“Before the Spanish banned Inti Raymi in 1572, this winter solstice festival was the biggest event on the calendar of the Awantinsuyu Incan empire. It occurred at the time of the sun’s rebirth (around June 24th on our calendar) in Cuzco, Peru, the Inca capital. Native residents gathered to honour the Inca, the first-born son… Read More Happy 5516!
“Give us this day our daily taste. Restore to us soups that spoons will not sink in and sauces which are never the same twice. Raise up among us stews with more gravy than we have bread to blot it with. Give us pasta with a hundred fillings.” – Robert Farrar Capon, Episcopal Priest and… Read More Wait… Pasta, Meatballs, and Sauce…?
“The Día das Letras Galegas (Galician for “Galician Literature Day”) is a holiday in Galicia, a region in northwest Spain. This holiday has taken place on May 17 since 1963 when the first event was held to commemorate the centenary of Cantares gallegos, the first work written in the Galician language by Rosalía de Castro… Read More Lit Day
“The government of Swaziland, one of Africa’s poorest and most Aids-ridden countries, has defended plans to spend nearly $2,5-million on celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of independence. Opposition deputies have called for the celebrations, which will also mark King Mswati III’s 40th birthday, to be scrapped or scaled down given that most of the… Read More Fire Eyes
“Songkran, the most vigorous of Thailand’s festivals, was the official Thai New Year until 1941. Formerly tied to the movement of the sun, modern Songkran takes place from 13-15th April. Songkran began as a ceremonial bathing of Buddha images as part of a new year’s spring cleaning ritual. However, it has degenerated over the years… Read More Songkran
The egg standing myth was born with an article penned by Annalee Jacoby in the March 19, 1945 issue of Life magazine. Ms. Jacoby was on assignment in China at that time, when she witnessed a peculiar Chinese ritual. In China, the first day of spring is called Li Chun, and they reckon it to… Read More Alban Elfed
“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks.” – Anonymous Buenos Aires – You know us, always on the lookout for a new Peruvian restaurant, and especially one that either a) serves authentic Trujillana cuisine, which Henry… Read More Just Fish
More affectionate than a kiss is a well done hug in someone that you love. Have you ever notice how I can give delicious hugs?” – Carmen Miranda Buenos Aires – There was no question in my mind that the event to celebrate last weekend was Carmen Miranda’s 99th birthday. Actress and singer, famous for… Read More I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi, I Like You Very Much…