Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 130

1 January 2019 - THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF NEW YEAR’S DAY

THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF NEW YEAR’S DAY
G'day folks,
New Year is the time or day at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner and the 1st day of January is often marked as a national holiday.
Happy New Year’s Day 
New Year’s Day is a national holiday celebrated on January 1st, the first day of the New Year, following both the Gregorian and the Julian calendar. This New Years’ holiday is often marked by fireworks, parades, and reflection upon the last year while looking ahead to the future’s possibilities. Many people celebrate New Year’s in the company of loved ones, involving traditions meant to bring luck and success in the upcoming year. Many Cultures celebrate this happy day in their own unique way. Typically the customs and traditions of happy New Years Day involve celebrating with champagne and a variety of different foods. New Years marks a date of newly found happiness and a clean slate. For many celebrating New Years, it is their opportunity to learn from the prior year and make positive changes in their life.



New Year’s Day Holiday History
New Year’s is one of the oldest holidays still celebrated, but the exact date and nature of the festivities has changed over time. It originated thousands of years ago in ancient Babylon, celebrated as an eleven day festival on the first day of spring. During this time, many cultures used the sun and moon cycle to decide the “first” day of the year. It wasn’t until Julius Caesar implemented the Julian calendar that January 1st became the common day for the celebration. The content of the festivities has varied as well. While early celebrations were more paganistic in nature, celebrating Earth’s cycles, Christian tradition celebrates the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on New Year’s Day. Roman Catholics also often celebrate Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a feast honoring Mary. 
However, in the twentieth century, the holiday grew into its own celebration and mostly separated from the common association with religion. It has become a holiday associated with nationality, relationships, and introspection rather than a religious celebration, although many people do still follow older traditions.



 New Years France
 
The French typically celebrate New Year’s with a feast and a champagne toast, marking the first moments of New Year’s Day with kisses under the mistletoe, which most other cultures associate with Christmas celebrations. The French also consider the day’s weather as a forecast for the upcoming year’s harvest, taking into account aspects like wind direction to predict the fruitfulness of crops and fishing.

New Years Phillipines

In the Philippines, celebrations are very loud, believing that the noise will scare away evil beings. There is often a midnight feast featuring twelve different round fruits to symbolize good luck for the twelve months of the year. Other traditional foods include sticky rice and noodles, but not chicken or fish because these animals are food foragers, which can be seen as bad luck for the next year’s food supply.




 New Years Soviet Union

The Soviet Union’s New Year’s Day celebrations have been greatly affected by the Union’s history. As religion was suppressed and Christmas celebrations were banned, New Year’s, or Novi God celebrations often include Christmas traditions such as decorated trees, which were reconsidered as New Year Fir Trees. As the suppression left, these traditions stayed part of the New Year’s Day celebration. The holiday is also celebrated with feasts, champagne, and wishes.




New Years Spain

Spaniards celebrate New Year’s Day with the custom of eating twelve grapes, each eaten at a clock-stroke at midnight.

 Cold-water plunges

In colder countries close to water, such as Canada, parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, it is customary to organize cold-water plunges. These plunges and races, sometimes called a Polar Bear Plunge, often raise money for charity or awareness for a cause.
For thousands of years, New Year’s has been a festival of rebirth and reflection, allowing people all over the world to celebrate another great year.




New Year’s Song

The song, “Auld Lang Syne,” is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scottish tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.”




Clancy's comment: I wish you all a fabulous year. Stay well and safe.
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30 December 2018 - ALL SAINTS DAY KITE FESTIVAL IN GUATEMALA

ALL SAINTS DAY KITE FESTIVAL IN GUATEMALA
G'day folks, 
On November 1st of every year the people of both Santiago Sacatepéquez, and Sumpango, Guatemala, put together giant kites to fly during the Day of the Dead during the All Saints Day Kite Festival.



The vibrantly colored designs on the kites, made of cloth and paper with bamboo frames, depict religious or folkloric themes and they are flown in the nearby Sacatepéquez cemetery to honor the dead. The locals in this small municipality dress up in colorful clothing and head to the cemetery to spend the day cleaning up the graves and decorating them with flowers while they have picnics right next to their departed family members.




Traditionally, the building of the kites takes 40 days, the first day marked by the village’s unmarried men heading out to the coast at 4:00 am to laboriously collect bamboo for the kite frames. Every part of the kite is made using nature’s bounty; the glue is a mixture of yucca flower, lemon peel, and water, ropes are made of the maguey plant (the plant that also brings us tequila), and the tails are made from woven cloth.




The practice of flying colorful kites during the Day of the Dead celebrations has been around for 3,000 years and is recognized by various religious sects, and locals believe it is a tool for communicating with the beyond.





Clancy's comment: What a great community project, eh? Kids would love it.
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29 December 2018 - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S 'NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR'

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S 'NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR' 
G'day folks,
Once again, National Geographic is hosting its yearly 'Nature Photographer of the Year' awards, which promises to bring the world some of the greatest photos of our planet's many natural wonders. The contest has already been open for a month, and will be accepting entries till around mid-November, after which they'll announce the winners. Below, we've selected 20 of the greatest photos that we've seen so far. Enjoy!








































Clancy's comment: These are only a few of the entries. Thankfully, I'm not a judge. Many thanks to National Geographic and the photographers for sharing this work.
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28 December 2018 - GEORGIANA LUPESCU - GUEST WRITER

GEORGIANA LUPESCU - GUEST WRITER -
G'day folks,
Today, I interview an inspiring lady.
Welcome, Georgiana ....
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
My Beautiful Trauma Georgiana is a fun, bubbly, creative writer living in Wellington surrounded by her supportive Urban Vision community family,




WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
As a child people would always say to me, “You should write a book”, not thinking that this would actually happen! Becoming a writer was by accident, I wrote an article on resilience, and I got quite a bit of positive feedback, I completed half of a diploma of Creative writing, then decided to focus all of my energy towards writing my autobiography!




 WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP? I got offered an international book deal so I wanted to research a lot about Romania's Abandoned Orphans and  about “Living with Chronic Illness” and various other books/articles on trauma and  stages of grief. I wanted to read and completely understand all that has been part of my life.




WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
“The creativity and the challenge to make it the best work you’ve done. “Practice makes Perfect”




WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Peoples judgement that what you do “isn’t a real job!”




WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?  I was a Youth Worker/Social worker which was so stressful! but awesome connecting!




WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
Finish my first book!




WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
Marketing my book, getting the word out there








WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Love. Affirmation. Thoughts.




WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
Non-Fiction




DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
It’s hard work! but the reward is worth it!






DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
OMG Yes!




DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
No, I write whenever I feel inspired




DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
My bed in my PJ’s!!




WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
Letting your creativity go wild and free!




WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
(Can I say myself?) Dave Pelzer who wrote “A child called it” His story is of the people who were meant to protect and love him, which was part of mine, he inspired me that despite your upbringing you can choose what you do with those experiences, to inspire others by sharing your story




WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?  How real and honest my writing style is






WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
Yes! my life is crazy and I feel by telling my story it will help others going through similar experiences, by knowing they are not alone and a chance to give them hope that it will be OK and your OK.








OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
listening to music and walking. Family time!




DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?  No, I chose to edit it myself with support from other experienced book Authors






DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Being surrounded by loved ones!




WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?
That those of us with disability and illness teach the rest of the world,that everyday is a mission doing things that others take for granted.


WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
To keep writing other books based on different aspects of my life, adoption, chronic illness, childhood abuse and speaking gigs!






DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
Yes but push through it, it’s worth it!




 HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER.
Being proud of what you have written!




HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
Alot! I chose the title of my autobiography, My Beautiful Trauma. I had a vision of what it could look like, I decided it  was to dull for my personality. My current cover fits more to the title and personality.




WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
It was write an autobiography, but achieved that! Now it’s to become a successful author and motivational speaker, do a Ted talk.










  WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?
Yes! I started my promoting setting up the website My Beautiful Trauma, Be active on social media, make posters and business cards promoting your work, use any opportunities to pitch your work.


 ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?  Nope,  I used a independent publishing company






DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
Courageous, Colorful, Sunflower, free dreamer, Comedic


WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?
Negative people who dump their shit onto you!






WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?
My Beautiful Trauma by Daciana (Pen Name)






 WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
Thank you to those who have love me unconditionally




 WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO SHARE?
Not having all of my Chronic Illnesses


 ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Head to my social media to follow me for updates about my journey as an author
Facebook group
Facebook page
Twitter
Linkedin
My Beautiful Trauma website


Thanks for having me!







 WEBSITE


Clancy's comment: Well done, Georgiana. Keep going.

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27 December 2018 - LOTS OF GREAT QUOTES

LOTS OF GREAT QUOTES
G'day folks,
Time for some inspiration.































Clancy's comment: There are some good ones here.
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26 December 2018 - LOST ENGLISH WORDS

LOST ENGLISH WORDS
G'day folks,
Welcome to another list of English words that have fallen by the wayside.


 alogotrophy n 1753 -1853 excessive nutrition of part of body resulting in deformity Was he born with that huge head, or is it the result of alogotrophy? 
amandation n 1656 -1755 act of sending away or dismissing His rude amandation of his guests earned him a reputation for curtness. 
amarulence n 1731 -1755 bitterness; spite After losing her job to a less qualified man, she was full of amarulence. 
amorevolous adj 1670 -1670 affectionate; loving Our father, though amorevolous, could be a strict taskmaster at times. 
antipelargy n 1656 -1731 reciprocal or mutual kindness; love and care of children for their parents Having never received any antipelargy, they wrote their daughter out of the will. 
apanthropinization n 1880 -1880 withdrawal from human concerns or the human world His life as a hermit in the woods was characterized by apanthropinization. 
aporrhoea n 1646 -1880 a bodily emanation; an effluvium The evening's revelries were followed by an unfortunate episode of aporrhoea. 
aquabib n 1731 -1883 water-drinker I was never much of an aquabib, and always preferred harder libations. 
archigrapher n 1656 -1656 principal or head secretary or clerk The archigrapher efficiently designated transcription duties to her underlings. 
archiloquy n 1656- 1656 first part of a speech We stopped paying attention during his talk due to his monotonous archiloquy. 
aretaloger n 1623 -1656 braggart; one who boasts about his own accomplishments While he seemed nice at first, he turned out to be a loudmouthed aretaloger. 
artigrapher n 1753 -1753 writer or composer of a grammar; a grammarian Today's prescriptivists are no better than the artigraphers of the Renaissance. 
ascoliasm n 1706 -1753 boys' game of beating each other with gloves or leather while hopping If you think bullies are bad today, look at brutal games of the past like ascoliasm. 
assectation n 1656 -1656 act of following after something else She stood in the on-deck circle, her assectation virtually guaranteed. 
austerulous adj 1731 -1731 somewhat or slightly harsh The austerulous monks were rarely lenient with their pupils. 
autexousious adj 1678 -1678 exercising or possessing free will If we are truly autexousious, then why do we so often feel powerless? 
auturgy n 1651 -1656 self-action; independent activity The film director's legendary auturgy frustrated editors and producers alike. 
avunculize v 1662 -1662 to act as an uncle; to behave like an uncle I often avunculize to my younger friends, which no doubt annoys them. 
bajulate v 1613 -1662 to bear a heavy burden Their Sherpa aides were vexed by the demand that they bajulate as well as guide. 
bimarian adj 1731 -1731 pertaining to two seas Some think that America needs to improve its bimarian naval defenses. 
binoternary adj 1817 -1817 combining binary and trinary aspects The dots on the '6' face of a die are arranged in a binoternary fashion. 
blateration n 1656 -1864 chatter; babbling I've had just about enough of your garrulous blateration, you clod! 
bonifate adj 1656 -1656 lucky; fortunate The gambler was too bonifate, and attracted the casino manager's attention. 
Clancy's comment: I guess it's not worth using these in a conversation because most people would think you were speaking a foreign language ... Or, something worse.
I'm ...








 

25 December 2018 - MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS
G'day folks,
Well, here we are again. If you are reading this, you have survived another year. Be grateful for that, as many are denied the opportunity. 
Many thanks to all who have graced this blog in 2018. Forty people have been guests this year, and what an array of talent they have. One can only hope that all you writers become top selling authors, and make enough loot to be happy and contented. If you are an author, don't forget to also write a review for, or make a comment on another writer's website. 



I've been writing this blog now for over eight years, and in that time I've managed to interview hundreds of people. Why do I do that? It's my way of supporting others, and I only hope it makes a difference. Sadly, as I listen to world affairs on a daily basis, I'm disappointed with the leadership that reigns across the globe, especially in this country. Australia is an extraordinary piece of land, endowed with many natural gifts, people and resources, but I guess like many countries, we also lose our way every now and then. Let's hope things improve sooner rather than later. 
Anyway, have a great Christmas, and don't forget the forgotten ones. They could be a work colleague, a neighbour, or maybe a complete stranger. Someone once said that a stranger was 'a friend you hadn't yet met.'
To those who have regularly made comments on this blog, I thank you for following and taking the time to write a comment.




Stay safe and well, and have one for me as well.
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24 December 2018 - COLOURFUL STREET FESTIVAL IN BARCELONA

COLOURFUL STREET FESTIVAL IN BARCELONA
G'day folks,
Many cities dread massive street festivals and block parties. These celebrations usually come along with widespread clean-up efforts and struggles to keep the party from getting out of hand. 




But in Barcelona each August, the neighborhood of Gràcia explodes into celebration, and beautifies the city along the way. 



While there is an element of partying and revelry to the Festa Major de Gràcia, residents of the usually-quiet neighborhood also fiercely compete for the best decorated street. Often using recycled materials, each block chooses a theme and works to cover every inch of the narrow street. Decorations are stretched between buildings to turn streets into cave-like passages exploding with color and papier-mâché sculptures, and balconies are outfitted with everything from streamers to basketball hoops and giant scissors.



Festa Major de Gràcia rages day and night for a week, turning 20 streets in Gràcia into their own new worlds for the time. Although drinking, dancing and partying dominate the landscape at night, the festival also features cultural activities such as human castles (castellers) and a fire run (correc) as well as activities for children during the day, allowing the entire family to enjoy the vibrant and exciting street festival.




The Festival runs from August 15 (Feast of the Assumption) through August 21 every year. On the Metro, go to Fontana.


  
Clancy's comment: Great idea. There should be more of it.
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23 December 2018 - A COLLECTION OF WEIRD CREATURES

A COLLECTION OF WEIRD CREATURES
G'day folks,
We all have certain images of what animals "should" look like in our heads, but the truth is that there are so many variations in nature that whatever we have in our minds is far from being a reflection of reality. For instance, we think of pigs as being pink with a little tail, but did you know that there's a species of pig that has four giant fangs? Here are 15 images of odd animals that will leave you scratching your head: 


































Clancy's comment: These interesting creatures just keep coming, eh?
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22 December 2018 - SOJOURNER TRUTH - Women’s Rights Campaigner

SOJOURNER TRUTH - Women’s Rights Campaigner -
G'day folks,
Welcome to some interesting facts about yet another black woman who was certainly ahead of her time. Sojourner Truth (1797–1897) was born into slavery but escaped to freedom and became one of the most noted African-American women speakers on issues of civil rights and abolition.

She was deeply religious and felt a calling from God to travel America speaking on slavery and other contemporary issues. At 6ft tall, she was a striking presence and used her powerful oratory to awaken the conscience of America to the injustice of slavery and discrimination.

 Early life Sojourner Truth was born to slave parents – James and Elizabeth Baumfree. She was born around 1797 and, at birth, was named Isabelle or ‘Belle’. Her family, including 10-12 siblings, were kept on an estate in the town of Espouses – 95 miles north of New York. When her Dutch slave owner, Charles Hardenbergh died in 1806, Sojourner, aged nine, was sold for $100 to a new owner John Neely, who frequently beat her.
She was then sold between slave owners a few times, before moving to John Dumont of West Park, New York. Unlike previous owners, Dumont was more kindly disposed and her life improved somewhat, although she was harassed by Dumont’s wife.



Around 1815, Truth began a relationship with a slave from a nearby farm, called Robert. The relationship was strictly forbidden by Robert’s slave owner Charles Cation –  because Cation would not own any children they had – but they met anyway. Unfortunately, Cation caught the pair and severely beat his slave, Robert. The beating was so savage that Robert later died from his injuries. The painful incident left a lasting legacy, haunting Truth throughout her life. Later she was told to marry a slave named Thomas, who was 20 years older than her. She had four children with Thomas and one child with either Robert or John Dumont.
 Freedom from slavery

New York was one of the earliest states to begin ending slavery. The process was started in 1799, but slavery wouldn’t officially end until 4 July 1827. However, Truth became restless for freedom and after Dupont reneged on an offer to grant her freedom, in 1826, one year before the change in the law, she took her infant daughter Sophia and left Dumont. She found work as a domestic servant with the Van Wagenen family.




Despite the end of slavery in New York, Truth learnt that her five-year-old son, Peter, had been sold to Alabama where slavery was deeply embedded. With the help of her new employers, she took Dupont to court to claim he had sold Peter illegally. Truth won the case against her former slave owner and her son Peter was brought back from Alabama where he had been badly treated. It was a landmark case and the first time a black woman had won a court case against a white man.

This was an important time for Truth, free from the shackles of slavery; she had a religious conversion, becoming a devout, evangelical Christian.
She spent time with Elijah Pierson, a Christian Evangelist, and also ‘Prophet Matthias’ who founded the Matthias Kingdom communal colony. When Pierson died, Truth along with others was accused of stealing and poisoning him. But the case was thrown out of court. Later Truth brought a slander suit against those who had made the false claims (the Folgers) and Truth won her second case.




As well as abolitionist causes, Truth became more active in supporting women’s rights, religious tolerance, pacifism and prison reform. She joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts, which was committed to promoting the abolition of slavery and supporting women’s rights. Here she met other prominent abolitionists, such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass. Although the group later disbanded she remained close to some of these prominent men and women.
 Truth was also a good singer and sometimes sang to audiences. At an abolitionist conference in 1840 in Boston, the great orator Wendell Phillips was marked down to speak after her. Worried she was not good enough to speak before him, she sang “I am Pleading for my people” to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.

Throughout the 1850s and 60s, she gave many speeches throughout the state – this was a time when public speaking was in high demand; in the absence of any radio or modern media, public speaking was a major source of information. The speaking circuit was mostly dominated by white men, so the presence of this imposing 6′ black woman was quite striking; her powerful words carried authenticity because she spoke from direct experience of slavery. She was also blessed with a powerful, low, resonant voice. She often travelled with her grandson, Sammy Banks who could read and write – this was a great help to the illiterate Sojourner.




Still, it was a challenging role –  fighting the double prejudice of the age –  against both women and those of African-American roots. Like other female speakers such as Harriet Tubman, sometimes people were even sceptical that they weren’t really men. One apocryphal story relates that in 1858, someone interrupted a speech Truth was giving claiming she was a man. Truth responded by revealing her breasts.

Often audiences were quite hostile, with hissing and booing, even before she started. But Truth was able to adapt her speeches to the context of the time and was adept at dealing with hostile audiences. As her reputation grew, her reception became more favourable. She was popular with like-minded abolitionists, though her insistence on the equality of women was radical even for some progressives. She also had a strong sense of humour and was willing to tease those who tended to a more self-righteous activism or were concerned with frivolous posturing.
Increasingly frail, Truth died on 26 November 1883, aged around 87. Though she liked to encourage the myth she was even much older ‘the oldest speaker on the circuit’ – was one phrase used. Her tombstone gives her age as 105.
In 2009, she became the first black woman honoured with a bust in the U.S. Capitol and in 2014, she was included in the Smithsonian Institutions list of the 100 most significant Americans.
  

Clancy's comment: I always admire these women, especially the black women, who often fought for rights against insurmountable odds.
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