| National
Native American Heritage Month - In 1990, President George Bush approved
a joint resolution designating November National Native American Heritage
Month. During this month the contributions of the continent’s first
inhabitants are remembered and celebrated through ceremonies, powwows
and special feasts.
November 1:
All Saints’ Day (Christian) - This day
is for honoring saints.
Dia de los Muertos (Mexico) - Also known as
the Day of the Dead, it is celebrated in parts of the United States and
Central America. Families build altars in their homes surrounded with
flowers, food and burning candles.
November 2:
All Souls' Day (Christian) - A day of remembering
the dead.
Dia de Finades (Portugal) - This holiday is
celebrated by people visiting the deceased. They bring hearts and crowns
made of flowers to the graves.
November 3:
Bunka no hi (Culture Day) (Japan)
- It is a national holiday dedicated to the love of freedom and promotion
of Japanese culture.
November 5:
Guy Fawkes Day (UK) - Also known as Bonfire
Night. The English and Irish burn bonfires topped by a figure known as
"the guy." West Indians from the Bahamas and Barbados celebrate
it as well.
November
9:
Diwali (Hindu, Sikh) - It means "row
of lights" and is the Hindu New Year.
November 11:
Remembrance Day (Canada, UK) - Commemorates
the soldiers killed in World War I and II. Many observers wear red poppies
as a symbol of this day.
Veterans' Day (USA, France) - Formerly Armistice
Day, it is the anniversary of the end of World War I.
November 14:
Children’s Day (India) - This day is
the birthday of one of India’s greatest leaders, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Nehru adored children and thus his birthday was marked as a celebration
of children. Schools have cultural programs and take the remainder of
the day off.
November 15:
Shichi-go-san (Japan) - Prayers are offered
for children’s growth.
November
16:
Louis Riel Day (Canadian Aboriginal) - Louis
Riel was a famous Metis leader who in 1885 led a rebellion and lost against
the Canadian authorities. Today his name is a symbol for Native independence.
November
17:
World Kindness Day - The spark for World Kindness
Day was lit at the Second Conference of the World Kindness Movement in
November 1997 in Japan. Starting as random acts of kindness, the movement
now has members in more than 17 countries. They are committed to building
a global organization dedicated to inspire and promote kindness.
November
18:
Independence Day (Morocco) - Gained independence
in 1956 from France. |
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Marcos
Garza, Mexico
Texas native Marcos Garza is proud of his family’s
Mexican heritage, and equally proud to be born and raised as a
United States citizen.
“At one point in the family tree, members
of my parents’ families emigrated from Mexico,” says
Garza says, a Unit 2 Supervisor at Millstone Power Station. “The
Mexican culture is that of a proud people, who are very proud
of their heritage.”
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| While
he considers himself an American, he nevertheless draws on part
of that proud Mexican heritage as part of his identity. Garza does
not consider himself a Mexican-American, “because I am an
American first and foremost,” he points out. “My children
are Americans and are brought up as such. They know to be proud
of where their family came from and to celebrate the successes
in their lives as Americans.”
Garza
recalls that his father emphasized the universal values of “being
respectful, truthful, and, above all, standing by your word.”
He adds, “Whether those items came from the upbringing by
my grandparents or passed down through genetics, I will never know.
But, what I do know is that those values play an important role
in my daily life as a father, husband and fellow co-worker.”
Garza has made several visits to Mexico over the
years, observing that faith and family play major roles in Mexican
culture.
“Family would have to be the first priority,”
Garza explains. “The Mexican culture places a large value
on family. They tend to celebrate children and the gathering of
family.”
Garza notes that large family gatherings featured
tamales as a main dish. “While growing up we would have large
family gathering at which the women and children would take masa
(a corn-based dough) and spread it onto corn husks, which would
then be filled with either chili meat or beans and then cooked in
a large steam kettle.”
Faith is also very significant in his family’s
everyday life, Garza says. “This could be seen very clearly
in my mother’s daily reminders to us that God would decide
if we were successful or not,” he adds. “My mother would
always say. ‘Si dios quiere!’ This means, ‘If
God wants us to,’” Garza adds. “Everything we
ever did growing up as kids and as adults has always had us look
toward God for successful completion.”
Other aspects of Garza’s Mexican heritage
are the various holidays they still embrace. One of the major
Mexican holiday celebrations is Las Posadas (Spanish
for “the
Inns”), observed December 16 though December 24, Christmas
Eve, called Noche Buena, or “Holy Night.” Las
Posadas commemorates the trials Mary and Joseph endured
before finally finding a place in Bethlehem for the birth of
the Christ Child. During the celebration, groups of children
and adults go from house to house singing a traditional song
requesting posada (lodging).
In each house the owner responds with refusal, also in song, until
they reach the designated site for the party, where the owner recognizes
Mary and Joseph and invites them to come in.
Other holidays include the well-known Cinco
de Mayo, commemorating the May 5, 1862, Mexican victory over
French invaders at the battle of Puebla. On September 16 Mexicans
celebrate their nation’s 1810 declaration of independence
from Spain.
America is the world’s melting pot. Garza
says he and his family are an “examples of how people from
all different heritages blend together into our great American heritage.”
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Vertieres Day (Haiti) - Celebrates the Haitian
victory over the French in the Battle of Vertieres in 1803.
November 23:
Kinro Kansh no hi (Japan) - Japanese Labor
Thanksgiving Day is when people express gratitude to each other for their
labors throughout the year.
November 26:
Kathina (Buddhism) - New robes and necessities
are given to ordained monks and nuns.
November 27:
Thanksgiving Day (USA) - An annual holiday observed to celebrate being thankful for the things one has. Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with a large dinner shared among friends and family.
November 30:
Canadian Aboriginal Festival (Canada) - Held
at Toronto’s Sky Dome, more than 8,000 people gather to share and
learn about North America's aboriginal people during his three-day event.
Bonifacio Day (National Heroes Day) (Philippines)
- Honors the great Philippine leader, Andres Bonifacio, who led the Philippine
Revolution of 1896. This day is the anniversary of his birthday.
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