Poetry competition CLOSED 26th October 2014 2:56pm
WINNER
Anonymous
Anonymous
RUNNERS-UP:
praveengola
and BoFantastic
CUSTOM AND TRADITIONS (INTERNATIONAL)
(Let me share mine from my place of birth, Marinduque--an exotic island paradise in the heart of the Philippines)
SHARING MY TRADITIONS
In my island paradise, where I was born
there are plenty of local and family traditions:
from mundane to colorful,
and religious to eerie rituals.
There are so many of them handed down
from generations to generations;
Allow me to share only a few,
for your enlightenment and short review.
Moriones festival is our hallmark tradition
celebrated annually during the Lenten season:
the re-enactment of the legend
of Longinus - the blind Roman centurion,
who thrust a spear--known as the Holy Lance,
into the ribs of Jesus during his crucifixion.
Christ's blood fell upon his eyes,
and was able to see; thus Longinus believed
in Jesus Christ and converted to Christianity!
Popularly known to occult circles,
as the Spear of Destiny--obsessed by Hitler
for he believed it would make him
omnipotent and indestructible!
The devotees paraded as Roman soldiers
in pantomime and colorful costumes,
and continuously chase Longinus during the day;
while at night... both young and older folks
recite the passion of Christ in verses.
Queue of flagellants scourging themselves
under the scorching heat of the summer sun,
and someone who portrays Christ's suffering
get nailed on the cross on Good Fridays,
while Longinus is awaiting for his beheading
on Easter Sundays, early in the morning.
These, and many more...
are part of our religious rituals and traditions.
Our next tradition is "Flores de Mayo" -
Flowers of May,
which is both cultural and religious in nature:
offering of fresh scented flowers
to the blessed "Virgin Mother"
which starts on the first of May,
and culminates on the last day...
The last day is celebrated in grandeur,
with a colorful and vibrant procession
known as the "Santacruzan,"
depicting the finding of the Holy Cross--
in Jerusalem by Queen Helena -
mother of Constantine the Great.
Introduced to us by the Spaniards,
the Santacruzan has since become part
of our traditions, which symbolizes
youth, love and romance.
Then there's the "Putong" or coronation
where the celebrants and guests to an occasion,
are treated special, just like royalties:
showered with flowers
while locals sing and dance,
then the beautiful maidens in town
will adorn the honored celebrants and guests' heads
with colorful makeshift crowns.
After the coronation comes a sumptuous feast:
of whole roasted pigs, considered the best
with fresh fruits and vegetables,
bountiful harvest of the season.
As I mentioned earlier, I will only name a few
for if I have to tell you all; I'll be writing
a whole book of traditions...
but to omit very important family traditions:
kissing the hands of the elderly,
and bowing of heads -
signs of respect and obedience
I'm bound to comit a mortal sin
to my heritage and its future generations,
for these are, what make us...
truly unique, and proud!
SHARING MY TRADITIONS
In my island paradise, where I was born
there are plenty of local and family traditions:
from mundane to colorful,
and religious to eerie rituals.
There are so many of them handed down
from generations to generations;
Allow me to share only a few,
for your enlightenment and short review.
Moriones festival is our hallmark tradition
celebrated annually during the Lenten season:
the re-enactment of the legend
of Longinus - the blind Roman centurion,
who thrust a spear--known as the Holy Lance,
into the ribs of Jesus during his crucifixion.
Christ's blood fell upon his eyes,
and was able to see; thus Longinus believed
in Jesus Christ and converted to Christianity!
Popularly known to occult circles,
as the Spear of Destiny--obsessed by Hitler
for he believed it would make him
omnipotent and indestructible!
The devotees paraded as Roman soldiers
in pantomime and colorful costumes,
and continuously chase Longinus during the day;
while at night... both young and older folks
recite the passion of Christ in verses.
Queue of flagellants scourging themselves
under the scorching heat of the summer sun,
and someone who portrays Christ's suffering
get nailed on the cross on Good Fridays,
while Longinus is awaiting for his beheading
on Easter Sundays, early in the morning.
These, and many more...
are part of our religious rituals and traditions.
Our next tradition is "Flores de Mayo" -
Flowers of May,
which is both cultural and religious in nature:
offering of fresh scented flowers
to the blessed "Virgin Mother"
which starts on the first of May,
and culminates on the last day...
The last day is celebrated in grandeur,
with a colorful and vibrant procession
known as the "Santacruzan,"
depicting the finding of the Holy Cross--
in Jerusalem by Queen Helena -
mother of Constantine the Great.
Introduced to us by the Spaniards,
the Santacruzan has since become part
of our traditions, which symbolizes
youth, love and romance.
Then there's the "Putong" or coronation
where the celebrants and guests to an occasion,
are treated special, just like royalties:
showered with flowers
while locals sing and dance,
then the beautiful maidens in town
will adorn the honored celebrants and guests' heads
with colorful makeshift crowns.
After the coronation comes a sumptuous feast:
of whole roasted pigs, considered the best
with fresh fruits and vegetables,
bountiful harvest of the season.
As I mentioned earlier, I will only name a few
for if I have to tell you all; I'll be writing
a whole book of traditions...
but to omit very important family traditions:
kissing the hands of the elderly,
and bowing of heads -
signs of respect and obedience
I'm bound to comit a mortal sin
to my heritage and its future generations,
for these are, what make us...
truly unique, and proud!
SINCE HALLOWEEN IS COMING I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU THIS TRADITION ON HALLOWEEN WHERE I LIVE .....
HALLOWEEN TRADITION
I live in the part of france where they still bleave in the celtic ways and they have people who are called Druids.
Since Halloween is coming I will share with you the tradition of it here where I am living .
Halloween is called Kalan Goańv it means Samhain in english.
where I live it lasts for a week and the meaning of Samhain which some people bleave is on the week of halloween seven portals open to what is called the celtic otherworld.
It means that the gates of the dead are open to them for 7 days the dead or the creatures of the other side are free to walk among humans only at night.
There is no costums or candy like in other place .
But if your lucky late at night you can hear them partying.
There is seven diffrent realms I am not sure what all of them are anymore .
But I do know on the night of Halloween no one goes outside.
They say the reason why is becuse the spirit of the other world is the strongest at that time.
And if your outside just befor sunrize they say that you can be taken back with them .
As for me every year I love sitting and listing to the old people talk.
About the spirit of Kalan Goańv and that custom and tradition is the one that I realy love !
HALLOWEEN TRADITION
I live in the part of france where they still bleave in the celtic ways and they have people who are called Druids.
Since Halloween is coming I will share with you the tradition of it here where I am living .
Halloween is called Kalan Goańv it means Samhain in english.
where I live it lasts for a week and the meaning of Samhain which some people bleave is on the week of halloween seven portals open to what is called the celtic otherworld.
It means that the gates of the dead are open to them for 7 days the dead or the creatures of the other side are free to walk among humans only at night.
There is no costums or candy like in other place .
But if your lucky late at night you can hear them partying.
There is seven diffrent realms I am not sure what all of them are anymore .
But I do know on the night of Halloween no one goes outside.
They say the reason why is becuse the spirit of the other world is the strongest at that time.
And if your outside just befor sunrize they say that you can be taken back with them .
As for me every year I love sitting and listing to the old people talk.
About the spirit of Kalan Goańv and that custom and tradition is the one that I realy love !
A General Remark
Me .........an Indian pride ,
Don't know .....from where to start our traditions plight ,
So many of them ....... remarks a history ,
where one Had to bound in mystery.
From birth till death ...... customs made us half dead ,
Sometimes they deeply fried ...... like a cried child ,
We became a mute spectators ..... on its creators ,
As they bounded on generations.
Here religion matters ..... to recognize Human chatters ,
A Muslim need to be circumcised ,
where a Hindu child by birth is on ride ,
A Sikh needs to be converted and a christian generates from a pride.
Traditions bounded the women in a distress ,
where a female is barred to enter for offering to goddess ,
As periods are worst for their birth ,
Though for Fun it treated like a proverb.
Me .........an Indian pride ,
Don't know .....from where to start our traditions plight ,
So many of them ....... remarks a history ,
where one Had to bound in mystery.
From birth till death ...... customs made us half dead ,
Sometimes they deeply fried ...... like a cried child ,
We became a mute spectators ..... on its creators ,
As they bounded on generations.
Here religion matters ..... to recognize Human chatters ,
A Muslim need to be circumcised ,
where a Hindu child by birth is on ride ,
A Sikh needs to be converted and a christian generates from a pride.
Traditions bounded the women in a distress ,
where a female is barred to enter for offering to goddess ,
As periods are worst for their birth ,
Though for Fun it treated like a proverb.
The Way We Are
don't spit out of the window
when night curtain falls
it irks passing 'people'
don't sit at the door
when heavy with child
labour will be long and hard
for you are neither in nor out
sit and eat don't move around
or your future will not be stable
don't sing in the kitchen
or you will marry an old man
take off your shoes
when going into the house
its respectful
don't emulate strange sounds
in the night
it may be other worldly beings
harvesting souls
respect all elders in the house
so the younger ones will respect you
firewood held in cords
are stronger than singles
respect the spirit of the paddy
for Kinorohingan the supreme god
and his wife Suminundu the Magical one
sacrificed their only daughter Huminodun
so the people may eat...
her body cut into pieces
strewn over the cultivation area
flesh to rice, teeth to maize
head to gourds, bones to tapioca
and all manners of edible tuber
observe the sacrifice
Through all these keep the laws
descended from the ancestors
before the land was inhabited
by travellers from the North.
*Bunduliwankionop tribal norms of North Borneo*
don't spit out of the window
when night curtain falls
it irks passing 'people'
don't sit at the door
when heavy with child
labour will be long and hard
for you are neither in nor out
sit and eat don't move around
or your future will not be stable
don't sing in the kitchen
or you will marry an old man
take off your shoes
when going into the house
its respectful
don't emulate strange sounds
in the night
it may be other worldly beings
harvesting souls
respect all elders in the house
so the younger ones will respect you
firewood held in cords
are stronger than singles
respect the spirit of the paddy
for Kinorohingan the supreme god
and his wife Suminundu the Magical one
sacrificed their only daughter Huminodun
so the people may eat...
her body cut into pieces
strewn over the cultivation area
flesh to rice, teeth to maize
head to gourds, bones to tapioca
and all manners of edible tuber
observe the sacrifice
Through all these keep the laws
descended from the ancestors
before the land was inhabited
by travellers from the North.
*Bunduliwankionop tribal norms of North Borneo*
I believe the similarity is due to the proximity of the islands.Thanks poetic enjineer i am greatfull i live somewhere
Where school is manditory i would hate to haveto make
A decision like weather or not to purchase aids meds
Or school books so since its manditory its not mutch of a gift
But eather way wooooo hoooo
Where school is manditory i would hate to haveto make
A decision like weather or not to purchase aids meds
Or school books so since its manditory its not mutch of a gift
But eather way wooooo hoooo
Thank you for your nice local town scene entry Rayne...I'm hoping for a festivity scene celebrated annually though, not unless the gangster helping an elderly woman is the normal custom all around; please enlighten me.
