Serge the Concierge

Bonfires, Let me add Hogueras-Fogueres de San Juan in Spain to the list, June 23?

Right after I wrote about Fete de la Saint Jean and its bonfires, I noticed that a friend of one of my sons who now lives in Spain was planning on attending a San Juan Fiesta in Valencia and bonfires were part of the program.

It took place at the beach from Tuesday the 23rd at 5pm to Wednesday the 24th at 2pm.
One long party.

Other cities in Spain such as Alicante  with Fogueres de San Juan according to Spain Info "celebrate this great homage to fire for several days, a relation of the “Fallas” in Valencia, where the main characters are genuine works of impermanent art: the bonfires and the large cardboard and wooden figures which go up in flames on the night of San Juan."

A sign of our impermanent existence?

Just wondering

Related: June 24, Bonfires and Festive Night, La Fete de la St Jean

Holi, Holiday, Holi, the Festival of Colors has a bit of Mischief Night to it

Looking at the rainbow of colors covering people faces in the slides from India celebrates colorful beginning of spring (The Independent, March 10), made Holi, the Festival of Colors, sound like good- natured fun.

For Indian teenagers, there might be a bit of mischief night to it.

It was my first encounter with Holi, which in 2009 was celebrated on March 11.

Neeraja Ganesh reports (on China View, March 11) that gulal is the name for the colored powder used to decorate faces and that in public spaces, men and women celebrate separately.

Color represents "the advent of the Spring, as she brings colors to the land with full-blown flowers and plants."

The festival is also a day to indulge in sweet treats.

As for the holiday roots in religion and mythology "A day before the Holi, late Tuesday night, people lit bonfires celebrating a popular Indian mythological story, Holika Dehan. The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape of a young boy Prahalad, when demoness Holika carried him into the fire.    Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad and burnt Holika. Destruction of Holika is called Holika Dehan and is celebrated by praying around bonfires" the China View story adds.

There are Holi celebrations in many places, including one organized by ArtsEkta in Belfast on Sunday March 15 (image below).

Pooja Mittal-Aggarwal in From Gulal To Green: An Ecofriendly Holi (Shaadi Times) offers some tips for a Green Holi.

I just wish I had a couple pictures to illustrate this very visual festival.

We can all use a light moment or two these days.

Other Indian stories: Wanna Compost? 'The Daily Dump' can help

Reform by Way of Chocolate, Calvin 09, Unusual Gifts from Switzerland

You might not be more aware than I was until a few minutes ago that 2009 will mark the 500th Anniversary of the Birth of Calvin, Jean, the protestant reformer that is, not the cartoon character.

To celebrate that milestone, Calvin09 offers all things Calvin in German, French, English and Spanish.

Visit their Shop and for 21.50 Swiss Francs you can treat yourself to a Box of Calvin09 Chocolate, created by Blaise Poyet, master chocolatier at Vevey which they say "will change your taste buds. This original creation, which blends a Grand Cru wild chocolate from Bolivia with original spices, presents the Reformer Jean Calvin by means of flavours and aromas."

If your mind is set on Christmas decorations rather than theology, the Poyet online store also offers this set of skiers (picture below, from their site).

Getting back to the Chocolate and Calvin09, I found my way to them thanks to the Christmas must (not) haves list by Esther Adley (The Guardian, December 19).

Related: Let's Get Spiritual with Mr. Kita's Woodstock Chocolate Buddha

October 28, Diwali 2008, School Tips (BBC) and Bollywood New Flicks (Golmaal Returns)

As Diwali 2008 is about to start (October 28), the BBC shares Some Diwali Basics with us as well as ways for British schools to get kids to know about it.

Basic Diwali facts I picked from the article:

"The word Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps" and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights because of the common practice of lighting small oil lamps (called diyas) and placing them around the home, in courtyards and in gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls.
During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned, windows are opened and diyas are lit as a greeting to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. In urban areas candles or electric lights are often substituted for diyas. During Diwali, gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared. The celebration means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians. Because there are many regions in India, there are many different versions of the Diwali festival."

As I mentioned in 2007, the holiday season usually sees the release of a number of movies hoping to break through.
No big hype this year according to Diwali 2008: Four movie releases (Business of Cinema).
Amongst the 4 movies released on October 24 and October 29, Roadside Romeo is an animated movie which they feel "has limited appeal and is releasing only in multiplexes."
In a different niche Fashion sees Priyanka Chopra in a serious drama in a city setting and aims for the more urban crowd, they feel.
The other 2 releases are Heroes and Golmaal Returns (picture below), they describe the first as as a patriotic flick and the second as a comic caper with a dance soundtrack to match.

 

In the US, many locales have already held festivities over the week-end.

Related: Is 'Om Shanti Om' the Hot Diwali Film Release?