Wednesday, November 3, 2010
With Halloween already past, it's the time of year where globalized Fairfax County is gearing up for some serious holiday celebrations.
Tis the season...to vote, commemorate deceased family, turn back your clocks, remember veterans, sacrifice, give thanks, celebrate some Saints, light candles, decorate trees, exchange gifts and party 'til you drop. Did I forget anything? The upcoming weeks of the year are some of the world's most crowded—with holidays, that is. In case you don't have a calendar as detailed as mine, here are some of the more unique holidays that our globalized county is getting ready for. Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, begins this Friday. As the sky darkens earlier, Indian residents might decorate their homes with candles and lights, hold feasts and exchange presents. Sound a little bit like Christmas? Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 7. I know you…
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Despite being more popular in the United States than other countries, Halloween has international roots.
Halloween is fast approaching, and we all know what that means—costumes, candy, ravenous children and mischievous teens. But did you also know that Halloween has international origins with some very different celebrations? Though harvest festivals have been celebrated by most agrarian cultures for a very long period of time, Halloween as we know it stems from the Celtic celebration known as Samhain. Samhain was celebrated on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 as the period in which the seasons most noticeably changed, thus designating the start of their new year. Celts believed that on this day, when the weather was colder and nights were darker, the spirits of the dead would return to earth. To commemorate the day and keep the spirits from wrecking havoc…
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A local French cafe also specializes in French film, providing ample opportunity for locals to dig into the culture.
Kyong and Sunyi Yi are bringing France to Old Town with their Fontaine Caffe and Creperie. Located in Old Town on South Royal Street Fontaine, the creperie features a menu worth the trip. While traditional, classy French fare like duck liver pate may be a bit frightening to a Fontaine newcomer, its balanced well with some accessible yet exotic choices (like olives and feta cheese or Italian bruschetta with apples). The highlight of the menu, naturally, is the crepes. Savory options, like those stuffed with sausage and bell peppers or chicken with vegetable ratatouille, take inspiration from a variety of international sources, wrapped in a French tradition. The Berliner, for example, uses bratwurst as its primary ingredient while the …
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Sugar Cube's chocolate tasting on Oct. 16 will feature some international candies.
Chocolate. It's the treat that gets children—and even young teenagers—dressing up year after year every October. It strikes fear into the hearts of dentists and parents, but it triggers that delightful rush of serotonin that has even mom and dad sneaking a bite. In fact, each person in the United States consumes about 10 pounds of chocolate per year. Not sure what this has to do with the Melting Pot and international cultures? Stick with me. Besides the obvious connection to melting pots (or melting bars), consider where chocolate is coming from. The entire process of making the chocolate is international. Approximately 70 percent of cocoa beans come from West Africa, while the rest are grown in other hot, humid and damp climates, like …
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Alexandria Black History Museum is presenting a documentary film "From Barbados to Carolina" this Saturday to spark a cultural discussion.
In Northern Virginia, and indeed throughout the rest of most states below the Mason Dixon line, we are reminded from time to time of our regional history. Specifically, we are reminded of our troublesome role in the American slave trade. The Alexandria Black History Museum looks to combat this history and create a better, more tolerant place for its residents. This Saturday, the museum is presenting a one-hour documentary, "From Barbados to Carolina: The Colony of a Colony" followed by a one hour open discussion. The film itself explores the deep connection between the island of Barbados and its people, many of whom were relocated to colonies like South Carolina. It specifically "presents a detailed look at the heritage and culture of both…
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fort Belvoir is hosting its 15th annual Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 30 through Oct. 3.
Fort Belvoir is hosting its 15th annual Oktoberfest this upcoming weekend, Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. The annual event highlights German culture and mimics a three week event held in Munich, Germany every year. Though Northern Virginia doesn't quite stretch the festivities out for as long as our German counterparts, it's still an excellent way to get to know the highlights of another culture in our area. Held south of Huntington off of Richmond Highway on Fremont Field, the event will feature a carnival, the annual 5k Volksmarch through the surrounding area, a bake sale and bazaar with German crafts and food courtesy of the Belvoir Officers' Wives Club. Additionally, a few stylized band will be playing: German Mil Band Heeresmusikkorps 10 …
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Marshall McLuhan's global village theory and how we can make our own city reflect the best of it.
In international communication, we have this famous buzz phrase: the global village. The concept was first coined by the Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan in his field-famous books "The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man" and "Understanding Media." The global village refers to how our communication changes with the rise of the internet. The physical distance between people no longer restricts their ability to communicate, their spheres of contacts will expand globally, and we will become more connected to and aware of people across the world. Well, all of that sounds wonderful. But we can't forget about good old fashioned face-to-face communication either. At the same time, we should still think about all of …
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The American Balalaika Symphony will perform European music with Russian flair
The American Balalaika Symphony will open its 2010-11 season in Alexandria on Sept. 25. The event will begin at 8 p.m. in the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on the Northern Virginia Community College's Alexandria Campus. The program, "September Souvenir," will feature music of numerous European composers. But the most interesting aspect of the ABS, including its name, is its style of playing: balalaika. Balalaika is a traditional Russian instrument which is plucked like a guitar, rather than bowed like a typical violin. It even resembles a guitar—albeit with a triangular base and fewer strings—and has been around for more than 300 years. In addition to using the balalaika, the group employs several other instruments of …
