Here is the latest ONLINE MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT
In many places people stay up late to see the old year out and the New Year in.
Almost everywhere in the world church bells ring, horns toot, whistles blow, sirens shriek.
London’s Trafalgar Square and New York City’s Times Square swarm with crowds of happy,
noisy people. The hullabaloo expresses people’s high spirits at holiday time.
Many Chinese children dress in new clothes to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
People carry lanterns and join in a huge parade led by a silk dragon, the Chinese symbol of
strength.
According to legend, the dragon hibernates most of the year, so people throw firecrackers
to keep the dragon awake.
In the Chinese lunar calendar each of the 12 years is named after an animal.
According to legend, Lord Buddha asked all the animals to come to him before he left the earth.
Only 12 animals came to wish him farewell, and as a reward Buddha named a year
after each one. This year it is the year of the Water Dragon.
In Thailand, a special three–day water festival on April 13–15 marks Songkran,
the Buddhists’ celebration of the New Year. Parades feature huge statues of Buddha that
spray water on passersby. In small villages, young people throw water at each other for fun.
People also release fish into rivers as an act of kindness.
At Songkran, people tie strings around each other’s wrists to show their respect.
A person can have as many as 25 or 30 strings on one wrist, each from a different person.
The strings are supposed to be left on until they fall off naturally.
Ancient Greeks began their new year with the new moon after June 21.
Before the time of Julius Caesar the Roman New Year started on March 1.
In most European countries during the Middle Ages the New Year began
on March 25, the day of the Feast of the Annunciation.
So, it seems we can say Happy New Year at many different times of the year
–Happy New Year to all Philinter students past, present and future.
Have a great weekend and see you on Monday.
Best regards,
Phil