WildSeed wrote:

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                   Well at present the Autumn has officially arrived so that means one or many things,

                       depending on where you live ( and that crazy lifestyle of yours ) . Here in the

                       San Francisco Bay Area means decision making on what to wear to the Exotic Erotic Ball .

 

                       Many of you may be preparing for Child or Adult Halloween Festivities , Harvest Festivales

                       or simply taking pictures of Nature Autumnal Hues. What's in store for you ? Today , or

                       any Special Event to share. Are you a Birthday in celebration ? A Milestone ? Made Partner

                      at the Firm or Consulted with George R.R. Martin about " The Winds of Winter " ? 

                      Looking forward to ASOIAF Feast to post about ? Give a shout out ! 

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 Trick or Treating big in the North.  Especially my subdivision.  People come from all over and parts of Casterly Rock to Trick or Treat in my plat.  There are probably 100 houses on each street and probably 7-8 streets, so the kids just go house to house from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm.  I probably give out 200 pieces of candy on average in those two hours.  I buy more every year, and every year I have to turn my lights off early because I have run out!

I dearly miss our family gathering among a long procession of neighbours as we'd all scour the area
for Palm Leaves in the Spring. We'd all meet at the church and entreat to a day of pryer and a simple
meal to break our ritual fasts. During the procession I'd see grown men apologize and cry, or make
amends if a loan was unpaid. Naturally all the women cried even if there were no offenses to atone
for. It was awesome to experience really, this was possibly the only time these folk would open up
to each other in such an intimate way. I mean, these were grownups !

In SE Georgia we did the Palm Sunday thing, the foreigners made it theirs by Palm gathering but it
was never the same as held in Gonaives.

We celebrated most significant American Holidays when we moved to the States. Any occasion that
celebrated with food was a good excuse to have a reunion. I tried the Turkey Day for a while, then
got invited to friends homes , watching them fuss over cooking or helping. I had to take a break
from those occasions because Americans tend to ignore doing this unless there were some
catastrophe . I like to do this any day, the one day occasions tend to baffle me. I'm more comfortable
with a few days or week of festivity and cooking. Name days are too much work and huge disappointment.
I was odd that the only people enjoying themselves were the kids and grandparents.

I only recently listened to " Black Friday " commercials because I ignored them, now I make a conscious
decision to remain near home to avoid the mobs. I buy gifts all year long for any occasion.

I do not dress up my home or have any other display ,except for my private Altar which remains
year round in my home. My family also lives this way but really enjoy attending Christian services
where they live. Our significant day is not the fake birthday for Jesus ( thank you Abe Lincoln ) , but
31 December. We awake from sleep to gather under one roof , or across the waters , to pray and
give thanks to a new year. When I was little , I thought the world would end unless we prayed for
blessings and ushered it in :D

If I were visiting you in Michigan , I would enjoy it as an occasion to get to know you and yours , and help
make it an enjoyable experience. Your family sounds fun.

Lyanna Stark wrote:

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Thank you, Lady Wildseed.  You are always welcome in the North and in my home.  I live pretty modestly, my roof is like five different colors of black because I need a new one! But yeah, I am a glutton for punishment, i.e. the bookends of love and self control.  Black Friday with the ladies, I know I won't be able to do it forever, time marches on.  On Thanksgiving, we have our traditional dinner at dinner time, not lunch.  During the lunch hour, we open my Aunt's church up and feed anyone who is not celebrating with family or has to work on the holidays, i.e. cops, volunteer firemen, doctors, nurses, elderly who can't travel, etc. and it's all free will donations from area stores and congregation members.  We also bring meals to the people who are home bound from surgery or other issues.  We make them up plates and bring them to their houses.  So, it's very fulfilling to do.

-- Edited by Lyanna Stark on Friday 28th of September 2012 09:14:07 AM

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 While attending the University in Michigan, I made several Canadien acquaintances that shared they had no knowledge

of " Thanksgiving " as celebrated in their country. It seems that for the enriching occasion that has great meaning ,

a two day Holiday would be applicable. Same for Christmas in the States, why only one day for people to gather from

, or travel from 1000's of miles and a big mess to tend to ? At least in other countries mimicking Western styled

festivities tend to add an extra day. I believe England has " Boxing Day " following Christmas Day.

 

Having volunteered my time on days following these holidays , for support staff and even collegues, it only makes

sense to add a day. If time off were not granted, some took liberties and called in as sick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0uHtjlm0eI  for Thanksgiving!

Lyanna Stark wrote:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0uHtjlm0eI  for Thanksgiving!

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 Lady Lyanna, this song insane. Now I can't get it out of my system.

 

I hope you're already looking forward to Thanksgiving at Myrtle.

 

I also found out a bit more about Canadian style Thanksgiving ( which evidently does exists ) ; the occasion

originally followed the Harvest season which is earlier than the US, and considered sacred by the church.

It's quite the same throughout the world, celebrating harvest that is. There was never a formal declaration

or commercial industry behind it. It's very informal though, with families and friends enjoying the meal

at their leisure. Ironically, in Quebec, where my friends are from, their is no Thanksgiving Holiday. Yet I

understand that harvest time is universally enjoyed and recognised in one way or another. Either way,

I hungry now. Any day to gather with friends and family is a " holiday " to me. What's for supper ?

In the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, the beginning of autumn is always marked by the Balloon Fiesta.  It's ten days of around 700 hot air balloons taking off in successive waves at dawn every morning.  It is one of the most photographed events in the world. 

 

There are balloon glows at night, which are a lovely sight, and different contests during the days.  And of course there are the special shapes balloons.  There are balloons in every possible shape -- Spongebob, Darth Vader, dragons, all sorts of animals and mascots and products. 

  

 

The fiesta started yesterday.  The only problem is that there are so many visitors who don't know their way around town and gawk at the balloons instead of the road, that it is very dangerous to drive in the mornings.  People literally pull off to the sides of the interstate highways to enjoy the view.  So it's a magical and slightly scary time in New Mexico.

Black as Snow wrote:

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This isn't technically a celebration or festivity, but just a way of marking time here in the Rio Grande valley.  Autumn is officially here when the Sandhill Cranes begin to arrive in the valley for the winter. We get tens of thousands of them along the Rio Grande. In the field behind my house there are rarely more than a couple dozen at a time and more commonly four or five come by at once. A couple hundred fly overhead each morning and night, their distinctive calls ringing out from every direction. They spend their days in the fields and their nights safely on the water. There is a crane festival a little ways to the south at a wildlife refuge that has extensive wetlands and fields for them.

Source (which has more great pics)

Wildlife enthusiasts come from all over to watch them ascend at dawn and return in the evenings thousands at a time.  The biginning of winter will soon be marked by the arrival of tens of thousands of snow geese, which are amazing to behold as they glow in the sun like silver confetty swirling round and round.  But it's not that time yet...

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 Sounds like a seasonal arrival to me. Really spectacular and beautiful.

 

This might be a tragic note, sorry.
What Rygar said about Columbus day got me thinking. I know that some people could think about that date as progress (i´m not talking about any of you). It´s awfull but I get it because until recently this dreadful date was still celebrated in LatinAm. Not anymore, though. I don´t want to offend anyone's beliefs with this little poem but if I´m doing that, I apologize. The poem was written by Eduardo Galeano (Uruguayan), the tittle is "Los hijos de los días" ("The children of the days"). It´s a book in a form of a calendar and this is how we see the October 12, 1492 in Latin America:

Spanish:

En 1492, los nativos descubrieron que eran indios,
descubrieron que vivían en América,
descubrieron que estaban desnudos,
descubrieron que existía el pecado,
descubrieron que debían obediencia a un rey y a una reina de otro mundo y a un dios de otro cielo,
y que ese dios había inventado la culpa y el vestido
y había mandado a que fuera quemado vivo quien adorara al sol y a la luna,
a la tierra, y a la lluvia que la moja.

English (sorry!):

In 1492, the native discovered they were Indians
discovered that they lived in America,
discovered that they were naked,
discovered that sin existed
discovered that they owed obedience to a king and a queen from another land and to a god from another heaven,
and that God had invented guilt and clothing
and commanded to be burned alive those who worshiped the sun and the moon,
the earth, and the rain that wets.

I didn't know that poem, andrea. Me encantó.

And that it turn, made me want to listen again to one of my favourite songs on the subject: León Gieco's

"5 centuries of the same thing".

Hope you like it.

I really want to go to the balloon festival! It looks epic! ( actually always wanted to go up in a balloon too.... bucket list)

Tir Airgid wrote:

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I didn't know that poem, andrea. Me encantó.

And that it turn, made me want to listen again to one of my favourite songs on the subject: León Gieco's

"5 centuries of the same thing".

Hope you like it.

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 I´m glad that you like it, Galeano es grandioso. I love the song Tir, es una de mis preferidas de León.

Tir Airgid wrote:

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tirairgid

My favourite Oktoberfest picture so far.

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 Cool! That's me and you , Tir!

-- Edited by Lyanna Stark on Tuesday 23rd of October 2012 01:49:28 PM

Pumpkin Beer, Mead and Stout. What else is there ? except root vegetables and roast beast :D

 

This is funny!

The Holiday season is the time for glutony

yep, you should see all the little fatties at my son's school. Ridiculous! get these kids some exercise

once a week! Holy hell! Over here it's once a month! Twice a month if it's an emergency! And we eat it way too much imo!

Beautiful, Ly!! It's so full of stuff haha. I love the hands ornaments, were those made by your little Lannisters?

oh wow, this pic makes me feel soo snuggly christamsy!

Lovely Sisly ... mine still only has lights and they can only be lit up when no one is on pc ! Lol I'm such a Christmas fail this year ....

 

What Lyanna is singing for Christmas Eve service

Tir Airgid wrote:

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I am not sure I'll be able to log in before the new year so just in case:

HAVE YOU ALL A WONDERFUL TIME! SPOIL YOURSELVES AND YOUR LOVED ONES.

BESOS PARA TODOS,

TIR

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 Te adoro! Feliz Navidad y prospero ano, tambien!

-- Edited by Cary Storm on Tuesday 25th of December 2012 10:34:28 PM

Happy New year to all my Got Geek Chums ... you all ...