Tag Archives: France

Valentine’s Day Attracts Lovers All Over the World

BE MINE

RVO Staff Writer

Valentine traditions wordly Heart-shaped boxes of creamy chocolates, bouquets of roses, and lovey-dovey cards are some of the ways lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day here in the U.S. And February 14th isn’t just a happy day for lovers. In a survey published last month by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, companies producing Valentine candy, cards, flowers and novelties are swooning like teenage sweethearts because Valentine’s Day generates more than $13 Billion in revenue.

That’s a whole lotta love!

 Okay, so we all know people in the U.S. throw down some serious dough on Valentine’s Day, but how do people in other countries celebrate? What are their customs, traditions?

Here’s a peek.

FRANCE

France and Eiffel tower and love It’s been said the first Valentine’s Day card originated in France in the 1400s when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Back in the day, the French followed the tradition “une loterie d’amour” (drawing for love) that matched lovers by the sound of their voice. Single men and women would enter houses facing each other and take turns calling out to one another until they were paired off. If the men didn’t like their match, they left the woman for another man to call. As part of the tradition, the women that didn’t get matched up, got together afterward for a big ceremonial bonfire where they tossed pictures and objects of the men who rejected them, and cursed their names. French officials banned the tradition when the women got too rowdy and out of control. Today, the French take their lovers out for some fine French cuisine and champagne, and it’s the most popular day for men to get down on that bended knee and propose.

Continue reading Valentine’s Day Attracts Lovers All Over the World

RARE CHINA-Shen Yun 2012 presents 5,000 years of Chinese Culture at Lincoln Center – 5 Nights Only!

 

By Sally Deering

 It may seem like an adventurous task – presenting 5,000 years of Chinese culture in one show – and that’s exactly what Shen Yun 2012 sets out to do on Wednesday Jan. 11th –to – Sun, Jan. 15th, at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. Prepare to be dazzled!

 Told through dance, music and song and performed in more than 100 cities around the world, Shen Yun is a collection of short performance pieces that interpret the legends of Chinese culture’s creation and history over 5,000 years.

One of the writers and Master of Ceremonies is Leeshai Lemish, who has been with the Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe, based in Orange County, New York, since its inception in 2006. Lemish has emceed more than 400 Shen Yun performances in English and Chinese, has traveled with the show all over the world and calls Jersey City home.

 “We have 90 performers and that includes a dance company – 40 to 50 dancers – a full orchestra, vocalists, technical crew and we have three companies that size that tour at the same time in the states and all over the world, ” Lemish says. Continue reading RARE CHINA-Shen Yun 2012 presents 5,000 years of Chinese Culture at Lincoln Center – 5 Nights Only!

Unraveling An Art Mystery…

The Print in Question!

Who is the Artist? artist-signature-on-print-i-own

When was it painted ?

Does it have any financial Value?

 Who else has a print? Only 250 prints were made Number 80 is in my posession.

painting-in-question

By Joe Calamito

Many years ago while rummaging through the downtown Jersey City Salvation Army on 14th Street I came across the above print. I was intrigued by its subject matter-a little girl with blonde hair pulling a toy duck on a string while her mother or guardian stares at a fountain, perhaps in France. My own mother had passed away a few years earlier in 1994 and the print reminded me of how she would always take me to Hamilton Park in Jersey City. I paid $20 dollars for the print and it has shared a prominent place on the walls of our homes for the past 15 years or more. I love it! Continue reading Unraveling An Art Mystery…