Tag Archives: decorations

Celebrating Chinese New Year

15 Thursday Feb 2018

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Happy New Year! Wait, didn’t we already do this? No, it’s not deja vu – it’s the Chinese Chinese red lanternNew Year. Unlike our traditional New Year on January 1, Chinese New Year is never on a fixed day because it is dictated by the lunar calendar, which can place anytime from January 21 and February 20.

Although the event will officially begin tomorrow (February 16), Chinese communities have been preparing for weeks. Typically, most families start by thoroughly cleaning their homes “sweeping the dust,” this process is representative of putting old things away and leaving the past behind.

Once all of the cleaning is complete, people decorate their homes with red lanterns and red posters with poetic verses. The color red is much loved because it symbolizes happiness and good fortune.

On the eve of the New Year, family events are extremely common. The festivities begin with a traditional dinner. Throughout the evening, fireworks and firecrackers are set off to get rid of bad luck and encourage good fortune. Other activities include beating drums, striking gongs and as well as Dragon and Lion Parades (we especially like the sound of the last event!)

Each year is given its name from the Chinese zodiac. This year’s zodiac animal is a dog. Years of the Dog include 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 and 2030. If you were born in a Dog year, you’re a Dog, and the following elements are seen as lucky for you:

Lucky numbers: 3, 4, 9
Lucky color: red, green and purple
Lucky flowers: rose, cymbidium orchids

Unfortunately, it appears that people born in a year of the Dog are destined to have less good luck in 2018, but there are ways to make your own good luck.

Believe it or not, this is not the last New Year we will celebrate in 2018. It’s hard to believe, but in four short months, we will be getting ready to start the Lionistic New Year! We hope the time is going as quickly for you as it is for the rest of us. Lions Pride would like to thank you for your dedication to the Lions organization and appreciate your service.

Do you make plans to celebrate the Year of the Dog? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

 

 

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Go Green This Halloween Season

26 Thursday Oct 2017

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Typically, orange and black are the first colors that come to mind when you think about Carving Pumpkinthe spookiest day of the year. This Halloween; however, we’d like to throw in another word – green. As you likely already aware, in the upcoming months, we are going to see a massive increase in the amount of waste found in the United States. Let’s help minimize the harm on our planet (and keep more money in our pockets) by coming up with new ways to stay eco-friendly this Halloween.

  • Make your own decorations

Did you know that Halloween is the second biggest decorating holiday of the year? Consider reusing your old decorations or get crafty by making your own with recycled household items. Check out these 19 DIY ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

  • Use eco-friendly lights

Light up the path to your front door by using LED lights or solar-powered lamps for your trick-or-treaters. Rather than selecting Halloween lights that will only be used one time each year, you may want to consider investing in something more versatile. Studies have shown that solar garden lights, which could save you in the long-term, with a return on investment of 47 percent over the course of ten years. Wow!

  • Reuse your pumpkin

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Americans have created a demand for over 1 billion pounds of pumpkins each year. These pumpkins will likely get carved or used for traditional fall décor, and the get tossed. This year, don’t throw out ole Jack! After showing off your carved masterpiece, repurpose your pumpkin by using it in a new recipe. While carving pumpkins may not be as flavorful as sugar or pie pumpkins, they will still work for several recipes including vegetable stock, pumpkin puree and pumpkin lasagna. If you’d prefer not to eat your Jack o’ Lantern, there are always many other fun ways to enjoy your pumpkin.

  • Host a Costume Swap

While it may be a little too late to implement this idea, it may be one to consider in 2018. The National Retail Federation has found that the average American spends $74 each Halloween, nearly 36 percent of that total cost is spent on a costume. Rather than going out and buying a new costume each year, parents may find relief with a Halloween costume swap. The swap could be as simple as getting a few neighbors together or as large as a city-wide event – the opportunities are endless.

There’s no reason why you can’t have fun and be eco-friendly this Halloween. These are only a handful of ways to take control of your carbon footprint. How will you plan to protect Mother Nature? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy (Green) Halloween from Lions Pride!

Holidays Taking Place in December (Not Including Christmas)

03 Thursday Dec 2015

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It’s that time of the year Decemberagain! Lighted trees are showing up in picture windows, homes are being decorated from head to toe with lights and the spirit of giving is in the air. In Wisconsin, December has become synonymous with Christmas, when in fact, there are many religious and non-pagan holidays occurring. Let’s take a look at a few together:

Saturday, December 5, marks the first day of Hanukkah, also known as the “Festival of Lights.” This eight-day celebration commemorates the miracle that happened in the Jewish temple during a religious war. Temple candles only had enough oil to burn for one day, yet they continued to burn for eight. According to a 2014 population, there are 28,255 Jews in Wisconsin.

On Tuesday, December 8, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day, the day that Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Buddha was born as Siddharta Gautama, into a privileged household, but retreated into the woods at age 29 in search of answers related to his suffering of old age, sickness and death. He found enlightenment under a fig tree after 49 days of continuous meditation at the age of 35. Buddhists celebrate by meditating, studying the Dharma, chanting Sutras and performing acts of kindness.

You may be surprised to learn that there are 51 Buddhist temples located in Wisconsin!

On Saturday, December 12, Catholics of Mexican heritage typically celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. The celebration commemorates the day St. Juan Diego encountered the Virgin Mary in 1531. Legend says that Mary appeared to Juan and told him to ask the bishop to build a church on Tepeyec Hill. The bishop agreed to the request if he could prove that the incidence was indeed a miracle. Juan returned to the location to find roses in a spot that had previously been cacti. A church was built in honor of the event.

Monday, December 22, marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This holiday celebrates the rebirth of the sun beginning of winter. In the early days, winter solstice traditions gave people optimism that sunny days were ahead, even during the coldest and darkest days. Over time, Christian leaders found ways to relate the holiday to Christmas. In multiple languages, people have traditionally compared the rebirth of the sun with the birth of the son of God. Many of our Christmas traditions including gift giving, wreaths and feasts can be traced back to winter solstice rituals.

Although the majority of us celebrate Christmas this year of the year, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only holiday happening. Do you know of any other special holidays taking place in December?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Lions Pride! Please consider Lions pride in your annual year end giving.