Category Archives: Celebrations

Weekly Photo Challenge: Object (or Objective of the Object: Kung Hei Fat Choi!) 2

Celebrations, Chinese New Year, photography • Tags: , ,
Welcoming the five blessings: longevity, wealth, health, peace, and the enjoying of a ripe, old age.
May God bless you and your family.

Traditionally, Chunlian or lucky red papers are hung in doorways of homes in China. I learned the papers are red because the Chinese word for red sounds like prosperous and red symbolizes joy, virtue, truth, and sincerity. Today the messages are for success, health, wealth, prosperity, joy, peace and harmony, etc. It is important to take down and discard the old Chunlian just before Chinese New Year.

Today is the first official day of Chinese New Year although Honolulu has been celebrating for a couple of weeks. Therefore, when I saw today’s WordPress weekly photo challenge was object, I knew I would be using photos I took last weekend during our Chinatown celebration to wish you many blessings in 2014 while sharing the objects I photographed.

Commonly known as the Goddess of Mercy.
Common feng shui cure.
Dancing in the streets.

Kuan Yin is the Chinese name for the bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara, who can be depicted as either male or female. Many stories about her remind me of the stories of the Christian Saints. She also is known as the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy which makes her a favorite of mine. You can learn more about her by reading: What is Kuan Yin? at Religion Facts (dot) com.

While the bamboo was my object in the second picture above, I love the lady in the window. She was photographing the lion dance too.

I took video instead of pictures of the parade.

I took video instead of pictures of most of the parade. Thus, this is a screen shot from my video.

This year my photo objects were different from a couple of years ago, thanks to Photography 101.

Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New year! May prosperity and all good things be with you and yours!)

The Year of the Water Dragon 9

Celebrations, Chinese New Year, Family • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

You might have noticed that I was off-line most of last week and the beginning of this week. We have been celebrating Chinese New Year. This year we are taking no chances with our luck.

Not only did we attend the Chinese New Year parade and feed the lion, we also decorated for the New Year. I couldn’t resist buying these guys when I saw them at the street vender during the Honolulu Chinatown block party.

I brought a steamer and spent a full day making gau, a sticky pudding made with mochi flour, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and water. I even made it the old-fashioned way this year instead of in the microwave.

Here’s how it turned out! I gave some to my in-laws since gau is supposed to help families stick together.

Hubby and I got these to bring good karma to our home.

And this big one to place in our entry way.

I also spent time organizing and cleaning the house, and of course we had a wonderful Chinese meal that included a whole chicken for family harmony combined with a whole lobster for a harmonious marriage and noodles for long life and shrimp dumplings for wealth.

Kung Hee Fat Choy! (May prosperity be with you!)

Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii: Where Christmas Is Green and Bright 2

Autism Spectrum, Bullying, Celebrations, Differences, Tolerence • Tags: , , , , , , ,

Green and Bright

Last year for Christmas I shared my dream for the future. I hoped and prayed for 2011 to be a year of change, where people made an honest effort to be more open-minded and to really try to educate themselves about differences. While some disappointments occurred in 2011, I am grateful for those who listened and I hope more will listen in 2012.

Like Martin Luther King, Jr., I have a dream. I still dream of a world where bystanders, parents, teachers, counselors, principals, and all people stand up to bullies and their parents and let them know it truly is time for change. I dream of a world that is bully free.  I dream of a world where we reward kindness and it is more highly desired than a football championship. I dream of a world where others understand and accept my daughter and others on the autism spectrum along with others with differences.

As I dream, I also try to help spread the word that we all need to help change the world. I am grateful for those who share my dream and help spread the message. Kindness, respect, understanding and acceptance of differences should have a greater value in our society and I pray I will live to see the day that they do. Until then, I wish you Happy Holidays and in the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone.”

Yes Virginia It Is Okay to Say Happy Holidays! 11

Celebrations, Gratitude, Tolerence • Tags: , ,

Dear Readers,

Generally I avoid discussions about religion. I am a Christian, but I believe in tolerance in all forms, and I am grateful for those who understand the need for tolerance of differences, so yes Happy Holidays is correct. I know some of my Christian friends are going to disagree with me on this one. I only hope you will hear me out before you attack.

I watched Have a Little Faith, the movie inspired by Mitch Albom’s book by the same name, earlier this week and I fell in love with two deceased men, Rabbi Albert L. Lewis and Pastor Henry Covington. When Albom asked Rabbi Lewis why he supports others of different faiths he replied, “Why Tree’s….Why not one prefect tree for the whole earth?” He went on to explain there are oaks and elms, etc. Then he said, “Many trees, the branches all leading to God.” He explained that hate is wrongly engaged in the name of religion for all religions teach, “Honor thy neighbor!” Did I say I love this man?

Yes, Christ is in Christmas and he should remain there; however, even some Christians celebrate more than just Christmas during December. For instance, December sixth is Saint Nicholas Day. In German culture: Europeans celebrate St. Nicholas Day activities (pictures) – National Germany Headlines | Examiner.com.

December eighth is Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org.

Another Feast Day – Our Lady of Guadalupe | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org starts on December twelfth. Yes Christmas is the basis for these, but they are not technically Christmas.

Then, we have other religions that are practiced in the United States and around the world that should also be honored. December fifth was The Day of ‘Ashura, a religious observance marked every year by Muslims. The word ‘Ashura literally means “10th,” as it is on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islāmic year.

The Buddhist community celebrates Bodhi Day on December eighth. You can read about it at: How To Celebrate Bodhi Day | DoItYourself.com.

The Jewish community celebrates Hanukkah from December twenty-first through December twenty-eighth. Read about it: Rabbi Barry A. Kenter: Hanukkah: Not Quite the Jewish Christmas.

Then there is the religion I know the least about, BBC – Religions – Zoroastrian: At a Glance. They celebrate Zarathosht Diso on December twenty-sixth.

December twenty-second is The Winter Solstice Wicca and Pagan Festival: Wiccans Celebrate Shortest Day at the Celtic Festival of Yule | Suite101.com.

You might notice I left the Hindu and Taoist religions out. They do not have celebrations in December although they do in other months.

I wish all of my readers around the world Happy Holidays!