The Thailand Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival is quite unique and unrivalled by any other festival of this type. Held in Dan Sai district of Loei province, The Festival is part of a Buddhist holiday known locally as 'Bun Pha Ves.
Ghost Festival
According to Buddhist folklore, the Buddha-to-be was born as Prince Vessandorn, a generous man who gave freely to all people. One day, he gave away a royal white elephant, revered as a symbol of rain.
The townspeople were so angry for fear of no rain and famine, that they exiled the prince.
When the people got over their anger, they called King Vessandorm home to the city. When he returned, the people welcomed him back with a celebration so loud that even the dead were awakened. This starts the Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival.
Young men prepare their ghostly spirit masks and costumes, while children play tricks around the village. The huge Phi Ta Khon spirit masks are carved from the base of a coconut tree.
The first day is marked by a masked procession, music and dancing. On the second day, the villagers fire off rockets to signal the end of the festival.
The festival also has contests for the best spirit masks, dancers and costumes.On the last day of the festival, the people gather at the Wat Ponchai temple to hear the message of the thirteen sermons of the Lord Buddha. Monks recite the story of the Buddha's last incarnation before attaining Nirvana.
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Dragon Boat Festival
HONG KONG
June
Qu Yuan Duan Wu Jie
Qu Yuan Duan Wu Jie
The 5th day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
One of Hong Kong's most exciting festivals, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of a Chinese hero Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in protest against a corrupt Chinese government in the 3rd century B.C.
Legend says that in their attempt to rescue him, townspeople beat drums and threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish away from Qu Yuan's body.
Today, to symbolize the rescue attempts, people eat dumplings, swim in the river and teams race elaborately decorated dragon boats to the beat of pounding drums and the roar of the crowds.
The most popular theory of the origin of the festival is that it was derived from the activities commemorating the great patriot poet, Qu Yuan. The story about Qu Yuan is been deeply rooted in Chinese culture.
Since some of the well-known traditions of the festival already existed even before Qu Yuan, other origins of the festival are also suggested. Another view is that the festival is originated from the taboo of evil days. The fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar is traditionally considered an evil month and the 5th of the month is particularly a bad day, so a lot of taboo had been developed.
The festival has gradually derived from all of the suggestions and the story of Qu Yuan is certainly the driving power to make it a great Hong Kong festival today.
Qu Yuan served in the court of Emperor Huai during the Warring States (475 - 221 BC). His fight against corruption antagonized other court officials. They excerted their evil influence on the Emperor who exiled him. During his exile, Qu Yuan taught and wrote about his ideas. His works, the Lament (Li Sao), the Nine Chapters (Jiu Zhang), and Wen tian, are all masterpieces. He saw the gradual decline of China, the Chu State. And when he heard that the Chu State was defeated by the strong Qin State, he was so despaired that he ended his life by suicide by flinging himself into the Miluo River.
After people heard he drowned, Fishermen raced to the spot in their boats to search for his body. Unable to find his body, people threw zongzi, eggs and other food into the river to feed fish, so hopeing to salvage his body. Since then, people started to commemorate Qu Yuan through dragon boat races, eating zongzi and other activities, on the anniversary of his death, the 5th day of the fifth month.
Zongzi is the most popular food for the festival. Zongzi is a special kind of dumpling. It is usually made of rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. Fresh bamboo leaves are the best for the wrapping since the taste and smell of the fresh bamboo leaves is part of zongzi.
Zongzi is served in different shapes and with a variety of fillings. The most popular shapes are triangular and pyramidal.. The most popular fillings are dates. The festivals are closely associated with zongzi and dragon boat races. This is a national patriot festival through commemorating the great patriot poet, Qu Yuan.
Today People are reminded of the importance of loyalty and commitment to the community at the festivals. _________________________________________
On July 12th 1898, 30 miles south of Manila at the ancestral home of General Emilio Aguinaldo , the Philippine Decalaration of Independence was proclaimed. The unfurling of the National Philippine Flag and the National Anthem now known as Lupang Hinirang composed by Julian Felipe was played by the San Francisco de Malabon Marching band.
The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared and written by Senior Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista in Spanish.
First Philippine Flag
Drawing inspiration from Katipunan and Cuban revolutionaries the First National Flag was designed by General Emilio Aguinaldo. Sewn by Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Dońa Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, niece of José Rizal, during their exile in Hong Kong. The flag was flown in from Hong Kong for the Declaration ceremony at Cavite el Viejo.
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