Triple Special Day
February 14th, 2010.
Three days until I defend my Master's Thesis.
I shouldn't be writing here now...
But this day deserves some comment..
Why?
Because it is a "special day" in many points of view.
It is carnival in Brazil. Arguably the most celebrated holiday in the country (although I'd place Christmas first) and one of the main images people abroad have from Brazil. From Japanese to other foreigners, most people make a reference to either carnaval/samba or soccer when I say I'm Brazilian.
While initially a Christian party, Brazilian carnival created a file of its own and nowadays is considered pretty much an unrelated thing. Especially since the Church is against some of the libidinous behavior common there.
I wouldn't even dare to call myself an especialst in carnival. I actually don't like it much myself (it is a nice holiday, though) . Still, my years in Japan allowed me to give at least a brief introduction about the subject. Ironic. I became more acquainted with carnival in Brazil after I left the country. It was in Japan where I saw my very first carnival parade and professional dancers.
On the other side of the planet, China and other countries that use the lunar calendar are celebrating New Year. Another irony, considering my previous post was also celebrating new year - this time according to the Gregorian calendar.
So many of my friends from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and around are celebrating new year now. Like in Japan, New Year is the most important holiday, the season when families gather, trains and flights in those countries get crowded and expensive...
... during a one month celebration.
Yes, I had the same disbelief look when I've heard that first. It is not all days I guess, but there are traditional festivities during more a less that time span. During the days before, among other things, there's a general cleaning up (similar to Japanese oosouji tradition, I believe) and a "small new year celebration" one week before the real one. And after the new years there are still certain festivities concentrated on the first week, but they go as far as the 15th day. More details can be found on websites around the net.
So whoever said Brazilian carnival is too long should check Chinese New Year...
And it seems there is a traditional TV show in China that people watch on the 31st. Quite like Japan's NHK Kohaku Utagassen I've mentioned before. The English name would be CCTV New Year's Gala or something like it. But it has even more variety than its Japanese counterpart, with comedy scenes, some magic and other stuff. Personally, I think it's better without so many variety, but it may be just because I don't understand Chinese anyway.
Still, two points about the broadcasting of the show surprised me. One was how I actually got to watch it: live through online broadcast (fair trade: I invited Fang for a Christmas party; she introduced me to Chinese New Year). And even now, while I was looking for links, I managed to find a website in English... but not only. Four other languages, including Spanish are also available (even though it is separated from the Chinese version for some reason... the 2009 page has all of them linked).
Now on to the third celebration of the day: Valentine's day.
This one I think has European origin. THE classic day for lovers to exchange cards and presents, go out for a date under a perfect romantic atmosphere.
Not in Brazil. Not (so much) in Japan.
How come? Well, for some reason, Brazil celebrates Valentine's in June 12th. Guess there wasn't any need of another celebration with carnival around... heh! So, although what people do on that day is still essentially the same, the day they do in Brazil is different.
Japan is different in the other sense. The day is kept, but not the way couples usually celebrate it.
Guess some chocolate company had the idea (and influential power) enough to change the basic rule of Japanese Valentine's to "girls give chocolate to men".
Originally, women didn't declare their love for men. It was the other way around. Giving a chocolate on Valentine's day would be a girl's chance to express her love.
Although unnecessary nowadays (yes, girls in Japan are able to take the initiative already), the idea was somewhat cute and with good intentions. What happened later messed things up (in my opinion): instead of only giving a chocolate to a girl's love, she "can" also give to other "relevant" men in her life.
Allow me to elaborate on the two words between quotations: by "relevant" I mean friends, relevant senpais (seniors. For example, in labs or clubs) and some superiors and other people who helped her during the year. Not a bad thing anyway if she wants to, but then comes the second word: the "can" actually means that in some cases it is expected that she gives chocolate to certain people. The so-called "giri-choco".
I am not a Japanese girl, so I am just giving an opinion of an observer. I may be taking too harsh of a posture on something they actually don't mind, anyway.
Men shouldn't get too cocky either. They are expected to give a present in return on White Day.
Either way, this year I am home preparing for my Master's thesis defense. So I am most likely not getting chocolates.
Back to study... on a triple celebration day...
Enjoy carnival, happy new year, happy valentine's.
Three days until I defend my Master's Thesis.
I shouldn't be writing here now...
But this day deserves some comment..
Why?
Because it is a "special day" in many points of view.
It is carnival in Brazil. Arguably the most celebrated holiday in the country (although I'd place Christmas first) and one of the main images people abroad have from Brazil. From Japanese to other foreigners, most people make a reference to either carnaval/samba or soccer when I say I'm Brazilian.
While initially a Christian party, Brazilian carnival created a file of its own and nowadays is considered pretty much an unrelated thing. Especially since the Church is against some of the libidinous behavior common there.
I wouldn't even dare to call myself an especialst in carnival. I actually don't like it much myself (it is a nice holiday, though) . Still, my years in Japan allowed me to give at least a brief introduction about the subject. Ironic. I became more acquainted with carnival in Brazil after I left the country. It was in Japan where I saw my very first carnival parade and professional dancers.
On the other side of the planet, China and other countries that use the lunar calendar are celebrating New Year. Another irony, considering my previous post was also celebrating new year - this time according to the Gregorian calendar.
So many of my friends from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and around are celebrating new year now. Like in Japan, New Year is the most important holiday, the season when families gather, trains and flights in those countries get crowded and expensive...
... during a one month celebration.
Yes, I had the same disbelief look when I've heard that first. It is not all days I guess, but there are traditional festivities during more a less that time span. During the days before, among other things, there's a general cleaning up (similar to Japanese oosouji tradition, I believe) and a "small new year celebration" one week before the real one. And after the new years there are still certain festivities concentrated on the first week, but they go as far as the 15th day. More details can be found on websites around the net.
So whoever said Brazilian carnival is too long should check Chinese New Year...
And it seems there is a traditional TV show in China that people watch on the 31st. Quite like Japan's NHK Kohaku Utagassen I've mentioned before. The English name would be CCTV New Year's Gala or something like it. But it has even more variety than its Japanese counterpart, with comedy scenes, some magic and other stuff. Personally, I think it's better without so many variety, but it may be just because I don't understand Chinese anyway.
Still, two points about the broadcasting of the show surprised me. One was how I actually got to watch it: live through online broadcast (fair trade: I invited Fang for a Christmas party; she introduced me to Chinese New Year). And even now, while I was looking for links, I managed to find a website in English... but not only. Four other languages, including Spanish are also available (even though it is separated from the Chinese version for some reason... the 2009 page has all of them linked).
Now on to the third celebration of the day: Valentine's day.
This one I think has European origin. THE classic day for lovers to exchange cards and presents, go out for a date under a perfect romantic atmosphere.
Not in Brazil. Not (so much) in Japan.
How come? Well, for some reason, Brazil celebrates Valentine's in June 12th. Guess there wasn't any need of another celebration with carnival around... heh! So, although what people do on that day is still essentially the same, the day they do in Brazil is different.
Japan is different in the other sense. The day is kept, but not the way couples usually celebrate it.
Guess some chocolate company had the idea (and influential power) enough to change the basic rule of Japanese Valentine's to "girls give chocolate to men".
Originally, women didn't declare their love for men. It was the other way around. Giving a chocolate on Valentine's day would be a girl's chance to express her love.
Although unnecessary nowadays (yes, girls in Japan are able to take the initiative already), the idea was somewhat cute and with good intentions. What happened later messed things up (in my opinion): instead of only giving a chocolate to a girl's love, she "can" also give to other "relevant" men in her life.
Allow me to elaborate on the two words between quotations: by "relevant" I mean friends, relevant senpais (seniors. For example, in labs or clubs) and some superiors and other people who helped her during the year. Not a bad thing anyway if she wants to, but then comes the second word: the "can" actually means that in some cases it is expected that she gives chocolate to certain people. The so-called "giri-choco".
I am not a Japanese girl, so I am just giving an opinion of an observer. I may be taking too harsh of a posture on something they actually don't mind, anyway.
Men shouldn't get too cocky either. They are expected to give a present in return on White Day.
Either way, this year I am home preparing for my Master's thesis defense. So I am most likely not getting chocolates.
Back to study... on a triple celebration day...
Enjoy carnival, happy new year, happy valentine's.
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