Global Holidays and Celebrations

[RanVor]

Well, that's it. Happy New Year, folks of everywhere.

[Róisín]

Happy New Year, all, and may the coming year be better than the last. It would need to be!
And Wyrm, I hope you feel much better soon. Happy New Year!

[Keep Looking]

Happy new year everybody!

[thorny]

Seconding everything Róisín said. Good health and good luck, as much as possible, to all of us in the coming year.

Eight hours and some to go here yet; but while I may or may not still be awake at midnight, I probably won't be online then.

[Alkia]

I second the second! Midnight’s still about 3 hours away where I am, but I wish a happy 2020 to people across all time zones and across the world!!

[Alkia]

whoops, excuse the double post, but happy Earth Day, everyone!!!

[wavewright62]

whoops, excuse the double post, but happy Earth Day, everyone!!!

It doesn't count as a double post if there's a significant gap between posts!    
There are indicators that there is cause to celebrate, even if only temporarily, this Earth Day.  Reports are coming in of bird song, star gazing, fossil fuel use reductions and overall pollution levels, all improving as people stay home under CV19 restrictions.  I personally can experience the sound of crickets in the underbrush of berm plantings around central Auckland, which I would never ordinarily get to hear over traffic noise.

[wavewright62]

It's Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand, commemorating the landings of the Anzac forces at Gallipoli in WW1.  Normally, this public holiday is a busy one for brass bandsmen here in New Zealand, with most localities holding parades and services from dawn through the morning.  NZ is still in Level 4 lockdown this year and all services have been cancelled, but bandsmen and choir appear in this assembled video, presenting a traditional hymn for the day, Abide With Me:

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We will remember them.

[Róisín]

What Wavewright said. Normally I am deeply involved in my town’s Anzac Day, since father and paternal grandfather were army medics, maternal grandfather was a soldier who, before and after the war, was a farmer and boat builder, and various other relatives also served. I can’t imagine being a medic in the butchery of Gallipoli, but grandpa survived. Normally we go to the Dawn Service, and I pitch in earlier to help make the Gunfire Breakfast, a communal meal which the town shares after the service, and to clean up after.

The Dawn Service itself is solemn and beautiful, and includes a silent meditation upon the service of our soldiers. This year we couldn’t do that, because Covid19, so the service was replaced by a private vigil. Later today we will listen to the broadcast service from the War Memorial.

[Keep Looking]

My family and a couple of our neighbours held our dawn service vigils in our driveways, listening to the national broadcast over the radio. My Dad's side of the family has a large history of service (his paternal grandparents met while in the war, and I think a large portion of his relatives served in one way or another, some at Gallipoli), and he became a chaplain in the army reserves a couple years ago, so ANZAC day is an important day for us. In our old town we'd usually go to the 11am parade and service at the memorial park at the town's centre.

As it turns out, there's quite a few people on our street who are involved with the army.  We had a chat with one neighbour, a New Zealander who'd served in Afghanistan manning the radar for the air force in that area. Unfortunately their broadcast of the service was about 90 seconds behind ours so it overlapped a little awkwardly, but I think it was good to see that other people were out there commemorating this day, even though we can't go out to any public services. He also gave us some bacon, which was nice.

[Yastreb]

I held the Anzac Day vigil in the driveway with two of my neighbours. I saw people further down the street also holding vigil, which was pleasing.
This was a poignant day; twenty years ago I was at the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove.
My great-uncle was also with me today, represented by his photograph, taken soon after he was decorated with the Victoria Cross. He fought at Gallipoli, and in France, where he earned the VC by an act of courage that staggers the imagination. A YouTuber named Jackfrags, who posts examples of video gameplay, put together a tribute to my great-uncle.

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[Róisín]

Keep Looking, I’m glad your family was able to observe the day. And your neighbour sounds nice. It is part of the ethos of mateship to help one another and to plod on through the hard times with kindness and good humour. Anzac Day is especially important in the bush, because, especially in World War 1, a disproportionate number of the soldiers came from small bush towns and farming families, and a disproportionate number of those were killed by being thrown away in debacles like Gallipoli. But that disaster was a major crucible in which the Australian character was formed.

Something I find obscurely comforting is that it is raining. Rain on Anzac day is traditional. And at present greatly needed.

Yastreb, the tribute to your Uncle Mac is remarkable. Peace and honour to him.

Wavewright, we just listened to/watched the band and choir. So beautiful and heartfelt.

[Yastreb]

Wavewright - that was beautifully played, beautifully sung, wonderfully presented, and wonderfully organised.

Chapeau bas a tout le monde!

[Róisín]

A glad Vappu to those who keep it. The day can be fun even without a picnic. And a good May Day to all.

[wavewright62]

May all who celebrate have a sweet and healthy new year 5781.