Mango Languages

Christmas Around the World

According to Andy Williams, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. In recent history, it may also be the most sensationalized holiday as well. Countries all over the world from the U.S. to Italy, or even to Japan celebrate this holiday every year, even if only a small portion of their populations are Christian. It’s really quite amazing.

For instance, every year in Russia, the holiday of Christmas is observed on January 7^th through the church. This is because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian Calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian Calendar used in most Western Countries. More and more these days, Christmas is being celebrated on the 25^th of December in Russia, though Church celebrations are generally still on the 7^th.

By contrast, Japan celebrates Christmas one day early, on the 24^th of December. This is an example of a country where Christmas is generally observed mostly as a commercial holiday. Stores begin having sales around the beginning of December, donned with Christmas trees, Santa Clauses, gifts and decorations, but only about 1% of the population of Japan is actually Christian. Christmas cake with strawberries and whipped cream is the general Christmas food, along with fried chicken. Wild!

It’s so interesting to think about all the different ways Christmas is celebrated throughout the world. Whether it has mostly religious undertones, or commercial undertones, Christmas is a genuinely recognized time of good will and gift giving around the world.
Tell us about how you’ve seen or heard of Christmas being celebrated! Do you and your loved ones celebrate it any certain way?

The First Day of Hanukkah

Thursday marks the first day of Hanukkah this year, which occurs any time from late November to early December on the Gregorian calendar (the 25^th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar). Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, starting at sunset the night before the first day – that’s tonight.

The word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication” or “consecration”. This holiday marks the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in around 162 BCE. It is said that there was only enough oil to burn the flame inside of the temple for one day, however it lasted for eight- hence, eight candles to be lit.

Today, Hanukkah is celebrated both communally and just with family. Although it is still ok to work, many people like to head home a bit earlier to make sure they can light their candles at nightfall. There are also some traditional foods eaten around this time, depending on regions and ethnicity. Many are fried or baked in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and pontshkes (jam filled doughnuts).

We have a few people who work in the office celebrating Hanukkah this year. Do you know anyone celebrating the holiday this year?

Turkey Day!

Here in the States, we go nuts about Thanksgiving. And by we, I mean “I.” Accompanied by the usual thoughts of turkey, family, (of course) giving thanks, and napping from 4pm to 7pm, Thanksgiving is a holiday which is near and dear to our hearts.

But what about the rest of the world?  It turns out that Thanksgiving as we know it isn’t celebrated elsewhere.

Take our neighbor to north, for instance. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated the second Monday of October every year. The idea is mostly the same, but the origin goes back to 1578, when Martin Frobisher held a celebration after returning home to Newfoundland following his search for the Northwest Passage. Not what you expected?

There are Thanksgiving festivals literally all around the world, and while they may not be related in any way, shape, or form to the pilgrims and corn stalks we all grew up hearing about, places like Croatia, Ghana, China, and India all have something similar anywhere from August to January in celebration of significant events or harvest seasons. Maybe there’s something in the air…?

So whether you’re eating corn in Vermont, yams in Nigeria, Moon Cakes in China, or participating in any other number of celebrations this season, just be thankful!

Do you have any interesting Thanksgiving celebrations you’d like to share?

Asheville International Children’s Film Festival

Here’s something for all of you movie enthusiasts out there. The Asheville International Children’s Film Festival is held in North Carolina and features over 100 films from over 30 countries.

Aimed for anyone ages 3 and up, the festival aims to provide culturally diverse cinema to promote intelligent discourse and critical thinking later in life. Festival events include an opening night gala, a pancake breakfast, workshops, and school field trip film experiences.

If you’d like to check out what films are being shown, click here.

Do you think that film is a good medium for promoting the importance of culture?

Culture Day!

Every year in Japan on November 3rd, Culture Day (文化の日) is held across the country.

The holiday was originally held to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Meiji from 1868 until 1912. Culture Day eventually evolved from this to celebrate Japanese arts, culture, and scholarly accomplishments.

The different prefectures of Japan often host things like art exhibits, martial arts demonstrations, and parades. Some have certain themes, like traditional clothing or artwork, and others are more generic in nature.

Along with all of the regional festivities, the award ceremony for the Order of Culture is also held in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. This involves the emperor doling out an extremely prestigious award to someone who has advanced or contributed to science, the arts, or culture in a significant way, though the recipient does not necessarily have to be Japanese. This is one of the most honored awards that can be bestowed by the Imperial Family.

Do you think the United States should begin celebrating culture with a national holiday? What do you think it would be like?

Celtic Colours International Festival

Since 1997, Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia has been the home of the Celtic Colours (Yes, with a “u”) International Festival. For nine days in October, Cape Breton is Celtic-clad with music, dancers, story-tellers, and the like from all over the world: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, Spain, Denmark, Cuba, Germany, the U.S., and more.

This festival isn’t just located in just one place or locale.  It is held all across the island. There are concerts and festivals celebrating authentic Celtic culture from town to town, within chapels, community “centres,” and even local fire halls.

The Celtic Colours International Festival has been given a substantial amount of credit world wide, receiving three East Coast Music Awards in recent years.

So if you’re interested in friendly people, beautiful scenery, and spelling words like “centre” and “colour” incorrectly (kidding),  make this your destination next October!

Have you  listened to Celtic music? Do you know anyone who celebrates Celtic culture? Please share!

Move Over Woodstock!

In Delhi, India, things have just wrapped up at the Qutub Festival of devotional music–an annual festival celebrating both traditional and classical Indian music which includes singing and dance.

The festival is held around the Qutub Minar, a five story red sandstone tower which is one of the most celebrated monuments in India0.  Originally constructed by an early Afghan invader of Northern India, the tower became a reflection of many different cultures’ architectural influences.

The actual festival held around this historic backdrop lasts three days and is hosted by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation. The festival’s aim is to attempt to preserve classical Indian music as well as contemporary.

Have you ever been to India? Have you ever listened to Indian music?

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Stop Partying…

You may have thought Oktoberfest was drawing to a close, but worry not! German Unity Day is here to put a stop to your early October festival-drought.

German Unity Day–also the day of formal German reunification in 1990–is held every year on October 3^rd.  This day celebrates a few different German milestones, including the proclamation of the German Republic in 1918.

The Day of German Unity is celebrated each year with a festival in different cities around the country, alternating every year. For instance, the 2010 festival was held in Bremen, while this year’s ceremony will take place in Bonn.  Some other celebrations also happen in the capital of Berlin, and run right up against the tail end of Oktoberfest, though it’s nowhere near as wild.

The actual date which celebrates German Unity Day has changed in various places and at various times, having been held on November 9^th (The actual day the Berlin wall fell), and June 17^th (remembering a failed uprising of East Germans in 1953).

Do you have any German friends? Are they celebrating?

Design Act 2010

All things industrial design are included in this festival held from August 31^st to September 5^th by the Moscow Centre for Contemporary Art (The Winzavod).  Being the 4^th annual Design Festival, this has been done in a similar fashion by major cities like Tokyo, London, New York, and Vienna.

This festival has transformed from a professionals-only event to a country-wide Festival, increasing the interest in industrial design among both young people and consumers.  While this may not be your typical “PARTY” Festival, it is still attended by people of all ages, classes, and professions.

Anything from bicycles, to decorations, to various multimedia and filmmaking exhibitions can be found during the course of the festival.

If you’re interested in design, this is definitely something you’ll want to check out!

I Always Thought The Equinox Was A Spaceship

In the States, not much attention is paid to the autumn or vernal (spring) equinoxes. It’s a bit astounding, though, that in other countries, this is actually a most traditional and celebrated holiday.

Take Japan for instance. There, they call the Autumnal Equinox Shubun no Hi. This day holds two significant meanings for the Japanese. One stems from their agricultural society, celebrating the season change and the time when day and night are both equal.

Aside from its agrarian origins, the autumnal equinox is also called Higan no Chu-Nichi. Higan is a seven day period in Japan in which many Japanese will visit their family members who have passed away and clean the area where they were buried. This is related to the Japanese festival Obon, in which it believed that  relatives and loved ones return in spirit to visit, but during Shubun no Hi, it is our turn to pay respect.

A very typical food to see during Shubun no Hi is a sticky rice ball called “ohagi.” Though it’s a sweet, it’s relatively healthy, so don’t be bashful!

Do you know any other special celebrations for the Autumn Equinox, or autumn in general?