|
|
|
|
This page is big!
If it fails to load fully, please click Refresh on your browser menu.
It's fully loaded when you see the purple menu bar at the foot of the page.
reetings from Australia.
Welcome to this Red-Letter Day. Below you will find today's global celebrations, birthdays and events.
First time here? See the Index for
How it works
Celebrate each and every day with a free subscription to the daily ezine. You can apply by form or send a blank email. Read what the 'Almaniacs' (members) say about Wilson's Almanac.
I request your support if this website pleases and informs you, as this is my livelihood. Thank you, from the bottom of my fridge.
Inquiries from publishers are welcome, but, dear reader, please don't use my work without my written permission. If I've inadvertently used something of yours that you consider not to fall under the fair use doctrine, please tell me and I'll remove it.
Carpe diem! (Seize the day!)
Our news on your homepage (that is, if you use My Yahoo, which we recommend for your start-up page)
|
|
|
May the pot of prosperity boil over Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out. The liberty of man consists solely in this, that he obeys the laws of nature, because he has himself recognized them as such, and not because they have been imposed upon him externally by any foreign will whatsoever, human or divine, collective or individual. I am just a simple doctor. All I wanted to do here was found a small hospital |
|
In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Martin Niemoeller, German Lutheran Pastor, born on January 14, 1892
I should never have switched from scotch to martinis.
Humphrey Bogart, American 'tough guy' actor who died on January 14, 1957 (attributed last words)
Just because I don't care
doesn't mean I don't understand.
Homer Simpson, to his daughter Lisa; both were first seen on US TV
on January 14, 1990
January 14 is the 14th
day of the year in the Gregorian
calendar, with 351
days remaining (352 in leap years).
Calendar
converter Almanacs,
calendars, time, dedicated weeks, etc Almanac
screensavers On
this day Dictionary
I
recommend
IMDB
days IMDB
years Wikipedia
days Wiki
decades Wiki
centuries Timelines
Convert
weights, measures, etc Calendrica
Lunabar
When 'Source' links
on this page move address or
die, I might allow them to stay here, but the
Wayback Machine might help you
locate the original.
Sankranthi
(Makara Sankranthi; Makar Sankranti), Northern India (c. Jan 14 - 15)
Sankranthi, or Sankranti, is a festival that signifies the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of India.
Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious day for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of India in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion, fervour and gaiety. Many thousands of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar and Prayag and pray to Lord Sun.
Also called 'Makara Sankranthi', it is celebrated primarily in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. From this day onwards the sun with respect to the earth starts moving towards north signalling the oncoming of summer. The grand seer of Mahabharatha, Bheeshmacharya, waited for this day to die and ascend to Brahmaloka. The auspicious day of Sankranthi is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Typically in Andhra Pradesh, the festival is celebrated for three days. The day before Makara Sankranthi is known as Bhogi. On this day, early in the morning, old items in the house such as unusable clothes and broken furniture are set on fire. Also while the old items are burnt, people start drumming on a small hand-held drum which is also thrown into the fire, in the end. A small twig, with dambar on the end is prepared as the stick used for drumming. On Sankranthi, people wear new clothes and visit temples to celebrate the harvest. The third day is known as Kanuma. As cinema is a highly popular medium in the state of Andhra Pradesh, a bounty of films, featuring the biggest of stars release on this day. The winner of this battle, is generally crowned the 'King of the Box Office' for the year.
"There is also a fair in the Western Ghats at a place called Shabari Mala, where the temple of the Community Goddess is decorated with dazzling lights. The Goddess is worshipped by touchables and un-touchables both and the 'bhog' to the Goddess is cooked in the touchables and un-touchables both. These tribals participate in the Mela and enjoy all together as if they belong to one single family. May be therefore, the experts pine that this festival of Makar Sankrant comes to us from those olden times when the caste system did not exist in India as it emphasises or communal harmony ...
Recipe: Til Polis
"These are specially prepared for the Sankrant festival because a mixture of til (sesame) and jaggery contribute to the health if eaten during cold season.
Ingredients:
2 cups cleaned white sesame
2 cups grated jaggery
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
1 1/2 teaspoon powder of cardamoms
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder
1 1/2 cups maida (refined flour)
oil as required.
Method :
- Rub in 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt to the flour and knead into a soft dough.
- Cover it with a wet cloth.
- Heat sesame on low fire, stirring continuously so that they do not splutter and fall out of the pan. When cooled, pound them.
- Add the greated jaggery and pound once more to make the mixture even and smooth.
- Mix powders of Cardamoms, Sonth and nutmeg.
- Shape small balls from the ready dough.
- Place one ball in the left hand palm and make an indentation in the middle.
- Put in this hollow a lump from the mixture.
- Pull up the sides, gather at the top and press down.
- Smear a wooden board with oil, place the stuffed ball on it and roll out into as thin a round as possible.
- using enough oil fry it on griddle to deep golden colour till it is crisp.
- Thus make all the Til Polis. These can last for quite a number of days and are very tasty."
Pongal, Tamil Nadu, India; Singapore; Hindu cultures elsewhere
(called Lohri in Punjab and neighbouring states)
Pongal is an Indian festival to give thanks for the harvest. Pongal in Tamil literally means boiling over. It is traditionally celebrated at the time of harvest of crops and hence is a celebration of the prosperity associated with the event.
Pongal is historically a secular festival independent of religion. It is celebrated by all people in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. While Pongal is predominantly a Tamil festival, the same period also marks similar festivals celebrated in several other places under different names. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the harvest festival Sankranthi is celebrated. In northern India, it is called Makar Sankranti. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is the date of the annual kite-flying day, Uttarayan. It also coincides with the harvest festival in Punjab and Haryana, known as Lohri.
Pongal is also known as Tamizhar Thirunal or The Festival of Tamils among the Tamil people. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum – literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities -- is often quoted with reference to the Pongal festival.
Usually the festival falls in the middle of the month of January in the Western calendar. The festival is celebrated for four days from the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi (Dec/Jan) to the third day of Thai (Jan/Feb). The first day, Bhogi, is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting fire to them to mark the end of old and emergence of new.
The second day, Pongal, is the main day which falls on the first day of the Tamil month Thai (January 14 or January 15 in the western calendar). The Pongal day is celebrated by boiling rice with fresh milk and Jaggery early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel — a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal (in Tamil). The moment the rice gets boiled over and bubbles out of the vessel, it is offered to the Sun God, a gesture which symbolises thanksgiving to the Sun for providing prosperity. People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings.
The third day, Maattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cattle, as they provide with milk and are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the wild bull contest, marks the main event of this day. On the last day, Kaanum Pongal – the word 'kanum' literally meaning 'to view' – youngsters used to gather at river banks to view and select their future life partners (which has fallen out of practice currently). People, especially store-keepers visit beaches and theme parks during this day in modern times. During the pongal season, people eat sugar canes and decorate the houses with kolam.
Astronomical significance
The astronomical significance of the festival is that it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.
Pongal, Indian Festival – With recipe for Pongal dish Why is Makar Sankranti always on the 14th of January? Pongal songs Legends
Recipe: Sarkkarai Pongal
"Ingredients :
2 litres milk
10 almonds
1 1/2 cups newly harvested rice
1/4 cup moong dal
15 cashewnuts
1 1/2 cup jaggery grated
30 kishmis
1/4 level teaspoon nutrieg powder
1/4 teaspoon saffron crushed 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
2 tablespoons ghee.Method:
This Sarkkarai Pongal is cooked in the Sun in courtyard and served directly from the pot."
- Chop almonds and cashewnuts.
- Clean kishmis
- Pour milk in the earthen pot called `Pongapani' and place it on fire.
- When the milk starts boiling add rice and dal, after washing.
- As soon as the rice and dal are cooked to softness, add jaggery and ghee.
- Let cook on medium fire for some time and then put in almond and cashewnut bits, saffron nutrieg and cardamom powders.
- Lastly put in the kishmis.
- Bring to one or two good boils.
"Bhogali Bihu of Assam in east India could be regarded as the matching counterpart of the Tamil Pongal festival. The nightlong feast with family and friends along with the preparation of traditional Assamese goodies, and the early morning worship of the Indian god of fire – Agni, are some of the major highlights of this festival.
"In West Bengal, it is celebrated in the form of a festival cum fair called Ganga Sagar Mela. However, this fair is not confined to the Bengalis only as people from all over India come to visit the Ganga Sagar beach with the belief that a dip in the holy bank will absolve them of their sins.
"In Punjab and its neighbouring states, this day is celebrated, as Lohri. It marks the coming of spring and the approaching end of winter. Fires are lit as dusk approaches. Arrangement for feasts among family and friends and gatherings around the sacred bonfire, and an exchange of greetings and pleasantries mark the festival celebration here." Source
Dmoz listing on Pongal Lohri Pongal Festival - the harvest festival of South India Lohri Festival - the bonfire festival of North India
Send a free Makar Sankranti e-card Send a free Pongal e-card
Feast of the Ass, old England
This was a popular theatrical representation of the Biblical 'Flight into Egypt', performed in the Middle Ages.
(The Flight into Egypt describes an event in the Gospel of St Matthew [2: 13-23], in which St Joseph fled to Egypt with his wife Mary and the baby Jesus, after the visit of the Magi.)
The escape of the Holy Family was represented by a beautiful girl holding a child at her breast, and seated on an ass, splendidly decorated with trappings of gold-embroidered cloth. After the procession, the ass was taken to the church's high altar, where it remained during the religious services. In place of the usual responses, the congregation brayed like donkeys. At the end, the priest brayed three times instead of pronouncing the benediction. He was answered by a general hee-hawing. The hymn sung had a chorus of braying from all; here is the first of nine verses:
From the country of the East,
Came this strong and handsome beast:
This able ass, beyond compare,
Heavy loads and packs to bear.
Now, seignor ass, a noble bray,
Thy beauteous mouth at large display;
Abundant food our hay-lofts yield,
And oats abundant load the field.
Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Hee-haw!
"The 'Festival
of the Ass', and other religious burlesques of a similar description,
derive their origin from Constantinople; being instituted by the patriarch
Theophylact, with the design of weaning the people's minds from pagan
ceremonies, particularly the Bacchanalean and calendary observances, by
the substitution of Christian spectacles, partaking of a similar spirit of
licentiousness, a principle
of accommodation to the manners and prejudices of an ignorant people,
which led to a still further adoption of rites, more or less imitated from
the pagans. According to the pagan mythology, an ass, by its braying,
saved Vesta from brutal violence, and, in consequence,
'the coronation
of the ass' formed part of the ceremonial feast of the chaste goddess."
Robert Chambers, (Ed.), The Book of Days: A miscellany of popular antiquities in connection with the calendar, etc, W & R Chambers, London, 1881 (1879 Edition is online and 1869 edition here with CD-ROM available; See also The English Year: A Personal Selection from Chambers' Book of Days)
NB Tomorrow is the ancient Roman Feast of the Ass.
An old Christian tradition says that St Aphrodisus sheltered the Holy Family at Hermopolis during their flight into Egypt.
St
Anthony and the ass
In Christian legend, St Anthony one
morning was carrying the sacrament to a dying person. Some Jews refused to
kneel as the sacred vessels passed, but they were shamed to see an ass
kneel, and they were converted. They paid for a sculpture of a kneeling
ass to be put in the church at Padua.
John Wesley's ass
(From his Journal). The Methodist was
preaching at Rotherham, England, when "an ass walked gravely in at the
gate, came up to the door of the house, lifted up his head, and stood
stock still, in a posture of deep attention. Might not the dumb beast
reprove many, who have far less decency, and not much more
understanding?"
Henry
IV of France and the ass
King Henry IV of France was listening to
a long, boring speech by the mayor of a small town he was visiting, when
an ass brayed loudly.
"Pray, gentlemen, speak one at a time, if you please," said the king, gravely and politely. Or, so it is said.
Find an error or dead link?
Like to make a suggestion, or just say "G'day"?
Meet me at Corrigenda
![Celebration of Life Month [ January ] free e-cards](http://img.123greetings.com/events/images/ejan_celebrationoflife-01.gif)
![Valentine's Day [ Feb 14 ]](http://img.123greetings.com/homeimages/side_valentine_1.gif)
If you are enjoying this page, 
"The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and others called the tune. … Oracle publisher and Be-In co-organizer Allen Cohen characterized the event as a necessary meeting-of-the-minds, bringing together the philosophically opposed factions of the late 1966 San Francisco-based counter culture: on one side, the Berkeley radicals, who were tending toward increased militancy in response to the U.S. government's Vietnam war policies, and, on the other side, the Haight-Ashbury hippies, who, with the help of psychotropic compounds and various spiritual guides, saw the cosmic karma in it all, and urged peaceful protest and ongoing joyful celebration. The Be-In focused the key ideas of the 1960s counter-culture: personal power, decentralization, ecological awareness, consciousness expansion. More encompassing than a war protest movement, the counter culture
'questioned authority' in regard to civil rights, women's rights, and consumer rights, shaped its own alternative media – the
'underground' newspapers and radio stations, and spawned new directions in music, art, and technology. In the 1970s, the dynamic San Francisco area milieu, blending Silicon Valley with Haight-Ashbury and Berkeley, gave birth to the personal computer – the ultimate gesture of personal power,
'counter' to the then-prevailing main frame computer paradigm that implied centralized authority."
