Year of the Diving Dragon

Water Dragon’s year is here,
And the scuba divers do their thing –
A Dragon Dance under water
As people watch, clap and sing!

The fiery tail lashes around,
As the deadly fangs lunge for prey
It spins and soars and dives back down
And kids cheer “wā sāi!”

Picture: Reuters

When you would begin to think that the celebrations and preparations for the much awaited Dragon Year have risen to a new level, they do it again! With the year of the Water Dragon arriving on the 23rd of January, they couldn’t have come up with a better celebration.

Picture: Reuters

The divers perform a special under-water Dragon dance with a five-meter long dragon at the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium on 19th January, to welcome the Chinese New Year. With all this before the New Year, it makes me wonder what the main 15 days of the festival would have in store for us.

Picture: Reuters

Whatever it may be, it is sure to be grand and majestic like the magical Dragon! Happy New Year to all.

Russian Orthodox Epiphany

The teeth chatter, and bodies shiver; the senses freeze and palms are squeezed as people build up their resolve to plunge into the ice cold waters. If you ask me, I would suggest Gallantry awards for all the brave souls. With the temperature falling below minus 10 degrees, people would usually force their kids to stay indoors; but not on the 19^th of January in Russia where people encourage each other including the little ones, to jump into cross-shaped water holes, rather ice holes. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? 

Picture: Reuters

Called as Epiphany or Orthodox Epiphany, 19^th January is celebrated as the day when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. Every year, the priests bless the river, and people plunge into the ice cold waters at midnight to wash away their sins. The water would be truly blessed then, as people actually do manage to come out alive, more so, smiling and content after dipping into the water not once, not twice, but thrice!

But guess what? There are also people who bathe into the freezing waters throughout winter, and rightly earn the name of ‘morzhi’ or walruses. It is said to increase their resistance; and why wouldn’t it? I personally can’t think of anything that could be more challenging to the body. While the mere thought of diving once, sends shivers down my spine, I am appalled at how one can do it often. I bow to thee!

Year of the Dragon is here

The ‘end of the world’ can wait for a year; the Dragon is rising back on the throne! Anyone worried about the Mayan prediction can relax and expect a successful and lucky year. At least that’s what I am told by one of my Chinese friends. According to her, since the Dragon is the most auspicious of the 12 Chinese Zodiacs, and it is said to rule over water, this year of the Water Dragon could be nothing but the best! 

 

After the massive heap of stress in 2011, I am sure we can all do with some ‘fierce’ luck, at least I can. I am guessing that is why people all over the world are extremely excited to welcome the Dragon rule. Preparations began in various countries and places other than China, like Japan, Canada, Vegas, Singapore and Sydney almost a month before the actual arrival of the Chinese New Year on the 23^rd of January.

In China, the New Year begins with its people migrating back to their hometown, weeks prior to the actual celebrations. This year (unsurprisingly) would observe the world’s largest human migration, with around 2 billion passenger trips expected during the festive period. As such, no Chinese New Year is ever complete without the Dragon dancing and prancing across the streets of China, but The Year of the Dragon is undoubtedly extra special!

Ringing the resolutions bell...pretty late though!!

While I know it’s a tad late to talk about New Year resolutions, I couldn’t really hold back the urge. Having read the article about people giving up their resolutions, only nine days into 2012, I had to come here and write. I was aware that most people did not stick to what they resolved, but as early as nine days and as many as 75% of the people surveyed, came as a shocker.

I was wondering whether it had anything to do with the maximum resolutions being related to ‘eating healthier food’ or ‘loosing weight’ this year. Those ones are easier to make than keep; after all who doesn’t love food and rest? I might sound selfish, but it’s a bit beneficial for me if those resolutions aren’t being kept I guess. I can go back to the gym and get to effectively use the equipments again, as all the new resolution makers would be gone!

I personally believe that New Year is not the only time to resolve to do something, one can begin a good deed, anytime, anywhere and simpler the resolutions, easier they are to abide by. Wasn’t that actually the tradition when it was all started by the Romans? Simply to be good! That’s exactly what I resolve to do every year, and I don’t remember punching anyone in the face, ever!

The main reason I wanted to blog, was to prove that I do not belong to the 75% group who set unattainable goals and then give up. Since it was the International Thank You Day a few days ago, I stuck to my resolution of being nice and thanking everyone I know for being a wonderful part of my life. Oh and thank you all for reading this too! Go ahead, and even if its late, thank everyone now to let them know they are special!

Trafalgar Christmas Tree

Each leaf speaks, bud blooms and birds chirp welcoming ‘cristes maesse’ or Christmas. And what made this Christmas of mine so special was a discovery that the Trafalgar Christmas tree is a just not any other tree, rather it is a symbol of gratitude, hope, faith and goodwill. 

Donated every year since 1947, by the people of Oslo to Londoners, the Picea abies or Norway spruce is given to express heartfelt thanks for the latter’s support to Norway in the Second World War. The 65^th majestic tree, 70 feet tall and decorated with 500 white lights, spoke in traditional Norwegian style, ‘La det bli lys’ or let there be light.

From the 1^st of December, carol singing events are organized for everyone. Christmas carols by other charitable societies too are planned in the Square. My faith in humanity, in essential goodness was reaffirmed and that’s what the tree stands for!  

On the twelfth day, the tree is converted to mulch that provides food and life to organisms. Jeb Dickerson’s words resonate in my ears when I watch the tree in its glory, ‘The trees are whispering to me, reminding me of my roots, and my reach... shhhhhh... can you hear them? Selflessly sharing their subtle song.’

Hanukkah-Festival of Lights

Festival of Hanukkah has a rich history and very less known to the people of the world. Celebrated in the months of November or December of the western calendar, Hanukkah means rededication, or celebrating for one of the greatest miracles that occurred in the Jewish history, around 2500 years ago.

 

The story goes like this...  A small group of Jews called the Maccabees won over the Syrian Greeks by recapturing the Jerusalem kingdom in a three year war. This small group then rededicated the temple to the Divine. They found the oil (with a curse that if used, it would last for a day). To celebrate their victory, Maccabees lighted the menorah (seven branched lamp stand) in the temple and miraculously it stayed alight for eight days. Thus, this festival is celebrated in the span of eight days.

Jews celebrate this festival by lighting one candle each night and reciting prayers before lighting them. These candles are lighted by the Shamash or servant candle from the right to left. This is called as lighting the Menorah. These candles sticks are called as hanukiah. 

Jews also indulge in playing games like spinning the dreidels ( dreidels are in square shaped boxes that have letter inscribed on each of its faces that have symbolic meanings). The festive platter includes potatoes, salads, brisket, salmon, donuts and other fired and dairy food products.

 

El Colacho

Occasions very often make human life easy; in fact, very easy. How? Well, a legend or lore can actually decide what is good and what is bad, differentiate between black and white, define an angel and a saint, and proclaim someone as a Satan or a God. El Colacho, the Spanish Baby Jumping Festival organized by the Brotherhood of Santisimo Sacramento de Minerva is one such strange occasion.

As part of the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi, the village of Castrillo de Murcia near Burgos holds the El Colacho festival in late May or early June. The festival includes two role players, El Colacho, a devil, and El Atabalero, his companion, who participate in the event with the babies, who are believed to be impure. Three days before the holy Sunday, the two devils terrorize the people with all their pranks.  

On Sunday, you witness an apocalypse, as the children and clergy march from the Church and come out on the streets. The babies, aging a month to a year, are laid on mattresses. As they wait for their deliverance, El Colacho leaps over the babies and purges the evil, thereby saving the village from sins and vices.