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Lunar New Year/Spring Festival

2/13/2018

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​February 16th is an important date for many cultures and countries across Asia. It is the Spring Festival or Lunar Festival and it’s the Year of the Dog.
 
Before the celebrations begin, families go shopping for festival and decorations such as red Spring Festival Couplets (Chunlian), red animal paper cutouts, flowering plants as well as new clothes. The homes are properly cleaned to welcome friends and family in preparation of the New Year celebration, meals are prepared and red envelopes filled money and given out to family and friends as a sign of goodwill.
 
Reunion dinners that are held at this time are usually 8 courses or more. It is believed that including fish, dumplings, Spring Rolls, Good Fortune Fruit (such as tangerines and oranges), Tangyuan (sweet rice balls), Niangao (rice cake) and Longevity Noodles are lucky foods to have during the dinner. Each food represents some variation of good fortune ranging from prosperity, wealth, family togetherness and fullness.
 
Are you born in the Year of the Dog? Check out the personality traits and birth years of those who fall under this sign.
 
Birth Years are: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
 
Personality Traits: Loyal, honest, popular, fair, energetic, independent and genuine.
 
From our ISO family to yours, Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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International Holidays in December

12/27/2017

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​This is the season when many cultures gather to celebrate their shared and also unique national holidays before the beginning of the New Year.
 
As homage to our international student community, here are some of the holidays traditionally celebrated in December throughout the world.
 
 
Omisoka: A traditional Japanese holiday celebrated at the end of the year. On this day, shrines are cleaned throughout Japan on this day as a symbol of getting rid of impurities which is a building block of Shinto (Japanese Indigenous Religion). Other activities that take place on this day are:
  • Toshi no Yu (Year’s Bath): Taking a bath on New Year’s Eve night to rid all the year’s uncleanliness and get ready to welcome the new year.
  • Soba (Buckwheat Noodles): This is the meal eaten on New Year’s Eve to ward off misfortune and the all of the year’s bad luck.
  • Joya no Kane (Bells on New Year’s Eve): This is struck 108 times to get rid of desires and passions which make us suffer. Fun fact: In Buddhism, 108 represents desires and passions
 
Hannukah (Chanukah):  This is the celebration of the rededication of the Holy Temple. For 8 nights, those who celebrate light a special candleholder that is called the menorah. During this celebration, family and friends light the menorah nightly, say special prayers and eat fried food. It is also customary to play with a dreidel for a pot of coins, nuts, or other items.
 
Christmas: This is the most popular holiday in December. A Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.  The day usually includes gift giving, going to church and spending time with family and friends for dinner.
 
Kwanzaa: This is an African American and Pan-African holiday that originated in 1966. It is observed from December 26 to January 1st. The term “Kwanzaa” comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits”. There are 7 principles (Nguzo Saba) that are honored during the celebration and each one is recognized every day of Kwanzaa. For 7 nights, families gather and let a child light one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder). Along with the lighting of the Kinara, there is Karamu (large traditional meal), playing of the African drums, songs and dances, storytelling, and poetry reading.
 
Twelve Grapes:  Also known as “Twelve grapes of luck” or Las doce uvas de la suerte, is celebrated on New Year’s Eve in Spain and Hispanic and Latin American cultures.  Originated in Spain in the 1800s, the tradition includes eating a grape with each strike of the midnight bell on December 31st. This is to bring a year of prosperity and luck.
 
St. Stephen’s Day: Otherwise known as the “Feast for the Saint Stephen” is also called Boxing Day, Wren Day, or Constitution Day. Celebrated in the United Kingdom, some Commonwealth and European countries, it is a day filled with variety of activities based on the country. These activities mostly involve giving back gifts to those in needs, visiting friends or carrying relics of St. Stephen’s right hand throughout Budapest Street. 
 
Vasilopita (St. Basil’s cake): In Greek culture, it is common to cut the Vasilopita on New Year’s Day in order to bless the house and bring good luck for the upcoming year. Within the cake, a coin is usually baked in and whoever receives the coin is believed to have a blessed year ahead. 
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Holiday celebrations from around the world

12/23/2016

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The holiday season is in full swing! Just as how the international student population is diverse so are the different ways the holidays are celebrated. Here’s a quick look on how some different cultures celebrate the festive season:

United States of America: The USA is the home to a melting pot of cultures which extends itself to the diverse holidays that are celebrated at this time of the year. These holidays include Christmas, Kwanzaa (celebration of the African heritage in African-American culture) and Hanukkah (Jewish festival of lights).

Omisoka (Japan): This is celebrated the day before the New Year. Noodles are often eaten as "a sign of long life" and crossing from one year to the next. Those who celebrate tend to go to shrines or temples and drink Amazake.

Ta Chiu (Hong Kong): This involves praying to the god or gods of their ancestors and asking for their wishes to be fulfilled within the coming year.

St. Stephen's Day/ Wren Day (Ireland): On December 26, children go door to door singing, holding with holly bush and a fake wren (song bird). They ask for money for the “starving wren”. 
​
Sviata Vechera (Ukraine): Also known as “Holy Supper”, this celebratory dinner includes 12 dishes that represent the 12 apostles. There is no meat or milk products but fish is included in the dinner.
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Diwali – The Indian Festival of Lights

10/22/2014

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Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is an Indian traditional festival in autumn every year. This year Diwali will be celebrated on Thursday Oct. 23th.

As one of the biggest and happiest holidays in India, Diwali is not only special for its spiritual meanings: light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair but cultural importance. It is significant for its cross cultural celebration of happiness and joy with friends and families. During Diwali, families light up lamps and candles inside and outside their homes. The sky is lit up by spectacular fireworks as everyone gets ready to welcome new beginnings, joy and happiness for the year to come. Diwali also marks the beginning of new business year for many businessmen as they close their books for the past year and pray to the goddess of wealth for a prosperous new year. 

During this almost week long celebration - Indian men, women and children – all enjoy this festival alike by sharing sweets, dinner with friends and family and of course shopping. Diwali is also known as one of the biggest shopping occasion as people get ready to buy items ranging from a simple new pair of clothes to a new car or home and of course Gold!

 A very Happy and Healthy Diwali for our Indian members, their friends and family!

Stay Safe.

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