(Jan. 27, 2012) The Chinese New Year began Monday; 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
In Chinese astrology the dragon is the only animal of the Chinese zodiac year that is not real and the the dragon is quite special and very much revered. It holds special significance for the Chinese people.
More than 4,000 years ago, there were two large tribes and many smaller tribes in China. The tribes had animals as emblems. The two large tribes unified and chose the dragon as their symbol. In fact, the Han Chinese still call themselves the descendants of the dragon.
In Chinese astrology the dragon was seen as a powerful almighty king because it was made up of different parts of animals such as a tiger, fish, snake and an eagle.
The Chinese dragon was not seen as a threatening evil being as we do in the West - rather a symbol of power, superiority and rule.
Still today, the Dragon is a revered symbol. You can see many sculptures and carvings of the dragon. Modern Chinese associate the dragon with power and wisdom.
In Chinese astrology dragon persons are special. Born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, they usually stand out as befits a dragon. They are powerful and wise with a certain aura about them. They are not shy – they demand attention and respect. Wow!
There are lots more interesting traditions and facts to read about in Recorder Community Newspapers and their online blogs. Interested individuals and local community organization representatives are invited to join the growing group of Recorder bloggers. Just give me a call at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com and I will explain the free process.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Day of service
(Monday, Jan. 16, 2012) Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday marking the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activist. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, Jan. 15.
Government offices are closed today as are some schools and financial institutions. The day has evolved into a day of service.
King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in October and we visited there the week after the ceremony. Covering four acres, the memorial opened to the public on Aug. 22, after more than two decades of planning, fund-raising and construction. A ceremony dedicating the Memorial was scheduled for Aug. 28, the 48th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech that King delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, but was postponed until Oct. 16 (the 16th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March on the National Mall) due to Hurricane Irene.
Located on four acres at the northwest corner of the Tidal Basin in the National Mall, it features giant stone statues of King and granite walls engraved with 14 of King's inspiring quotes. Since its opening last summer, more than 2 million visitors from around the globe have been able to witness firsthand the message of hope, justice, democracy and love that resonates from the crescent-shaped walls of the memorial situated adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Oh, No, It's Snow!
(Jan. 13, 2012) It's Friday, the 13th. I should have known our luck with the weather would be over. As I gaze outside, the snow is flying sideways. We're really in for some stormy time after weeks of unusually mild weather with clear driving opportunities. We even traveled to Ohio for New Year's; both ways on the trip we didn't have a problem.
But now, we're stuck inside. This icy snow is sure to make the roads slippery, not to mention the freezing cold wind. Hopefully no trees will be blown down, causing another power outage.
It's a good time to check out the blogs right here at newjerseyhills.com, the website for Recorder Community Newspapers. Some 60 bloggers share their news and comments among the 15 online newspapers. You could join them.
The process is simple and blogging is free. All you need is a computer and an e-mail. I will help you set up. Just give me a call at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com.
But now, we're stuck inside. This icy snow is sure to make the roads slippery, not to mention the freezing cold wind. Hopefully no trees will be blown down, causing another power outage.
It's a good time to check out the blogs right here at newjerseyhills.com, the website for Recorder Community Newspapers. Some 60 bloggers share their news and comments among the 15 online newspapers. You could join them.
The process is simple and blogging is free. All you need is a computer and an e-mail. I will help you set up. Just give me a call at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Happy New Year!
The year 2012 began last Sunday. It is a leap year, meaning there are 29 days in February which occurs every four years. Most schools are back in session and hopefully life also is back on the usual track.
It's the time of year folks usually aim to do better and make New Year's resolutions toward that goal. Hopefully one of yours is to keep abreast of the news in your community by logging on to newjerseyhills.com, the website of Recorder Community Newspapers' online editions which also include some 60 blogs.
Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this free 21st century communication tool. All you need is an Internet connection device and e-mail.
It's the time of year folks usually aim to do better and make New Year's resolutions toward that goal. Hopefully one of yours is to keep abreast of the news in your community by logging on to newjerseyhills.com, the website of Recorder Community Newspapers' online editions which also include some 60 blogs.
Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this free 21st century communication tool. All you need is an Internet connection device and e-mail.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Happy holidays to all!
This time of year everyone can celebrate the hope, joy and peace reflected in all the holidays of the season.
First comes Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. The movable feast starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which coincides with late November-late December on the secular calendar. This year Hanukkah begins the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, and ends the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 28.
In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means “dedication” commemorating the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 BCE. Jewish troops were determined to purify the Temple by burning ritual oil in the Temple’s menorah for eight days. But to their dismay, they discovered that there was only one day's worth of oil left in the Temple. They lit the menorah anyway and to their surprise the small amount of oil lasted the full eight days.
This is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil that is celebrated every year when Jews light a special menorah known as a hanukkiyah for eight days. One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, two on the second, and so on, until eight candles are lit.
The winter solstice also is this week for us here. After the winter solstice, the days will get longer and we will celebrate the light. In 2011, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will occur at 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 22. Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2012.
And guess who lives at the North Pole. Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and simply "Santa," is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric aspects who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift-giver St. Nicholas.
Santa Claus generally is depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films.
According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight, plus Rudolph) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and to deliver presents, including toys and candy, to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.
Christmas, the second-greatest feast day in the Christian calendar (after Easter Sunday), celebrates the Nativity, or birth, of Jesus Christ. Christmas Day always is on Dec. 25, this year on Sunday. Celebrations include church services with holiday music recalling the virgin birth of God's Son in a lowly stable some 2,000 years ago, promising peace on earth and good will to all mankind.
Then comes Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday honoring African culture and traditions. It falls between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 each year. Maulana Karenga, an African-American leader, proposed this observance and it was first celebrated between December 1966 and January 1967.
Kwanzaa honors the culture and traditions of people of African origin. The week of celebrations ends with a feast and the exchange of gifts. During the celebrations, candles are lit and libations are poured. A libation is the name given to a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. During Kwanzaa, a wooden unity cup is used to pour the libations. Ceremonies often include performance of music and drumming, a reflection on the Pan-African colors of red, green and black and a discussion of some aspect of African history.
Finally, Saturday, Dec. 31, is New Year's Eve, the last day of 2011, followed by Jan. 1, New Year's Day, the first day of 2012. Happy New Year!
Check out the winter season in Recorder Community Newspapers and their 60+ blogs online right here at newjerseyhills.com. Any individual or group representative who would like to join our bloggers may e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this simple, free, 21st century communication tool. Young people, high school age and older, are especially welcome. All you need is an e-mail and Internet connection device.
First comes Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. The movable feast starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which coincides with late November-late December on the secular calendar. This year Hanukkah begins the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, and ends the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 28.
In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means “dedication” commemorating the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 BCE. Jewish troops were determined to purify the Temple by burning ritual oil in the Temple’s menorah for eight days. But to their dismay, they discovered that there was only one day's worth of oil left in the Temple. They lit the menorah anyway and to their surprise the small amount of oil lasted the full eight days.
This is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil that is celebrated every year when Jews light a special menorah known as a hanukkiyah for eight days. One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, two on the second, and so on, until eight candles are lit.
The winter solstice also is this week for us here. After the winter solstice, the days will get longer and we will celebrate the light. In 2011, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will occur at 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 22. Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2012.
And guess who lives at the North Pole. Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and simply "Santa," is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric aspects who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift-giver St. Nicholas.
Santa Claus generally is depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films.
According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight, plus Rudolph) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and to deliver presents, including toys and candy, to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.
Christmas, the second-greatest feast day in the Christian calendar (after Easter Sunday), celebrates the Nativity, or birth, of Jesus Christ. Christmas Day always is on Dec. 25, this year on Sunday. Celebrations include church services with holiday music recalling the virgin birth of God's Son in a lowly stable some 2,000 years ago, promising peace on earth and good will to all mankind.
Then comes Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday honoring African culture and traditions. It falls between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 each year. Maulana Karenga, an African-American leader, proposed this observance and it was first celebrated between December 1966 and January 1967.
Kwanzaa honors the culture and traditions of people of African origin. The week of celebrations ends with a feast and the exchange of gifts. During the celebrations, candles are lit and libations are poured. A libation is the name given to a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. During Kwanzaa, a wooden unity cup is used to pour the libations. Ceremonies often include performance of music and drumming, a reflection on the Pan-African colors of red, green and black and a discussion of some aspect of African history.
Finally, Saturday, Dec. 31, is New Year's Eve, the last day of 2011, followed by Jan. 1, New Year's Day, the first day of 2012. Happy New Year!
Check out the winter season in Recorder Community Newspapers and their 60+ blogs online right here at newjerseyhills.com. Any individual or group representative who would like to join our bloggers may e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this simple, free, 21st century communication tool. Young people, high school age and older, are especially welcome. All you need is an e-mail and Internet connection device.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Day of Infamy
(December 7, 2011) Today is the 70th anniversary of Japan's surprise bombing of U.S. forces in Pearl Harbor which jolted the United States out of isolationism and into World War II. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded. The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four more. It also damaged or sank three cruisers, three destroyers, one mine layer and damaged 188 aircraft.
The nation was changed forever on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in a speech to Congress, described that day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor as "a date which will live in infamy."
The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II fighting with the Allies including France and England against the Axis powers including Germany. Americans came together in their common cause.
Today, Pearl Harbor survivors and other World War II veterans remember their service and sacrifice.
Check Recorder Community Newspapers for details in the news and the blogs online at newjerseyhills.com. Any individual or group representative interested in joining the 60+ bloggers may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers for more information on this 21st century communication tool.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
(November 23, 2011) "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go," but not this year. Tomorrow Grandma and Grandpa are going over the river and through the woods to their oldest daughter's house. And they're bringing with them the roasted turkey with stuffing and gravy for the holiday feast. It will be quite a treat to enjoy the family fun at someone else's home this Thanksgiving Day.
We are thankful this year for so much from a new grandson to resolved health issues. It will be good to relax and ponder them all on Thanksgiving Day.
Enjoy your holiday bird, family and friends and a blessed day.
On a business note, we at Recorder Community Newspapers as well as our thousands of local readers are especially thankful for all the faithful bloggers sharing themselves and their groups at our newpapers' website - newjerseyhills.com. They bring a unique perspective to the site.
Any community individual or group representative interested in joining the growing group of 60+ bloggers is welcome to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com. Blogging is free. The process is simple. All you need is an e-mail address and Internet connection.
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