Feast Day of St. Stylianos - November 26th

In the Eastern Orthodoxy Stylianos was born to a poor family and became a hermit at a young age.  Unlike what we think of when we think hermit, Stylianos did not keep completely to himself, rather ventured out to the nearby villages.  It is said that one evening the Holy Spirit came to him and the next day he layed hands on a sick child who recovered immediately.  From this his notoriety spread and many came to him to be healed, but not just of physical ailments.  Parents would bring there children to him to give them spiritual guidance.  This over time lead to children being left with him for long periods, causing writers of the Eastern Orthodox to say he had started the first "Day Care".

Also attributed to Saint Stylianos was the miracle of causing a barren women to become fertile again.  A women who helped in his work with children but could not have one herself became pregnant.  This caused her husband to tell this tale to others, barren women would then come to him to be cured as well.

Even though he was born into poverty and was a hermit, he was best known (other then his work with children) for his ever present smile.  I found two references to the only time he did not smile was when a someone of little face would try and discredit him then a scowl would cross his face.  Even when he was buried it was said he still had a smile on his face.

In my opinion he seems like very good inspiration for the Santa Clause of Christmas.  I do know there is a St Nicolas and have to reread what has been said about him, but a man who lived to be very old, was a hermit, had many small children around him (see this as more the elfs at the North Pole), was known to be happy all the time and cared for children.  I am sure I am not the first to draw these comparisons but having done little research do not have any to point to.

Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylianos_of_Paphlagonia

Additional links:
http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/ocf/stylianos.html
http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/st_stylianos.htm
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/stylianos_the_hermit/

Independence Day - Republic of Suriname - 25th of November

Flag of Suriname

Coat of arms of Suriname



In 1975 on November 25th, the area known as Dutch Guyana was officially granted it's independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  It had been a colony of the Netherlands since the 1600.  Suriname is one of the only four countries where Spanish is not the official language and it is also the only one that is surrounded by countries that are not Spanish speaking.

Unfortunately, like many counties in South America, Suriname has had it's share of chaos after but seems to be much more stabilized now.  The former dictator believed to be responsible for the deaths of many who opposed the government during his rule is standing trail in the country.

As a side note, I remember while in school studying geography, now I was not the greatest at this subject but do remember learning about Dutch Guyana.  Now I am not that old, I could not have learned about the the nation till after 1976 so it just goes to show that education early needs to keep up with the state of the world, how else are we to understand and relate to others around the world if we do not even know what countries populate the world.

Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname

Additional links:
U.S. Embassy: http://www.surinameembassy.org/
U.N. Mission: http://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/suriname/cache/offonce/pid/2879;jsessionid=29C6C44ED6E5A45EE7478678C

Teacher's Day, November 24th - Republic of Turkey

This is just a quick note for today as I have not updated this for an awfully long time and want to write a quick administrative note as well.

Through out the world many countries set aside a day to celebrate and/or recognize teachers.  Considering the intent of this blog, to facilitate the understanding between peoples of all different nations and cultures I felt this would be an appropriate holiday to relaunch my site.

I was unable to find the reason why the 24th of November was chosen as the date to celebrate this but did find the it was instituted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, considered the Prime Teacher of Turkey.  He was the founder of modern Turkey and is much loved within the country.

Not long ago I was listening to an NPR show about travel that had an episode on traveling within Turkey and the subject of Atatürk came up, to which the person being interviewed said that ever Turkish person loved him and even related that a law had been passed saying one could not insult him.  The interviewer asked if this was not taking away some freedom of speech to which she replied that no one would want to insult him, there where no people that did not like him, he had no enemies.  I do hope that this is true from the little I have had a chance to read he seemed like a very good person who wanted the best for his people and understood the children where the future hence the choosing of a Teacher's Day.




Editor's Note: It has been so long since I have posted I did not realize that my last holiday also involved Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, so for more information please see previous post as well.




Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher%27s_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk




Administrative note:

I am in the process of getting this blog and the podcast back up and running.  I have been a little worried that I was not able to do it the justice that it deserved but have since decided that I will do the best I can as that is all I can do and this topic I feel deserves that.  I am trying to arrange some interviews with people for my podcast so that will be more interesting and hope to have a new one up soon.

Jeffrey

Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day

Around 90 years ago the first president of the newly independent Turkey declared May 19th as Youth and Sports Day.  In the present time this is the day that the Turks celebrate the man whom they refer to as the father of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who landed on May 19th 1919 to take command of the liberation effort.

 

During his time as president he declared May 19th as Youthand Sports Day, though I did not find why this was or how he thought it should be recognized.  After his death people started to look to this day as when to remember Atatürk. 

The day is celebrate in other parts of the world as well, a day to remember the Turkish heritage.

 

Links:

Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commemoration_of_Atat%C3%BCrk%2C_Youth_and_Sports_Day

General

http://www.worldeventsguide.com/event/2643/Turkey/Ataturks-Commemoration-Day.html

http://www.tacam.org/News/2007/05192007.html

Cinco de Mayo

Most people living in the United States know that Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday.  What they do not realize is that it is not the Independence day of Mexico nor do they realize that it is celebrated much more across the United States then it is in Mexico. 

 

The reason for celebrating May 5th is that it commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, some 52 years after Mexican Independence, where a French army was defeated by the Mexican army.  The French, along with the British and Spanish, had landed forces looking to reclaim debts owned to them by the government of Mexico who had fallen on hard times due to a number of factors.  The British and Spanish soon left, having made arrangements with the government but the French used the occasion to further their colonial expansion.  Though the French did eventually take Mexico City and install their own ruler for a time.  The victory by the Mexican forces did demonstrate that those of the new world would and could join together to defend themselves, this French defeat was the first in a very long time.

 

Today, in Mexico,the actual holiday is celebrated primarily in the State of Puebla with limited recognition in the rest of the country.  However in the United States the 5th of May as continued to increase in popularity as a celebration on Mexican culture and heritage.  Many cities now have both festivals and parades in the days prior to or on the 5th showcasing many Mexican traditions.  It seems very interesting that for a day that is becoming more and more popular that deals with the heritage of the country the fact that most people think it is a completely different the celebration as well as it is not really celebrated much in it's own country.

 

Links

Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo

 

General

 http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm

http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm