Songkran Festival: Get Your Water Guns Ready!

No one in the world knows better how to do a good water fight than Thai.

Also known as Water Festival, Songkran Festival is the official New Year in Thailand landing on April 13th each year and lasting around 2-3 days or even as long as a week!

With super-soakers in hands, the streets in Thailand fill with people aiming at each other preparing to soak and get soaked. From water guns to big water buckets, local people and tourists from all over the world get together to splash water onto each other as a way to express their love. Even Thai police wrap their real weapons with plastic bags and jump into the water war.

The word “Songkran”, derived from Sanskrit language, means “Pass” or “Move into”. Just like washing out dirt from our body, water symbols cleansing, which is exactly what Thai people want to do in a whole new year.

In fact, Songkran is more than just water fights. Aside from pouring water onto each other, it is also a time for Thai people to pay homage to Buddha, feed Buddhist monks, and clean the old and useless stuff out of their houses. Thai people also celebrate Songkran in a traditional way- going back to their hometown to meet elders.

Also a Buddhist Festival, Songkran is believed to have originated from India. Similar to Indian Holi Festival which focuses on arts and is restricted to a single day , Songkran is featured by water and usually lasts longer.

In Thailand, besides water, talcum is used to celebrate Songkran as well. Recently, colors are imported from India and being used by some revelers along with water.

So, now, wash out the past year and get ready for the wonderful Thai New Year!

 

Interested in learning more about Thai culture? Contact Evelyn at evelynloveblog@gmail.com

Melborune Cup: Is The Party Worth It?

Two racehorses’s death after Melbourne Cup event last year in spotlight had drawn as much attention as the joy and fun.

Admire Rakti, a seven-year-old Japanese horse, which just passed veterinary inspection on the morning of the race, unexpectedly died of acute heart failure resulting from “ventricular fibrillation”, an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), right after finishing last year’s Melbourne Cup racing. According to Racing Victoria’s chief veterinarian, Brian Stewart, this is a very rare condition with only 0.0075% chance that can happen as a consequence of a rapid heart rate during the race.

The second tragedy occurred when Araldo, a seventh place, passed the mounting yard after the race and was frightened by a spectator’s flag which caused the horse kicked out in response and broke its hind leg. Due to the severe damage, Araldo was later euthanised. The same thing had happened in 2013 Melbourn Cup race, in which Verema broke a leg and was put down after.

Admire Rakti and Araldo’s death aroused people’s awareness of animal rights during Melbourne Cup event. According to the record, 125 horses have died on Australian racing in the past year and too many thoroughbreds are bred in Australia, leading to thousands being slaughtered annually for pet food.

Although horse racing without death is impossible just like it is with air travel or crossing the road, we can do better to limit the tragedy during the race. Under the million-dollar glory, we should be considering more for the horses and rethinking that if this is worth their lives.

Melbourne Cup Day: The Race that Stops a Nation

Tuesday, November 3rd, is a big day for Australians! The wildest and richest two-mile horse race in the world is held on Melbourne Cup Day in Australia.

Melbourne Cup is a handicap contest for horses equal to 3 years old or older running over a distance of 3200 meters. The event is held by Victoria Racing Club at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November annually.

Last year, the 154th running of Melbourne Cup, the first prize was given to Protectionist, which was ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by German Andreas Wöhler. Protectionist won the race by four lengths, becoming the first German-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup.

What kind of prize are the participants fighting for?

The total prize money for the 2015 race is $6,200,000. With trophies, the total value is $175,000. The top 10 horses that past the post receive prize, with the winner being paid $3.6 million, and tenth place $125,000. The money is distributed to the connections of each horse in the ratio of 85 percent to the owner, 10 percent to the trainer and 5 percent to the jockey.

Melbourne Cup later added additional $500,000 bonus for the horse owner of the winner who also won the group one Irish St. Leger that was run in the previous September.

The event sounds very exciting and fun. However, two horses’ death had caused as much attention in the news as for fashion and fun last year. Find out why and more details in the next blog!

Day of the Dead Festival: Dia de los Muertos

As we all know, the end of the October and the beginning of November is the transition time from fall to winter. As the temperature drops, the harsh winter is the season that caused a lot death in ancient time. Therefore, aside from Halloween, Day of the Dead Festival is also a famous festival that celebrates the death of the loved ones.

What is Day of the Dead Festival?

Day of the Dead, also known as “Dia de los Muertos” in Spanish, is originated from Mexico that falls on November 1 and 2 of each year. From 4000 years ago, with the belief in cyclical life, people turned the fear of death into a celebration of death. Death had become a different form of existence and the beginning of a new life.

Why do people celebrate Day of the Dead?

It is believed that Dia delos Muertos is the time that the dead are allowed to live again and return to their home on earth for the reunion. The celebration is the way of retaining the connection of the living world and death world. Although most people celebrate Day of Dead out of their love to their dead families and friends, some people celebrate the holiday out of the fear of the dead because they believe that the dead will be upset and angry for not having the celebration and altar for them.

How do people celebrate Day of the Dead?

The most popular ways of celebrating Day of the DEad in Mexico include:

• Set up altar with favorite offerings that the people liked when they were living
• Visit, clean, and decorate graves
• Set out pillow and blankets in the house for the spirits to rest
• Eat, dance, share stories about the deceased, and have fun!
• Make sugar skulls and other sweets to exchange with others

With the growth of Mexican immigrants, Day of Dead Festival spread from Mexico to America gradually and developed it’s own unique features in each community such as parades and street parties.

This holiday is similar to Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day which usually lands on 4th or 5th April in a given year. Although different religions and cultures have different beliefs of the afterlife world, showing respect to the ancestors and remembering the dead are equally important.

Jack-O’-Lantern

Hollow out a pumpkin, carve into funny or scary faces, and light it up with candle or electric lights. This is what we do for Halloween decoration.

But, have you ever thought of why do people carve pumpkins on Halloween?

Originating from British, Jack-o’-lantern literally means “man with a lantern”. Dating from 17th century, according to the legend, jack-o’-lantern picked up its name from an Irishman, Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil into promising him that he wouldn’t go to hell for the sins he had made.

After Stingy Jack died, however, he was barred from heaven, therefore, he went down to the hell and demanded his due from the Devil. Although the Devil realized his promise of saving Jack from the hell, he made him wonder on earth forever with only an ember of hellfire lighting up his way. It is believed that Jack was known by the name of Jack-o’-lantern afterwards.

Nowadays, Jack-o’-lantern means a lantern that is made from hollowed-out pumpkin in which holes are carved to represent scary or funny facial features.

Not until Irish immigrants brought the tradition of carving pumpkins to North America that more pumpkins started being used for Halloween in America and not till late 19 century that pumpkin carving became a popular fun activity across the United State.

 

Have you ever carved a real pumpkin by yourself? What facial feature would you like to carve on a pumpkin? 

The Real Halloween Story: It all starts from 2000 years ago..

“Trick or treat!” A bunch of little batmen, witches, or other cute creatures knocking on the doors asking for candies in the neighborhood. People decorate their front yards with straw men, pumpkins, and something scary to celebrate this fun day with family and friends.

This is one of the most popular holidays in America and also other countries. However, not many people around the world aware the real story and meaning of Halloween. What is the origin of Halloween celebration and superstition?

It is believed that Halloween origins from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain where people lighted up bonfires and wore scary costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. Back in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III set November 1st as a time to honor all saints and martyrs. The evening before that was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween has become a community-based, kids-friendly fun event for everyone all over the world.

It all starts from 2000 years ago when the Celts celebrated their new year on November 1st, the day marked the end of the summer harvest time and the beginning of the brutal, dark winter.

Because winter was often associated with human death, Celts believed that the night before new year was the time the souls can travel back and forth between the worlds of living and death.

Aside from the huge sacred bonfires, the Celts also wore animal heads and skins to commemorate the event and fortune telling was typically part of the celebration. Lived at the mercy of the volatile natural world, ancient people saw prophecies as a crucial source of comfort and life direction during the long, harsh winter.

Okay, so now we know the story of Halloween. Then what about the pumpkins? How does carving pumpkins become the inevitable part of the celebration? Follow our blog to find out next! 

Oktoberfest: Let’s Grab a Beer!

Do you enjoy beer? Then you won’t want to miss the biggest two-week beer festival in Germany from late September to early October!

Oktoberfest is one of the famous Bavarian culture events in Munich, Bavaria, Germany attracting six millions people around the world every year including 72% of the people from Bavaria and 15% from foreign countries like Europe, United States, India, Japan, Brazil and Australia. The festival is held in a place named the Theresienwiese, often called the Wiesn for short by local people, located near Munich’s center.

Revelers consume a large quantities of Oktoberfestbiers which are the beers that have been served in the event since 1818 with 7.7 million liters served in 2013. Currently there are 14 large tents and 20 small tents at the Oktoberfest.

Visitors also eat quite a bit amount of food during the festival. Common dishes include Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (pork), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), etc.  

Today, in order to celebrate Oktoberfest with older generation in Germany, the concept of Quiet Oktoberfest has been introduced since 2005. 

Before 6:00 p.m., only soft brass music such as traditional folk music will be played by the orchestras in the beer tents.  Only after that may loud, electric music be played for the event.

What do you do to celebrate Oktoberfest? Share with Evelyn at evelynloveblog@gmail.com

3 Facts You Don’t Know About Indian Marriage

Marriage is one of the most important milestones in everyone’s life. What are the fun facts behind the lovely Indian couples? Read along to learn more!

1. 89% of marriages in India are arranged

Arranged marriage is pretty common in India. Some Indian couples even got married after their third date. Indian ancient culture believes arranged marriage can have the same or better result as from love marriage.

2. A traditional Indian wedding lasts an average of three days

Different from western wedding, Indian wedding normally lasts at least 3 days.

On the first night, a priest will often perform a ceremony at the couple’s home with only the newly-weds, the bridal party, and closest relatives in attendance.

Second day starts with the unique henna patterns on the bride, her female friends and family members’ hands and feet.

Finally, the third day is for the main ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Everyone normally would be invited on this day.

3. Indian wedding is A Big Driver of global gold demand

Indians have special fascination on gold. Gold is the most valuable and inevitable accessory especially at weddings. The amount of gold a woman brings to a marriage gives her not only the financial control but also the power and status in the new family. The gold she wears symbols that she deserves to be taken seriously and she has her own assets aside from her spouse’s.

India accounts for about 32% of the global gold market with half of the gold Indians buy spent on jewelry for the 10 million weddings held there each year.

Every country has different wedding cultures. What is the special traditional wedding culture for your family? Evelyn wants to know!

Interested in learning a specific culture? Contact Evelyn at evelynloveblog@gmail.com.

What Do You Know about Moon Festival in Taiwan?

Moon Festival is a special national holiday in Taiwan that no one would want to miss.

You probably have heard that every year Taiwanese celebrate moon festival with family and friends. However, do you know what they do exactly to celebrate this wonderful day? What’s the purpose of celebrating moon festival and the mysterious story behind the round shining moon?

“Round” in Mandarin has the meaning of “Reunion” which is why Taiwanese spend most time with family and friends to enjoy the full white moon together. 

Moon Gazing

Raise your head and watch the moon is obviously the most indispensable thing on the list! Seeing the moon makes me feel close to my home because it’s the same moon my dearest family is looking at no matter how far I am away from them.

Beer, soda, and BBQ

Young people love to celebrate moon festival with a sip of soda and mouthwatering barbecue. You can smell barbecue in almost every neighborhood. To make things easier, people also go to barbecue restaurants where they can save a lot of trouble preparing.

Mooncake with tea and pomelo 

For me, a cup of tea with a slice of sweet mooncake and juicy pomelo is the most enjoyable way to celebrate. Egg yolk pastry and red bean paste cake are the most traditional must-try desserts in Taiwan especially for moon festival. (For the record, mashed date is my favorite flavor haha.) After finishing the yummy fruit, try making a customized pomelo hat!

Fairy tales

Teachers and parents pass down different interesting stories to kids to explain the origin of moon festival. The most known one I believe is about a girl named “Chang Erh” swallowed magic elixir which made her flew straight to the moon. Every year, her husband set a table with her favorite food and watch the moon hoping to see her again from earth.

Moon festival is around the corner again. As long as you are having fun, it is the best way to celebrate. Hope all of you will be enjoying this meaningful day with whom you love in your own special way!

Want to learn more about moon festival or other cultures? Leave a comment or email Evelyn at evelynloveblog@gmail.com for more interesting cultures!