HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 1, 2008

    No explanation or history needed here.  January first is the first day of the year of the modern calendar and is celebrated in a myriad of ways.

    American's watch the ball drop in Times Square and years ago people would sit around their radios and then there TV sets listening and watching Guy Lombardo, once thought to be sound of New Years.

MARDI GRAS * CARNIVALE
Fat Tuesday - February 5, 2008   

   Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and of course is celebrated on that day of the week. The date can fall between February 3 and March 9 depending on the Lunar calendar, used by the Catholic Church to determine the date of Easter. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter Sunday.

    The history of Mardi Gras began long before Europeans set foot in the New World. In mid February the ancient Romans celebrated the Lupercalia, a circus like festival not entirely unlike the Mardi Gras we are familiar with today. When Rome embraced Christianity, the early Church fathers decided it was better to incorporate certain aspects of pagan rituals into the new faith rather than attempt to abolish them altogether. Carnival became a period of abandon and merriment that preceded the penance of Lent, thus giving a Christian interpretation to the ancient custom.

    Mardi Gras came to America in 1699 with the French explorer Iberville. Mardi Gras had been celebrated in Paris since the Middle Ages, where it was a major holiday. Iberville sailed into the Gulf of Mexico, from where he launched an expedition up the Mississippi River. On March 3 of 1699, Iberville had set up a camp on the west bank of the river about 60 miles south of where New Orleans is today. This was the day Mardi Gras was being celebrated in France. In honor of this important day, Iberville named the site Point du Mardi Gras.

    During the late 1700's, pre-Lenten masked balls and festivals were common in New Orleans while it was under French rule. However when New Orleans came under Spanish rule the custom was banned. In 1803 New Orleans came under the U.S. flag. The prohibition against masked festivals continued until 1823 when the Creole populace convinced the governor to permit masked balls. In 1827 street masking was again legalized.

    During the early 1800's public celebrations of Mardi Gras centered around maskers on foot, in carriages and on horseback. The first documented parade occurred in 1837. Unfortunately, Mardi Gras gained a negative reputation because of violent behavior attributed to maskers during the 1840's and 50's. The situation became so bad that the press began calling for an end to the celebration.

    In 1857 six New Orleanians saved Mardi Gras by forming the Comus organization. These six men were former members of the Cowbellians, an organization which had put on New Year's Eve parades in Mobile since 1831. The Comus organization added beauty to Mardi Gras and demonstrated that it could be a safe and festive event. Comus was the first organization to use the term krewe to describe itself. Comus also started the customs of having a secret Carnival society, having a parade with a unifying theme with floats, and of having a ball after the parade. Comus was also the first organization to name itself after a mythological character. The celebration of Mardi Gras was interrupted by the Civil War, but in 1866 Comus returned.

    In 1870 the Twelfth Night Revelers made their appearance. In 1871 they began the custom of presenting a young woman with a golden bean hidden in a cake. This young woman was the first queen of Mardi Gras. This was also the origin of the king cake tradition.

    In 1872 Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia visited New Orleans. This year the krewe of Rex made their debut and began the tradition of the "King of Carnival." Rex also introduced purple, gold and green as the official colors of Mardi Gras. Rex was the first krewe to hold an organized daytime parade and introduced "If Ever I Cease To Love" as the Mardi Gras anthem. One of the high points of Rex is the arrival of the Rex King on a riverboat. 1872 also saw the debut of the Knights of Momus on New Year's Eve.

    Ten years later in 1882, the Krewe of Proteus made its debut with a parade themed after Egyptian mythology. In 1890 the first marching club, The Jefferson City Buzzards, was organized. In 1894, the Original Illinois Club was formed as the first black Mardi Gras organization. In 1896 Les Mysterieuses appeared as the first female organization.

    I n 1809 Zulu appeared as a parody of Rex. The Zulu King held a banana stalk scepter and wore a lard can crown. He arrived on an oyster lugger instead of a steamboat. Zulu was destined to become one of the most popular and beloved of all krewes.

    Mardi Gras was canceled during the dark years of 1918 and 1919 when the United States was involved in the bloody fighting of the First World War. The celebration struggled through the 1920's and early 30's, which saw Prohibition and The Great Depression.

    The krewe of Alla brought carnival to the West Bank in 1934.

    With the rise of mass produced automobiles, random truck riders had become part of the Mardi Gras scene. In 1835 they organized themselves into the Elkes Krewe of Orleanians. The Krewe of Hermes appeared in 1937 and the Knights of Babylon in 1939.   Mardi Gras prospered since the 1940's, although it was canceled during the war years.

    Diehard revelers believe if you haven't done Carnivale in Brazil then you haven't done Carnivale.

    Brazil is the last remaining place where the original meaning of carnival is still the mass orgy.

    Carnival was incorporated into the Catholic church in the 3rd century, when they initiated the doctrine of christianizing the pagans and since all pagan cultures had mass fertility rites at the beginning of spring, the church fathers consolidated these fertility rites into Easter. Of course adding their own meanings.

    It might seem strange to you that the church would allow mass orgies, but, the original doctrine was that anything was allowed as long as it led you to god and since this was a way to make Christians out of pagans it was considered OK by the church until about the 13th century.

    Brazil for Carnivale becomes the land of sex and indulgence. Yes the people are Christians but Christianity is only part of their religion which also includes voodoo and other pagan practices brought over from Africa.

    The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following:

	Purple represents justice
	Green stands for faith
	Gold stands for power

CHINESE NEW YEAR
Year of the Rat 

February 7, 2008

    The Chinese New Year Festival is the most significant holiday for Chinese people around the world, regardless of the origin of their ancestors. It is also known as the Lunar New Year Festival because it is based on the lunar calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar. The holiday is a very jubilant occasion mainly because it is the time when people take a break from work to get together with family and friends.

    The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back thousands of years through a continually evolving series of colorful legends and traditions. One of the most famous legends is that of Nien, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast, which the Chinese believe, eats people on New Year's Eve. To keep Nien away, red-paper couplets are pasted on doors, torches are lit, and firecrackers are set off throughout the night, because Nien is said to fear the color red, the light of fire, and loud noises. Early the next morning, as feelings of triumph and renewal fill the air at successfully keeping Nien away for another year, the most popular greeting heard is kung-hsi, or "congratulations."

    Even though Chinese New Year celebrations generally only last for several days, starting on New Year's Eve, the festival itself is actually about three weeks long. It begins on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day, it is believed, when various gods ascend to heaven to pay their respects and report on household affairs to the Jade Emperor, the supreme Taoist deity. According to tradition, households busily honor these gods by burning ritualistic paper money to provide for their traveling expenses. Another ritual is to smear malt sugar on the lips of the Kitchen God, one of the traveling deities, to ensure that he either submits a favorable report to the Jade Emperor or keeps silent.

    Next, "spring couplets" are hung up around the house. Spring couplets are paper scrolls and squares inscribed with blessings and auspicious words, such as "good fortune," "wealth," "longevity," and "springtime." The paper squares are usually pasted upside down, because the Mandarin Chinese word for "upside down," tao, is a homonym of the word "arrival." Thus, the paper squares represent the "arrival" of spring and the "coming" of prosperous times.

    On lunar New Year's Eve, family members who are no longer living at home make a special effort to return home for reunion and share in a sumptuous meal. At that time, family members hand out "lucky money" in red envelopes to elders and children and stay up all night to welcome the New Year. Chinese people have long believed that staying awake all night on New Year's Eve would help their parents to live a longer life. Thus, lights are kept on the entire night--not just to drive away Nien, as in ancient times, but also as an excuse to make the most of the family get-together. Some families even hold religious ceremonies after midnight to welcome the God of the New Year into their homes, a ritual that is often concluded with a huge barrage of firecrackers.

VALENTINE'S DAY
February 14, 2008

PURIM
March 19, 2008

St. PATRICK'S DAY
March 17, 2008

    He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

    His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.

    Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.

    His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

    Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.

    Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

    One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

    The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston.

    Today, people celebrate March 17 with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick's Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.

EASTER
March 23, 2008

PASSOVER
April 20, 2008

CINCO de MAYO
May 5, 2008

    The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.

    When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War.

    Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City.

    In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America.

    Mexico and the USA have an intertwining history. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a party -- A party that celebrates freedom and liberty.

MOTHER'S DAY
May 11, 2008

    In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

Renaissance Faire
SPRING
Check your local Faire Site for exact dates.

    Step back 400 years to a time of Romance.   Shakespeare is in the prime of his career.  The New World exists as a boundless frontier. The Dark Ages are done.

    Renaissance Faire is a little bit craft fair, its a little bit historical reenactment, its a little bit performance art. There are many booths selling crafts and food.  Parades wind their way through the crowds.  Jugglers, musicians, magicians, and other entertainers perform throughout the day.  You may wander about, examining goods for sale, sampling foods, watching plays and performers, and of course drinking fine English Ale.
    If you've never been to a Faire, then it’s hard to convey a sense of it. The sheer number of things to see overcomes most people, when they go for the first time. There are ribbons and flags waving in the wind, the sound of bells, of lutes, of ocarinas in the air, the lilt of foreign accents, the smell of cooking foods and flowers, the warmth of sun on your face and the wind in your hair. The setting aside, what differs more is the people. People work at faire to have fun, to entertain. If you're willing to play with them, they're happy to banter with you. When was the last time someone tried to sell you something by insisting it was carried on the backs of explorers from the wilds of the far off Indies?

    In the year 1963, the first renaissance faire was born in Southern California. Since that time the phenomenon has spread across North America, and is making inroads in many other countries. Medieval festivals, Viking battles and historical reenactments of many other eras have also sprung up, offering a feast of sights, sounds and smells in a world far too used to viewing history in two dimensions on a movie or television screen.
    The Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California is the largest and oldest of the re-enactment/craft faires. Unique among all events, however, is an annual gathering to celebrate the roots of the first Renaissance Pleasure Faire - the womb from which all other renaissance faires emerged. Those who were there at the original site in the Agoura Hills north of Los Angeles, and those who wish they could have been, gather to picnic, to renew old friendships and make new ones, and to remember. Bring your own everything; food, weather protection, water, etc. to the Paramount Ranch nestled in the hills of Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountain State Park. Those that attend for sunrise, before the Park officially opens, should park at the first gate of the Park which is located around the last bend in Cornell Road, off Las Virgenes Road, when you can first see the Park on your right. There's a small parking area they always use for Equinox Ceremonies on the right side of the road. Spring begins at 8:31am. The Park gates will probably open at 8:00am. For those who arrive after the park opens, parking in the regular lot is recommended. Held on the first day of spring each year.

    The aim of Renaissance education was to produce the "complete human being" conversant in the humanities, mathematics and science, the arts and crafts, and athletics and sport; to enlarge the bounds of learning and geographical knowledge; to encourage the growth of skepticism and free thought, and the study and imitation of Greek and Latin literature and art. The revival of interest in classical Greek and Roman culture inspired artists, architects, and writers. Scientists and explorers proliferated as well.
    The term "Renaissance", to describe the period of time, was first used in the 18th century. Renaissance, in most countries, was a period of intensity in all things: work, play, music and the arts, world exploration, war, crime and punishment, love, hate, religion and superstition.

    Elizabeth was born in 1533, child of Henry VIII and his 2nd wife Anne Boleyn. The fact that Elizabeth was a daughter of the second wife was of great importance in determining ascendancy as the Catholic Church did not permit divorce. Elizabeth I crowned in 1558.
    The Elizabethan period covers 1558 through 1602, from Elizabeth's Coronation until her death. England and France were the major powers in Europe. The Irish had been conquered and mostly suppressed by the English. Shakespeare was young compared to Elizabeth, but was writing in the 1590s. Galileo was in his 30s in the late 1590s. It was a period of trade and expansion, with merchant trips into the Indies and into Russia. Mary Queen of Scots executed in 1587.
    Queen Elizabeth ruled England, maintaining her power through careful manipulation of the Church and the feuding powers of Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leichester and Lord Burleigh. Elizabeth at one point conspired to marry Leichester to Mary Queen of Scots in order to bring the Scots under English rule. He, upon marrying a ladies maid of Elizabeth was banished from Court for some time. Elizabeth's favor (and the power and prestige thereof) were sought by the players at Court.

    Margaret Tudor, sister to King Henry VIII, married the King of Scotland, has son James. James married Mary of Guise, who has daughter Mary in 1542. Guise is the most powerful family in France, making a strong link between France and Scotland. James dies near Mary's birth making her Queen and Mary of Guise regent. Mary later marries Francis II, the heir to France. She moves to France when young, leaving her mother to govern Scotland. When Francis II is crowned, Mary becomes the Queen of France. Francis dies young however, and Mary rules France until her mother's death. As her mother's death leaves Scotland without a ruler, Mary returns to Scotland to govern in 1560. But she's thoroughly French and very Catholic to boot. She remarries Henry, Lord Darnely and thus acquires another link to the English throne. Both Mary and Elizabeth were Tudors, Mary being Catholic, Elizabeth being Protestant, and Elizabeth not being accepted by the Catholics due to her mother being Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn. So the Catholics despise Elizabeth and like Mary, despite her French origins. Mary and Lord Darnely have a son James. Lord Darnely dies under mysterious circumstances and Mary remarries. This leads to her being run out of Scotland to England of all places where Elizabeth, to protect her best interests, puts Mary in prison in 1567. Mary is imprisoned for twenty years. As a focal point for plots to overthrow Elizabeth, Mary, even imprisoned, is not free of intrigue. She constantly sought her freedom and jumped at all conspiracies. One plot sought to marry her to England's last Duke (Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk). This was seen as treason by the Crown as the marriage could form a better claim to the throne. Although Norfolk was likely innocent of the plot, he was executed in 1572. Walsingham set Mary up the Babbington plot in the mid-80s and managed to prove her guilt. Mary was found guilty of conspiring to murder Elizabeth; she was put to death in 1587.
    Upon Elizabeth's death in 1602, James I of Scotland becomes the ruler of both countries.

Alabama

Alabama Renaissance Faire
Mobile Zoo Renaissance Faire

 

Alaska

The Three Barons Renaissance Fair

 

Arizona

Arizona Renaissance Festival
Devonshire Renaissance Faire
Renaissance in the Pines

 

California

A Royal Afayre Renaissance Festival
Big Bear City Renaissance Faire: The Enchanted Shire
Butte College Renaissance Faire
Calaveras Celtic Faire
Cedar Springs Renaissance MayFaire
Central Coast Renaissance Festival
Central Valley Renaissance Festival
Crossroads Renaissance Festival of Palm Springs
Escondido Renaissance Faire & Shakespeare In The Park
Faire Oaks Tudor Fayre
Folsom Renaissance Faire
Fresno City College Renaissance Fair
Gold Coast Pirate Festival
Heart of the Forest at Novato
Heart of the Forest at Santa Barbara
Italian Renaissance Faire
Kearney Park Renaissance Fair
Lake Tahoe Heart Of The Forest Renaissance Faire
Long Beach Renaissance Arts Festival
Northern California Renaissance Faire
Ojai Renaissance Faire & Shakespeare at the Lake
Pittsburg Scottish Renaissance Festival
Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California
Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts Faire
Saint Paul Newman Center Renaissance Festival
San Diego Renaissance Faire
Shasta Highlands Celtic and Renaissance Faire
The International Jousting Championship
Truckee Renaissance Faire
Tulare County Renaissance Festival
Valhalla Renaissance Festival
Willits Celtic Renaissance Faire

 

Colorado

A Return To Camelot
Black Forest Renaissance Faire
Colorado Renaissance Festival
Grand Valley Renaissance Faire

 

Connecticut

A Whitsun Faire
Connecticut Renaissance Faire
Park City Renaissance Faire
Prospect Renaissance Faire

 

Florida

Alachua Dickens Festival
Bay Area Renaissance Festival of Largo
Boynton Beach Medieval Faire
Camelot Days
Cape Coral Medieval Fair
Florida Keys Medieval Festival
Florida Renaissance Festival
Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
Jacksonville Renaissance Faire
Kiwanis-Lee County Medieval Faire
Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire
Redland Renaissance Faire
Ringling Museum Medieval Faire
Southern Shakespeare Festival
The Italian Renaissance Festival at Vizcaya
The Medieval Faire
Weeki Wachee Renaissance Fantasy Festival

 

Georgia

Georgia Renaissance Festival

 

Idaho

Somerville Manor's Medieval Faire

 

Illinois

Greylight Theatre Southern Illinois Renaissance Faire
Jubilee College Olde English Faire
Olde English Faire
Southern Illinois Renaissance Festival

 

Indiana

Battle of Brian's Brew
Eagle Laire Renaissance Festival
Indiana Renaissance Festival
Metea Renaissance Fiare
Perry County Arts Council Renaissance Faire

 

Iowa

Iowa Renaissance Festival & Harvest Faire
Nishna River Renaissance Faire
Olde World Faire
Renaissance Faire of the Midlands
Salisbury Faire
The MWD Waterloo Renaissance Faire

 

Kansas

Great Plains Renaissance Festival
Kansas City Renaissance Festival

 

Kentucky

Kentucky Celtic Festival and Highland Games
Ravenhearst Medieval Fantasy

 

Louisiana

Acadiana Renaissance Festival
Louisiana Renaissance Festival

 

Maine

Maine Renaissance Faire

 

Maryland

Maryland Renaissance Festival

 

Massachusetts

A Scottish Festival
Festival of the Lion
King Arthur Festival at Hammond Castle
King Richard's Faire
Prince William's Faire
Robin Hood Faire at Hammond Castle
The Ghosts of Christmas Past

 

Michigan

Grand Valley State University Renaissance Festival
Michigan Renaissance Festival
Northwood Renaissance Festival
Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire
Upper Great Lakes Renaissance Faire
Western Michigan Renaissance Faire

 

Minnesota

King's Island Renaissance Faire
Minnesota Renaissance Festival

 

Missouri

Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire at Wentzville
Mid Missouri Renaissance Festival
Missouri Renaissance Faire

 

Montana

University of Great Falls Renaissance Faire

 

Nevada

Age of Chivalry Renaissance and Celtic Festival
Genoa Renaissance Faire

 

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Renaissance Faire

 

New Jersey

Lakewood Lions Charity Renaissance Faire
New Jersey Medieval Festival
New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom
Past Times Renaissance Faire at Alba Vineyards
West Windsor Lions Renaissance Faire

 

New Mexico

College of Santa Fe Renaissance Faire
Dona Ana Renaissance Craftfaire
Farmington Renaissance Faire
Silver City Renaissance Faire

 

New York

Huntington Renaissance Faire
Lord Brandon's Bawdy Betrothal Feast
New York Renaissance Faire
Renaissance Faire at St. Bonaventure
Sterling Renaissance Festival
Stockwood Renaissance Faire

 

North Carolina

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Elizabethan Tymes: A Country Faire
North Carolina Renaissance Faire
The Festival Celebrating All Cultures

Ohio

Baycrafters Renaissance Fantasy Fayre
Celtic Medieval Festival
Great Lakes Medieval Faire
Medieval Fantasy Faire
Ohio Renaissance Festival
Southeastern Ohio Renaissance Faire

 

Oklahoma

Caerleon Medieval Faire
Norman Medieval Fair
Oklahoma Renaissance Faire
The Village of Carlisle King Arthur Faire

 

Oregon

Gates of Thyme Renaissance Faire
Glastonbury Renaissance Faire
Journey to Camelot Medieval Faire
Oregon Days of Olde Renaissance Festival
Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire

 

Pennsylvania

Endless Mountains Medieval Festival
Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival
Kutztown Renaissance Faire
Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
Wrightstown Renaissance Faire

 

Rhode Island

The Three Muskateers Faire at Belcourt Castle

 

South Carolina

Langston's Jewel Medieval Faire

 

South Dakota

Siouxland Renaissance Festival

 

Tennessee

Medieval and Renaissance Festival
Shakespeare and Friends in the Park
Smokey Mountain Renaissance Festival
Tennessee Renaissance Festival
West Tennessee Medieval and Fantasy Faire

 

Texas

Dickens on the Strand
Excalibur Fantasy Faire
Four Winds Renaissance Faire
Ingleside Renaissance Faire and Christmas Craft Bazaar
San Antonio Renaissance Faire
Scarborough Renaissance Faire
Texas Renaissance Festival

 

Utah

Cedar Outland Medieval Experience
Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire

 

Vermont

Killington Renaissance Festival
Vermont Renaissance Festival

 

Virginia

The Virginia Renaissance Faire
The Virginia Renaissance Faire - Lake Anna

 

Washington

Camlann Medieval Faire
Greenspire Medieval Arts Festival
Kent Canterbury Faire
Lilacs and Roses Renaissance Faire
Northwest Renaissance Festival
Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire
Ye Merrie Greenwood Faire

Wisconsin

Bristol Renaissance Faire
Northern Lights Renaissance and Art Faire
Return To Camelot Harvest Faire
The Cotswold Renaissance Fair

FATHER'S DAY
June 15, 2008

   Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

    The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

    Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's Day.

INDEPENDENCE DAY
July 4, 2008

        The 4^th of July is a time for RED WHITE and BLUE. A time for picnics, parades and marching bands! A time for beaches, BBQ’s and "Bombs Bursting in Air."

    Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    The time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.

    The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.

    By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.

    The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed. The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776. On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square. Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung. The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription -

Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof

ROSH HASHANAH
September 29, 2008

The Jewish High Holy Days are observed during the 10 day period between the first day (Rosh Hashanah) and the 10th day (Yom Kippur) of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most important of all Jewish Holidays and the only holidays that are purely religious, as they are not related to any historical or natural event.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated the first and second days of Tishri. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet tasting foods.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers.

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

	It is the Day of Judgment - As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins
	It is the Day of Shofar Blowing - As the Shofar (the ram’s horn) is blown in temple to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days
	It is the Day of Remembrance - As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel
	And of course it is New Year's Day - Celebrated with it's holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and sweet foods (to ensure sweetness in the New Year.

    Rosh Hashanah is observed the first and second day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, Tishri. Coming in the Fall season of the western calendar, usually in September.

    In Israel Rosh Hashanah is the only holiday kept for 2 days as it is considered too important to be observed for only 24 hours. Both days are considered one long day of 48 hours.

    The traditions of Rosh Hashanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. In temple the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah to herald the beginning of the period known as the High Holy Days. It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by God in the Book of Life. After Rosh Hashanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue they say to each other...

"May you be inscribed in the Book of Life"

    On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, after the afternoon services, Jews visit a body of water or pond, containing live fish, to symbolically "cast away" their sins into the river. The fish's dependence on water symbolizes the Jews dependence on God, as a fish's eyes never close, God’s watchful eyes never cease.

    On Rosh Hashanah it is customary for families to gather together for the holiday meal. Traditional foods sweetened with honey, apples and carrots are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

   The first night's meal begins with apple dipped in honey. Challah, the bread usually eaten on the Sabbath (not braided as at regular meals but instead baked in a circle - a wish that the coming year will roll around smoothly without unhappiness or sorrow) is also dipped in honey before eating.

 

RAMADAN
August 31 - September 29, 2008

    Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation".

    It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation .

    During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning

According to the Holy Quran:

One may eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night"

The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things -

the telling of a lie

slander

denouncing someone behind his back

	a false oath
	greed or covetousness

   These are considered offensive at all times, but are most offensive during the Fast of Ramadan.

   During Ramadan. it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran.  In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer).  The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers.  Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

   On the evening of the 27th day of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power).  It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holay Quran.  And, according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

   When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for 3 days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking).  Gifts are exchanged.  Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals.  In some cities faires are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.

YOM KIPPUR
October 8, 2008

    Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays, the "Sabbath of Sabbaths."

    By Yom Kippur the 40 days of repentance, that begin with the first of Elul, have passed. On Rosh Hashanah God has judged most of mankind and has recorded his judgment in the Book of Life. But he has given a 10 day reprieve.  On Yom Kippur the Book of Life is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year.

    Since Yom Kippur is the day to ask forgiveness for promises broken to God, the day before is reserved for asking forgiveness for broken promises between people, as God cannot forgive broken promises between people.

    Yom Kippur is a day of "NOT" doing. The is no blowing of the Shofar and Jews may not eat or drink, as fasting is the rule. It is believed that to fast on Yom Kippur is to emulate the angels in heaven, who do not eat, drink, or wash.

The Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur

1. Eating and drinking
2. Anointing with perfumes or lotions
3. Marital relations
4. Washing
5. Wearing leather shoes

    While Yom Kippur is devoted to fasting, the day before is devoted to eating. According to the Talmud the person "who eats on the ninth of Tishri (and fasts on the tenth) , it is as if he had fasted both the ninth and tenth." Prayer is also down played so that Jews can concentrate on eating and preparing for the fast.

    On the eve of Yom Kippur the community joins at the synagogue. Men put on prayer shawls (not usually worn in the evenings). Then as the night falls the cantor begins the "Kol Nidre", it is repeated 3 times, each time in a louder voice. The Kol Nidre emphasizes the importance in keeping vows, as violating an oath is one of the worst sins.

    An important part of the Yom Kippur service is the "Vidui" (Viduy) or confession. The confessions serve to help reflect on ones misdeeds and to confess them verbally is part of the formal repentance in asking God's forgiveness. Because community and unity are an important part of Jewish Life, the confessions are said in the plural (We are guilty).

    As Yom Kippur ends, at the last hour a service called "Ne'ila" (Neilah) offers a final opportunity for repentance. It is the only service of the year during which the doors to the Ark (where the Torah scrolls are stored) remain open from the beginning to end of the service, signifying that the gates of Heaven are open at this time.

    The service closes with the verse, said 7 times, "The Lord is our God." The Shofar is sounded once and the congregation proclaim - "Next year in Jerusalem."

Yom Kippur is over.

 

 

HALLOWEEN
October 31, 2008

    Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days.

    Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts worshipped nature and had many gods, with the sun god as their favorite. It was "he" who commanded their work and their rest times, and who made the earth beautiful and the crops grow.

    The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold."

    On October 31st after the crops were all harvested and stored for the long winter the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Druids, the Celtic priests, would meet in the hilltop in the dark oak forest (oak trees were considered sacred). The Druids would light new fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals. As they danced around the fires, the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin.

    When the morning arrived the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family who would then take them home to start new cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits.

    The November 1st festival was called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en"). The festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This festival would become the first Halloween.

    During the first century the Romans invaded Britain. They brought with them many of their festivals and customs. One of these was the festival know as Pomona Day, named for their goddess of fruits and gardens. It was also celebrated around the 1st of November. After hundreds of years of Roman rule the customs of the Celtic's Samhain festival and the Roman Pomona Day mixed becoming 1 major fall holiday.

    The next influence came with the spread of the new Christian religion throughout Europe and Britain. In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church would make November 1st a church holiday to honor all the saints. This day was called All Saint's Day, or Hallowmas, or All Hallows. Years later the Church would make November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls Day and was to honor the dead. It was celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils.

    But the spread of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31, people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day. Over the years the customs from all these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, eventually All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en, and then - Halloween.

    The Halloween we celebrate today includes all of these influences, Pomona Day's apples, nuts, and harvest, the Festival of Samhain's black cats, magic, evil spirits and death, and the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day.

 

 

THANKSGIVING
November 27, 2008

    Throughout history mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies.

    Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.

    Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.

The Greeks
   The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess of corn (actually all grains) was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.

    On the first day of the festival married women (possibility connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made - gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter's gratitude would grant them a good harvest.

The Romans
   The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of corn (from which the word cereal comes). The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast.

The Chinese
   The Ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.

    The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig, harvested fruits and the "moon cakes". It was believed that during the 3 day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.

    According to legend Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for another special occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless and with no food. Many staved. In order to free themselves they decided to attack the invaders.

    The women baked special moon cakes which were distributed to every family. In each cake was a secret message which contained the time for the attack. When the time came the invaders were surprised and easily defeated. Every year moon cakes are eaten in memory of this victory.

The Hebrews
   Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival called Sukkoth. Taking place each autumn, Sukkoth has been celebrated for over 3000 years.

    Sukkoth is know by 2 names - Hag ha Succot - the Feast of the Tabernacles and Hag ha Asif - the Feast of Ingathering. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur the most solemn day of the Jewish year.

    Sukkoth is named for the huts (succots) that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. These huts were made of branches and were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites wandered through the desert.

    When celebrating Sukkoth, which lasts for 8 days, the Jewish people build small huts of branches which recall the tabernacles of their ancestors. These huts are constructed as temporary shelters, as the branches are not driven into the ground and the roof is covered with foliage which is spaced to let the light in. Inside the huts are hung fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn, and pomegranates. On the first 2 nights of Sukkoth the families eat their meals in the huts under the evening sky.

The Egyptians
   The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptian's harvest season.

    The festival of Min featured a parade in which the Pharaoh took part. After the parade a great feast was held. Music, dancing, and sports were also part of the celebration.

    When the Egyptian farmers harvested their corn, they wept and pretended to be grief-stricken. This was to deceive the spirit which they believed lived in the corn. They feared the spirit would become angry when the farmers cut down the corn where it lived.

The United States
   In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.

    The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.

    The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.

    In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

Canada  
   Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Observance of the day began in 1879.

 

 

CHANUKAH
December 4, 2008

    Every year between the end of November and the end of December, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year. The holiday celebrates the events which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel.

    Long ago in the land of Judea there was a Syrian king, Antiochus. The king ordered the Jewish people to reject their God, their religion, their customs and their beliefs and to worship the Greek gods. There were some who did as they were told, but many refused. One who refused was Judah Maccabee.

    Judah and his four brothers formed an army and chose as their name the word "Maccabee", which means hammer. After three years of fighting, the Maccabees were finally successful in driving the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem. The Maccabees wanted to clean the building and to remove the hated Greek symbols and statues. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev, the job was finished and the temple was rededicated.

    When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N'er Tamid, which is present in every Jewish house of worship. Once lit, the oil lamp should never be extinguished.

    Only a tiny jug of oil was found with only enough for a single day. The oil lamp was filled and lit. Then a miracle occurred as the tiny amount of oil stayed lit not for one day, but for eight days.

    Jews celebrate Chanukah to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The Festival of the Lights, Chanukah, lasts for eight days to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The word Chanukah means "rededication".

    In America, families celebrate Chanukah at home. They give and receive gifts, decorate the house, entertain friends and family, eat special foods, and light the holiday menorah .

 

 

CHRISTMAS
December 25, 2008

The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the Yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.

Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days.

The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god. The traditions called for the king to die at the end of the year and to return with Marduk to battle at his side.

To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea of a "mock" king. A criminal was chosen and dressed in royal clothes. He was given all the respect and privileges of a real king. At the end of the celebration the "mock" king was stripped of the royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king.

The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey.

Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun.

In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log. Great bonfires would also be lit to celebrate the return of the sun. In some areas people would tie apples to branches of trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return.

The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.

The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits).

The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters and slaves would exchange places.

"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians though it an abomination to honor the pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia.

But as Christianity spread they were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts. At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Eventually it was decided that the celebration would be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God.

Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturnalia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.

The Religious Meaning of Christmas

The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.

When Rome was a great Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was governed by King Herod, in the village of Nazareth lived Joseph and Mary. Joseph was a carpenter and Mary was a young virgin who would become his wife. Mary told Joseph of a dream in which she was visited by an angel who told her she had been chosen to bear the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus.

One day the emperor sent notice that all persons were to register for a new tax. They were instructed to return to the towns of their birth. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth for Bethlehem. Mary who was with child, and close to the birth, rode on a donkey while Joseph walked beside her. They traveled for many days and only rested at night.

When they reached Bethlehem it was night. They looked for a place to rest but there were no empty rooms when they reached the inn. As they were being turned away Joseph mentioned his wife was with child and close to birth. The inn keeper took pity on them and told them of some caves in the nearby hills that shepherds would stay with their cows and sheep.

So Joseph and Mary went up into the hills and found the caves. In one cave was a stable room. Joseph cleaned it and made beds of fresh hay. He found a feeding trough which he cleaned and filled with hay to use as a crib. The next night Mary gave birth to a son and they named him Jesus, as the angel had said.

When the child was born a great star appeared over Bethlehem that could be seen for miles around. In the fields nearby shepherds were tending their flocks. An angel appeared to them surrounded by bright light. The shepherds were frightened and tried to run.

"Fear Not," said the angel, "For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem - a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."

After the angels departed the shepherds set out for Bethlehem. When they reached the cave they found the stable and inside was the child wrapped in swaddling clothes.

As the star shined over Bethlehem, in the east three kings would see it. They knew it was a sign and they set off to follow the star. There was Caspar - the young King of Tarsus, Melchior - a long bearded old man and leader of Arabia, and Balthazar - the king from Ethiopia. They traveled on camels for many days over the mountains, and through the deserts, and plains. Always following the bright star.

When they finally arrived in Bethlehem they found the child in the manger. The 3 kings bowed to their knees and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They would stay the night in the cave and the next day returned to their lands to spread the news.

 

 

KWANZAA
December 26, 2008

    Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture and their history. It is a time of celebration, community gathering, and reflection. A time of endings and beginnings. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th, the day after Christmas, and continues until New Years Day, January 1st.

    Each evening a family member, usually the youngest child, lights candles in a special candleholder and discusses one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. On the sixth day, which falls on New Years Eve, family and friends get together to enjoy a large feast and to celebrate their history, culture, and the upcoming new year.

    The holiday of Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, during the period of US history in which African Americans were involved in struggles for their civil rights. This was the period of Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights movement, and Black Power

    Dr. Karenga wanted to create a holiday that would bring African Americans together in celebration of their black culture. He was inspired by the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa. In fact the name he gave to the holiday, "Kwanzaa," comes from the Kiswahili phrase for "first fruit" - matunda ya kwanza. (Kiswahili, or Swahili, is the largest spoken language on the African continent and thus the language of Kwanzaa). When Dr. Karenga chose the word "kwanza" for the name of his festival he added the extra "a" at the end to give the word greater significance.

    Dr. Karenga used these first fruit festivals as his model for Kwanzaa because they shared characteristics which he felt were important. These characteristics were:

1. The people gathered together to celebrate their crops and harvest
2. The people would give thanks to their Creator for a good harvest and life.
3. They would remember and celebrate their ancestors and the past.
4. They allowed the people to recommit themselves to their community.
5. They celebrated their history, culture, Creator, and the promise of the next year.

    It was these characteristics that inspired Dr. Karenga when he developed the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles, of Kwanzaa. (Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for "Seven Principles") These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. 

These are the foundation of Kwanzaa.

    The dates of the celebration, December 26 - January 1, were chosen to correspond to the end of the year celebrations in America.  Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas. This to bypass the commercial buying period but to take advantage of the seasonal holiday spirit.