03/01/14 - NNHS Newsletter - Martenitza!
“The sun is brilliant in the sky but its warmth does not reach my face. - M. Romeo LaFlamme, “The First of March” |
Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
It's that time
again!
HOMEWORK: |
http://krokotak.com/tag/martenitza/
BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAS1RydqaPo - Martenitsa
03/01/13, 10:20 AM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaQ3IhMfwXw - "Legend of the Martenitsa in Bulgaria"
Legend of the Martenitsa in Bulgaria
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For more than 1,000 years, we in Bulgaria have celebrated our
national holiday on March 1st called Baba Marta, Grandma March. Mart
in Bulgarian is the name for the month of March. This holiday
symbolizes the coming of spring.
Bulgarians wear a small special ornament made of red and white yarn on this day, called Martenitsa. We wear it until March 22, and some people wear it until they see a stork or the first buds of a tree. Some like to wear the Martenitsa around their wrists. Sometimes people tie it to the branch of a tree or bush to leave there. You can find the Martenitsas hanging there in the branches as you walk outside. The belief is that if you wear the Martenitsa, Baba Marta will help you, and spring will come more quickly. People often give a Martenitsa as a gift to a friend or relative. The tradition comes from the following legend: Khan Asparuh, the first Bulgarian king, had a sister called Huba. She was held captive in another kingdom. Asparuh sent a message to his sister that he had found a land where they could settle down south of the Danube River, a place that nowadays is Bulgaria. When Huba got the good news from her brother, she managed to escape from captivity and run away. She rode on horseback without stopping until she reached the Danube River. She looked for some way to cross the mighty river but couldnt find a ford to pass across. So then she tied a thread of white yarn to one of the legs of a falcon sent by her brother and let him fly up into the air, holding the other end of the thin thread in her hands. The falcon flew away to find a ford for passage across the river and just then, when he found a place, an arrow shot by an enemy pierced the falcon, and he fell to the ground dead. The yarn became red from his blood. Huba followed the thread she was holding and so she found the way to cross the great river and reach the country where her brother Asparuh had made his new home. Then they lived free and happy in the new land they called Bulgaria. That day was March 1st, the new year in the tradition of those times. They called the white and red threads of yarn after the name of the month March, and named it Martenitsa. The Martenitsa became a symbol of peace and love, health and happiness. The white color symbolizes purity and honesty in relationships, and the red color means life, passion, and cordiality in friendship and mutual love. Since that time the red and white threads of yarn have come to symbolize the strong bond among Bulgarians around the world. This special national holiday on March 1st reminds us of the values which the Martenitsa has carried down through the centuries. And all Bulgarians everywhere wear it as an ornament on this special day, and for three weeks after that, until spring begins. Rositsa Ruseva |
Thanks, Domi!
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THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:
Happy Birthday today to
Alan Cohen ('57)!Happy Birthday
this week to:
03 -
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04 -
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07 - 08 - ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
Many Happy Returns to You All!
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THIS DAY IN WWII:
March 01, 1939 - A
Japanese Imperial Army ammunition dump exploded at
Hirakata,
Osaka,
Japan, killing 94. March 01, 1941 - Bulgaria signed the Tripartite Pact, allying itself with the Axis powers. |
TODAY IN 1964:
Saturday, March 01, 1964 -
Villarrica Volcano began a
strombolian eruption causing
lahars that destroyed half of the town of
Coñaripe Saturday, March 01, 1964 - Singer-songwriter and fiddler Clinton Gregory was born in Martinsville, Virginia. Saturday, March 01, 1964 - Footballer and manager Paul Le Guen was born in Pencran, Finistère, France. |
MS. CAROL,
I SAW ON FACEBOOK A NOTE SAYING THAT CAROLYN BRADLEY ( MILLER ), CLASS OF 1962, HAD PASSED AWAY. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAD HEARD ANYTHING? THANKS IN ADVANCE, OH, NO!
I'm so sorry to hear this! No, Jimmy, I had
not heard any such thing. Thank you so very much for letting me
know; I would surely have missed it otherwise. You have my
condolences on the passing of your classmate.
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Hope these come through. In light of recent weather.... Snow in Russia Now THIS is winter! ~BRRRRRRRRR~
YIKESARONI!
Thanks again, Joan!
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...These should be some fun.
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GIGGLES!
Thanks, Joan!
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From Ruth Ann Reece Horace ('67) of FL - 02/24/14 - "Who says men can't
decorate? (#3 in a Series of 10)":
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Who says men can't decorate? They can decorate very well!
SO COOL!
Thanks, Ruthie!
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BONUS MARTENITZA CRAFT PATTERNS:
http://www.incultureparent.com/2013/02/baba-marta-day-craft-martenitsa/ - Yarn dolls (Pizho and Penda) - "...You NEVER make or buy a martenitsa for yourself; it has to be gifted...." |
BONUS MARTENITZA RECIPES:
http://krokotak.com/category/recipes/ |
FINALLY:
From
www.ajokeaday.com
- 02/28/14: A man went to the police station wanting to speak to the burglar who broke into his house the night before.
‘You’ll get your chance in court,’ said the desk
sergeant. |
DATES TO REMEMBER:
1.
Thursday,
March 6, 2014 - The NNHS Class of 1955 holds Lunch Bunch gatherings on the first
Thursday of every month at Steve & John's Steak House on Jefferson Avenue just
above Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News at 11:00 AM. The luncheon is not limited
to just the Class of '55; if you have friends in that year, go visit with them. 2. Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - The NNHS Class of June 1942 meets at noon on the second Wednesday of every other month for a Dutch treat lunch at the James River Country Club, 1500 Country Club Road. PLEASE JOIN THEM. Give or take a few years makes no difference. Good conversation, food and atmosphere. For details, call Jennings Bryan at 803-7701 for reservations. 3. Thursday, April 3, 2014 - The NNHS Class of 1955 holds Lunch Bunch gatherings on the first Thursday of every month at Steve & John's Steak House on Jefferson Avenue just above Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News at 11:00 AM. The luncheon is not limited to just the Class of '55; if you have friends in that year, go visit with them. 4. Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, 2014 - The NNHS Class of 1954 will hold a 60-YEAR REUNION in Newport News. Further info from Dr. Harry Simpson at 804 694 0346 or hdsdds@aol.com, or Mickey Marcella at 757 249 3800 or mcmiceli@verizon.net, or Betty H. Neher at 757 898 5099 or bjneher@cox.net. |
PRAYER ROLL: http://www.nnhs65.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 02/20/14 |
BLOG: http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 03/13/11 |
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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
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More Cica Rece da me Zeni
"More Cica Rece da me Zeni" midi courtesy of http://ifdo.pugmarks.com/~seymour/midipage/midipage.html - 03/01/09
Martenitza Image courtesy of
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=157727195&blogID=236078666
- 03/01/09
Red and White Ribbon Divider line clip art courtesy of
http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/bar3.shtml - 03/01/09
Animated Tiny
Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of
Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of
VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!
Navy Seal clip art courtesy of
http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06
Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06 (still
missing...)
Thanks, Al!
Replaced by Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 02/09/09
Thanks, Norm!
Animated Dancing Teddy courtesy of Sandi Bateman Chestnut ('65) of VA - 03/08/11
Thanks, Sandi!