DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   While Semana Santa is a national tradition throughout Spain, the "Andalucians" arguably "feel" the week more than other regions of Spain.  Throughout 7 days, Andalucia is surrounded by a spiritual halo.  Semana Santa is a tradition which is repeated year after year, a time when the devout and  curious joint together to participated in the procession and converge on the streets and squares which take on the ambiance and mystique of an open air temple.      The skill and expertise behind the parades rest with the religious fraternities and brotherhoods.  They have the responsibility of maintaining the statues as well as coordinating the penitents and musicians.  Sometimes up to two thousand members of a brotherhood take part, some carry candles, rods or banners depending on their level of seniority.  The most senior is the president who carries a golden rod.       ...

    The Carnaval de Oruro (or Carnival of Oruro ), is the biggest annual cultural event in Bolivia.    Celebrated in Oruro, the folklore capital of Bolivia, the carnival marks the Ito festival for the Uru people.  Its ceremonies stem from Andean customs, the ancient invocations centering around Pachamama (Mother Earth, transformed into the Virgin Mary due to Christian syncretism) and Tio Supay (Uncle God of the Mountains, transformed into the Devil).  The native Ito ceremonies were stopped in the 17th century by the Spanish, who were ruling the territory of upper Peru at the time.  However, the Uru continued to observe the festival in the form of a Catholic ritual on Candlemas, in the first week of each February.  Christian icons were used to conceal portrayals of Andean gods, and the Christian saints represented other Andean minor divinities.  The ceremony begins 40 days before Easter.    Legend also...

    Can you say Starkbierzeit?   It's German for "strong beer festival", an event held every March in Munich.  For two weeks, breweries bring out their most potent beverages, and beer halls throw noisy parties with a  host of Bavarian entertainment and food.  It's Oktoberfest without the tourists.    The festival's roots go back to the Paulaner monks who, according to legend, began making an extra strength beer to sustain themselves during their Lenten fast.  The beer, first brewed in the 17th century, gained a "word of mouth" following.  The townspeople called it Salvator.      Strong beer's popularity took off after Napoleon rode into town and sold the monasteries to local businessmen.  Paulaner ended up in the hands of a entrepreneur named Franz Xavier Zacheri , who turned the monastery into a beer hall and mass produced the monks' beer.  In an inspired bit of marketing, he promo...