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EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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Have you been to a Dia de los Muertos celebration YET?
Halloween season...it ain't over till the smiling skulls sing and dance. So let's get down with the dead. First, we need some background on this celebration which, though ancient, may be new to many....
Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where the day is a bank holiday. The celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world:
Mictecacihuatl, Queen of Mictland (the underworld).
In Aztec mythology, Mictecacihuatl was the Queen of Mictlan, the underworld, and wife of Mictlantecuhtli. Her purpose is to keep watch over the bones of the dead. She presides over the festivals of the dead (which evolved into the modern Day of the Dead) and is known as the Lady of the Dead, since it is believed she died at birth. Her cult is sometimes held to persist in the common Mexican worship of Santa Muerte.
One of the most famous works of art associated with El Dia de los Muertos is the engraving by renowned Mexican artist
Jose Guadalupe Posada.
The image made from zinc etching captures the famous calaveras or skull/skeleton image that had become popular at the turn of the 20th century. The original leaflet describes a person who was ashamed of his Indian origins and dressed imitating the French style while wearing lots of makeup to make his skin look whiter. This description also ties to the original name garbancera, which became a nickname given to people of indigenous ancestry who imitated European style and denied their own cultural heritage.
We celebrate it now more with laughter, singing, dancing...
and tasty candies.
In 2015 I'll be looking forward to Pixar's
‘Día de los Muertos’ film, especially now that Disney's absurd attempt to
copyright the name was squashed by activists. No need to wait for the film though. Star in your own movie today, tomorrow or the day after that.
Four celebrants at Berkeley's event Tuesday.
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This last Tuesday an early event took place literally right outside the doors of my work that was not untypical of Dial de lost Muertos celebrations.
Cuatli Mitotiana Mexican Aztec Dancers will bless the altar, then lead everyone in a sidewalk candle light procession following along a path of strewn marigold petals. Fire dancers.
My friend the skull.
I only got bits and pieces of it, but I loved the early preview. To the left is a photo of a young friend of mine (whose mom is Native American) from work who also celebrated early.
TODAY
SF Kossacks will be doing it today as well (see details in events sections below) at the home of
Andrew McGuire. (Executive Director of
California One Care)
We will also be honoring Día de los Muertos with an altar, feel free to bring something to place there.
For everyone else, here's a
link with some
Dia de los Muertos events going on around the country for the next 3 days.
Tlazcamati pampa cualli intlacaquih (that's Nahuatl for "thanks for hearing my words").
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
• Las Vegas Kossacks: Kosmail miracle11
• Vermont Kossacks: Kosmail 4Freedom
• Silicon Valley Kossacks: Kosmail Glen The Plumber
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
• Mexican Kossacks - Formed: Apr 14, 2013, Organizer: roberb7
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks - Formed: Oct 27, 2012, Organizer: boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kosmopolitans - Formed: Aug 2, 2013, Organizer: highacidity
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
• San Diego Kossacks Founded by La Gitane, Formed: Nov 18, 2011
Wednesday, October 30th
I-77 Kossacks Last Minute Meet-up
ORGANIZERS: Fineena and SteelerGrrl
Reporting diary: I-77 Kossacks mini-meetup 10/30, updated with better photo
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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Saturday, November 2nd
SFKossacks BBQ in the Wine Country
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Andrew McGuire's home in the Wine Country
Address to be given privately to RSVPs • Windsor
Andrew McGuire is Executive Director of California One Care
We will also be honoring Día de los Muertos with an altar, feel free to bring something to place there.
Please volunteer for beverages & side dishes needed below. Andrew will be supplying all of the grilled meats.
- POTLUCK SIGNUP -
Beverages:
20 bottles of wine [14 down, 6 to go]
10 six-packs of beer [5 down, 5 to go]
5 six-packs soft drinks
5 six-packs bottles of water
Appetizers:
6 appetizers, anything goes here. Whatcha' got? [3 down, 3 to go]
Side Dishes:
4 green salads needed, each to feed 10 [3 down, 1 to go]
4 side dishes needed, each to feed 10 [4 down, complete]
Desserts:
6 desserts [2 down, 4 to go]
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Andrew McGuire
2. navajo +6 bottles of champagne
3. Shockwave
4. Hunter
5. elfing + tomato city salad
6. Hunter & elfling offspring
7. smileycreek
8. paradise50 + two cases of beer
9. dharmasyd (will carpool with jpmassar from Oakland)
10. maggiejean +wine + side dish
11. norm (canl drive carpool from Oakland) +broccoli-cauliflower casserole
12. Lusty + brownies
13. dksbook
14. Mr. dksbook
15. kimoconnor
16. jpmassar + dessert
17. side pocket + stuffed mushroom apps + onion dip with crackers + one 6pk beer
18. Mrs. side pocket
19. ceebee7 + potato salad
20. ceebee7's sister
21. leema (will drive carpool from Marin)
22. marge +appetizers + large green salad
23. Glen The Plumber + pasta mystery dish + red wine
24. remembrance
25. TLO™
26. jotter +4 bottles of wine
27. cooper888 + broccoli/cranberry/pine nut/bacon salad
28. gotmooned + bottle each of red/white wine
Maybees:
Saturday, November 9th
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Trey Bistro
21 N 9th Street • Columbia, MO
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Man Oh Man
3. cweb7
4. glitterscale+friends
5. kj in missouri
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Columbia, Missouri Get Together.. Details & KC Info
Saturday, November 16th
Indianapolis Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Pancho's Tacqueria
9658 Allisonville Road • Fishers
ORGANIZER: Send CityLightsLover a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. CityLightsLover
2. Yours Truly
3. Mokurai
4. Alexandra Lynch
5. avalonbear
6. Tim DeLaney
7. Dragon5616
8.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, November 16th
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
TBD • Kansas City
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Statusquomustgo
3. ShowMeMoBlue
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Columbia, Missouri Get Together.. Details & KC Info
Sunday, November 17th
Los Angeles Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
TBD • TBD
ORGANIZER: Send Dave in Northridge a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. susans
3. Otoelbc
4. Joe Bacon
5. jakedog42
6. DontTaseMeBro
7. DontTaseMeBro's husband
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks: October 19 Meetup, Saladang Song, Pasadena
Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?