Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day: Celebration Worthy of Note

by Jamie Rhein on

Here’s a heads up for next year since the day has passed. Still, since this is a month of holidays, I didn’t want this one to go unmentioned. December 12th is one of the most important holy days in Mexico and much of Latin America. The Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day is when people honor Mexico’s patron saint, the Lady of Guadalupe. She appeared in the 16th century to Juan Diego, a poor farmer in Mexico, and is thought to have been the Virgin Mary. His apron with her image on it remains.

Along with many church celebrations, processionals and ceremonies in Mexico and the U.S., December 12th is when hundreds of people make a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, thought to be on the site when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared. Inside the church, the tilma (apron) that belonged to Juan Diego is on display. Several million come here every year for mass and to see the icon. By the looks of the crowds in this YouTube video, it’s quite the place to visit.

Here is another video from a church in New Jersey that begins to celebrate the feast day the Sunday before the 12th. There is an interview with the priest about the celebration’s significance and footage of the happenings. And, here is an article from today’s Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky that also provides an overview about how this celebration is important to people who have immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and those with Mexican heritage.

The photo was taken by Chantel Foster during the Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day procession in Albuquerque, New Mexico and posted on Flickr.

Staying in a hotel? Bring your own drinking glasses

by Martha Edwards on

I wouldn’t call myself a major germaphobe or anything, but like most people, I like to know that the things I eat and drink are somewhat hygienic. So this video really grossed me out — you too? I usually bring my own Nalgene bottles with me when I travel to drink from and thank goodness I do. Bleh.

What’s living in your hotel room?

Click… if you dare.

Big in Japan: Butt biting bugs are big in Japan

by Matthew Firestone on

. Here at Big in Japan, we’re dedicated to bringing you the latest fads – no matter how strange – from the Land of the Rising Sun.

With that said, I am proud to introduce you now to the latest Japanese fad that is sweeping across the country, namely the Oshiri Kajiri Mushi (?????????????????) or ‘Bottom Biting Insects.’

Seriously. Check out the video above if you don’t believe me.

Alright, now that your mind has no doubt been blown away by dancing insects who alternate biting butts and singing in two-part harmony, allow me to explain exactly what is going on here.

(Actually, I am not sure if I entirely know myself, though I will do my best!)

The Oshiri Kajiri Mushi song was originally created by the husband and wife duo Uruma Delvi (???????????), who wanted to encourage Japanese people living in big cities to spontaneously interact with each other.

Are you with me so far?

If so, keep reading as this where things start to get a bit weird…

According to the creative minds behind Oshiri Kajiri Mushi, the bottom biting insects are magical creatures that seek out lonely people.

By biting bottoms, the victim realizes how lonely their life is, and seeks out human companionship.

Of course, it’s not that easy for the Oshiri Kajiri Mushi as Tokyo butts taste bitter from all the loneliness that is stored within them.

Are you still with me?

Really? That’s impressive considering that I’m not even sure if I understand myself at this point

Aimed at children and their parents, the song debuted earlier this year on Minna no Uta (みんなのうた) or Everyone’s Songs, a five minute NHK TV and radio program broadcasting several times daily since 1961.

Much like the Crazy Frog song that swept across Europe a few years back, the Oshiri Kajiri Mushi song broke into the top 10 singles charts, and has recently become something of a national pop culture obsession.

In fact, NHK TV recently announced that the butt biting insects will soon be getting their own TV show entitled Oshiri Kajiri Mushi to Odorou! (おしりかじり虫と踊ろう！), or ‘Let’s Dance with the Bottom Biting Insects.

Needless to say, the program will feature the Oshiri Kajiri Mushi dancing with children at kindergartens and nursery schools across the country.

The mayhem doesn’t stop there.

Mono Comme Ca, a Japanese apparel brand aimed at tweens, teens and twenty-somethings, has recently licensed the Oshiri Kajiri Mushi for their clothing.

This means that if you’re searching for the perfect X-mas gift for any of your Japanese friends, might I suggest an Oshiri Kajiri Mushi sweatshirt, which will help you stay warm this holiday season!

In case you’re wondering, the Mono Comme Ca shop is located right across the street from the Meiji Shrine exit of Harajuku Station in Tokyo.

** Special thanks to my future roommate Isaac, who is nothing short of a walking library of Japanese pop culture **

Best destination flicks this year

by Martha Edwards on

I rarely see movies, so when I do make the trek to the theatre or the video store, I try to make sure it’s a good one; For me, good means well-written, well-acted and somehow intellectually stimulating. I love seeing good films about other places in the world — they don’t need to be travel-related, per se, but I love destination films. So I’m pretty chuffed that someone has come out with a list of the Top 10 travel-inspiring flicks this year. Here’s what made the list:

  • Once, set in Ireland
  • Lust, Caution, set in Shanghai and Hong Kong
  • Enchanted, set in Manhattan
  • Atonement, set in Britain during WWII
  • The Darjeeling Limited, set in India
  • Into the Wild, set throughout the continental USA and in Alaska (I’ve seen this one, by the way, and I loved it)
  • The Assassination of Jesse James, set in the midwest, but actually filmed in the beautiful Canadian foothills (where I live) (Incidentally, this film stars not only Brad Pitt but also an old-school trunk from my house that one of the producers picked up at our garage sale! I haven’t seen the movie, but humor me — does the trunk steal the show or what? Ok, I digress.)
  • Ratatouille, set in Paris
  • Elizabeth, The Golden Age, set in historic England
  • The Bourne Ultimatum, set in several different countries.

Like I said, I’ve only seen one of these, so I can’t really comment, but maybe you can?

Kellie Pickler and some insight into America’s geographic ignorance

by Abha Malpani on

I had a good laugh this morning when I saw that World Hum had created a category on their weblog entitled “Hot Americans on Television Botching Geography Questions”, thanks to Miss South Carolina and more recently American Idol Kellie Pickler. She appeared on US television game show “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader” and was asked what country Budapest was the capital of. She had never even heard of Hungary, and she thought Europe was a country.

Out of amazement and sheer shock, I decided to dig around a bit to get some sort of explanation for the general level of geographic ignorance in America — the world’s most powerful, ethnically diverse and wealthy country.

I came across a report on the American Geographical Society’s website addressing this issue in the US and it all seems to boil down to the American education system that doesn’t pay much attention to geography as a subject of study.

According to the paper, the ranks of Americans who have ever taken geography class in high school or university is low; most of the people who teach geography and set the content standards haven’t studied geography at a university level and don’t understand why they are even teaching it (!) Although the paper doesn’t give more details, it is an interesting read and talks about how the American government needs to embark on a “No American Left Geographically Ignorant” campaign.

I don’t have the answer, but something definitely has to be done. Do watch the video when you get a chance.