Eid and Navratri, (which literally means nine nights) were the two main festivals in India this month. They simply happened to fall in October this year, but they're actually based on Lunar calendars.
During navratri, the nine forms of the goddess Durga are worshipped. The festival signifies the conquest of good over evil. It is believed that the goddess Durga had slain the demon Mahishasura on the last(tenth) day, which is celebrated as Dussera.
Garba, which is a a form of group dance is performed during the nights. People just need an excuse to dress up well and dance, and they get just that during this time of the year :)
The more "hardcore" religious Hindus give great importance to navratri. They fast and meditate, since the spiritual energy is believed to be very high during this time.
October 20, 2007
October 18, 2007
October in Germany!
October starts with a holiday in Germany: October 3rd is the day of German reunification. For many people it is a nice day off from work. TV repeats the old news and many documentaries are shown.
October is also the month when geese and cranes fly over Germany on their way to Africa for the winter. All of a sudden you can hear them above you and it is the most beautiful thing to watch. If you drive through a village and you see people on the street staring into the sky it is the right moment to stop because the birds will be right above you. I feel very privileged to live in an area where I can watch this.
In October the leaves change colours and by the end of the month they fall down. It is nice to watch and it is also nice to take a walk through the forest. The sun shines through the leaves and the light seams to be as golden and sugarsweet as honey. Mushrooms can be seen everywhere and people go and collect chestnuts to decorate with.
As it is getting cold soon October is the best month to start preparing your yard for next spring. e.g. tulips need to be planted now to bloom next March.
Old pear and apple trees can be found everywhere on the fields and in the woods and it is fun to hike and pick some.
Local firestations or farmers arrange little get-togethers for their village like "potatoe day", where you can eat the traditional potatoe dishes or "pumpkin day".
The days get shorter and people start to turn the heating on, to sit in front of the fireplace at night and to enjoy the cosy atmosphere.
Halloween is no big deal in Germany. It has become a little more popular within the last years but it concerns only a little decoration like a jack-o' lanterns (If you see more than three in one street you can regard it as a record) or sweets like bat-shaped candy. We do not have the whole trick-and-treat-thing, neither the parties. Some Irish Pubs celebrate Halloween Parties though.
October is also the month when geese and cranes fly over Germany on their way to Africa for the winter. All of a sudden you can hear them above you and it is the most beautiful thing to watch. If you drive through a village and you see people on the street staring into the sky it is the right moment to stop because the birds will be right above you. I feel very privileged to live in an area where I can watch this.
In October the leaves change colours and by the end of the month they fall down. It is nice to watch and it is also nice to take a walk through the forest. The sun shines through the leaves and the light seams to be as golden and sugarsweet as honey. Mushrooms can be seen everywhere and people go and collect chestnuts to decorate with.
As it is getting cold soon October is the best month to start preparing your yard for next spring. e.g. tulips need to be planted now to bloom next March.
Old pear and apple trees can be found everywhere on the fields and in the woods and it is fun to hike and pick some.
Local firestations or farmers arrange little get-togethers for their village like "potatoe day", where you can eat the traditional potatoe dishes or "pumpkin day".
The days get shorter and people start to turn the heating on, to sit in front of the fireplace at night and to enjoy the cosy atmosphere.
Halloween is no big deal in Germany. It has become a little more popular within the last years but it concerns only a little decoration like a jack-o' lanterns (If you see more than three in one street you can regard it as a record) or sweets like bat-shaped candy. We do not have the whole trick-and-treat-thing, neither the parties. Some Irish Pubs celebrate Halloween Parties though.
October 12, 2007
October!
In the U.S., October is all about Halloween (unless you are shopping and then half the stores are already putting stuff out for Christmas)! People spend the entire month getting ready for the last day. At work we've been making decorations since September (but everything is homemade, which is not usual, so we had to start early.) Neighbors already have fake tombstones and spiderwebs streaked across the lawn and window clings of pumpkins and spiders and vampires decorating the windows. Orange strings of lights are hung in trees or along sidewalks, and the newest decorating craze (not just for Halloween) is the inflatable objects. There's a house on the street where I work with an inflatable death coach. There are also pumpkins and witches and vampires that are blown up in the evening and light the way to a house that will probably have good candy.
At the beginning of October tons of haunted houses open their doors to those seeking a thrill. Most of the time these are basically dark rooms decorated with flashing lights and fake monsters, where people jump out to scare passer-bye, but some of them have wavers for patrons to sign before entering, because of the danger involved. The Haunted houses aren't always in houses. There are variations such as haunted trails and haunted river boats and haunted hospitals... the list could go on forever.
One of my favorite things to do during October is the hayride and grill out at my Granny and Papaw's farm. We ride through the fields on a trailer with church friends and hay bails and sing songs and tell stories and just enjoy each other's company. Then we grill hot dogs and hamburgers and play games and things like that. It's a nice tradition.
A non-Halloween event that many in my area part take in is traveling through the Smokey Mountains to see the trees changing color. The reds and golds and oranges on the hillside is breath-taking and really helps you to appreciate the world's natural beauty.
When Halloween finally arrives, there are many celebrations. Children go Trick-or-Treating house to house asking for candy while dressed in costumes. Most Schools have costume parties in the classroom and other organizations might get into the spirit and have parties as well. Games might include a costume contest, bobbing for apples, or guessing what you're feeling while blind folded (you have to feel things like peeled grapes and are told they are eyeballs). Treats usually include popped corn and candy and cookies shaped like bats or pumpkins.
Older kids might feel a little more mischievous and celebrate the night before Halloween (sometimes referred to as "Cabbage Night") by playing pranks like egging or toilet papering houses or putting flaming dog poo on a neighbor's porch. I've seen older photos of cabbage night escapades such as putting a tractor on a barn roof. Sometimes Cabbage night activities carry over to the night of Halloween and the tricksters go around smashing jack-o-lanterns in the street.
Adults enjoy either taking their children Trick-or-Treating or attending grown-up costume parties. Some parties have themes and others all costumes are welcome. Many adult parties also have contests, and especially at bars or dance clubs, the prizes can be very nice. The trend for adults in recent years has been to dress as scantily as possible. There have been news reports of about how younger adults and teenagers are wearing costumes cut short with low necklines and midriffs showing.
Scary movies are a big part of the holiday. Many TV shows have Halloween specials and some channels show a mostly Halloween related line up. (The History Channel has shows about where vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein and other Halloween traditions originated.)
I should also mention that a large number of Americans don't like to celebrate Halloween at all, seeing it as the Devil's Holiday. I don't have much to say about them, except that Halloween's origins are Pagan, but religious, and it's mostly good clean fun.
At the beginning of October tons of haunted houses open their doors to those seeking a thrill. Most of the time these are basically dark rooms decorated with flashing lights and fake monsters, where people jump out to scare passer-bye, but some of them have wavers for patrons to sign before entering, because of the danger involved. The Haunted houses aren't always in houses. There are variations such as haunted trails and haunted river boats and haunted hospitals... the list could go on forever.
One of my favorite things to do during October is the hayride and grill out at my Granny and Papaw's farm. We ride through the fields on a trailer with church friends and hay bails and sing songs and tell stories and just enjoy each other's company. Then we grill hot dogs and hamburgers and play games and things like that. It's a nice tradition.
A non-Halloween event that many in my area part take in is traveling through the Smokey Mountains to see the trees changing color. The reds and golds and oranges on the hillside is breath-taking and really helps you to appreciate the world's natural beauty.
When Halloween finally arrives, there are many celebrations. Children go Trick-or-Treating house to house asking for candy while dressed in costumes. Most Schools have costume parties in the classroom and other organizations might get into the spirit and have parties as well. Games might include a costume contest, bobbing for apples, or guessing what you're feeling while blind folded (you have to feel things like peeled grapes and are told they are eyeballs). Treats usually include popped corn and candy and cookies shaped like bats or pumpkins.
Older kids might feel a little more mischievous and celebrate the night before Halloween (sometimes referred to as "Cabbage Night") by playing pranks like egging or toilet papering houses or putting flaming dog poo on a neighbor's porch. I've seen older photos of cabbage night escapades such as putting a tractor on a barn roof. Sometimes Cabbage night activities carry over to the night of Halloween and the tricksters go around smashing jack-o-lanterns in the street.
Adults enjoy either taking their children Trick-or-Treating or attending grown-up costume parties. Some parties have themes and others all costumes are welcome. Many adult parties also have contests, and especially at bars or dance clubs, the prizes can be very nice. The trend for adults in recent years has been to dress as scantily as possible. There have been news reports of about how younger adults and teenagers are wearing costumes cut short with low necklines and midriffs showing.
Scary movies are a big part of the holiday. Many TV shows have Halloween specials and some channels show a mostly Halloween related line up. (The History Channel has shows about where vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein and other Halloween traditions originated.)
I should also mention that a large number of Americans don't like to celebrate Halloween at all, seeing it as the Devil's Holiday. I don't have much to say about them, except that Halloween's origins are Pagan, but religious, and it's mostly good clean fun.
October 03, 2007
de molen van kinderdijk
The windmills of Kinderdijk are situated close to Rotterdam, NL. In 1740 19 windmills where built at this place and are still in a very good 
condition. Some of them were destroyed by fires but rebuilt by using the original materials as far as possible. The windmills drained the water from 
the polder that is below sealevel (in our days this is done by a modern water screw pumping station - one of the biggest in Europe).
condition. Some of them were destroyed by fires but rebuilt by using the original materials as far as possible. The windmills drained the water from 
the polder that is below sealevel (in our days this is done by a modern water screw pumping station - one of the biggest in Europe). A windmill can be for only one 
purpose, if it is built to drain water it cannot be used for any other purpose.
purpose, if it is built to drain water it cannot be used for any other purpose.The different positions of the windmills were in former days a sign for family situations like moaning or weddings.
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