| 
March 1:
Martenitza (Bulgaria) - Bulgarians celebrate
spring by exchanging red-and-white yarn designs called martenitza to symbolize
health.
St. David’s Day (Wales) - He is the patron
saint of Wales and died on this day.
Chalanda Marz (Switzerland) - A very old Engadin
tradition, the Engadin schoolchildren drive away winter with bells and
songs.
March 1-6:
Great Prayer Festival (Tibet) - Monks from
the three great monasteries of Tibet assemble in Jikhang to pray to Shakayamuni’s
image as if it were the Living Buddha.
March 3:
Hinamatsuri Doll Festival (Japan) - This festival
is combined with the Spring Festival. Ceremonial dolls are displayed to
honor the daughters in the family.
March
4:
Butter-Lamp Festival (Tibet) - To celebrate
Shakayamuni’s victory over non-Buddhist opponents in 1409, Lord
Neu Dzong, a noted patron of Tsongkapa, illuminated numerous butter lamps.
The tradition has since then flourished.
March
5:
Lantern Festival (China, Taiwan) - Marks the
end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
March 6:
Alamo Day (Mexico/USA) - Anniversary of the
slaughter of Texans at the Alamo fort in 1836.
March 17:
St. Patrick’s Day (Ireland, USA) - The
anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, who was regarded as a patron
saint for spreading Catholicism throughout Ireland. On this day the Irish,
as well as descendants, celebrate being Irish.
March
19:
Chetra Navratras (India) - This festival honoring
Great Goddess Mha Devi as Gauri — life, growth, and fruition —
is honored by keeping a fast.
March
21:
Shumbun-no-Hi (Japan, Korea) - During the
time of the spring equinox, Buddhists meditate on the harmony in the
universe. Also known as Ohigon.
Norooz (Persia) - Also spelled No Ruz, this
day marks the "new year" or "new day" and is a celebration
of the spring equinox. It was celebrated by all major cultures in Mesopotamia,
and today is deeply rooted in Iran within the traditions of the Zoroastrian
belief system.
Purim (Jewish) - Known as the Feast of Lots,
celebrates the deliverance of Jews in Persia from the machinations of
Haman. Jews dress in costume and give gifts of food to each other.
Good Friday (Christian) - A holy day celebrated
by Christians on the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion
of Jesus at Calvary.
March
23:
Easter (Christian) - the most important religious
holiday of the Christian liturgical year to celebrate the resurrection
of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred after his death by crucifixion
in AD 30-33.
March
25:
Independence Day (Greece) - Commemorating
the day in 1821 when Greece gained independence from Turkey.
Evangelismou (Greece) - The Greeks combined
the national Independence Day with the Annunciation and what was earlier
believed to be the spring equinox. Greeks wear traditional clothes and
celebrate with speeches and folk dancing. |
 |
| 
(Click image to enlarge)
|
Audrey Matlala, South Africa
Richmond, Virginia, is a long way from her birthplace of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, but Audrey Matlala, Business Systems Analyst, OJRP, notes that people in both cities share a common love for sports and backyard barbecues.
Americans enthusiastically root for their favorite football, baseball and basketball teams, while their South African counterparts passionately cheer for their favorite soccer, cricket and rugby squads.
|
The barbecue
is just as tasty, too, whether one's enjoying some old-fashioned
barbecued ribs fresh off the grill in Richmond, or some tasty braaivleis,
(pronounced "bry-flays," Afrikaans for roasted meat), at a Pretoria
braai, the cookout that has become a cherished South African
social institution.
"Due to the number of different ethnic groups and influences from
Asia and Europe, South Africa has a combined dish which is loved
by most, if not all, South Africans: Pap (pronounced "pup," which
resembles grits), Wors (German Bratwurst) and Chakalaka (a Malaysian
chili mix)," Matlala says.
Matlala points out that her homeland has come a long way in transforming
from a former minority government, built on apartheid,
the system of institutionalized racial segregation that dominated
the country for much of the 20th century, to majority rule by a
Government of National Unity.
"The New South Africa was formed out of great pain and strife under
the old apartheid regime, and has withstood threats of all kinds
to come out as an exemplary nation on working things out without
the unnecessary shedding of blood," Matlala says.
South Africa's population and culture consists of Africans, Europeans,
Asians and people of mixed ethic backgrounds, Matlala explains.
"South Africa is a melting pot of different cultures of the world
where the first world meets the third world and fuses to create
a wonderful rainbow nation of people with a goal to make all their
differences work together for the betterment of a new South Africa."
"South Africa has 11 officials languages, which include Tswana
(Western Sotho, Matlala's native tribe); Sepedi (Northern Sotho);
Southern Sotho; Zulu; Xhosa; Ndebele; Swazi; Shagaan; Venda; Afrikaans
(a dialect of the Dutch language that evolved into a separate language)
and English, in which most government and all official documents
are scribed," she says.
South Africa is a land of large cities, industrial areas, gold
and diamond mines and farming communities. "There is still a misconception
that South Africa is still a jungle and that wild animals are still
roaming everywhere," Matlala says.
"We have national wildlife refuges
and zoos where wild animals are kept and looked after. We also have
to pay to go see them, just like all the tourists that come to visit
our country."
Major holidays in South Africa include:
- Freedom Day, celebrated April 27, commemorates
the 1994 election of South Africa's first Government of National
Unity, "which represented all the people of our country and not
just a small minority group."
- Heritage Day, celebrated September 24 is a
day “when all cultures of our rainbow national are celebrated,”
Matlala says. “South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged
to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their
beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that
belongs to all its people. The day is meant to remember their
past and the struggles of Apartheid.”
- Day of Reconciliation celebrated December 16,
was established in 1994 to foster reconciliation between South
Africa’s different racial groups.
Either one of these holidays, or any other occasion, for that
matter, would be a great day for a braai, in Virginia
or South Africa. •
|
|
