Front Cover Design by Felix Poon
www.firstnightboston.org/
First Night is a day-long celebration that features local artists and performers showcased across many venues across Boston. Don't let the name fool you, however. It takes place on the last night of the year, from noon until midnight. There are many First Night celebrations held across the country; but it all started here, in Boston, on December 31st, 1975, when local artists and performers wanted to create a celebration that was family friendly (in other words, alcohol-free), and that provided them a chance to perform their music or dance, and showcase their art.
The 2015 button was designed by Fei Ping Zhao, a junior at Boston Latin Academy and the winner of our First Night 2015 Button Art Contest
All it takes is to buy the First Night button (which is also designed by local artists), then you have access to all the First Night festivities! The First Night 2015 button was only $10, which is a great deal considering everything it gives you access to. The first thing we did was go to the Mary Baker Eddy Library to check out the Mapparium. Admission was free to button-holders. Then we went to the Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center, where performances are held for the entire day. We watched several dance groups perform, such as the Chu Ling Dance Academy, 4 Star Dance Studio, and Jo-Mé Dance. Other things happening at the Family Festival included a performance by the professional stunt team Maximum Velocity, Storytelling by MassMouth, and puppet shows.
After the Family Festival, we went to see the ice sculptures, which were at Copley Square, as well as the Boston Common.
www.universalhub.com/2014/waving-new-year
We missed the Boylston street parade because we wanted to stay warm inside of a local restaurant and eat dinner. This parade is especially characterized by people on stilts, and larger than life puppets. After refueling with hamburgers, we went to see the Skating Club of Boston figure skaters at the Frog Pond. There were performances by soloists as well as groups, some distinguished enough to have competed in regional as well as national competitions. Just as the performers were taking their bows, the first fireworks of the night were shot into the sky with a BOOM! The music from the speakers continued playing, and the skaters free-styled on the ice while the fireworks continued.
Music performances continued into the night at venues like Copley square and in any number of those beautiful churches in the Back Bay neighborhood. At midnight there is a televised countdown in front of the Boston Public Library, and fireworks go off over Boston Harbor.
This was my fourth time partaking in First Night Boston, and given how enjoyable it is, certainly will not be my last. If you are in Boston for New Years 2016, be sure to join in on the fun. First Night 2016 promises to be a great one, as it will be the 40th year anniversary for this iconic Boston holiday tradition.
All photos are credited to the author unless otherwise stated
I went back to Japan this winter vacation to eat osechi! How many people tried osechi (=お節) before? In Japan, we eat osechi as a New Year's day special meal. A few decades ago, usually each family made this by themselves. It took about three days to make it all; however, in recent years we just buy an osechi pack from a famous hotel or restaurant. (Example picture is below)
blog.new-agriculture.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/umeamazon
Most osechi include fish cake, egg roll, sweet chestnut, herring roe...etc.. Each dish has a particular meaning. For example:
Fish cake, kamaboko (=かまぼこ), this dish symbolizes the sun rise.
www.kibun.co.jp/knowledge/shogatsu/osechi/iware.html
Sweet chestnut symbolizes praise and treasure, to hope for a rich year.
www.kibun.co.jp/knowledge/shogatsu/osechi/iware.html
Herring roe symbolizes prosperity of descendants.
www.kibun.co.jp/knowledge/shogatsu/osechi/iware.html
What kind of traditional food do you eat in your home country?
Sedona, Arizona is a place that is fabled to be full of magical energy. I have heard for many years of people who venture to Sedona for various reasons. It is a place that attracts those who believe in the invisible realm and the powers of positive energy. Some visit for healing, some for guidance, and others for pure curiosity. Sedona is known as a place that has many energy vortexes, allegedly because of high concentration of Iron ore and sandstone in the rocks. This is said to create both positive and negative magnetic energy and alleged to be helpful for both healing and spiritual development. I was given an opportunity to see Sedona by a generous friend who invited me to Arizona and who was willing to drive there from Mesa for the day.
I was both elated and curious. The drive yielded a full open horizon and various rock formations on the way. During a travel stop on the way, my IPHONE5 fell in the toilet. I was unable to save it and although I am normally attached at the hip to my phone, I was actually quite relaxed to not have to check email continually.
My first view of Sedona was a scenic stop. I was astounded by the rich deep red tones of the rocks and the sheer size of the formations set against open blue sky. On instinct I looked and then thought about taking photos but I could not stop myself from glancing a few more times as if the formations would go away and I should get my last chance to commit them to memory. After viewing a few more scenic spots and taking more photos, we stopped for a short hike.
One of the things that really struck me about Sedona and Arizona in general was the juxtaposition of wilderness and society. Just outside the outskirts of towns lie mountains and wildlife straight out of an old time Western with scenes one would expect to see in a movie. After gawking over and over at the sky, mountains, cacti, abundant orange and lemon trees, and the never ending horizon, I had to remind myself that the postcard scenes I witnessed were in fact real as opposed to a Hollywood set. The sheer physical beauty of the land was a feast for the eyes.
In the town of Sedona were many restaurants, curio shops, coffee joints, and quaint stores with expensive and sparkling silver and native jewelry, replete with prices dedicated to rich tourists. There were also various seers, psychics, and healers ready to offer services. Of amusing note was the noticeable "Enjoy your journey" upon leaving places of business. Yet just outside of the town are many hiking spots containing signs with warnings about potential dangers upon the trails in addition to polite requests about trying not to disturb animal life in its natural habitat. To see such wilderness just outside one's doorstep is a reminder that there are still places left in the world that are not completely touched and overrun by the amenities of society. It was also a reminder that there are still places where one can truly be alone; both an exciting and a dangerous proposition.
I absolutely loved Sedona. Was it magic? Magnetic energy? The company of a good friend? The first vacation or more than two days off in five years? No phone? The great Mexican food? The unbelievable view from every point in town and on the road? Who knows, but I am looking forward eagerly to my next visit.
Here is a helpful website for more information about Sedona:
http://www.sedonaretreats.com/vortex.html
Photos by Katja Davidoff
The civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s was started by people in favor of giving the same rights to African-Americans as those of the white population. Fifty years have passed, since people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds began to protest about inequality and discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 became a law and banned segregation and discrimination in the workplace against African-Americans. To remember this significant change fifty years later, celebrations across the states have been going on since 2014 and continue to go on today to show great appreciation for the change. Last year was the 50th birthday of this law.
Why did the civil rights movement take place?
www.crmvet.org/images/imgyoung.htm
In the 19th century, there were laws that favored segregation and discrimination against African-Americans. They were relegated to separate schools; they had to use public restrooms designated “colored” or “negro”, and were denied service at many restaurants; and voting qualifications were constantly changed and limited their right to vote. These were only some problems they experienced in the 1950s and 1960s when something began to change.
That change happened when people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with many others, began fighting for equality. He wanted all minorities, African-Americans, women, Hispanics, and others to share the same constitutional rights. His tireless work along with that of many others helped foster the women’s movement and others in later years. Therefore, we consider Dr. King a national hero who was seeking equality for all people no matter who they were.
For additional information about this historic event, take a look at this link:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/civil-rights-movement-overview.
On the third Monday of January every year, the US celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. day to honor the memory of this important freedom fighter during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Above is Dr. King speaking to the people during the March on Washington when he gave his famous “I have a dream” speech.
Dr. King was a political activist who supported equality for everyone regardless of color, gender, or nationality. He led African-Americans in their fight for freedom at a time when the country was suffering from intense hatred between the white population and the African-Americans, especially in the south.
To work toward ending racial segregation and discrimination, Dr. King at times put his life in danger and was even imprisoned during a march in Birmingham, Alabama. This man was an advocate for all people who suffered inequalities and discrimination, including women and immigrant groups. Dr. King fought hard until the end of his life when he was assassinated in 1968.
To honor the life and legacy of this important freedom fighter, a movement started to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a holiday after he died. After a bill was introduced in congress, it gained support in 1976. The bill became law in 1983, and in 2000 this holiday was finally observed in all 50 states.
For more information about Martin Luther King, Jr. and this holiday, please visit this site: http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-holiday.
Photo Credits in order of appearance
The second Monday of January is a holiday in Japan. We call it seijin-no-hi (成人の日).
We celebrate seijin-shiki (成人式) for people who become 20 years old. In Japan, when we become 20 years old, we are considered to be an adult. We get the right to vote, and legally drink. It is the important period for all of them.
www.hodaka-kenich.com/Journalist/2012/01/09164045.php
At the ceremony, most women wear traditional cloth, furisode (振り袖) at this ceremony. I attended my coming of age ceremony last year. I have never worn Japanese traditional cloth, so it was a great opportunity. Many people, even passengers on the train, told me that I was beautiful. I felt that I became a model.
www.ondine.jp/collection/item/oe-1130.htm
(3.5/5 stars) $
On the first day of classes, Spring 2015, the editorial staff of the CELOP Sun got together at the Boston House of Pizza, just a few minutes walk from CELOP, on Amory Street.
The best thing we found about this restaurant was the variety - Katja got a chicken cutlet sub, Maria got two slices of pizza, Rina got a chicken salad wrap, Sihun got a buffalo chicken wrap, and I got an oven-baked chicken broccoli and alfredo penne pasta.
The sub, although it was breaded, was very light, and not greasy. Katja especially liked it because she is somewhat lactose intolerant (cannot eat dairy products, like milk or cheese), but she loves Italian food, so this was a nice alternative to Pizza.
Maria's two slices of pizza were very large! In her words, "the slices are made for a construction worker or lumberjack." She could only finish one, and took the other slice home. The pizza was not too oily, and the sauce was not too sweet, "so, the pizza was good as American pizza goes."
The wraps were okay. Rina said she would have appreciated a hot food, rather than a cold food. Next time, she will try the gyro, which contains hot shredded meat, and a generous helping of vegetables wrapped within a pita bread.
Finally, the oven-baked chicken broccoli and alfredo penne pasta was excellent - the perfect hot dish for a cold snowy day. The chunks of chicken breast had a delicious grilled taste, and the alfredo sauce was sweet, savory, and creamy. The best part is that they melt a lot of cheese on top of this dish, which is served out of an aluminum container, which keeps it hot as you eat it. The garlic bread they give you is a hearty addition to this meal.
So there you have it. While the Boston House of Pizza is by far no gourmet food experience, it is close to CELOP, the food is good, and there is so much variety to choose from.
Photos by Felix Poon