Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year! - New Years Around The World

New Years Around The World
In ancient Egypt, New Year was celebrated at the time the River Nile flooded, which was near the end of September. The flooding of the Nile was very important because without it, the people would not have been able to grow crops in the dry desert. At New Year, statues of the god, Amon and his wife and son were taken up the Nile by boat. Singing, dancing, and feasting was done for a month, and then the statues were taken back to the temple.
In Russia, children who live in the city of Moscow will see a huge fir tree called the New Year Tree. The tree is decorated with countless colored lights. Children might also see a fairy-tale play and get gifts from Grandfather Frost and his helper the Snow Maiden.

People in Sweden, attend church services in the morning. Then comes a big family dinner, much like the one at Christmas.

The Muslim calendar is based on the movements of the moon, so the date of New Year is eleven days earlier each year.

Iran is a Muslim country which used to be called Persia. The people celebrate New Year on March 21, and a few weeks before this date, people put grains of wheat or barley in a little dish to grow. By the time of New Year, the grains have produced shoots, and this reminds the people of spring and a new year of life.
Most Hindus live in India, but they don't all celebrate the New Year in the same way or at the same time.

The people of West Bengal, in northern India, like to wear flowers at New Year, and they use flowers in the colors of pink, red, purple, or white. Women like to wear yellow, which is the color of Spring.

In Kerala, in southern India, mothers put food, flowers, and little gifts on a special tray. On New Year's morning, the children have to keep their eyes closed until they have been led to the tray.
In central India, orange flags are flown from buildings on New Year's Day.
In Gujarat, in western India, New Year is celebrated at the end of October, and it is celebrated at the same time as the Indian festival of Diwali. At the time of Diwali, small oil lights are lit all along the roofs of buildings. At New Year, Hindus think particularly of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.
In Vietnam, the New Year is called Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet for short. It begins between January 21 and February 19, and the exact day changes from year to year. They believe that there is a god in every home, and at the New Year this god travels to heaven. There he will say how good or bad each member of the family has been in the past year. They used to believe that the god traveled on the back of a fish called a carp, and today, they sometimes buy a live carp, and then let it go free in a river or pond. They also believe that the first person to enter their house at New Year will bring either good or bad luck.

In Japan, New Year is celebrated on January 1, but the Japanese also keep some beliefs from their religion, which is called Shinto. To keep out evil spirits, they hang a rope of straw across the front of their houses, and this stands for happiness and good luck. The moment the New Year begins, the Japanese people begin to laugh, and this is supposed to bring them good luck in the new year.
China, The origin of the Chinese New Year is itself centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be traced. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days. Preparations tend to begin a month from the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas), when people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom, to sweep away any traces of bad luck, and doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red. The doors and windows are then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them. The eve of the New Year is perhaps the most exciting part of the event, as anticipation creeps in. Here, traditions and rituals are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing. Dinner is usually a feast of seafood and dumplings, signifying different good wishes. Delicacies include prawns, for liveliness and happiness, dried oysters (or ho xi), for all things good, raw fish salad or yu sheng to bring good luck and prosperity, Fai-hai (Angel Hair), an edible hair-like seaweed to bring prosperity, and dumplings boiled in water (Jiaozi) signifying a long-lost good wish for a family. It's usual to wear something red as this color is meant to ward off evil spirits - but black and white are out, as these are associated with mourning. After dinner, the family sit up for the night playing cards, board games or watching TV programs dedicated to the occasion. At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks. On the day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet, takes place. This involves married couples giving children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Then the family begins to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then their neighbors. Like the Western saying "let bygones be bygones," at Chinese New Year, grudges are very easily cast aside. The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows. The Chinese New Year is celebrated some time between January 17 and February 19, at the time of the new moon, and it is called Yuan Tan. It is celebrated by Chinese people all over the world, and street processions are an exciting part of their New Year. The Festival of Lanterns is the street processions, and thousands of lanterns are used to light the way for the New Year The Chinese people believe that there are evil spirits around at New Year, so they let off firecrackers to frighten the spirits away. Sometimes they seal their windows and doors with paper to keep the evil spirits out.
In Europe, New Year was often a time for superstition and fortune-telling, and in some parts of Switzerland and Austria, people dress up to celebrate Saint Sylvester's Eve. In AD 314, there was a Pope called Saint Sylvester, and people believed that he captured a terrible sea monster. It was thought that in the year 1000, this sea monster would escape and destroy the world, but since it didn't happen, the people were delighted.
Since then, in parts of Austria and Switzerland, this story is remembered at New Year, and people dress up in fantastic costumes, and are called Sylvesterklauses.
In Greece, New Year's Day is also the Festival of Saint Basil. Saint Basil was famous for his kindness, and Greek children leave their shoes by the fire on New Year's Day with the hope that he will come and fill the shoes with gifts.

In Scotland, New Year is called Hogmanay, and in some villages barrels of tar are set alight and rolled through the streets. Thus, the old year is burned up and the new one allowed to enter. Scottish people believe that the first person to enter your house in the New Year will bring good or bad luck, and it is very good luck if the visitor is a dark-haired man bringing a gift. This custom is called first-footing. The song, Auld Lang Syne is sung at midnight on New Year's Eve, and this custom is now celebrated all over the world.

In British Columbia, Canada, there is the traditional polar bear swim. People of all ages put on their bathing suits, and plunge into the icy cold water which surrounds Vancouver during the winter.
In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, we stay in doors watching the snow rabbits outside run around and TV inside. As for jumping into the Bow River, that is the last thing, that you would want to do!

The United States rings in the New Year with it's largest celebration since 1908, the dropping of the ball in New York's Time Square. Then on New Year's Day it celebrates with the Tournement of Roses Parade, held for over 100 years in Pasadena, California, by decorating floats with thousands of flowers, seeds and other plant materials. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they have the Mummers' Parade.


Say Happy New Year in any language!
Afghanistan - Saale Nao Mubbarak

South Africa - Afrikaans Gelukkige nuwe jaar

Albania - Gezuar Vitin e Ri

Arabia - Antum salimoun

Bengal - Shuvo Nabo Barsho

China - Chu Shen Tan

Corsica - Pace e Salute

Welsh - Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Czech Republic - Scastny Novy Rok

Denmark - Godt Nytår

Dutch - GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!

Inuit - Kiortame pivdluaritlo

Estonia - Head uut aastat!

Finland - Onnellista Uutta Vuotta

France - Bonne Annee

Gaelic - Bliadhna mhath ur

Germany - Prosit Neujahr

Greece - Kenourios Chronos

Hawaii - Hauoli Makahiki Hou

Hebrew - L'Shannah Tovah

Hindi - Nahi varsh ka shub kamna

Indonesia - Selamat Tahun Baru

Iraq - Sanah Jadidah

Ireland - Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit

Italy - Felice anno nuovo

Laotia - Sabai dee pee mai

Nepal - Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana

Norway - Godt Nyttår

Papua New Guinea - Nupela yia i go long yu

Philippines - Manigong Bagong Taon

Poland - Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

Portugal - Feliz Ano Novo

Punjabi - Nave sal di mubarak
Romania - AN NOU FERICIT
Russia - Novim Godom
Serbia - Sretna nova godina

Sindhi - Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje

Singhalese - Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa

Slovakia - A stastlivy Novy Rok

Somali - Iyo Sanad Cusub Oo Fiican!

Spain - Feliz Ano ~Nuevo

Swahili Heri Za Mwaka Mpya
Sudan - Warsa Enggal
Tamil - Eniya Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal

Thailand - Sawadee Pee Mai

Turkey - Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Ukrain - Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubbarak Ho
Vietnam - Chuc Mung Tan Nien

Happy New Year!

From,

Sir Richard...

Monday, December 24, 2007

Oíche Chiúin - (Silent Night)



The Blessing Tree

I read about a young couple whose business had failed, and they had little money to spend at Christmas. They were going to have to move out of their house after the new year. But they didn’t want their holiday season to be spoiled because of it. So they decided to throw a party. When the guests arrived, they saw a cedar tree decorated with one string of lights and small rolled-up pieces of paper tied to the limbs with ribbon.

“Welcome to our ‘blessing tree’!” they said, beaming. “In spite of hard times, God has blessed us in so many ways that we decided to dedicate our tree to Him. Each piece of paper describes a blessing He has given us this year.”

This couple has faced more trials since then, but they have chosen to stay focused on the Lord. They often remark that the Christmas with the “blessing tree” was one of their most beautiful, because they could testify as Mary did: “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. . . . He who is mighty has done great things for me” (Luke 1:47-49).

Whatever your difficulties, they needn’t spoil Christmas, for nothing can spoil Christ! Stay focused on Jesus and seek ways to share His blessings with others—perhaps through your own “blessing tree.”

By Joanie Yoder

***To give meaning to Christmas, give Christ first place.***

For I pray, a "Merry Christmas" to All and to All, a Good Night!

Sir Richard...


Sunday, December 23, 2007

A Charlie Brown Christmas


And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Merry Christmas From Sir Richard...

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

River


For my good friend Jannel and the band Clementine.
from,

Sir Richard...

Sunday, December 2, 2007

A Belief in God?

We all have a basic belief in God.
Whether this is the God, of the Old and New Testament.
Or the worship of God, for a different Faith.
We sometimes even worship material things as if they,
were God in our lives.
The use of talismans, or our own good luck,
could be considered as a form of worship.
Even the expendature of effort to not believe in any God at all,
one may consider that as a belief.
For as a belief, is it not in itself, a form of denial
and really the worship, of an anti God?
I would rather believe in God and find out I was wrong,
than Not Believe in God and find out I was wrong.

Again, it’s one thing to know there is a God;
it’s quite another to know the God who is!
Vaya Con Dios!

From Sir Richard...