Jea Ho Kim / Assignment No.2 / Tuesday 11 a.m.

Colourful Eggs on the Run

 

For many elementary school students from foreign countries, especially the United States or Canada, they enjoy a very common holiday in to its very best. That holiday is called Easter Monday. Easter is generally a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ; however, in North America, Easter is basically a day for children to take in dangerous amounts of chocolate and become hyper for the rest of the day. The day consists of colouring, searching, and getting rewards for finding eggs. It may also include rewards as well.

           If I remember correctly, on the morning of Easter Monday, I went to school with excitement and anticipation. When I arrived at school, I could see all the colourful decorations that was hung up on the ceiling, walls, and doors. As soon I a walk into class, I see a bunch of paintbrushes, empty egg shells, and a carton for a dozen eggs. This got my head spinning because I knew we were going to colour the eggs for class that day. My friends and I would pick up my paintbrush and start painting away on the egg shell. First, I would dunk my egg shell into the bowl of paint, then I would let it dry for a while. After it dries, I would dip my paintbrush into a different colour of paint and start brushing away at the dry, coloured egg shell. Everyone would feel very satisfied with their own creation, like how I felt about mine. However, this isn’t everything about Easter Monday, we also had to search for eggs.

           Searching for eggs was mighty fun and having dessert while searching was even better.

The teacher’s would hide around 100 chocolate eggs around the school field and let the children loose to search for the eggs. Some chocolate eggs were wrapped in gold, which is a special egg which I will talk about later. When the children search for eggs, the situation gets quite messy. They try to take each other’s eggs, they complain who found it first, and they even mumble about not getting to find anything. It will look quite chaotic if you’re a bystander. Some cannot wait till the search is over, so they unwrap their eggs immediately and start feasting on them. In the end, the teacher’s would stop the search just in case the children would start fighting again. The search is not the end of the day though, there is one more fun event that awaits the children.

           As mentioned before, there were chocolate eggs in gold wrappings. These eggs are actually for prizes. The child with the most golden eggs gets to have a grand prize and I remember it was a huge chocolate bunny to take home. Of course there were second and third prizes for the more, unfortunate children. They get to have something, not as grand as the gigantic chocolate bunny but something that can satisfy any child. After the prizes, we would happily eat the chocolate we found and hop along the way to home.

 

           I really enjoyed the time for Easter Monday as a grade schooler. Getting paint, find and receive rewards for eggs really had me energized. Although Easter Monday may seem like a minor holiday, as a child, it meant a lot for other children and me because it was a day for us to enjoy infinite amounts of chocolate. 

Seung Hyun Kim/ Assignment 2 / Tuesday 11am

The World's Largest Beer Festival

 

For those who savor beer, Germany's Oktoberfest is one of the most longed-for festivals in the world. Every year, more than 6 million people from around the globe gather in Munich to celebrate the world's largest beer fair. The festival takes place for about 16 days from late September to the first weekend of October. The festival held to celebrate the marriage of crown prince in 1810 is known to be the origin of Oktoberfest. During the fair, one can enjoy not only beer but various parades and events as well.

 

The very first stage of Oktoberfest is the marching parade to announce the start of the 16 days long festival.  On the first day of the fair, which is Saturday, thousands of people march down the Munich streets followed by carts full of beer barrels. Once the parade is over, the mayor of Munich opens the first beer barrel. When opening it, the mayor shouts 'O'zapft is' meaning the barrel is opened and it officially declares the beginning of Oktoberfest. Only after this can people open other beer barrels and start selling them. On the 2^nd day of the festival, nearly ten thousand people march across Munich downtown in German traditional costumes. The tradition costume parade became the official event of Oktoberfest in 1950, and ever since it has been the essential part of the fair. The 'child of Munich', which is the symbol of the city of Munich leads the parade followed by 40 cartful of people in costumes. Only six major beer companies of the city are allowed to set up tents and serve during Oktoberfest. Annually, 6 million liters of beer is consumed on average in 16 days.

Oktoberfest began as a local festival of a relatively small scale. Yet, now it is one of the world's most famous and celebrated festivals. Recently, many other cities around the globe hold their own version of Oktoberfest. The author believes Okterberfest is a festival truely worth visting for once in life.

  

Tae-Hwan Park / Assignment no.2 / Tuesday 11 a.m.

Ramadan

 

Ramadan is a Muslim festival that is not well known outside the Islamic culture. This festival lasts a month long and focuses on purifying one's body and dedicate to Allah(God). Ramadan is on the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar(lunar calendar) when the first crescent of the full moon is sighted, therefore this festival does not have a specific date in the western calendar that is widely used nowadays. Ramadan is a long festival with numerous rituals and stages of it.

 

             The start of Ramadan is very important and is strictly monitored. The beginning of Ramadan is important because in countries mostly in the Middle East that follows the Muslim law this is a national holiday. Days before the 8^th month ends according to the Islamic calendar, astronomers carefully observe the first sighting of the full moon that marks the start of the 9^th month, the beginning of Ramadan. Since there is no specific date to when this festival begins, everyone turns on their television or radio a day or two before the anticipated date and waits for the astronomers to announce the official sighting of the full moon. When the sighting is announced, most students are cheerful by the fact that there is no school.

 

             Once the festival begins, Muslims start to enter a time of spiritual reflection, charity, increased devotion, and worship, however the most predominate ritual is the fasting that lasts for the entire festival. Fasting beings from sunrise to sunset. During the fasting not only is eating but drinking too is not allowed. Young children, disabled people, travelers, pregnant women, menstruating women, and breast feeding women are excused from fasting. Once the sunsets the streets cluster with street vendors, and homes are overloaded with an abundance of food on the table.

 

             The last day of the festival is called "Eid al-Fitr" simply called Eid. Depending on the area, Eid is celebrated anywhere from one to three days. The most common greeting on this day is Eid Mubarak ("Blessed Eid"). Muslims are encouraged to forgive and forget any wrong doings someone did to that individual during year. Fasting is forbidden during this day and the day starts off with a morning prayer before the sunrises. Before attending the Morning Prayer, it is customary to eat a small date. After the Morning Prayer families visit their relatives or friends and gather for a communal celebration. Eid gifts are given to immediate families or children.

 

             Ramadan is truly one of the biggest festivals in the world that focuses on self cleansing and dedication to Allah. It is both interesting and fascinating to witness Ramadan's rituals. Anybody planning to visit a Muslim state should highly consider visiting it at this time of the year.  

Hae Jin Jang / Assignment no.2 / Tuesday 11 a.m.

                                      Thailand’s Festival of Lights

 

             Thailand’s most beautiful festival, Loy Kratong is a holiday celebrated on the evening of the full moon in November. It is a holiday to give thanks and ask for forgiveness to the goddess of water, Phra May Kongka. People believe that by asking for forgiveness they will become clean and that their wishes will come true. With the river and sky glittering and music playing, this holiday could be seen as a national party. Loy Kratong includes certain important factors that cannot be missed out: banana floats, fire lanterns, and the Noppamas Queen contest.  

 

             Before the actual day of Loy Kratong, people are often busy preparing for it. Traditionally, Thai people make something called Kratong, which refers to a lotus shaped float. These floats are made out of banana leaves and flowers folded into elaborate designs usually resembling a lotus flower. On the day of the festival, people gather by the river and float it away making wishes to the goddess of water. People believe that by adding in coins or lighting candles on the kratong will make the goddess happy. However, when they float the kratong down the river, they have to hope that it continues to float away, because a returning kratong symbolizes bad luck.

 

             Making wishes are not yet over. After floating your wish down the river, it is time to float them up into the sky. Thai people buy huge fire lanterns which are floated into the night sky after making a wish. Many people write their wishes on the lantern before floating them off, often times making promises to each other. However, getting your lantern stuck in a tree or falling back down to you is meant as bad luck. Also, when thousands of lanterns are floated, it is logical that whatever goes up comes down. If you find your yard the next day with a lantern that had fallen from the night before, this also means bad luck.

 

             Finally, the highlight of the night is the Noppamas Queen contest, which in other words is a beauty contest. Noppamas is a legendary beautiful woman from the Sukhothai era in the fourteenth century. She is known for making the first Kratong which she offered it to the King who then floated it down the river and started this holiday. During the contest, many beautiful woman dress up in the Thai traditional costume and often sing or dance on stage. Then, the woman who wins the contest is known as Miss Noppamas of the year.

 

             Thai people consider festivals and holidays as a very significant day of their lives, especially when it involves the gods or spirits. Loy Kratong is not only to honor the water spirits but to simply enjoy the beautiful and entertaining night. Although this festival requires a lot of preparations and is very crowded, it is a wonderful day to enjoy the beautiful night with friends and families. The sight of both the sky and river glittering in lights is a scene I highly recommend you to see one day. 

Do Hee Kim/ Assignment #2/ Tues. 11 A.M.

Green Spirits

 

           If your favorite color is green and you also enjoy drinking alcohol, then you will definitely enjoy all the festivals of Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick’s Day is on March 17th and it was originally celebrated for commemorating the death of Saint Patrick, a praised Christian missionary and bishop during the 5^th century in Ireland. However, despite the religious aspects of the holiday, it is now celebrated all around the world. I would like to talk about the one in New York City where the largest parade is held to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

 

           The date goes back to March 17th, 1762 when an Irish immigrant, John Marshall celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day at his home in New York. Other Irish immigrants had started to celebrate the holiday. As Irish patriotism grew throughout the city, people began marching down the streets of Manhattan. This eventually became not only the largest parade in the United States, but one of the largest in the world.

 

           The first thing you should be aware of when celebrating this holiday in New York is that  you should wear one green-colored clothing – or at least have a green accessory like a headband. It would be awesome if everything on you is green. The color green has first been used as the green flag for the Irish Catholic Confederation in the 1640s. This led to the wearing of green ribbons and shamrocks on Saint Patrick's Day since at least the 1680s. With such history, wearing the color green grew out as a norm on Saint Patrick’s Day.

 

           After getting ready for the holiday by having something green on yourself, then you should go out and join the parade. The parade marches along the 5^th avenue in Manhattan. Around 150,000 people from different groups including bands, cultural, social and political groups participate in the parade annually. It is now the largest one in the world. If you don’t want to march down 1.5 miles down the avenue, you can just watch the parade and feel the green spirit.

 

           You will get thirsty after enjoying the parade and its vigorous spirits. Now it is time for you to enjoy the Irish pubs in the city. You can drink artificially colored green beer at the pubs. Stout beer originally brewed by the company Guinness in Ireland is also popular. Sharing cultural backgrounds with the Irish people will also be a precious moment as well. Saint Patrick’s Day is not only a religious day, but it is a big cultural festival in New York. I believe different people from various countries enjoying the Irish spirit together is a true global gathering.

 

Jung Yong Ko/ Assignment no.2/ Tue 11AM

The most significant holiday in Indonesia.  JUNG YONG KO 201300138

 

 In Indonesia, there is a significant national holiday called "Lebaran." In Lebaran, all Indonesian take a break for a week. Department stores, fast food restaurants close in this period. In this holiday, everybody take a break no matter what their nationalities are. Most Korean dads who are working in Indonesia, come to Korea to see their kids and parents. Like we go to Busan to see our parents, Indonesians go to their hometown too. However, most Indonesians are so poor that they cannot even afford for the train ticket. So, some of them go on a roof of the train, to go to their hometown for free. Now, I would really like to write about what people do in Indonesia in Lebaran.

 

 After fasting for a month, Lebaran comes, so Indonesians play fireworks to celebrate. Indonesians are not allowed to eat or drink from 6AM until 6PM. Indonesian private drivers and maids who are working for the foreigners suffer a lot during the fasting period. They can see foreigners enjoying their meals in the car or at home. Maids have to cook for the owners but maids are not allowed to eat. Indonesian believe that their sins get exonerated if they success in fasting period so they play fireworks afterwards. In addition, Indonesians try to get money in Lebaran.

 

 Since they had such a hard time, they ask foreigners for money to go to their hometown. Usually, maids and drivers get money from their owners even if they do not ask. Owners give them some money to let them buy their ticket home after the firework. If you do not want to give money to Indonesians, then better stay at home. If you go outside, every time you see Indonesians, they will ask for the money. They get so happy even though you give only 10 dollars, but if you keep giving this small money to lots of people, then you are done. Moreover, after Indonesians are gone, the foreigners get to take a break.

 

 Most foreigners such as, Korean, Japanese and Chinese visit their own country for a week after sending their workers home for a week. Some of them go to famous Indonesian islands such as Bali, Lombok, Pantara and Sepa for relaxation. Most Americans go to Bali and Lombok to enjoy jet skiing and scuba diving. Some Indonesians do not go back to their hometown, in order to get more paid. Famous Indonesian islands make profit in Lebaran, so some people stay to make more money.

 

 To sum up, Lebaran is the most celebrated national holiday in Indonesia. Indonesians play fireworks in Lebaran, after the fasting period. Indonesians try to get money from foreigners to buy train or plane tickets to go home. It is now foreigners' time to go on a leave after giving money to Indonesians. Some foreigners stay home, visit their own country and go to Indonesian islands for relaxation.

Chun Hyesoo. Assignment 2. Tuesday 3, 4

The Three Kings Day

 

 

            In the country I was born and raised, Argentina, there are many Christian religious celebrations. Besides Christmas, The Three Kings Day is another popular festivity loved by children. This celebration, originally celebrated in Spain, happens on every January 6^th and it celebrates the Epiphany, meaning the visit of the Three Wise Men (also known as Magi) to the born Baby Jesus. These three men travelled with their camels through the desert to worship the Baby Jesus and bring him some gifts, such as gold. This celebration has remained currently as a typical festivity where gift-giving is the essential part of this day. Also, it marks the end of the holiday season; therefore families, with sadness, take down the Christmas tree and other festive decorations.

            This celebration is mostly important for children, since they are the ones who receive gifts from who they think the Three Kings are. It starts a few days before when excited children write their letters to the Three Kings asking them for gifts and explaining how well-behaved they were throughout the year before. Just as children in other countries give their letters to their parents, so that they can deliver it to Santa, children give the letter to their parents so that they can deliver it to the Three Kings. 

            Then, on the night of January 5^th, children place their shoes on the window of their bedroom or by the door of the house and leave some water and bread for the Magi, who ought to be extremely tired because of the long desert crossing. Some children might also leave some grass for the tired camels. Then, after this is done, they go to their beds and, even though they are too excited, they try to sleep, because, if they happen to stay awake, the Three Kings won't stop by and leave them presents. In the morning, when children wake up anxious from the unwanted sleep, they magically find that the Three Wise Men ate all the water and bread and left all the presents that they were asking for.

            Finally, after children open their presents, it is very usual to eat breakfast with the whole family. The breakfast must consist of the Rosca de Reyes (or traditionally called Roscón), a very traditional bread, which is shaped as a ring topped with pastry cream, candied fruits and pearl sugar. This ring shape symbolizes the crown of the Three Kings and also God's endless love.

            The Three Kings Day is a very important Christian celebration that has remained as a festivity focused on the children receiving gifts. While children enjoy their brand new toys, some parents might get worried because their wallets got a little bit lighter. However, it is also about spending time with the family and sharing the children's joy. But the most important thing of the celebration must be remembering that the Baby Jesus was born.