The Holiday Season

Christmas; a time to celebrate, and if you’re in Australia, head to the beach for some summer fun! Although most Aussies celebrate the coming of St Nick, the holiday season is definitely not restricted to Christmas. For some of our students, the holiday season could go through April, with celebrations and festivals aplenty.

If you are from India or Nepal, you probably celebrated Diwali in October, one of the most enthralling of the Hindu festivals. Otherwise known as the festival of lights, Diwali celebrators ushered the Goddess of Prosperity into their home with lights and fireworks.

February is the harbinger of Shivaratri, celebrated with plenty of religious fervour in India and Nepal. The Lord of Destruction and Dance, Shiva, is worshipped by the devotees in his temples and this is the only time when it is legal to smoke cannabis!

On February 14, 2010 Taoist and Buddhist Chinese throughout the world celebrate the start of the year of the Tiger. Not only is Chinese New Year a religious festival, but it is a major cultural festival too. During this celebration there are plenty of fireworks, dragon dances, family get togethers and the giving of red envelopes to family and friends – signifying prosperity and happiness throughout the year. This is the time for forgetting old grudges, and wishing joy to the world and peace to all.

February 14, 2010 is also Vietnamese New Year, known as Tet or Tet Nguyen Dan, where celebrations last for three full days. This is the time where dressing up in traditional costumes or new finery is expected, and Mother will worship the kitchen God, after she has cooked traditional fare for the whole family.

Just like in India, when gambling is done during Diwali, a flutter on the gambling table during Tet is an omen of future prosperity or loss, depending of whether you win or lose.

In April, North Indians are going to be celebrating the Indian and Nepalese New Year in the shape of Vaisakhi or Baisakhi with plenty of eating, drinking and partying.

But before that, North Indians usher in the spring with Lohri ( January 13th), when the first stalks of grain are symbolically offered up to the Fire God in recognition of granting a prosperous crop to his worshipers. The festival normally takes place in February or March, but in 2010 January is the time to break out the fire sticks and rejoice.

So from all the staff and students at ICAE and the Casino School, enjoy the holidays whenever they may fall in your part of the world, and have a safe and prosperous new year.