6 Indy Asian American Times Friday, December 12, 2014 Community 社区 2014 年 12月 12 日 星期五 Indiana Association of Chinese American Mayor Ballard Celebrates Sister Cities Programs, Volunteers in 2014 International Festival Volunteers and Community Partners By Eileen Tsai Committee. Brown is a 5th grade teacher at Allisonville Indiana Association of Chinese Elementary School. Other Americans (IACA) and its volunteer honorees were volunteers actively interacted with Shumin Fang, Vidya the students and the general public Sagar Garg, Kathy Howe, attendees at the culture booth from Stephanie Leslie, Kuo- Thursday November 20 to Sunday Long Yu and Xin Min Yue. November 23 during the 2014 Each year, Indianapolis International Festival. Our teen Sister City programs volunteers dressed up in the Tang host more than 40 events Dynasty, Qing Dynasty, and ethnic to provide cultural and Miao & Xingjiang clothing, and educational initiatives, acted as our IACA culture exchange strengthen our international ambassadors to engage and to partnerships and support educate the public about women in business development. The China had different kinds of clothes top three programs received in ancient times. Those clothes awards. First place was awarded changed with the revolution of Program recognized – Group photo to the Indy as a Global dynasties. Different provinces and regions of China also have different Crossroad Conference, hosted by the Teacher & Student Outreach Committee to clothing styles. In addition, IACA Mayor Ballard honored several individuals and IACA Lion Dance Team promote diversity among teachers and administrators. Lion Dance Team led the Parade organizations this evening in “The Hall” during the Second place was awarded to One Book Two Cities, 2014 Indianapolis Sister Cities Celebration. of Nation Saturday evening of a joint reading of Eva Menasse’s book Vienna by “The future success of Indianapolis depends upon the Nov 22. IACA Lion Dance residents in Indianapolis and Cologne, Germany. The relationships we build around the world,” said Mayor Team had two Columbus Chinese event was planned by the Cologne Germany Sister Ballard. “Indy is fortunate to have a great network Association (CCA) volunteers City Committee and the Indianapolis Public Library. of volunteers and organizations working to create an joined for this powerful and lively Third place was awarded to the 4th Anniversary inviting community that welcomes people from other movement performance. IACA Dinner, a celebration of Indian culture planned by the nations and cultures.” Joy Chinese Orchestra performed Hyderabad, India Sister City Committee. Sandra Brown was named 2014 Volunteer of the beautifully at the culture booth Over the past four years, more than 150 Year. Brown has been an active volunteer for more Saturday afternoon. The graceful organizations have partnered with the Indianapolis than three years and contributes to three Sister City Chinese melody attracted many Sister City program. The Indianapolis Marion County committees: Teacher & Student Outreach Committee, visitors to listen and to learn about Public Library, Lilly Foundation and The International Campinas Brazil Committee and the Sister City Fest the Chinese orchestra instruments. Center were recognized IAAT bi-lingual newspaper was for their continued also an attraction at the booth with support. the students and adults who have “We are grateful for learned Chinese or currently are the many individuals taking Chinese classes. They would and organizations who like to learn more about the local actively engage with IACA Joy Ochestra Chinese communities and hope to the Sister City program have future opportunities to enjoy as we strive to improve their events. global understanding,” Mayor Greg Ballard and the Indianapolis first lady said Jane Gehlhausen, Mrs. Winnie Ballard visited IACA culture booth and Director of International praised volunteers’ support for the 2014 International and Cultural Affairs in the Mayor’s Office. Festival. Thank you again to all of the volunteers for a successful and fun culture and knowledge exchange efforts. Sandy Brown – Volunteer of the Year.
Learning a bit of the culture!
IACA beauties DONGZHI FESTIVAL “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so Dr. Patrick Lau was pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, born in Hong Kong and prosperity would not be so welcome.” ~Anne immigrated to the U.S. Bradstreet after high school. He retired from the VA Northern Indiana Heath Care System where he served as Chief Radiologist and moved to Florida with his wife in 2011. He was an active member & contributor of IACA and ICMA while in Indiana. Dr. Lau is also a scholar of art and literature and a prolific writer, he has been a dedicated columnist for Indy Asian American Times since 2010. 冬至. Dongzhi (Winter Solstice) Festival 冬至 falls on The daylight hours after Winter Solstice will Sunday,` December 21st this year. Dongzhi, literally be longer, indicating the increase of positive flow of means the arrival of winter (冬 is winter, and 至 energy of lives that will gain energy, vigor, happiness, is arrival). In ancient times around the Spring and hopefulness and optimism. People therefore celebrate Autumn Period 春秋時期 (770-476BC), Chinese the occasion, which has long been regarded as an 吉日 astronomers established the date of winter solstice auspicious day . Food plays a significant part by utilizing a sundial to witness the movements of in all festivities among Chinese. In Northern China, the sun. In the Chinese calendar, the whole year is people customarily eat dumpling soup on the Dongzhi divided into twenty-four solar terms 節氣 according to Festival. The origin of consuming dumpling can be 張仲景 climate changes and corresponding to the degrees of traced to the famous Dr. Zhang Zhongjing in solar Celestial longitude. Winter solstice is the twenty- Han Dynasty. Dr. Zhang and his students prepared second solar term; referring to the day when the sun ear-shaped dumpling with mutton, chili peppers and is at the celestial longitude of 270°. It can occur on herbs in broth, which could cure chilblains on the ears December 21, 22, or 23 of the Western calendar. of the poor people exposed to extreme cold weather It is the day when sunshine is weakest; daylight is around the winter solstice period. Eventually, it has shortest, about ten hours; and night is longest, about evolved as a tradition of eating dumpling soup on fourteen hours. After the winter solstice, the days Dongzhi Festival. become incrementally longer, while the nights become In many regions of Southern China, the whole family progressively shorter. will get together to enjoy a delicious meal similar to At the arrival of winter in ancient Chinese agricultural the New Year feast, and eat tangyuan, which are round society, farmers had finished their yearly labor and it dumpling balls made of sweet glutinous rice flour with was time to celebrate and enjoy their bountiful harvest, sweet fillings usually made of sugar, sesame, walnuts, and have a happy family reunion. They merrily enjoyed bean paste, or jujube paste. Tangyuan is pronounced 團圓 a feast and other festivities including music and dance, similar to “tuanyuan” in Chinese, which means with family, relatives and friends. In addition, they reunion, and moreover, tangyuan is sweet and round gathered to worship and express their wholehearted in shape corresponding to the full moon. Thus, eating 圓 gratitude to the gods who bestowed them the abundant tangyuan together symbolizes union, completeness 满 harvest. They fervently prayed to them for another , harmony and happiness for the family. Tangyuan good year of farming. is also offered as sacrifices to ancestors, and served as During the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), the a gift to relatives and friends. In other regions, people winter solstice evolved as a festival, called the Winter consume ginger duck and mutton hot pot. In Taiwan, Festival, which was a legal holiday. Government closed besides following some of the traditions such as its offices. Besides, all other businesses were closed consuming tangyuan, people worship their ancestors as well. Government officials coordinated various with a ceremonial sacrifice of nine-layer cakes. These celebrating activities and all the people enjoyed a day cakes are made with glutinous rice flour in the shapes of rest and relaxation. Relatives and friends visited and as a cow, duck, chicken, pig or sheep. These animals offered favorable and scrumptious foods to each other. symbolize auspiciousness. Likewise, the Winter Festival flourished in the Tang Due to the swift change of pace of living and social and Song Dynasties (618-1279); it is believed that on cultures as well as growing modernization in China, the day of the festival, emperors devotedly worshiped Dongzhi Festival has lost some of its significance in the Heaven; while the populace commemorated and Chinese society. Nevertheless, the festival persists as offered sacrifices to their ancestors, departed parents an important cultural holiday embraced in many parts and relatives. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), of China. It was originally celebrated as a harvest it was called the Dongzhi (Winter Solstice) Festival. It festival. However, nowadays, it is, by and large, was written in Qing Jia Lu that the Dongzhi Festival observed with a family reunion to enjoy a lavish feast was as significant as the Spring Festival 冬至如年. including dumpling or tangyuan, and to express filial Some scholars have claimed that one of the origins piety to parents. Furthermore, people offer sacrifices of the Dongzhi Festival can be related to the Yin Yang to their ancestors and deceased relatives. theory of balance and harmony in the universe. On 杜甫: 冬至至後日初長，遠在劍南思洛陽。青袍 winter solstice, the Yin is at the zenith with the longest 白馬有何意，金谷銅駝非故鄉。梅花欲開不自 night; and thereafter, it will cede to the brightness and 覺，棣萼一別永相望。愁極本憑詩遣興，詩成吟 warmness of Yang. 陰極之至，陽氣始生，日南 至，日短之至，日影長之至, 故曰 詠轉淒涼。
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