Holiday A Day - Older Entries

Wednesday

Jan142009

MAKAR SANKRANTI - January 13, 2009

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 12:46AM

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival in the Indian sub continent area. It is celebrated in many different ways due to the cultural and religious differences in the region. To some it is a religous time when the days are getting longer, others see it as the time to reflect on the years harvest as well as for traditions that should bring good luck for the coming year. The feastival is said to be over a 1,000 years old and some evidence points to it being more like 2,000 years. From what I have found most people celebrate for four days with each day having a different theme.

Links:

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

Others: http://festivals.iloveindia.com/makar-sankranti/index.html

Editor's note: I apologies for the short post, I am working on trying to get my podcast up and running so, fingers crossed the new improved show will be up later this week.

Friday

Dec192008

Administration note

Friday, December 19, 2008 at 8:32AM

Unfortunately this is not a holiday post, but I felt I needed to say something to explain the lack of updates recently and in the near future.

Ironically the holiday season has become very busy for me and I when I have had time it has been a little difficult to find holidays for some of the days. Over the next week I will be out of the country with likely no access to a computer so will not be able to update either.

But on the bright side I have recently made some contacts that I think will actually allow me to take this and the podcast to the next level. I plan to come back with a co-host or someone to interview for the podcast. The blog will be getting a make over and I should have a logo for both.

So thank you for being patent with the show and blog and excpect much more in the up coming year and of course Happy Hoiday to any may celebrate.

Monday

Dec152008

Homecoming Day, Alderney - 15th of December

Monday, December 15, 2008 at 8:22AM

Flag of Alderney

Homecoming Day, Alderney - 15th of December

During World War II the Channel Islands, British dependency where not defended and as such invaded and taken occupied by the German forces. Before this happened the British government sent word suggesting that the population of the islands evacuate, of the islands only Alderney took this advise to heart. There where only six people left on the island when the occupation occurred. At the end of the war the population was not returned until December 15th so this became their national holiday unlike the other Channel Islands which mark the end of occupation.

A side note on another Channel Island, Sark has just held it's first democratic election this month. Until now it has been a feudal system, but they will now have an elected house represent the population.

Links:
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Channel_Islands#Legacy

Additional: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/6/public_holidays/Europe/Alderney.html

Saturday

Dec132008

Saint Lucia's Day - December 13th

Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 5:44PM

Lucia Procession

While I was in middle school I had an assignment to do a report, unfortunately I do not remember what exactly the assignment was only that I choose to do it on the Christmas traditions of Sweden. My father's side of the family is from there and have only been in the U.S. for a couple of generations so we celebrated with some of the traditions. Actually my mother grow up with a nanny who was Scandinavian as well and we lived in Minnesota which has a large Scandinavian population so I have always been interested in those traditions. The one thing that I really remember about that report was Saint Lucia's Day, not sure why.

This is one of the only Saint's days to have survived the Reformation and there are a number of theories indicating that traditions associated with this holiday predate Christianity. In the old calender Saint Lucia's day fell on the longest night of the year, the winter solicits. Lucia was born in Italy during a time when Christianity was not popular and became a martyr.

The tradition holds now that the in the Swedish households the eldest daughter would wear a white gown with a crown of candles and servers a bun made with saffron. The crown was once made of Lingonberry branches (an evergreen) and real candles, now the candles are mostly battery operated. Through out Sweden there are many contests to choose Lucias. From what I can tell any grouping of any size will choose one, from a day care, to a village to one for the nation. These Lucias will be honored as well as visit different people during the day. They have with them other girls dressed in white as the maids and more recently boys as well, who are known as Star boys. There are traditional songs that go along with these visits that I understand are much beloved.

I found one reference to help explain why the girls where the candles in there hair and the giving of the food. Ledge has it that Lucia was smuggling food to Christians during the night and to keep her hands free to care the food put the candles in her hair. I also found reference to a festival of lights as this was the longest night of the year.

Actually this day and many of the traditions are recognized by other countries as well. Through out Scandinavia as well as Italy to name a few.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy%27s_Day

Additional:
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=6222
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Saint-Lucy
http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/CommonPage____11421.aspx
http://whychristmas.com/cultures/sweden.shtml
http://goscandinavia.about.com/b/2006/12/08/saint-lucia-day-13-dec.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/int%27l--community/2008/12/13/187433/Swedish-Trade.htm