Samhain Winter Moon
-12. 81. 72. 34. 35. 14. Andover. Singapore. Muhayil, Saudi Arabia. Mihailesti, Romania. Montgomery, Alabama. Denver, Colorado.
Mary and I talked today, she near her bedtime while I ate a quick breakfast. 7:30 am here while 9:30 pm there. It’s a big planet.
(Thanksgiving 2013, Singapore)
Having close family members scattered around the world affords an occasional window on quirks in places far from the center of North America. Mary reports that Thanksgiving has taken hold in Singapore, colleagues say to her, “Happy Thanksgiving!” and many Singaporeans celebrate with a big meal. Thanksgiving has no religious roots and its secular coloring is very faint, the whole pilgrim/indian thing long ago and perhaps apocryphal anyhow. It’s emphasis on food, family and gratitude could travel well into any culture.
Halloween and Christmas are also big in Singapore with Mary reminding me of the lights by Hitachi that go up on Orchard Road, lights that I saw when I visited in early November, 2004.
There is one holiday transfer that puzzles me. Mary says St. Patrick’s day is big, too. And, people wear green and go to bars and drink green beer. In this case Chinese and Indian people, maybe even a few Malays, too. Maybe it’s seen as a spring holiday?
(St. Pat’s 2013 Singapore)
Mark is in his third week of classes in Muhayil, Saudi Arabia. He reports that many of his students leave class early to go home and eat kabsa. “Kabsa (Arabic: كبسة kabsah) is a family of rice dishes that are served mostly in Saudi Arabia — where it is commonly regarded as a national dish. Kabsa, though, is believed to be indigenous to Yemen.” Wiki.
