of whom the 10 finalists ride on a float in the parade), and an Irish-themed Family Day in Hyde Park North which showcases the winners of the Gaels Got Talent Contest before an annual crowd of 30,000.</div>
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Finally, Sydney is famous for its annual tradition of bathing the iconic Sydney Opera House in green lights for the event. For more on the Sydney activities, please see </span><br />
<a href="http://www.stpatricksday.org.au/st-patricks-day-parade/" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.stpatricksday.org.au/st-patricks-day-parade/</a><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>Brisbane</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyCmoV8h_820cguWQnEWEwxjaYZ-_buPh3_DESwdSrfGjSI_Gye5Z561wm6KUjaIGF4scDbTjTaeVIVmDa607mD51JnQql2nXJmed4smtTfa1vBhMxuYMWFxgQ7IVeQSSBb18Xeq930S8/s1600/Brisbane+Irish+festival.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyCmoV8h_820cguWQnEWEwxjaYZ-_buPh3_DESwdSrfGjSI_Gye5Z561wm6KUjaIGF4scDbTjTaeVIVmDa607mD51JnQql2nXJmed4smtTfa1vBhMxuYMWFxgQ7IVeQSSBb18Xeq930S8/s200/Brisbane+Irish+festival.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">Brisbane celebrates St. Patrick's Day with the 4-day Brisbane Irish Festival. The activities are highly varied ranging from an Irish Film Night to Irish sporting events to historical lectures at the state library. The city hosts music venues from those featuring Irish traditional music to those with modern performers. For example, the 2013 Irish Festival features the Irish-based Finbar Furey and </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Australia’s Murphy’s Pigs, and </span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">the 2012 Irish Festival featured Ireland's The Cranberries and Australia's Wolfmother, for example).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The Brisbane Parade is traditionally based on the theme of the Irish historical story, featuring floats and participants dressed as cane cutters, gold miners, teachers, widows and orphans and so on. This is a theme now adopted by the Sydney parade as well. For more on the Brisbane Irish Festival, please see</span><br />
<a href="http://www.brisbaneirishfestival.com.au/" style="color: #436590; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.brisbaneirishfestival.com.au/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Saint Patrick's Day in England</span></b></div>
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The histories of Ireland and England are closely intertwined and, to say the least, highly complex and multi-layered. The Irish have settled there historically when Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, when leaving the newly independent Republic of Ireland for political or religious reasons, and (as notably a factor again during Ireland's current financial crisis) for economic opportunity. Attitudes in England toward celebrations of Irish ethincity have waxed and waned over the years. Currently, attitudes are at what may be their most favorable ever. In short, it is a good time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in England.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u>Birmingham</u></b><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">England's largest concentration of people with Irish heritage is in the Midlands, and the highest concentration of in the Midlands is in Birmingham. As one would therefore expect, Birmingham's seven-day St. Patrick's Day Festival is the largest such event in the United Kingdom. Over the week, over 100,000 people come to the events that include Irish musical and dance venues, comedy performances, and food throughout the city but especially concentrated around Millennium Point and the city center areas. The parade itself has over 1000 marchers, more than 60 elaborate floats, antique vehicles and children carrying the flags of the 32 counties of Ireland. In an attempt at inclusiveness, the Birmingham parade also has marchers representing the Polish, Chinese and Indian communities. </span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpNbkwMKDo7EEaJC-hImrQuPeHaVzT6JGh3iXZOYZ3ebz7RoNtK_bsAdPnOEtsLYptIqKjFY2DBb0Wafd4h6B6SN0GBfp33kdXwtDXoeLorIPxsYzBc6SQBYhyphenhyphenlJOC4D4FSFqVY864rtI/s1600/Birmingham.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpNbkwMKDo7EEaJC-hImrQuPeHaVzT6JGh3iXZOYZ3ebz7RoNtK_bsAdPnOEtsLYptIqKjFY2DBb0Wafd4h6B6SN0GBfp33kdXwtDXoeLorIPxsYzBc6SQBYhyphenhyphenlJOC4D4FSFqVY864rtI/s200/Birmingham.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Birmingham's St. Patrick's Day pipers</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">The feature, however, for which the Birmingham St. Patrick's Day Parade is most famous is the gathering of the pipers at its conclusion. When the parade marchers have completed, all of the bagpipers who were in the parade (and this usually involves a very large number) assemble for the massing of the pipers. They then perform for the gathered crowd. For more on the Birmingham St. Patrick's Festival, please see: </span><br />
<div style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://stpatricksbirmingham.com/the-parade/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">ttp://stpatricksbirmingham.com/the-parade/</a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<b><u>Manchester</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Annually for 16 days to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, Manchester hosts the Manchester Irish Festival. This is the most extensive Irish festival in the United Kingdom, with an enormous variety of activities. These</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqeCAtg0YZXFvjyobCdFMPQG4FdkWanbCtfo86YbANTW_izLVITUQ_p2rJCK3umzdcvPyqetVsbYzUCBqXxRYGRAYZrfWUCffBrCmJ81T0_obCQv5EXvjGdUfvortRZwRTjnyM6GPQf2I/s1600/Manchester+Tradfest.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqeCAtg0YZXFvjyobCdFMPQG4FdkWanbCtfo86YbANTW_izLVITUQ_p2rJCK3umzdcvPyqetVsbYzUCBqXxRYGRAYZrfWUCffBrCmJ81T0_obCQv5EXvjGdUfvortRZwRTjnyM6GPQf2I/s200/Manchester+Tradfest.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Manchester Tradfest musicians</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
include Irish traditional and contemporary musical venues, dance performances, dinner galas, lectures on geneaology and academic subjects, contests (from Irish trivia to darts) and Irish comedy acts. The center also opens up Albert Square for four days to a Festival Community Market. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The centerpiece of the Manchester Irish Fare, though, is its now world-famous Tradfest (for Traditional Irish music and dance) including a Battle of the Bands. Overall, the Manchester Irish Festival is far too extensive to explain in any great detail here. Indeed, the 2012 festival booklet goes on for 64 pages of activities. To look at the booklet, please see<a href="http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/manchester_irish_festival_2012_brochure/index.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/manchester_irish_festival_2012_brochure/index.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>London</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwLWgylCazCyKIrC5EzVPJAQHMCalIt_dbBEysa5OI9le4wogMuBFkYLFwBmfsciiRLTTGFXIxjtFx9kKLCPct_u60HmKmOzmgT3PykhFHGfY9JjZ493uJkkfOqYL4XxShw0ODRxr5POW/s1600/London+St+Pats+Festival.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwLWgylCazCyKIrC5EzVPJAQHMCalIt_dbBEysa5OI9le4wogMuBFkYLFwBmfsciiRLTTGFXIxjtFx9kKLCPct_u60HmKmOzmgT3PykhFHGfY9JjZ493uJkkfOqYL4XxShw0ODRxr5POW/s200/London+St+Pats+Festival.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>St. Patrick's Day stage </b><br />
<b>at Trafalgar Square, London</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
London's St. Patrick's Day Parade draws about 100,000 spectators annually as it wends its way from Green Park to Trafalgar Square. London held its first St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1996 and has held one each year since. While the parade itself is the main event with its musical performances, floats and marching bands, the distinguishing hallmark of the London celebration is the free open-air concert at Trafalgar Square that runs from the parade's end into the night. On stage, Irish musicians and dancers perform for the crowds while booths selling souvenirs, food and traditional arts and crafts contribute to the festive environment. For more on the London St. Patrick's Day Parade, please see</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/stpatricks" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.london.gov.uk/stpatricks</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Other English St. Patrick's Day Events</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In recent years, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day has grown more and more widespread in England. While it is not possible to list all these events, it may be worthwhile to point out some of the more notable ones. These would include those at Crawley, Huddersfield, Kent, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and Nottingham.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">St. Patrick's Day in Canada</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador officially recognizes St. Patrick's Day as a provincial holiday. While there is no actual annual special event in that province, there are several elsewhere in the country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Vancouver, British Columbia</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2p0fxTJAy1UGOojyykGw8NmadDX7Sw8tpOVlYU2PUJVomgNGPvF4g14zhc2vxyOCTHvsp-1Ea7GyBgsfw2B2le0tZbMkF0wITivik3zR6hTRajO41YDTytvQSYjieIWNBOiy1dG6m0cs/s1600/logo-2011-celticfest++Vancouver.png" style="clear: right; color: #436590; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2p0fxTJAy1UGOojyykGw8NmadDX7Sw8tpOVlYU2PUJVomgNGPvF4g14zhc2vxyOCTHvsp-1Ea7GyBgsfw2B2le0tZbMkF0wITivik3zR6hTRajO41YDTytvQSYjieIWNBOiy1dG6m0cs/s1600/logo-2011-celticfest++Vancouver.png" style="border: medium; position: relative;" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Each year, Vancouver hosts a week-long CelticFest with both traditional and contemporary music performances. Vancouver's CelticFest is the largest such event in the country. This is accompanied throughout the week by what it calls the Celtic Village with various activity tents, wandering "royalty" dressed in costumes, and booths with food, drink, and arts and crafts. The city has also hosted a St. Patrick's Day Parade since 2004. Finally, Vancouver hosts an annual 5K St. Patrick's Day Fun Run which serves as a fundraiser for Canadian Children's Diabetes organizations. For more on Vancouver's CelticFest, please see<a href="http://www.celticfestvancouver.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.celticfestvancouver.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Montreal, Quebec</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAORF0e2wPvtLMDILGVuGMYmRIneM-ugxi4Mi6Dm7_Lo68avJrxOphgZuQkeuMRgwbjxYMJFFzydEaOB6B5GrA-Hye53YnMp2cNbihMGsRdZ4Qqd3lklAbfk-piNDtYV03qKiaT2yqS5Y/s1600/montreal_st_patricks_day_29.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAORF0e2wPvtLMDILGVuGMYmRIneM-ugxi4Mi6Dm7_Lo68avJrxOphgZuQkeuMRgwbjxYMJFFzydEaOB6B5GrA-Hye53YnMp2cNbihMGsRdZ4Qqd3lklAbfk-piNDtYV03qKiaT2yqS5Y/s200/montreal_st_patricks_day_29.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Montreal St. Patrick's Day float</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Canada's oldest annual St. Patrick's Day parade is that in Montreal, as befits a city whose official flag has a shamrock as one of the four symbols. Montreal held its first Saint Patrick's Day Parade in 1824, although the Irish community had been celebrating the day with a formal Saint Patrick's Day dinner since at least 1817. The city also crowns a St. Patrick's Day Queen (and two princesses). Finally special citywide masses are held in St. Gabriel's Church for the Feast of Saint Patrick and in commemoration of the deceased. For more on the Montreal St. Patrick's Day activities, please see:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.montrealirishparade.com/events.htm" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.montrealirishparade.com/events.htm</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Other Canadian Activities</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Several Canadian cities hold St. Patrick's Day parades. Among these are Canada's capital city of Ottawa as well as Toronto and Peterborough in Ontario; Montreal and Quebec City in Quebec; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Halifax, Nova Scotia hosts a modest parade and a substantial Irish Ceili of music and dance. Finally, Tignish in Prince Edward Island holds an annual (if fairly modestly-sized) Irish Heritage Festival for the holiday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">St. Patrick's Day Elsewhere in the World</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Because the Irish diaspora is so far-flung, celebrations of St. Patrick's Day are similarly far-flung. Wherever there is a community of people of Irish heritage, it is quite possible that some sort of celebration of St. Patrick's Day will take place. That said, some of the more notable countries with St. Patrick's Day traditions not already listed above would include those in Argentina, Mexico and Montserrat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Argentina</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Argentina is home to the largest Irish community in the non-English-speaking world, and the fifth largest Irish community outside of Ireland. Between 500,000 and 1 million Argentines claim Irish heritage. The Irish who came to Argentina did so not only to escape the economic hardships under English rule but also because -- unique among the main Irish destination countries -- Argentina was a primarily Roman Catholic nation, something that especially appealed to the more religious emigrants who faced religious discrimination at home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
While Cordoba, Rosario and other Argentine cities have St. Patrick's Day gatherings at pubs, the most significant celebration is the Buenos Aires <i>Fiesta de San Patricio.</i>BA actually has two San Patrick's Day Parades, one centered around the Plaza San Martin in Retiro and the other (appropriately enough) centered around the Plaza Irlanda in Caballito. Unlike most parades in the English-speaking world, both BA St. Patrick's Day Parade begin in the evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The tamer of the two parades is the one in Caballito. The Caballito celebration is more family-friendly and more focused on things that are actually Irish in nature. People gather at the Plaza Irlanda at roughly 6:00 PM with the parade beginning at roughly 7:00 PM. From 8:00 PM until midnight, Plaza Irlanda becomes the setting for an evening of Irish traditional dance and music performances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_cKaxeRVJCevrYqgN3A4hVHyq_E-UzXP6TY0wcMBZ3TQUvAYSQFOQHxo9iTcJ2JAhOfD22KpHF_GWEunL-8SglmjQNKAgkPKBC96ustBMIMbAVXHCxyDlzvgFWSwhIX0dtaLMJraigc/s1600/fiesta-san-patricio-buenos-aires-712738.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_cKaxeRVJCevrYqgN3A4hVHyq_E-UzXP6TY0wcMBZ3TQUvAYSQFOQHxo9iTcJ2JAhOfD22KpHF_GWEunL-8SglmjQNKAgkPKBC96ustBMIMbAVXHCxyDlzvgFWSwhIX0dtaLMJraigc/s1600/fiesta-san-patricio-buenos-aires-712738.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Reconquista Festejo de San Patricio</b><br />
<b>Buenos Aires</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The activities in Retiro, by contast, are much more of a party atmosphere. While most people dress in green and the parade has many leprechauns and other Irish themes, this parade is much more about partying and much less about things Irish per se. The parade begins at 7:00 PM and, following this, a 10-block area along Reconquista in the Retiro neighborhood is shut down to traffic until 7:00 AM. This then turns into an all-night open-air party and pub crawl that attracts roughly 50,000 people annually.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
For more background to the significance of the BA events, you may wish to read a somewhat scholarly (but still interesting) article on the Irish-Argentine celebrations of Saint Patrick's Day. This is <span style="font-family: inherit;">"Saint Patrick's Day in Buenos Aires: An Expression of Urban Folk Tradition," by María Inés Palleiro, Patricio Parente and Flora Delfino Kraft: <a href="http://www.irlandeses.org/0703palleiro4.htm" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.irlandeses.org/0703palleiro4.htm</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Mexico</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU-Hc_-6TzjnzQTeVQKqd9cr9_CU2Px61We3P53p2Qk6eJgS7DvU7oVlVujyHREYqlD7n3vowdZWiWH1GpwVCD_K-DgzRkefnBJFkJ5VEeC8-VbOR2J6VagoXXIkDKd-VUUGcySOXpHJa/s1600/9364-san_patricio.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU-Hc_-6TzjnzQTeVQKqd9cr9_CU2Px61We3P53p2Qk6eJgS7DvU7oVlVujyHREYqlD7n3vowdZWiWH1GpwVCD_K-DgzRkefnBJFkJ5VEeC8-VbOR2J6VagoXXIkDKd-VUUGcySOXpHJa/s1600/9364-san_patricio.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Mexican San Patricio</b><br />
<b>Commemorative Medal</b> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As with Argentina, Mexico received an influx of Irish immigrants seeking religious freedom in a primarily Roman Catholic nation. The largest wave of immigration came during the Great Famine of the 1840's and the Mexican army had an entire Irish battallion --significantly called the<span lang="es" xml:lang="es"><i>Batallón de San Patricio</i></span> -- fighting on its side in the US-Mexican War (1846-48). There are many interesting stories related to this. For example, many of the Irish who learned to fight in this war (and there were Irish on the US and Mexican sides) returned to Ireland well-trained and battle-hardened where they led skirmishes against the British. Other stories involve how Irish on both sides who refused to fire if faced with those flying green flags or other Irish symbols. For more on this aspect of the Irish in Mexico, please see Jim Estrada's "Why the Mexicans Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day": <a href="http://latinola.com/story.php?story=9364" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://latinola.com/story.php?story=9364</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
While many Mexicans celebrate Saint Patrick's Day as more of a religious feast day or as a day of historical recognition of the Irish to Mexican history, several Mexcan cities do have Irish-themed events in Irish pubs. Nowhere, though, is Saint Patrick's Day more openly celebrated than in the town that bears his name: San Patricio in Jalisco state.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kRvySOgMaLU0_OqUncu5iJjoCd5mWkgm1Sx8vhovCfv-5h5U5fteH_QF2CvSnpHiKNvVrsMsrd_ZENZHf6VIRrY8aI7CAxlce8wmFJDc4I0Dc7t6Gt-7EwdnGJoIv-pbAjJOT4_U6Wj2/s1600/San+Patricio,+Mexico.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kRvySOgMaLU0_OqUncu5iJjoCd5mWkgm1Sx8vhovCfv-5h5U5fteH_QF2CvSnpHiKNvVrsMsrd_ZENZHf6VIRrY8aI7CAxlce8wmFJDc4I0Dc7t6Gt-7EwdnGJoIv-pbAjJOT4_U6Wj2/s200/San+Patricio,+Mexico.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"> <b>Día de San Patricio parade</b><br />
<b>Melaque, Jalisco</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
San Patricio joins with its two neighboring towns of Melaque and Villa Obregón its annual <i>Fiesta del Torros y</i> <i><span style="color: black;">Día de San Patricio</span></i>. This is a week-long celebration that concludes on March 17 each year. The three towns sponsor (as the name suggests) bullfights and parades but also rodeo events, boxing matches, folk dance performances and nightly firework displays. The streets of Melaque are home to a carnival with booths and vendors for the entire week. Religious services are held to bless the fishing fleets in Saint Patrick's name and a special mass is held on Saint Patrick's Day itself. For more on these events, please see</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.tomzap.com/patrick.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.tomzap.com/patrick.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Montserrat</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDpeJrn7GWBbIAws-MsYghdpivB13XTARNTMttwEcGo4NZ49ItcuOMKmXyg7YbS9lhIKBF1a9KqqS18ezPQZ6X4sdKQi6jpZA-r-mTs9u8tuJTafqZjXEgNJi51fRLzAlaAMQSe_juFKV/s1600/montpaddymasks.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDpeJrn7GWBbIAws-MsYghdpivB13XTARNTMttwEcGo4NZ49ItcuOMKmXyg7YbS9lhIKBF1a9KqqS18ezPQZ6X4sdKQi6jpZA-r-mTs9u8tuJTafqZjXEgNJi51fRLzAlaAMQSe_juFKV/s200/montpaddymasks.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Montserrat St. Paddy's Day masks</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The British Oversea Territory of Montserrat recognizes Saint Patrick's Day as an official holiday, as befits the self-proclaimed "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean." While the Montserrat does not share Ireland's weather, it does share its greenness but more importantly, it shares a history. The island was founded in the 1600's by Irish refugees escaping from St. Kitts and Nevis. The Irish, welcomed by the largely African slave population, found a home at a time when many British territories were banned to them. The Irish worked as free men alongside the African slaves on Montserrat's sugar plantations and early on the two groups regularly intermarried. The result is today's unique Afro-Irish culture on Montserrat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Saint Patrick's Day Carnival of Montserrat last for a full week and is arguably the most distinctively unique of all Saint Patrick's Day celebrations worldwide. The islanders, as one might expect, carry shamrocks, wear green and drink plenty of Irish beer, but they also have performances of calypso, soca and steel band music in honor of Saint Patrick. Islanders also wear special masks for the day (which visitors might mistakenly be associated with Carnival in nearby Trinidad rather than St. Patrick's Day). While Montserrat does have a St. Patrick's Day Parade, the centerpiece of March 17 is actually the staged re-enactment of the St. Patrick's Day Slave Revolt that took place on the island in 1768.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u>Other Countries</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
St. Patrick's Day, as indicated before, is probably present wherever one finds significant numbers of people of Irish heritage. This list is meant to give only a taste of some of the traditions. In 2024, Lisbon, Portugal had its first Saint Patrick's Day Parade (sponsored by Guinness).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglsaVgLJNjJFAM8yMCeGeh_urHOGBMpuI5F_0ZiwmWGc0Xqn9tQeYelI9s2Ai_2yJtmJ0-TlOEI4qFPzeNTIYOZr51jM2wAixgflCYopEGFRE6ENpj9e0sRsV7amojrSw6ubvMj85M_xj/s1600/zzStPatricksDay13LittleMermaid_large.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #436590; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglsaVgLJNjJFAM8yMCeGeh_urHOGBMpuI5F_0ZiwmWGc0Xqn9tQeYelI9s2Ai_2yJtmJ0-TlOEI4qFPzeNTIYOZr51jM2wAixgflCYopEGFRE6ENpj9e0sRsV7amojrSw6ubvMj85M_xj/s1600/zzStPatricksDay13LittleMermaid_large.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Copenhagen's Little Mermaid<br />goes green for St. Patrick's Day</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Saint Patrick's Day celebration in Copenhagen, Denmark features lighting up its iconic Little Mermaid<br />
statue in green and then annually concludes with a three-legged charity race. Saint Patrick's Parish in Grenada annually hosts a Saint Patrick's Day Festival. Singapore annually hosts a St. Patrick's Society Ball. Japan hosts four parades, one in Kumamoto (home to the Irish author Lafcadio Hearn, whom they consider somewhat of a native son) as well as in Ise, Nagoya and Tsukuba. There are also notable St. Patrick's Day parades in Stockholm, Sweden; Singapore, Budapest, Hungary; Valletta, Malta; Cardiff, Wales; Coatbridge, Scotland; Dubai, UAE; and Auckland, New Zealand. Several cities around the world hold organized St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawls, with particularly well-known ones in Berlin, Germany and Ljubljana, Slovenia. Finally, dozens of cities world wide hold Irish nights in their local Irish pubs and restaurants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Closing Comments</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As always, I am delighted to hear your thoughts on this. If you have any points I should add, please let me know for the future... or if you just want to say that you liked this (or not), I would love to hear from you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Also, if you would like to share a tradition in your family or just give mention to a St. Patrick's Day parade or festivity in your hometown, please feel free to add it in the comments section.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadlhInmwvjhQq-WEIGlKuFzQF3aqAN1j1bsEfOasAxKsYb7AEiHaKQAKdWsbcRNNZ049XtP4NOhUdr_ItMZqD3doayGGwq7TJ3FapIl_4Le8IjA6WkDPltoi2Vwxn9jnlUz-Zd8lZrjof/s1600/Happy+St.+Patrick%27s+Day.bmp" style="color: #436590; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadlhInmwvjhQq-WEIGlKuFzQF3aqAN1j1bsEfOasAxKsYb7AEiHaKQAKdWsbcRNNZ049XtP4NOhUdr_ItMZqD3doayGGwq7TJ3FapIl_4Le8IjA6WkDPltoi2Vwxn9jnlUz-Zd8lZrjof/s320/Happy+St.+Patrick's+Day.bmp" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Want To Learn More?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Borgna Brunner, "St. Patrick's Day: Until Recently, More Dallas Than Dublin -- A Short History of the Holiday":<a href="http://www.infoplease.com/spot/stpatsintro1.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.infoplease.com/spot/stpatsintro1.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Joseph Caputo, "Unusual Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations,"<a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Unusual-St-Patricks-Day-Celebrations.html?c=y&page=2" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Unusual-St-Patricks-Day-Celebrations.html?c=y&page=2</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Catholic Saints.net, "Saint Patrick": <a href="http://www.stpatrick.name/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.stpatrick.name/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mary Anne Cusack, Saint Patrick (from An Illustrated History of Ireland), Library Ireland: <a href="http://www.libraryireland.com/HistoryIreland/St-Patrick.php" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.libraryireland.com/HistoryIreland/St-Patrick.php</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
"Patrician Power," Ireland of the Welcomes, Jan/Feb 2012, pp. 14-19.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
"Saint Patrick," Catholic Online: <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Saint Patricks Day.com: <a href="http://stpatricksday.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://stpatricksday.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
"Saint Patrick in America/St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin," Ireland of the Welcomes, March/April 2012, pp. 14-19.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Saint Patrick's Day Parade.com: <a href="http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Clip Art Sources</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Houston, 2018: <a href="https://365thingsinhouston.com/2018/03/07/st-patrick-day-parties-houston-2018/">https://365thingsinhouston.com/2018/03/07/st-patrick-day-parties-houston-2018/</a><br />
<br />
Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade:<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7943315.stm" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7943315.stm</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Navan Shamrock Festival: <a href="http://navanshamrockfestival.com/images/p_mpfs.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://navanshamrockfestival.com/images/p_mpfs.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade: Photo by Rebecca Kinsella:<a href="http://rebeccakinsella.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/stpats.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://rebeccakinsella.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/stpats.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade:<a href="http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/boston_st_patricks_day_parade/p1130.php" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/boston_st_patricks_day_parade/p1130.php</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Forsyth Park Fountain flows green in Savannah, Georgia:<a href="http://www.orbitz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/fountain-300x219.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.orbitz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/fountain-300x219.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade: <a href="http://www.uwishunu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/saintpatricksparade.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.uwishunu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/saintpatricksparade.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Louisville BBC: <a href="http://visitsouth.com/images/uploads/louisville-bluegrass-brewing-company.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://visitsouth.com/images/uploads/louisville-bluegrass-brewing-company.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Morristown's Native Dogs of Ireland procession:<a href="http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/morristown/2002_photos/P0027404.JPG" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/morristown/2002_photos/P0027404.JPG</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Butte St. Patrick's Day Parade 1881: <a href="http://www.buttecvb.com/history" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buttecvb.com/history</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Chicago River dyed green: <a href="http://chicagoweekendfun.com/2009/03/03/st-patricks-day-parade-in-chicago-river-green-dyeing/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://chicagoweekendfun.com/2009/03/03/st-patricks-day-parade-in-chicago-river-green-dyeing/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
Declaring the San Antonio River to be the River Shannon:<a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/City-celebrates-St-Patrick-s-Day-early-at-La-1097843.php" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/City-celebrates-St-Patrick-s-Day-early-at-La-1097843.php</a><br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Tampa's River O'Green Fest </span><span style="text-align: center;">on the Hillsborough River: <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tampa-to-dye-part-of-hillsborough-river-green-for-st-patricks-day/1216576" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tampa-to-dye-part-of-hillsborough-river-green-for-st-patricks-day/1216576</a></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Indianapolis canals dyed green: <a href="http://www.indystpats.com/greening/index.htm" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.indystpats.com/greening/index.htm</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
Traditional "throws" in the New Orleans Downtown Parade include Irish foods such as cabbages: <a href="http://www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com/gallery.php" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com/gallery.php</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Cincinnati's "Stealing of St. Patrick":<a href="http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/16/loc_loc3astatue.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/16/loc_loc3astatue.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
The Quad Cities' Grand Parade crosses the Mississippi from Illinois to Iowa:<a href="http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/9SPSWTLUo0w/mqdefault.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/9SPSWTLUo0w/mqdefault.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Dancers at Salt Lake City's Siamsa:<a href="http://www.utahirishdance.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Siamsa_020.88123707_large.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.utahirishdance.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Siamsa_020.88123707_large.jpg</a><br />
<br />
O'Neill, Nebraska's annual painting of the "World's Largest Shamrock":<a href="http://www.oneillchamber.org/StPats2012/Pages/7.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.oneillchamber.org/StPats2012/Pages/7.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
Leprechauns renaming New London to New Dublin: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/NewDublin-leprechauns.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/NewDublin-leprechauns.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Finnegan's Wake in New London, Wisconsin: <a href="http://www.newdublin.com/wp-content/uploads/wake-fin.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.newdublin.com/wp-content/uploads/wake-fin.jpg</a><br />
<br />
Hot Springs Blarney Stone Kissing Contest: Fox16 News:<a href="http://www.fox16.com/Photo.aspx?content_id=db68412b-32c7-4269-a145-aa7ac9cf1f7e&i=2" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.fox16.com/Photo.aspx?content_id=db68412b-32c7-4269-a145-aa7ac9cf1f7e&i=2</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sydney's Opera House lit up in green:<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01598/sydney-opera-house_1598666i.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01598/sydney-opera-house_1598666i.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Brisbane Irish Festival logo:<a href="http://www.informationcentres.com.au/sharedFiles/regions//australia/queensland/brisbane/events//Brisbane%20Irish%20Festival.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.informationcentres.com.au/sharedFiles/regions//australia/queensland/brisbane/events//Brisbane%20Irish%20Festival.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Birmingham, England St. Patrick's Day pipers:<a href="http://www.destination360.com/travel/events/st-patricks-day/images/s/birmingham.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.destination360.com/travel/events/st-patricks-day/images/s/birmingham.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Manchester Tradfest musicians:<a href="http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/tradfest2012" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/tradfest2012</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
St. Patrick's Day stage at Trafalgar Square, London:<a href="http://www.hellotravel.com/events/saint-patricks-day" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.hellotravel.com/events/saint-patricks-day</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Vancouver Celtic Fest logo: <a href="http://www.celticfestvancouver.com/images/logo-2011-celticfest.png" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.celticfestvancouver.com/images/logo-2011-celticfest.png</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Montreal St. Patrick's Day float: <a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/montreal/1/0/y/8/-/-/montreal_st_patricks_day_29.jpg" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://0.tqn.com/d/montreal/1/0/y/8/-/-/montreal_st_patricks_day_29.jpg</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Reconquista Festejo San Patricio, Buenos Aires:<a href="http://argentinaphotoblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/photos-saint-patricks-day-festejo-de.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://argentinaphotoblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/photos-saint-patricks-day-festejo-de.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mexican San Patricio Commemorative Medal: <a href="http://latinola.com/story.php?story=9364" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://latinola.com/story.php?story=9364</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
San Patricio parade. Melaque, Jalisco: <a href="http://www.tomzap.com/patrick2.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.tomzap.com/patrick2.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
Montserrat St. Paddy's Day masks:<a href="http://gocaribbean.about.com/od/specialinteresttravel/a/StPatricksCarib.htm" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://gocaribbean.about.com/od/specialinteresttravel/a/StPatricksCarib.htm</a><br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Copenhagen's Little Mermaid </span><span style="text-align: center;">goes green for St. Patrick's Day: <a href="http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/world-goes-green-for-st-patricks-day-588243.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/world-goes-green-for-st-patricks-day-588243.html</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Parting "Happy St. Patrick's Day":<a href="http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2009/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2009/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html</a></div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.5em 0px; widows: 1;">
<div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1">
<span class="post-author vcard" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em;">Posted by <span class="fn" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="g-profile" data-gapiattached="true" data-gapiscan="true" data-onload="true" href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984" rel="author" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" title="author profile"><span itemprop="name">David A. Victor, Ph.D.</span> </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 1em;">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/saint-patricks-day.html" rel="bookmark" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: medium;" title="2012-03-12T18:12:00-04:00">6:12 PM</abbr></a> </span><span class="reaction-buttons" style="margin-right: 1em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="reactions-label-cell" nowrap="nowrap" style="line-height: 2.3em;" valign="top" width="1%"><span class="reactions-label" style="margin: 3px 0px 0px;">Reactions:</span> </td><td><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="reactions-iframe" frameborder="0" name="reactions" scrolling="no" src="https://www.blogger.com/blog-post-reactions.g?options=%5Binteresting%5D&textColor=%23666666#http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/saint-patricks-day.html" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; height: 2.3em; width: 425px;"></iframe></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span class="post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"></span><span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"></span><span class="post-icons" style="margin-right: 1em;"><span class="item-action"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=7314004785313885549&postID=9114482542896172243" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" title="Email Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="13" src="https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_email.gif" style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" width="18" /> </a></span></span><br />
<div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;">
<a class="goog-inline-block share-button sb-email" href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=7314004785313885549&postID=9114482542896172243&target=email" style="background-image: url(https://www.blogger.com/img/share_buttons_20_3.png) !important; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #436590; display: inline-block; height: 20px; margin-left: -1px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 20px;" target="_blank" title="Email This"><span class="share-button-link-text" style="display: block; text-indent: -9999px;">Email This</span></a><a class="goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog" href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=7314004785313885549&postID=9114482542896172243&target=blog" style="background-image: url(https://www.blogger.com/img/share_buttons_20_3.png) !important; background-position: -20px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #436590; display: inline-block; height: 20px; margin-left: -1px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 20px;" target="_blank" title="BlogThis!"><span class="share-button-link-text" style="display: block; text-indent: -9999px;">BlogThis!</span></a><a class="goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter" href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=7314004785313885549&postID=9114482542896172243&target=twitter" style="background-image: url(https://www.blogger.com/img/share_buttons_20_3.png) !important; background-position: -40px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #436590; display: inline-block; height: 20px; margin-left: -1px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 20px;" target="_blank" title="Share to Twitter"><span class="share-button-link-text" style="display: block; text-indent: -9999px;">Share to Twitter</span></a><a class="goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook" href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=7314004785313885549&postID=9114482542896172243&target=facebook" style="background-image: url(https://www.blogger.com/img/share_buttons_20_3.png) !important; background-position: -60px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #436590; display: inline-block; height: 20px; margin-left: -1px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 20px;" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook"><span class="share-button-link-text" style="display: block; text-indent: -9999px;">Share to Facebook</span></a><a class="goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest" href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=7314004785313885549&postID=9114482542896172243&target=pinterest" style="background-image: url(https://www.blogger.com/img/share_buttons_20_3.png) !important; background-position: -100px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #436590; display: inline-block; height: 20px; margin-left: -1px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 20px;" target="_blank" title="Share to Pinterest"><span class="share-button-link-text" style="display: block; text-indent: -9999px;">Share to Pinterest</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2">
<span class="post-labels" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">Labels: <a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/search/label/Ireland%3B%20St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20in%20Ireland%3B%20St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20in%20England%3B%20St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20in%20Australia%3B%20Montserrat" rel="tag" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">Ireland; St. Patrick's Day in Ireland; St. Patrick's Day in England; St. Patrick's Day in Australia; Montserrat</a>, <a href="http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/search/label/St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%3B%20Saint%20Patrick%3B%20parade%3B%20Irish%20festival%3B%20Christianity" rel="tag" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;">St. Patrick's Day; Saint Patrick; parade; Irish festival; Christianity</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
David A. Victor, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12673139434291251984noreply@blogger.com0