#42 - Ash Wednesday

I once made the mistake of telling a friend of mine that she had something (I thought it was pencil graphite) on her forehead only to learn it was ash for Ash Wednesday. That was so embarrassing! Anyone else make this mistake? Or another social/cultural faux pas.

Today I've seen several people with ash on their foreheads and I realized I never did any research on it after the incident of telling my friend she had pencil on her head.

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent - a 40 day fast occurring ending with Easter.  I thought only Catholics did Ash Wednesday but actually several branches of the Christian faith participate including: Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans and Anglicans.

Why ash?

Ashes are placed on the forehead of the faithful as a reminder of the mortality of man and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. 

How long do people wear the ashes?

Most wear them until the wear off. I'm not sure what they do if they're still there at bedtime and they want to wash their face. Is it unholy to wash off the ashes? Anyone know?

Where do the ashes come from?

The palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday.

#35 - Sindoor

I work with a very lovely mix of cultures. Science is truly a melting pot of cultures and traditions. It is not unusual for me to be the only white Appalachian girl in the room at lunch or during meetings. I am often fascinated by the lunches, traditions, and clothing of my coworkers.

India Photograph by NicoleAdamsPhoto on Etsy, $30

One tradition I have yet to figure out is the red spot along the hairline (notice the red in the hair of the woman to the far left in the photo above) of my Indian coworker's hair. She doesn't always have it (I don't think)...just sometimes. So today I decided to learn about the Indian culture a little. :)

The red spot is a symbol of marriage and is made with an Indian cosmetic called Sindoor. The wearing of Sindoor is a Hindu tradition.  Sindoor is first applied to a woman by her husband during their wedding ceremony. The woman then applies the Sindoor daily thereafter.

If a woman becomes a widow there is ceremonial removal of the Sindoor (often by her mother-in-law or sister-in-law).

I think my coworker may only wear the Sindoor occasionally due to the fact that she's in the United States and the practice is more lax. I want to get up the courage to ask her about it but I'm worried I'll offend her since we have somewhat of a language (not to mention cultural) barrier.

So...can any of you all tell me more about the red marking?

#24 - Water Element

Today I learned about my Chinese Astrology sign. I am water.

Chinese Elements Coasters by BlythHouseCreations on Etsy, $29

One day this past summer when I was working in my little craft booth at the Lexington Artist Market, a lady looking at my jewelry creations made the comment the I must be a water element person. I didn't really know what it meant. She said this because so many of my creations are beach, water, sea, etc themed. I just shrugged it off that day and told her it must be because it's hot outside.

Here are some of my water themed jewelry pieces the lady at the Artist Market was referring to:

Seahorse Necklace, Sold

Starfish earrings, $8

Sailboat Necklace, Sold

Now here it is in the middle of January and I'm still creating beach themed jewelry! So I decided to see if I am indeed a water personality. It turns out the lady was correct...according to Chinese astrology I am water. However, according to western astrology I am Earth. I was born in the Chinese year of the dog. My western zodiac sign is Capricorn.

Find out what you are here: http://www.myspiritualprofile.com/content/what_is_my_chinese_element.cfm

Then you can read more about your sign here: http://www.alwaysastrology.com/chinese-elements.html

Chinese Water Element
Those born with the Element of Water can be charming and sensitive as well as compassionate. They are very flexible and "go with the flow" so to speak. They are often intelligent and creative. They have a great imagination and are not afraid to use it! They make excellent philosophers and thinkers. They often freelance. They often have more than one profession. Water has good people skills and can be very subtly persuasive. They have talents in communication and diplomacy. They are intuitive and can find things that elude others. They have a flair for organizing and can delegate with the best of them. They have the gift of noticing the special talents of others and making them feel good about their abilities.
Water can also be secretive and deceptive. They don't like to share their secrets with others. They have great skills of manipulation. Water tends to try to find the easiest way out. They may be too passive and too malleable to the whims of others. They need to learn to stand on their own two feet and follow their own path. They should avoid places heavy with water.
Water Element is the North. It is associated with the season of winter. Water's color is black and it is associated with the lungs, skeleton and excretory system.



For those of you who know me well, is this me?  Or do I just like making water themed jewelry?

#23 - Yin and Yang

Yin Yang Necklace by BeadedAmbrosia on Etsy, $29

Lately I've been learning a little about Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese art of improving life by improving the interaction between man and his environment...more on that later.

During the exploration of Feng Shui, I had to determine whether I am yin or yang. I didn't know people were either yin or yang. I just know the symbol and thought it meant good and evil. That isn't what it means at all.

Yin types tend to have large possibly bulging eyes, slight cheekbones, parted front teeth and cleft chins. These features are typical for individuals born in tropical environments.Yin occupations include research, writing, teaching and other mental jobs.

Yang types tend to have close deep set eyes, eyebrows that slant toward the bridge of the nose and strong cheekbones. The Chinese believe this type originates in a harsh cold environment. Yang occupations include travel, performing arts, sports and other physical jobs.


Here is a quiz to determine whether you are yin or yang.


This quiz (as well as several others) said I am slightly more yin than yang. I have yang features and work in a yin occupation (research). Maybe this is why I sometimes wonder what the heck I am doing in research? Just kidding...that's the funding crisis in research talking. ;) Quizzes keep putting me almost equally yin and yang...I guess that's why I'm crafty and science dorky all at the same time. :)

Applying the Feng Shui principles, as a yang personality with a yin profession my environment should be mostly yin. I have noticed I do well in a calm cool environment...now only if I could create this more often. I shall work on it. 

#22 - Inauguration Facts

Commemorative Plate of U.S. Presidents, RockiePatch on Etsy, $22

• The Constitution specifies January 20th as Inauguration Day. If the 20th falls on Sunday, a private inauguration occurs on the 20th then a public inauguration takes place on the 21st.
• Before the 20th Amendment, Inauguration Day was March 4th. The date was moved to shorten the lame duck period for presidents during the Great Depression.
• African Americans did not participate in the Inaugural Parade until 1865 when Abraham Lincoln was sworn in. Women didn't participate in the parade until 1917.
• Because there was a mistake in the swearing in of Barack Obama in 2009, he was privately sworn in again to make sure his inauguration was Constitutionally correct. 

#1 - New Year's Traditions Around the World

***My posts are illustrated with handmade products created by fellow Etsians. Just click on any photo to go to the shop listing for that particular product. :)first topic to  learn about this year.

 Since this blog is starting as part of a New Year's resolution, I've chosen New Year's traditions as my first topic to  learn about this year.


When I think of New Year's, I think of the ball dropping in NYC.  Turns out watching the ball drop is the the most common New Year's celebration tradition in the US. However, learning about this tradition wouldn't be something new for me. So, I choose to learn about other traditions in the US and other countries.

United States

In the southern US, black-eyed peas and ham hocks are served as a New Year's meal. Eating black eyed peas on New Year's is thought to bring luck to an individual for that year.

 Denmark

The Danes have a unique tradition. They save their broken pottery throughout the year and throw it at friends' houses to bring in the New Year.

Scotland

One Scottish tradition is called first footing in which the Scots try to be the first person to visit the homes of friends and relatives at midnight on New Year's Eve. Those receiving guests hope that the first person who enters their home for New Year's is a male with dark hair. Blond, fair skinned individuals are sometimes considered unlucky because they are associated with the Vikings.

Mexico

To celebrate New Year's Day in Mexico, women often wear yellow underwear in hopes of financial prosperity or red underwear in hopes of finding love. 



How do you celebrate New Years? Do you have any family traditions to bring in the new year?



  ***My posts are illustrated with handmade or vintage products from fellow Etsians. Just click on any photo to go to the shop listing for that particular product. :)