Obon. Mardi Grass, Inti Raymi, Songkran, Fasching..

OBON..

           Obon is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. It is believed that each year during obon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives.Traditionally, lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the ancestors' spirits, obon dances (bon odori) are performed, graves are visited and food offerings are made at house altars or temples.At the end of Obon, floating lanterns are put into rivers, lakes and seas in order to guide the spirits back into their world. The customs followed vary strongly from region to region. Obon is celebrated from the 13th to the 15th day of the 7th month of the year, which is July according to the solar calendear. However, since the 7th month of the year roughly coincides with August rather than July according to the formerly used lunar calendar. Obon is still celebrated in mid August in many regions of Japan, while it is celebrated in mid July in other regions. The Obon week in mid August is one of Japan's three major holiday seasons, accompanied by intensive domestic and international travel activities and increased accommodation rates.
  

INTI RAYMI..
            The Inti Raymi ("Festival of the Sun") was a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god  Inti, one of the most venerated gods in Inca religion. According to chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, Sapa Inca Pachacuti created the Inti Raymi to celebrate the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1944, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuaman on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands of tourists and local visitors. During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusca, as related by Garcilaso de la Vega. The celebration took place in the Haukaypata or the main plaza in the city. The ceremony was also said to indicate the mythical origin of the Incas, lasting nine days of colorful dances and processions, as well as animal sacrifices to ensure a good cropping season. The last Inti Raymi with the Inca Emperor's presence was carried out in 1535, after which the Spanish conquest and the Catholic Church suppressed it. Some natives participated in similar ceremonies in the years after, but it was completely prohibited in 1572 by the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, who claimed it was a pagan ceremony opposed to the Catholic faith. In 1944, a historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was directed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro and indigenous actors. The first reconstruction was largely based on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega and only referred to the religious ceremony.
  

SONGKRAN..

            Songkran is by far Thailand’s most fun holiday. The whole country shuts down for a few days, much like some people do over Christmas. But instead of retreating into their homes, Thai come out and celebrate with the community.Traditionally, the celebration involved sprinkling water over others to signify respect, cleanse away bad luck, and welcome in good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Nowadays the symbolic sprinkling has transformed into raucous water fights in the streets that last for three days, which comes in handy considering that Songkran is typically the hottest part of the year. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Ayyuthaya and Pattaya are all known for their wild Songkran celebrations, but nearly ever corner of the country celebrates Songkran.
 

FASCHING..

           Fasching is carnival season. Originally it was a Pagan festival which came out of ancient Rome or Greece. In recent centuries, however, it has become more associated with the Christian Church. Officially the season starts on 11th November at 11:11am, although I've no idea why. It continues pretty low key for about 3 months. Things really begin to happen in February or March - 7 weeks before Easter. This is the week when people are allowed to "flip out" and behave recklessly before the beginning of Lent, which is a much more serious time.The Thursday before Ash Wednesday (25.Feb.2009) is known as "Weiberfastnacht", or "Women's carnival night". On this day tradition dictates that women are allowed to cut off the tie of any man within reach. So guys, don't wear your favourite tie to work that day! The women are also allowed to kiss any man they like. The following Monday is known as Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). On Rosenmontag there are various street processions involving lots of costumes and carnival floats. Faschingsdienstag (Carnival Tuesday) is the last day of Fasching and when most of the festivities happen. Faschingsdienstag is not an official holiday but workers usually get the afternoon off. Fasching  around the world is celebrated mainly in the Catholic parts of Germany. Different areas give it different names, for example Karneval, Fastnacht, Fasnet, or Fosnat. Fasching is only the name used in and around Munich.
  

MARDI GRASS..

          "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday." Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge and often overindulge before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent. Formally known as Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras has long been a time of extravagant fun for European Christians. In fact, some people think Mardi Gras celebrations have their source in the wild springtime orgies of the ancient Romans.In the United States, Mardi Gras draws millions of fun-seekers to New Orleans every year. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans on a grand scale, with masked balls and colorful parades, since French settlers arrived in the early 1700s. Hidden behind masks, people behaved so raucously that for decades in the early 19th century masks were deemed illegal in that party-loving city.

French royals, feather-covered showgirls, Energizer bunnies, painted clowns, masked lions you can find them all (and countless others) in the streets of New Orleans at Mardi Gras. By dawn on that most famous Tuesday, people have claimed the best spots on the streets to watch fabulous floats, outrageous performers, and visiting celebrities go by. Many travel hundreds of miles to be a part of the excitement. Marching bands, some of them founded more than a century ago, also take to the streets with music and festive dress. They open the day by spreading jazz music through the city before the more than 350 floats and 15,000 costumed paraders take over the scene. Crazy costumes and wild make-up are the order of the day for paraders and parade-watchers alike. The most lavish get-ups can be seen at the cross-dressing beauty pageants in the French Quarter, where bawdy costuming may reach new heights (over seven feet, in heels).
 

Ella Echanted

       

        Ella Enchanted is a wonderful modern fantasy story about a young girl who has been cursed since birth.Ella is an outspoken, strong-willed girl who unfortunately is given the gift of obedience by the fairy Lucinda. This spells change for the life of Ella as she is obligated to obey anything that she is told to do, even to the point of endangering her own life.  When  Ella is fifteen years old her mother dies, but before she die she tells Ella she can not tell anyone about the spell for fear that they may use it against her. she loses her mom at a young age and is left by her father at the mercy of her evil stepmother and stepsisters. She decides that she must try to find Lucinda and beg her to break the spell.Ella had a prince  whom she loves and shares everything with. Prince has been proposed to her to become his queen. She married the prince and they live happily ever after.

  

Festival in Malaysia

        Malaysia is a multiracial country, religion and culture. Even so, we live in peace, mutual respect, and tolerance. Here I want to show one of the interesting things about Malaysia. As a multiracial Malaysia, there is a variety of festivals of different races such as Malay, Indian, Chinese and others. Among the festival celebration in Malaysia as Hari Raya, Deepavali, Chinese New Year and other festive welcome in Malaysia.

        Malaysia is a Muslim country. Every year the Muslims celebrate the Ramadan, the month of fasting. Muslims are not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset. For cyclists on the east coast this might be they have to organize their food in advance as the Muslim restaurant will be closed during the day. The month of Ramadan is a great opportunity to sample a variety of food special made for the Ramadan. You will not be disappointed! The last day of the Ramadan is called Hari Raya and it's a great day to celebrate this important day for the Muslim population with some Muslims. It's very easy to find a nice place to find out how they celebrate the end of the Ramadan and how the Chinese and Indian join them in the celebrations. 

              Chinese New Year is the first Chinese festival in Malaysia in the year. It is one of the most important events for the Chinese people all around the world. Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, a date between January 21 and February 20, because the Chinese follow the Lunar Calendar. Chinese will hang outside the house red lanterns usually a week before the the actual Chinese New Year is celebrated. The house will be cleaned and new clothes be bought. Some families and shops will have lion dances to clean the house from evil spirits.Commonly known to Hindus as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali is celebrated during the 7th month of the Hindu calendar. Deepavali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, when lord Krishna defeated Narkansura.  Oil baths are taken in the morning, before donning new clothes and paying a visit to the temple.  Homes are lit with oil lamps, called vikku, signifying victory over darkness.  This is believed to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth who will not enter an unlit house. As with all open houses in Malaysia, friends join in the celebrations by visiting the homes of Hindu friends and relatives to extend good wishes and to partake in the feasting and jollity. 

        The indigenous tribes of the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut of Sabah celebrate their harvest festival in May.  Grateful thanks are offered to the spirit of the paddy, called Bambaazon / Bambarayon, by the Kadazan Dusun. A dance is performed by a high priestess, or Boohizan, to search for the Bambarayon.  Once found, a good harvest can be expected Agricultural shows, exhibitions, cultural programs, buffalo races, and other traditional games are held. There is much merrymaking and feasting with Tapai (rice wine) flowing freely throughout the festivities. A Unduk Ngadau ( Harvest Festival Queen ) pageant is held to seek the fairest maiden, honouring a sacrifice made by a maiden in legendary times.


        conclusion of life in Malaysia, a multiracial and multicultural very interesting. It was like alife filled with art and colorful. Even though a variety of festivals celebrate the differentraces, but we as people of Malaysia will celebrate together when the open house.


  
    

    

Summary about the lucky number...

     People have many important to number and developed superstition about them. Many of these superstition have been passed on through the generation and still exist today. Many of the superstition surrounding number have a basis in sciene and nature. Number don't have the same meaning in all culture. The number that seem to be almost universally considered unlucky is 13. No other number has had such a bad reputation for so long, from ancient civilization to modern societies the belief in the magic of number has persisted in spite of the advances in science and technology. There is nothing quite as stubborn as superstition. Even today, in the twenty first century, people still believe in bad luck and omen.