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by Ava Salado

Hello TVE Community! I think it is safe to say the fall has officially…fallen. Isn’t it wonderful? Leaves of all shades of orange line the streets and the tidemark smell of autumn is finally out. So you know what that means? TVE’s  Harvest Dance is here! Join us for our annual Family Harvest Dance! This event is for the whole family and promises to be a fantastic night! There will be music, dancing, a photo booth, a variety of snacks, games, a costume parade, arts & crafts and more! It is truly a TVE tradition that is a favorite for many. 

Costumes are highly encouraged, but please be sure to wear family friendly costumes so the little ones aren’t frightened. You can sign up for what you can bring to the snack potluck!

It will be held on October 21st, 2023 from 6-10 pm. Check the TVE official Facebook page for the location, who is going, and much more information! To cover the expense of the venue we kindly ask for 8$ per person/guest and 25$ for a household of 3 or more. 

We sincerely hope to see you at this year’s Harvest Dance!

by Meru S.

The Hindu festival of Navarathri begins on the new moon during mid-September to mid-October. In the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, nava means nine and rathri means night, so Navarathri translates to Nine Nights. It is also called Dussara, or Ten Days, in Hindi. During these nine nights, three legendary goddesses of Hinduism are honored. 

The first three nights of Navarathri celebrate the warrior goddess Durga, who destroys the demons of greed, anger, jealousy, and ego. Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, after a nine-day-long battle, is one of the reasons why Navarathri is celebrated. The next three nights are dedicated to Lakshmi, who is the goddess of prosperity and abundance in spirituality, courage, material wealth, victory, agriculture, and wisdom. During the last three nights, Saraswathi, the goddess of knowledge and learning is worshiped.

Here is a short prayer to Goddess Saraswathi in Sanskrit:

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।

विद्यारंभं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

Saraswathi namasthubhyam varade kamarupini

vidyarambham karishyami siddhirbhavathu me sada 

Translation:

Salutations to you, O Goddess Saraswathi, who is the giver of boons and who has a
beautiful form! I now begin my studies. Let there always be success for me. 

In southern India, each family builds a beautifully and elaborately decorated set of steps on which dolls made of clay, wood, or ceramic are arranged. Dolls are often passed down for generations and are many years old. The god and goddess images are placed on the higher steps, while human and animal dolls are set on the lower steps. These displays (known as golu in the South Indian language, Tamil) commonly depict weddings, rituals, ceremonies, or stories from the scriptures. Families dress up and visit each other, sing songs, and chant prayers. 

In northern India, families and devotees celebrate Navarathri by visiting temples, performing traditional dances, and enacting legends of the three Goddesses. The tenth day, called Vijaya Dasami, is believed (in north India) to be the day on which Prince Rama defeated the ten-headed demon, Ravana. 

This is a recipe for Sundal, a traditional savory dish made with garbanzo beans:

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked or 1 can of garbanzo beans

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp fennel seeds

⅛ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 diced green chili or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes.

1 small pinch of asafoetida (optional)

1 sprig of curry leaves (optional)

chopped cilantro (optional)

1.  Soak the garbanzo beans in water for at least six hours, then cook them. If you are using canned garbanzo, drain them and skip this step.

2. Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the mustard seeds, and let them splutter.

3.  Add the fennel seeds, green chilies or red pepper flakes, turmeric powder, asafoetida, and curry leaves. Stir, then add the garbanzo beans, salt and sugar. Mix until well combined.

4. Garnish with cilantro, serve warm, and enjoy!

by Ava Salado

What is the Day of the Dead? We have probably all heard of it once or twice, especially around Halloween. Well, it’s actually a traditionally Mexican holiday where families welcome back the spirits of their deceased relatives for a short reunion. The festivities can include food, drinks, partying and celebration, singing, dancing, and much more

The Day of the Dead or el Día de los Muertos celebrations, usually held in modern-day Mexico and among people of Mexican origin in the United States and other countries, has its roots in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica (which dates back around 3,000 years.) The Nahua people who lived in what is now central Mexico–including the Aztecs–had a, one might say, unique outlook of the world and the cosmos. They considered death as a necessary and constant aspect of existence. It was believed that after death a person traveled to Chicunamictlán, the land of the dead. Only after nine difficult levels and stages, and a journey lasting several years, could the human soul finally reach Mictlán, its final resting place. The occasion is observed every year from October 31 to November 2. It incorporates Spanish culture, European religion, and Mesoamerican ritual. While Halloween occurs on October 31, November 2 is All Souls Day or, in other words, The Day of the Dead. According to ancient tradition, the gates of heaven will open up at exactly midnight on October 31 and the spirits of niños (children) can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults, like abuelas, abuelos, tías, tíos, or really anyone can do the same on November 2. (Abuela and abuelo are grandma and grandpa. Tía and tío are aunt and uncle.)

To help spirits return to their loved ones, people first construct an altar illuminated by candles or outside of their houses. Additionally, some of the deceased’s favorite foods are placed on the altar in case they grow hungry. On the altar, families also put things that were significant to the ancestors while they were living, such as a cherished book, musical instrument, heirloom, or even a child’s toy.

A huge party is then held in the cemetery. Families bring a substantial meal to consume as they sing songs, polish and repair tombstones, and communicate with their ancestors. 

Even grandparents who have passed away before a baby was born could be introduced to the newborn by their parents.

You may have seen festive photos of people dressed up in colorful dresses, suits, and make up. This is a very sacred tradition. You can get el Día de los Muertos-themed jewelry, clothes, leggings, make-up, decor, t-shirts, flower crowns and sugar skulls at basically any big box store. But however, let’s make one thing clear: el Día de los Muertos is not “Mexicans version of Halloween.” Rather, it seems to have been absorbed into the retail Halloween fixation and obsession, and has been reduced to an ‘aesthetic’ instead of a sacred Mexican cultural celebration. It should be respected as something that has been celebrated for many, many years and has so much cultural significance and importance to thousands of people (and ancestors). While the trademark colorful dresses and accessories can appear to be flamboyant fashion statements, in reality they are parts of habits and practices that date back to the time of the Aztecs over 3,000 years ago. Now, that’s not to say you should not celebrate and honor el Día de los Muertos, anyone can! But if you are wanting to buy and decorate your home with themed-decor this season, I would suggest buying from a family or personal-owned store. You can find these wonderful, authentic businesses on sites like Etsy or even at your local farmers market. 

So, from me and my ancestors to you and yours, happy el Día de los Muertos! 

by Lydia I. Martinov

Do you love art? Well be sure to visit the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco, CA. It is filled with stunning pieces of art that are sure to catch your eye.

Artists in need of inspiration can treat themselves, and their families, to a field trip at the Legion of Honor. From paintings to sculptures, and even Faberge eggs, this stunning museum is a place to remember. Each gallery includes beautiful artwork with distinct techniques.

Some of the most beautiful artworks in the Legion of Honor are tapestries. They are huge, woven pictures. One example is the Triumph of Justice from the Triumph of the Seven Virtues series. It is woven from wool.

Another stunning piece of art to look out for if you visit is “The Russian Bride’s Attire”.

It was painted by Konstantin Makovsky in the late 1800’s. The painting depicts a woman getting ready for her wedding, and is unhappy about it. She knows that it will end up a loveless marriage, and the man she will marry is significantly older. This true masterpiece shows great emotion. If you find yourself at the Legion of Honor, be sure to just sit down for a few minutes, and take a nice long look at “The Russian Bride’s Attire” to take in the wonderful detail.

Right in front of the Legion is the “Holocaust Memorial”. If you are driving by, then make sure you check it out. It is a sculpture of a concentration camp from the Holocaust. It is free to look at, and very interesting to see. 

The Legion of Honor actually has a pretty cool history. It was founded (or for those of you who love fancy words: established) by Alma de Bretteville Spreckels and her husband, Adolph B. Spreckels in 1924. That was 99 years ago. 2024 will be the 100th birthday of the Legion! That will be quite a grand event. Anyways, all those years ago, this incredible museum was a gift to San Francisco. That is a pretty big gift. Today, it’s one of the greatest treasures in San Francisco. For Alma de Bretteville and Adolph B. Spreckels, that is a very cool way to be remembered. The Legion of Honor’s “grand opening” was on November 11, 1924 (Armistice day). It was dedicated to the Californians of World War I. 

The Legion of Honor is an incredibly fascinating place. For those who want to see the unusual artwork, and be flabbergasted by the Legion’s beauty, it is encouraged that they visit.