WWL's Spud McConnell in the Cajun Night Before Christmas
And now, the traditional story, accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic
Monday, December 24, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
The Winter Solstice
The winter solstice occurs today, December 21 at 6:38 p.m. EST, marking the official start of the astronomical winter and the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.
The winter solstice occurs at the moment when the Earth's axis is tilted the farthest away from the sun.
This year, the winter solstice is even more significant, as it coincides with a total lunar eclipse for the first time since 1638.
Many different cultures recognize the annual event through holidays, festivals, rituals and celebrations.
In Poland the ancient December solstice observance involved people showing forgiveness and sharing food.
In the northwestern corner of Pakistan, a festival called Chaomos, takes place among the Kalasha people.The only tribe in the area, who never converted to Islam, celebrate the new year with a vibrant flurry of dancing, food, chanting and prayers to the Balomain spirit. The festival lasts for days and moves throughout the valley.
Copious amounts of local brewed mulberry wine to drink as you dance in giant circles around bonfires to mesmerizing chanting accompanied by drum beats. Girls wear intricate costumes made of cowery shells, coins
and beads with heavy headwear while women paint their faces with ink.
Just before the main festival, seasonal foods are offered to the ancestral spirts and a kotik light is lit.
In Guatemala on this day, Mayan Indians honor the sun god they worshipped long before they became Christians with a dangerous ritual known as the polo voladore, or “flying pole dance”.
Three men climb on top of a 50-foot pole. As one of them beats a drum and plays a flute, the other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump. If they land on their feet, it is believed that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer.
The ancient Incas celebrated a special festival to honor the sun god at the time of the December solstice. A local group of Quecia Indians in Cusco, Peru, revived the festival in the 1950s. It is now a major festival that begins in Cusco and proceeds to an ancient amphitheater a few miles away.
So go out and start your own Winter Solstice traditions tonight!
The winter solstice occurs at the moment when the Earth's axis is tilted the farthest away from the sun.
This year, the winter solstice is even more significant, as it coincides with a total lunar eclipse for the first time since 1638.
Many different cultures recognize the annual event through holidays, festivals, rituals and celebrations.
In Poland the ancient December solstice observance involved people showing forgiveness and sharing food.
In the northwestern corner of Pakistan, a festival called Chaomos, takes place among the Kalasha people.The only tribe in the area, who never converted to Islam, celebrate the new year with a vibrant flurry of dancing, food, chanting and prayers to the Balomain spirit. The festival lasts for days and moves throughout the valley.
Copious amounts of local brewed mulberry wine to drink as you dance in giant circles around bonfires to mesmerizing chanting accompanied by drum beats. Girls wear intricate costumes made of cowery shells, coins
and beads with heavy headwear while women paint their faces with ink.
Just before the main festival, seasonal foods are offered to the ancestral spirts and a kotik light is lit.
In Guatemala on this day, Mayan Indians honor the sun god they worshipped long before they became Christians with a dangerous ritual known as the polo voladore, or “flying pole dance”.
Three men climb on top of a 50-foot pole. As one of them beats a drum and plays a flute, the other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump. If they land on their feet, it is believed that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer.
The ancient Incas celebrated a special festival to honor the sun god at the time of the December solstice. A local group of Quecia Indians in Cusco, Peru, revived the festival in the 1950s. It is now a major festival that begins in Cusco and proceeds to an ancient amphitheater a few miles away.
So go out and start your own Winter Solstice traditions tonight!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Westboro Baptist Church
Provided by Anonymous on Twitter, here is info on the Westboro Baptist Church hate group.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Tragic Roll Call
Friday, December 14, 2012
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Self Perception
Found on Facebook
A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:
"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.
Mermaids do not exist.
But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?
Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.
At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.
We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "
A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:
"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.
Mermaids do not exist.
But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?
Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.
At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.
We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "
Saturday, December 08, 2012
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