6 April 2013. RIA-Novosti Infographics. April Fool’s Day Throughout the World

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Perhaps, April Fool’s Day is one of the few holidays, although it’s never received official recognition, which is widely-celebrated all over the world. Over many years, each country developed its own unique April Fool’s practical jokes and traditions. You can read more about them in the Infographic.

Historians argue over the exact origin of the holiday. One version attributes the origin of this festival to Ancient Rome, where, in mid-February (not at the beginning of April), they held a Fool’s Carnival. Lucius Apuleius thought that ancient Romans associated “April Fool’s” hoaxing with a holiday called the Hilaria, in honour of Cybele the Great Mother goddess {only part of the holiday was a farce, there were serious aspects, too: editor}. Others argue that this holiday originated in ancient India, where they celebrated a Foolish Holiday on 31 March. On the other hand, in the ancient world, some speculate that only the Ancient Irish had a Fool’s Festival on 1 April, in honour of the New Year. Icelandic sagas relate that the custom of hoaxing on 1 April started in memory of the ásynja Skaði , daughter of the jötunn Þjazi .

Another version claims that the Fool’s Festival on 1 April in Ancient India and Rome originated as part of the celebration of the vernal equinox. People celebrated with jokes, pranks, and clowning around on New Year’s Day (it occurred in the spring in those days). People tried to appease the whims of spring weather with jokes and spoofing. Yet another variation insists that April Fool’s Day is associated with the transition to the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII Boncompagni in 1582. In the Middle Ages, people celebrated the New Year in late March… the New Year’s Festival began on 25 March and ended on 1 April. In the middle of the 16th century, King Charles IX reformed the calendar in France, moving the New Year to 1 January, but many continued to celebrate on 1 April. The people who kept the old holiday and gave each other gifts became known as “April Fools”. Yet, everyone wanted in on the fun. It became “April Fool’s Day”, and went on from there.

1 April 2013

RIA-Novosti

http://ria.ru/infografika/20130401/930032689.html

http://en.ria.ru/infographics/20130401/180379926/How-the-World-Celebrates-April-Fools-Day.html

13 January 2013. It’s Old New Year’s Eve

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Belarusians shall celebrate the Old New Year. The tradition of observing Old New Year appeared in 1918, when the new calendar was introduced in Russia. The difference between the two styles was 13 days. This tradition is also observed in Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Click on the first URL below for a 36-second video (on the page presented, click on “watch”, it’ll download… and you can play it, and, then, delete it). Even if you don’t know Russian, it has good visuals.

In the evening of 13/14 January people will celebrate the Old New Year by singing shchedrivky. On this day, people gather as family, cover the table with a generous variety of food, and go carolling. What else does one need to do to ensure success for the whole year? Our correspondents visited a rehearsal of the celebration at the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life for the Svyatki (Holy Days). It was at a typical village house, typical of those found in Kopyl Raion, showcasing the traditional rituals of the Christmas period. One of the customs was that you’d try to “steal” your neighbour’s decorations, but, of course, you’d have to return them the next morning. It was believed that if the person who stole them wasn’t caught, they’d have good luck on their farm for the next year. Only here, in the open-air museum by village Ozertso, can you witness a folklore festival and learn how our ancestors celebrated prosperity and success in the New Year. The organisers invited groups from all parts of Belarus. One, from the north, in Lepel Raion, another, from the south, was the ensemble Chornabrytsy. Many in  the crowd warmed up dancing and singing, whilst others learned the basics of making Christmas stars, and one did a little Christmas goat… a good luck charm. From now on, for the rest of the week, the museum will present carolling with shchedrivki. Click on the second URL to download a three-minute video with interesting visuals. By the way, notice that the people are singing songs claimed by Ukie nationalists… NEVER argue with such sorts… it’s not only pointless, they use such arguments to accuse YOU of “hate speech” (what a laugh)… take that threat seriously, these people aren’t wrapped too tightly and they’re fanatics.

For the twelfth year, the Minsk House of Mercy brought together residents and visitors for a Christmas pageant. On Old New Year’s Eve, Ded Moroz is once again in the spotlight. He showed up at the House of Mercy on Frantsiska Skorina Street. Ded Moroz and Snegurochka flew in by helicopter; his landing was the highpoint of the celebration. Joyful kids met the magician after his voyage. Archpriest Fyodor Karpov, the rector of All Saints Chapel at the House of Mercy said that families coming to the House of Mercy for this pageant have started a good tradition. After all, spirituality in the family is the key to its well-being; by the way, I think that most would agree that’s the point of the holiday. Click on the third URL to download a three-minute video with good visuals.

This is how “nasty” and “dictatorial” Belarus keeps the feast. C’mon… aren’t most of you ashamed of supporting those who hate them? It’s clear that Belarus isn’t Hell on Earth… it isn’t the Lap of Luxury, either, but it isn’t the cesspit depicted by the Western media and some Western political factions. They DO have a noxious, put-on, and deceitful agenda, after all (amply illustrated by the likes of Rod Dreher, Terrence Mattingly, and Freddie M-G, amongst others)…

13 January 2013

Belteleradiocompany

http://www.tvr.by/eng/society.asp?id=81279

http://www.tvr.by/lib/news.video?id=81277

http://www.tvr.by/lib/news.video?id=81308

13 January 2013. Sergei Yolkin’s World. Holiday Week, Work Year…

Holiday Week, Work Year…

Sergei Yolkin

2013

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Every year, Russians have a holiday break from New Year’s to after Orthodox Christmas (on 7 January). That is, it’s the start not only of a new calendar year and of a new liturgical season, it’s the beginning of a new work year, too. Yolkin plays a visual joke here… the New Year ribbon seems to go on without end (and the guy’s looking backward with a wistful glance), seeming to symbolise the longing of this poor commuter for his home and holiday… that is, the poor fellow doesn’t want his holiday to end, but he knows that he has to show up onsite or else…

BMD

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This week, the long New Year’s holiday ends in Russia. There will be a short work week of only three days, from 9 to 11 January inclusive.

9 January 2013

Sergei Yolkin

RIA-Novosti

http://ria.ru/caricature/20130109/917408503.html

7 January 2013. It’s Christmas… Ura! A Wonderful Holiday to All of You and Yours!

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I bow before all of you and wish you all a most blessed and FUN holiday season. After Christmas, comes the Svyatki (“Holy Days”), our version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. There’s no fasting allowing… feast, feast, feast! I’ll carve the roast beast and pass out the jiggers (of course, they’re full… sheesh). You can eat them in a boat, you can eat them on a goat… you can eat as much green eggs n’ ham as you like. No grinchiness is allowed… SMILE! Let your heart grow three sizes… it can!

Христос раждается! Славите его!

The front gate’s unlatched… the key’s under the mat… y’all come and be welcome!

Barbara-Marie Drezhlo

Monday 7 January 2013

Orthodox Christmas

Albany NY

7 January 2012. The Three Posts Below are “Stuck” Until Orthodox Epiphany… Scroll Past Them for the New Stuff

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A child walking amidst a gaggle of snowmen built in a park in central Moscow. New Year’s is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, followed by  Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.

BMD

5 January 2013. OOPS! I Forgot! It’s HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!

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The above image is of people on Nevsky Prospekt in Piter celebrating the New Year. My best wishes to all of you guys out there!

BMD