Celebrate

and how does it compare to American birthdays

hi, not a lot of differences. same song but in French, same candles, same way of blowing on them, same superstitions!

for example… here in mexico i do several stuff with my family like:

* eat 12 grapes
* go outside of your place with a suitcase to have luck and travel the year to come.
* sweep your front door, from inside to outside to take out all the bad stuff

As diverse as this country is there must be thousands of traditions. My grandparents ate herring. Friends did the black eyed peas. My hubby and I make certain we are in each others arms at the stroke of the clock… Seeing it out and in for another wonderful year together

Bulgaria The Golden Traditions.Nestinarstvo is a unique phenomenon, which still remains unveiled; a mystery posing many unanswered questions.In Strandzha Mountain the celebration begins in the Sunday before St.St. Constantine and Helena’s Day.In the past the inhabitants of several villages used to gather at “The Big Ayasma” near the area of Vlahov Dol. The area was also called “Odarchetata” (an”odarche” means a small bed in Old Bulgarian), because of the availability of five plank-beds, one for each of the five villages (Gramatikovo, Slivarovo, Bulgari, Kosti and Kondolovo) that most often practiced the ritual.Nowadays the ritual also includes visiting the saint patrons’ holy springs (”ayasmas”), carrying of the icons of the two saints (St.St.Constantine and Helena), animal offering, and serving of ritual breads. The people who attend
the ceremony ascend the plank bed, turn to East, cross themselves, light up a candle and stick it into one of the small metal crosses spread over the bed. Many people leave woven kerchiefs and gifts, hung on the parapet of the plank-bed.Sometimes the nestinars “get” their “fits” there.On the Thursday before the 3rd and 4th of June, they celebrate the so-called “Little Constantine” (”Kourbaneto”). In the early morning of that day the churchwarden (”vikilin”, “e’pitrope”) goes to the saint patron’s chapel, and isted by two or three other men, slaughters a lamb. The meat is usually boiled in the fireplace of the “konak”. When it is cooked, the churchwarden tolls the bell, and all the people of the village gather at the chapel. Then they start their walk to the holy spring, with the purpose to clean it. Candles are lit and the place is swept with beech-tree foliage. After that the “vikilin” opens the lid of St.Constanine’s spring, throws a coin for happiness and starts filling the vessels, brought by the people. So that they can drink and wash themselves with the holy water, in order to be healthy in the days to come. Then each of them is served a helping of the boiled mutton. St.Constantine’s Day begins with a new succession of ritual acts. The morning starts with the “dressing” of the nestinar icons (the so-called “tail-end kunizmi/kumizmi”), after they have been taken to the “konak”. The “dressing” ritual includes the following steps: first, the “icons’ shirts” are censed by the chief priestess, then they are handed to the “vikilin” who puts them on the icons.
Once the icons “have been dressed”, they are “ready to head for the holy spring” in a solemn procession. There they are “bathed” – their handles are cleaned with the holy water of the “ayasma”. “Horo” dances are played, songs are sung and ritual breads are served.Nestinars often are “obsessed” on the way to the chapel and back to the village and at the spring as well.At noon the stacking of the nestinar fire begins. In line with some old records, nestinars did not start the dance until twelve carts of wood had not been burnt. Now the quantity of wood used is dramatically less.At dusk the culmination of the nestinar complex ensues. The nestinars (later the only female nestinar) go to St.St. Constantine and Helena’s
“konak”. There praying in front of the icons of the two saints, they breathe in the smoke of burning incense. When darkness descends upon the earth all the villagers gather, the musicians come and the procession heads for the fire. They walk in the following order: first is the churchwarden, followed by the boys who carry the icons, then, the nestinars, the musicians, and finally the rest.Embers spread in a circle, Bulgari Village
After they arrive at the fire, they form a cordon, encircling the already- spread embers. The “nestinar obsession” reaches its peak.With whoops the nestinars get onto the embers. First they always trace a cross. After that they walk at random. The skill to walk on embers (without being burnt) is the most impressing and important one. Some medical specialists have observed that the skin of the nestinars’ feet is very delicate, without callosities. Despite the different duration of the dances on embers (not less than 10 min.), the nestinars’ feet remain intact, without a slight trace of cauterization. It has been proved that a callosity is not a protection because very often some nestinars “bury” their feet ankle-deep in the embers. There exist some psychological theories of the observed phenomenon, but they do not provide satisfactory explanations. The famous Bulgarian specialist Doctor Garvalov has stated that callosities are cornea
layers that can burn much faster than normal skin.

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What do people do for Easter? Do children believe that there is an Easter Bunny hiding easter eggs for them etc…?

Traditionally, celebrations of the Tridentine Mass would include the ‘Risus Paschalis’. This is where the priest translates a dirty story into Latin, and recites it as he venerates the host.

The origin of the practise was to check whether any of the laity had been secretly studying reading and writing and classical languages, forbidden up until the Second Vatican in 1962.

tell me ALL of the traditions you DO or think would just be a good tradition thx !

This is a funny little tradition I decided to start now that I have small children of my own. Each year we buy cute new pajamas for each other. The night before Christmas, the one present each gets to open early is the pajamas. My girls get so excited to have the new pajamas, and we all look great the next morning- no embarrassment when we look back on the pictures or home movies, we all have on nice PJ’s.

Also, since we go to grandmas house after we open our presents, and it’s an hour drive, the girls enjoy wearing their PJ’s for the ride there. Once we get to grandmas, of course they change in to their nice dresses. We usually stay into the late hours of the night visiting with the rest of the family and the girls exhaust themselves while playing with their cousins. Toward the end of the night, all the kids change into their PJ’s for a comfy ride home, and they are ready to be carried straight to bed when we get in late.

On March 16, the MTO Sufi ociation at Diablo Valley College (DVC), gathered to celebrate Norouz and the arrival of Spring. The spirited Norouz Celebration was filled with informative speeches, enchanting Sufi poetry, traditional Persian folklore dance performances, and live music. The sold-out event was highlighted by enlightening presentations on the significance, spiritual roots and cultural traditions of Norouz and Haft-seen.

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I always find it amusing that eating until you you explode is a tradition in America. What other traditions does your family have to be thankful for the lives you have today?

My family has its reunion on Thanksgiving–we rent a cabin in a state park, eat too much food (it’s a potluck meal, with traditional turkey, etc.), and play board games. There’s always a game of touch football–we always tackle, though, of course–and we then go on a walk through the woods with the little kids to collect pinecones that we are supposed to use to decorate for Christmas but that we never do.

In 1895, President MacAlister (Drexel University’s first president) would often cancel classes and allow Drexel students to go to Cramps ship yard to watch war ships set sail.

In honor of this long lost tradition, we’re starting a new one!

We’re honored to invite ALL graduating seniors to join us as we celebrate their tremendous accomplishment for the FIRST ANNUAL “Bon Voyage” event!

“Bon Voyage” will be held at Moshulu, an incredible ship on Penn’s Landing.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL GRADUATING SENIORS!

Don’t miss this awesome opportunity to celebrate with your friends, and to say goodbye to Drexel as we say “Bon Voyage” to you!

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What is the dinner called that they eat?
What order of service do they follow?
What food do they eat?
What does the food symbolize?
Where do people sit at the table and why?
What happens during the week of passover?
What games/activities do the people do?

The dinner we eat is called a "seder"." Seder" in Hebrew means "order" and the meal is in a special order and the table is arranged in a special order.

I’m not sure what you mean by order of service. The prayer service, or dinner service? The dinner service is a 14-step meal. First is the blessing for the meal, then dipping greens in salt water, then washing of the hands, blessing the bread, bitter foods, and conclusion. I know I missed things, but you would have to look that part up.

We can eat everything but breads, grains, and leavened food. It’s called Chametz.

The food on the seder plate? The meanings are the same, but the foods will be different depending on where you are from, and the traditions you follow. The egg represents birth and spring; bitter herbs represents bitterness of slavery; the chopped nuts, apple, cinamon, and honey symbolize the mortar used to build pyramids (charoset); the salt water is like the tears the slaves cried; and the bone reminds of us sacrificing animals . Also the Matzah is there to remind of us how when they left Egypt they didn’t have time to let the bread rise.

I don’t think there is a special seating for the holiday.

During Passover, you remove all breads, grains, and leavened foods from your home. Have seders and celebrate being free.

During the seder we play a game called Afikomen. An adult hides 1/2 a matzah and the children must find it for a prize. That’s all I can think of.

What special things do you do with your family or friends that is different from other countries?

Do you eat special foods, go to church at midnight, give the usual gifts to those you love?

During New Year, at midnight, do you kiss someone you love? Make a wish for the coming year?

Please explain, thanks. : ) And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
There always has to be the comic! Thanks for the information about shagging in the office.
Is there AA over there…lots and lots of drinking I see.

I am English,

We have Turkey & all the trimmings for Christmas lunch, with Christmas pudding to follow, i go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, my Children always left out Mince pies & a glass of milk for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve, & a Carrot for Rudolf,
we kiss under the misltoe, and have a Chritmas Tree & trim up our home, give gifts to each other on Christmas Morning, Advent calenders from December 1st,
And News Years Eve is Party night, we make News Years Resolutions & do First footings, that the first person to let the New Year into our Home, and firworks.

Happy Christmas to you, and Happy New Year.