Category: Other Page 109 of 177

A comparsa is a group of singers, musicians and dancers that take part in carnivals and other festivities in Spain and Latin America. Its precise meaning depends on the specific regional celebration. The most famous comparsas are those that participate in the Carnival of Santiago de Cuba and Carnaval de Barranquilla in Colombia. In Brazil, comparsas are called carnival blocks, as those seen in the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian carnivals. In the US, especially at the New Orleans Mardi Gras, comparsas are called krewes, which include floats. […]

In Cádiz and other parts of Andalusia, comparsas are groups of singers that take part in carnivals, especially the Carnival of Cádiz.[1] They sing comedy routines and the best comparsa is chosen in a contest. Other ensembles can also be found at the carnival, such as chirigotas, coros de carnaval, and cuartetos carnavalescos.

Source: Comparsa – Wikipedia

Orpheus is a musically themed krewe taking its name from Orpheus {ohr’-fee-uhs} of Classical mythology. The Krewe of Orpheus was founded by Harry Connick Jr., his father Harry Connick Sr., Sonny Borey, and others.[1] When the krewe had their first parade on February 14, 1994,[2] there was a record high 700 riders on their parade, and they had then already established themselves as a super krewe. […]

The Krewe of Orpheus derives its name from the mortal Orpheus, son of the god Apollo and the muse Calliope. The story of Orpheus illustrates the power of music in both this world and the next. Legend is that Apollo presented Orpheus with a lyre, which he played with perfection. The music of Orpheus was so beautiful that wild animals ceased their hunting, mountains bowed, seas stopped spraying and trees bent near to listen when he sang. His music was celebrated and cherished by all who heard it. His melodies inspired the noblest love. When Orpheus sang every heart was opened.

 

Source: Krewe of Orpheus – Wikipedia

A krewe (pronounced “crew”) is a social organization that puts on a parade or ball for the Carnival season. […]

Krewe members are assessed fees in order to pay for the parade or ball. Fees can range from thousands of dollars a year per person for the most elaborate parades to as little as $20 a year for smaller clubs. Criteria for krewe membership varies similarly, ranging from exclusive organizations largely limited to relatives of previous members to other organizations open to anyone able to pay the membership fee. Krewes with low membership fees may also require members to work to help build and decorate the parade floats and make their own costumes; higher priced krewes hire professionals to do this work. Parading krewe members are usually responsible for buying their own throws such as beads and coins, which are thrown to parade spectators according to tradition. Some krewes also have other events, such as private dances or parties, for members throughout the year. Some also make a point of supporting charities and good causes.

Source: Krewe – Wikipedia

What is a mystic society? Mobile’s Mardi Gras organizations are called mystic societies; New Orleans’ organizations are usually called krewes. They are private, nonprofit groups that celebrate Carnival, either with a parade, or a ball, or both. They meet year-round to plan out each year’s theme and events. Some groups, known as “non-parading societies,” hold a ball, but do not put on a public procession. The largest parading groups build and store their own floats; some of the smaller groups rent floats from the larger groups for their parades. Most of the mystic societies keep their members’ identities secret, a tradition from the earliest Medieval Carnival celebrations when revelers wore masks to add a layer of intrigue and excitement.

Source: Mobile Mardi Gras 101: A primer on all things Carnival – al.com

If a person’s good thoughts, words and deeds in life are many, the bridge will be wide enough to cross, and the Daena, a spirit representing revelation, will appear and lead the soul into the House of Song. Those souls that successfully cross the bridge are united with Ahura Mazda.

Source: Chinvat Bridge – Wikipedia

It was after an impossible winter at Ste. Croix Island where many of the first French settlers in North America died of scurvy that the French fur trading colony relocated across the Baie Française (Bay of Fundy), settling the following year in a location they named Port-Royal.

At the time it was believed that “land sickness” (now known as scurvy) was caused by idleness, so Champlain organized the Order to include not just food, but also entertainment. The first meeting, which took place on November 14, 1606, included a theatrical performance called “Le Theatre de Neptune en la Nouvelle-France”. The play told the story of sailors travelling to the New World, only to encounter Neptune, god of the sea on the way.[1]

Source: Order of Good Cheer – Wikipedia

Horgan: I admit that I’m still not sure what morphic resonance is. Can you give me a brief definition?

Sheldrake: Morphic resonance is the influence of previous structures of activity on subsequent similar structures of activity organized by morphic fields. It enables memories to pass across both space and time from the past. The greater the similarity, the greater the influence of morphic resonance. What this means is that all self-organizing systems, such as molecules, crystals, cells, plants, animals and animal societies, have a collective memory on which each individual draws and to which it contributes. In its most general sense this hypothesis implies that the so-called laws of nature are more like habits.

Source: Scientific Heretic Rupert Sheldrake on Morphic Fields, Psychic Dogs and Other Mysteries – Scientific American Blog Network

The drangue is born with a caul and two or sometimes four wings under the arms and has supernatural powers, especially in the wings and arms. He is made invulnerable by the singular conjunction produced at his birth, and can die only if this conjunction is repeated once again.[2][3] The main goal of the drangue is to fight the kulshedra in legendary battles.[4] He uses meteoric stones, lightning-swords, thunderbolts, piles of trees and rocks to defeat the kulshedra and to protect mankind from storms, fire, floods and other natural disasters caused by her destructive power.[5][3]

Source: Drangue – Wikipedia

The Vision Serpent goes back to earlier Maya conceptions, and lies at the center of the world as they conceived it. “It is in the center axis atop the World Tree. Essentially the World Tree and the Vision Serpent, representing the king, created the center axis which communicates between the spiritual and the earthly worlds or planes. It is through ritual that the king could bring the center axis into existence in the temples and create a doorway to the spiritual world, and with it power.”[3]

Source: Vision Serpent – Wikipedia

Stories are still told about Kukulkan among the modern Yucatec Maya.[16] In one tale, Kukulkan is a boy who was born as a snake. As he grew older it became obvious that he was the plumed serpent and his sister cared for him in a cave. He grew to such a size that his sister was unable to continue feeding him, so he flew out of his cave and into the sea, causing an earthquake. To let his sister know that he is still alive, Kukulkan causes earth tremors every year in July.[7]

A modern collection of folklore from Yucatán tells how Kukulkan was a winged serpent that flew to the sun and tried to speak to it but the sun, in its pride, burnt his tongue. The same source relates how Kukulkan always travels ahead of the Yucatec Maya rain god Chaac, helping to predict the rains as his tail moves the winds and sweeps the earth clean.[17]

Source: Kukulkan – Wikipedia