La Toussaint, a French celebration

La Toussaint, a French celebration

by | 28/10/2022 | France, France

By: Francisco Landa

Once again, we are on the eve of a celebration that makes us experience a whole series of sensations and emotions, both in the family and personal spheres as well as in the social one. The celebrations and commemorations which are full of history and that represent at the same time one of the most colourful, striking and famous traditions in the world. That is correct, I am talking about the Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day. 

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is the result of a superb mix between Catholicism and pre-Hispanic cultures. It is a tradition that, due to its nuances and originality, has caught the attention of the entire world. It’s a fact that nobody celebrates death as distinctively as we Mexicans do. 

Then again, we may say that the only celebrations that take place at the end of October and at the beginning of November are “Halloween” and the former parties previously mentioned. However, it is not the case of French-speaking countries, especially France. 

In France, La Toussaint is celebrated on November 1st. It is the equivalent to Mexico’s All Saints’ Day (for instance, November 2nd). Now the question is: “How is it celebrated and what do we expect to do about it?” Despite the multiple answers that we can find, if you ask any French, they will mention that it is a sad day. The reason is that it happens in the middle of autumn, it is cold and of course, the perspective of French people towards death is conservative as well as a big taboo. Because of this, Mexican traditions can be quite disturbing for them by not delving into the true meaning of the symbols. As it is a holiday, most shops or offices are closed (although it is getting common for big shopping centres or supermarkets to open their doors). 

During the “Toussaint”, people remember their dead. They visit the cemeteries and tombs of their deceased to clean them and decorate them with “chrysantèmes” (chrysanthemums). Thinking of those who have already left is a very intimate act and, for most of them, it is a source of nostalgia, pain and sadness. 

French etiquette tip: 

You must never give chrysanthemums to someone; It is very frowned upon. This flower is traditionally associated with death. It can be a big “faux-pas” (false step, or what is the same, it would be “messed up”), instead of a kind gift. 

Toussaint’s holidays: 

This season brings with it the “Vacances de la Toussaint” or All Saints’ Day holidays. Students went back to school in September, and they have the first two weeks of vacation of the school year right at this time. 

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead

by | 21/10/2022 | Mexico

The Day of the Dead is one of the most awaited and beautiful festivities that we celebrate as Mexicans on November 1st and 2nd. On this date, absence is not celebrated but the living presence of those who have departed and the return of their souls to our homes, represented in the altars. 

The origin of this tradition dates back to prehispanic cultures. In ancient times, rituals were part of the civilization and they were present in every aspect of life. It was important for Mexicas to make a party when someone died to guide their soul to the Mictlan, the place to rest for souls of dead people, serving food in case they were hungry along the way. On the Day of the Dead, souls can return to earth to enjoy the dishes that their relatives made for them.  

With the arrival of the Spaniards and the catholic religion, the celebration of the Day of the Dead of the different cultures such as Mexicas, Mixtecas, Zapotecas, Totonacas among others, was moved to All Saints’ Day in the Catholic calendar and All Souls’ Day, on November 1st and 2nd respectively. These dates coincided with the end of the agricultural cycle of corn, being this the main crop of the country and adding one more reason to celebrate. 

It is a fundamental part to place altars in homes and in public spaces. The most elaborated ones usually have 7 floors or steps but is very common in small houses and spaces to find altars with one floor like a table. These are decorated with tablecloths, colourful papel picado and the well-known cempasuchil flower, representative of this season. On the altars are also placed photos of the people who have passed away, candles and dishes such as mole, tamales, pan de muerto, fruit, hot chocolate, sugar skulls and some of the dishes that the departed loved the most. 

In the past, a path made of cempasuchil flowers was made from the cemetery to the houses so the deceased could follow it. Nowadays, the path is made from the entrance of the houses to the altar or simply around it. As a result of the catholic influence, a cross is traced on the floor or on the altar with petals of cempasuchil flower. 

The Day of the Dead is considered a national holiday, so work and activities are suspended on this day and families generally gather to clean the graves of their deceased at the cemetery, socialize and eat together. It is also part of the tradition to dress up as a catrin or catrina. This consists of making up as if you were a skull and wearing traditional Mexican clothing, or elegant and ostentatious costumes. It is very common at this time of the year to see exhibitions and contests of altars and catrinas in schools and parks. 

Such is the impact of this festivity not only in Mexico but worldwide, that in 2008 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared this festivity an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as it is a celebration that unites the past and tradition of indigenous peoples with modern society, reinforcing cultural capital and national identity. 

Finally, it is a celebration of remembrance that, although it is celebrated in different ways depending on the region and state, we will find all over the country, and of which we all feel very proud. 

Halloween

Halloween

by | 14/10/2022 | United States

By: Daniel Morales

Halloween is a famous date celebrated on October 31 in which houses are decorated with pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, and other gloomy decorations. Its name comes from the phrase All Hallows’s Eve, which also means All Saints’ Day. This celebration starts the season known as Allhallowtide, or Time of All Saints, which includes November 1st and 2nd. This festivity is held mostly in English-speaking countries, throughout Europe and North America, but also in Spanish-speaking countries where the influence of foreign culture is strong. 

Its origin is mainly associated with the Celtic festival of Samhain. It was believed that the souls of those who died returned to their homes during this festival. It was also believed that the souls of people who died during the year made their way to the afterlife during this celebration. People used to place bonfires on top hills to relight the fire in their homes and scare off evil spirits. Many others wore masks to avoid being recognized by the ghosts they believed were haunting them on Halloween Eve. These customs caused Halloween to be associated with folkloric creatures such as ghosts, goblins, demons, fairies, and witches. 

In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day on May 13. Subsequently, and possibly aiming to eradicate pagan festivities, this celebration was moved to November 1st. By the end of the Middle Age, during the reformation, many religious celebrations were merged with secular dates; Thus, Halloween became a non-religious celebration. When the first American settlers arrived on the continent, they forbid Halloween. However, in the 19th century, they developed festivals dedicated to the harvests, adding several elements of Halloween to them. Later, with the arrival of Irish immigrants, their customs became part of the tradition, and in the 20th century, Halloween had become one of the most symbolic holidays in the United States. 

Nowadays, Halloween is mainly related to multiple traditions, such as harmless pranks, dressing up, and going out trick-or-treating. The most significant activity is the one where children dress up as folklore creatures and go out asking for candies using the phrase Trick-or-treat, which was originated by the British tradition of allowing the poor to ask for soul cakes. In case they are not given any candy, they usually make innocent pranks, and some others not that innocent. Theme costume parties are also held on this date. The participants not only dress up as children, but they also perform games such as bobbing apples out of a container of water using only their mouths, this game is believed to be originated in the Roman celebration of Pomona. 

Additionally to folkloric monsters, another characteristic of Halloween are the decorations and costumes based on monsters of modern cinema, such as vampires, mummies, werewolves, and the iconic Frankenstein monster. Also, black cats and carved pumpkins known as Jack-o’-Lantern, which literally means Jack’s Lantern. Jack-o’-Lanterns are created by removing the insides of a pumpkin, carving a face into one of its sides, and placing a candle inside. The popularity of this ornament and its process reached such a point that it became the main symbol of Halloween.

Hangeul Day

Hangeul Day

by | 07/10/2022 | South Korea, South Korea

In order to comprehend this celebration, you need to know that the Korean alphabet is known as Hangeul (한글) in South Korea. The Korean Alphabet Day, or Hangeul Day (한글날 – hangeul nal), is celebrated on October 9th. Annually, Korean people commemorate this date by having a day off. But, why is Hangeul so important that it has its own day? Let us show you the reason.  

Korean handwriting was based on chinese characters named Hanja. As it was quite difficult to be taught, only a few upper-class members were able to learn it, and this remained until the 15th Century.  King Sejong realised about this situation in 1443 and decided to create an alphabet for his people. This alphabet had to be easy to learn and easy to use for everyone. This is how Hangeul was born an introduced to the country in 1446. 

Hangeul turned out to be a simple writing system that encompasses 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Just like the replaced Chinese characters, Korean alphabet letters are structured as squares. Hence it assists when identifying the meaning of both languages’ characters. As it was created to be easy to learn and easy to use, anyone in and out of Korea can learn Hangeul’s usage with a little bit of effort and practice.  

In order to celebrate Hangeul Day, some people visit the Hangeul National Museum to learn more about its history and evolution. Although, the majority prefer to enjoy their day off staying at home. 

It is important to mention that Hanja characters did not disappear at all as they continue to be used in many ways, for instance, in calendars. Yet, Hangeul is the most used writing system in all of South Korea. In addition, unlike the former, North Korea named Chosŏn’gŭl (조선 글) to this alphabet.  Thus, the Chosŏn’gŭl Day (조선글날 – chosongul nal) is celebrated on January 15th.

National Day of the People’s Republic of China

National Day of the People’s Republic of China

by | 03/10/2022 | China

Every year, October 1 is celebrated as China’s National Day, called 国庆节 (Guóqìngjié) in Chinese. It is one of the seven major holidays in this beautiful country. 

The significance of this day dates back to the fall of the Chinese empire in early 1912, when Pu Yi, the last Emperor who was only 6 years old, was overthrown. Subsequently, China went through a long period of civil war to take control of a country that had evolved from a centuries-old empire to a new republic, as well as the Japanese invasion during World War II. 

On 1st October 1949, Mao Zedong’s Communist Government defeated Chiang Kai Cheng’s nationalists and founded the People’s Republic of China known nowadays, finally bringing stability to the country. Therefore, this day was decreed to be the National Day of the People’s Republic of China. 

Furthermore, every October 1, the country dresses up in patriotic colours, and portraits of national leaders are displayed. Tian’anmen Square, where Chairman Mao Zedong raised China’s first communist national flag, is decorated with flowers and flags. The celebrations, which start with the national flag raising in this square, include concerts, cultural and sporting events, and fireworks that light up the whole country. Anyone can attend these events, which is the reason why many foreigners visit China at this time of year. 

Around this time there are 7 days to celebrate, known as the Golden Week, which is taken advantage of by the inhabitants to travel around the country, thus encouraging a lot of tourism (hence the name). This season is also a good time to go for a walk and enjoy the days off, and shops even offer special discounts. 

Every 10 years, large military parades are organised to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The last parade was seen in 2019, so if we want to see it again, we would have to wait until 2029. 

Finally, visitors who wish to visit China during the National Holiday season will undoubtedly find many shows and celebrations of great cultural value, but it is important to bear in mind that tourism is also very busy at this time of year and everything should be planned well in advance.

History of South Korea’s moon cakes

History of South Korea’s moon cakes

by | 13/01/2022 | Uncategorized

The mid-autumn festival in South Korea.

In the last blog, we talked about the mid-autumn festival in china, but now, we are going to talk about the same celebration in a different country. Usually, people believe that this festival is exclusive to china but, in actuality, it is celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea.

How does South Korea celebrate this festival and what does it mean to them?

For South Koreans, the mid-autumn festival has a completely different meaning than for Chinese people. They celebrate this day expressing gratitude for a good harvest; it is celebrated during the eighth lunar month. The mid-autumn festival is more important and consists of several more rituals compared to the spring festival. For three days, they do not go to school or work. The city is so empty that it is impossible to even get a meal at a restaurant, although supermarkets remain open. Every one spends these days with their families.

How is it celebrated at home? Families gather and relatives visit from all over the country, but the celebrations is not just chatting and eating the delicious treats they make days in advanced. Once every one is in the living room, they stand before their ancestor’s altar, where they previously place incense, food and beverages, then the eldest son pays respect to their dead relatives, they open the door as to invite them in to enjoy the feast. They dance together, and cherish the moon. Women and children wear traditional clothing and go out to the yard to play trampoline games. Before the gathering ends, they exchange presents. For example, elders gift red envelopes to the young.

We would all love to receive a red envelope during the festivities while we enjoy our family’s company and their delicious food.

As we have done in previous texts, we will keep on talking about the mid-autumn festival throughout Asia and, this time it is Japan’s turn.

Its name in Japanese is Tsukimi or Otsukimi, which we can translate as “lunar observation”. It was introduce to japan over 1000 years ago. It is a part of their Shinto beliefs and it takes place in the eighth month of the lunisolar calendar (specifically on the fifteenth, which translated to our calendar this year would be September 21st).

It started as a way to thank the lunar god for a good harvest since, during this time of the year, it is easy to observe it clearly on the night sky. Legend says that on that day, it is possible to make out the shape of the rabbit that lives on the moon.

During the celebration, they wear traditional clothes, decorate their houses with pampas grass for good luck and as an offering for the moon god. They even offer part of the harvest, taro and tsukimi dangos, on small terraces. Tsukimi dangos can be arranged in piles 12 or 15 as a representation of either the days of celebration or the months of the year.

Many families visit graveyards and sanctuaries as an important part of the celebration. Wearing traditional kimonos, they go as a family to offer incense and participate in dances and parades.

Without a question, this date is still very much present in many Japanese homes and, it is seized as a day in which spend time with their families, enjoy delicious food and appreciate the marvelous nature.

History of China’s moon cakes

History of China’s moon cakes

by | 13/01/2022 | Uncategorized

o I believe that, over time, people are drawn more and more towards Asian culture, which is why I would like to talk about one of my favorite holidays. Even if the season is not here yet, I am looking forward to it, which is why I will tell you about what happens during that time.

The Mongolians carried one of the celebrations of the mid-autumn festival out at the end of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). During that time, Han’s people’s army wanted to overthrow the Mongolian government, since Chinese people were going through hardship. Therefore, they plan an uprising to overthrow them, but they had no way of communicating with all the Han Chinese people.

After thinking of a way to inform every one of their plan, Liu Bowen, a military advisor within Han people’s army, found out that Mongolian people disliked Moon cakes, since they were made with sweet beans. Therefore, he asked all the bakers, cooks and families to place a small paper inside the cakes with the call for arms on the night of the celebration.

As people ate the pastries, they received the message and readied for the fight on that same evening. That is how they were able to fight off the Mongolian army.

The method told in this tale is very clever and creative. With the help of moon cakes, the Chinese people were able to free themselves and now, every mid-autumn festival, they celebrate their freedom with their families and moon cakes.

However, this is not the only reason why this festival is celebrated, but I will tell you all about it in the next entry.

Stay tuned!