Holidays: Impromptu

Yesterday was my last Japanese class of 2010. Since we had dinner with the teachers on Thursday Dec 17, 2009, I didn’t expect anything of import on Tuesday. After all, it was only a class before a break and not the end of a session.

The evening started off innocent enough, if odd. The Raffies were not present and the cultural center was unnaturally silent. After greeting the person behind the desk, I inquired if there was a class. To my intense relief he indicated in the positive. I then remarked how “…empty…” the place was, he counter-remarked with “and QUIET”. I burst out laughing and the laughter was swallowed by the overpowering silence. I move to one of the accustomed waiting posts and sat to practice my kanji. I sat close to the classrooms and I could hear lessons, it was a nice murmur amidst the silence. After a while, I was joined by another student who also marveled at the silence and fell to something more interesting.

Moments later, the silence was shattered. The Raffies had arrived.

For the next five minutes, the silence did not return to the cultural center and for all I know the noise remained out there when I entered my classroom. It was a typical class day.

I entered my classroom and awaited the half of the Raffies that is in my class, the other students and the teacher. I got comfortable and was guessing much work wouldn’t get done. I was wrong, but that was beside the point.

The teacher walked in with mini-cupcakes from Crumbs, saying it was a shame that one of the students who constantly brought a cookie to share from the same place was absent. She offered the amazing cupcakes and ran out to get napkins. While she was gone, one of the students pulled cookies out of his bag and offered them to the class. To our astonishment, another student pulled out cans of soda and offered them as well. Our teacher returned and saw the additional food and drink. She wondered if it would be okay to open the soda. I wasn’t gonna wait. I initiated the impromptu party by opening my can.

Kampai! we called when the teacher shut the door.

After a few moments, the lesson started as usual and it was actually productive. I wonder…. should we always start our classes with impromptu parties? It certainly worked for me

Merry Christmas, Minna-san!

Tags: japanese, memories, party

Happy Holidays

Not too long ago, I used to hate how meaningless and generic ‘Happy Holidays’ seemed to be, so I thought I would try something new at the time. I looked up all the winter holidays I could get my hands on and I sent out a ‘Happy Holidays’ note unlike a great many I had encountered. It was a long and denoted dates–and some times–of many of the holidays I could find. In recent years, I haven’t really had time to do it, but I do kind of pay attention in the background.

Since I have been more active in posting recently, I wanted to do a ‘Happy Holidays’ post again, showing my new audience the bounty of holidays these seemingly generic and so called ‘politically correct’ words encompassed, but alas, I again lacked the time to do the proper research. I hope after you have read this post, you will take the time to explore the various holidays that surround you. It is a world rich with culture, events and holidays! Once you know just how many are happening all at once, it becomes more difficult to wish anyone anything other than ‘Happy Holidays’.

With luck I will have a better Holidays Card next year, in the meantime, here is a list of some holidays that have already occured or will occur soon:

• Ramadan (Occured much earlier with Eid al Fitr at its end)
• Chanukah, Hannukah, Channukah and other spellings Happy Chanukah!
• Saint Nicholas Day
• Santa Lucia
• Las Posadas
• Yule/Winter Solstice Joyous Yule!
• Christmas Merry Christmas!
• Kwanzaa
• Festivus
• Saint Stephen’s Day
• Boxing Day
• New Year
• Epiphany/Theophany
• Chinese New Year (Actually in February, but worth adding here)

Since the time of my first winter holidays explorations where I discovered mean and dangerous creatures alongside the benevolent beings most residents of the USA know about, I have ever been curious about how people around the world celebrate their winter holidays. If you read this blog, please share your traditions and holidays with me. It would be greatly appreciated.

With all I have stated in mind, I want you to know whenever I wish you Happy Holidays, I really do mean what I say.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Tags: 2009, holidays, traditions