photo credit, Techicy
As mentioned in one of our TV stations, February has the least number of days and yet there are so many activities during this month, at least in the Philippines: marrying month, hearts day for lovers, celebration of the Chinese New Year where there are so many beliefs on how to be fortunate on material things, love life, etc, and the commemoration of the EDSA revolution of February 22-25, 1986.
Valentine's Day
How did this romantic practice start? God is love. It appears that we give premium to St. Valentine. Does God approve of this?
1 John 4:7-9 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
This celebration is a pagan practice to unify the pagan and Christians.
"Valentine’s PastLike Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Year’s and other holidays of this world, St. Valentine’s Day is another attempt to “whitewash” perverted customs and observances of pagan gods and idols by “Christianizing” them.As innocent and harmless as St. Valentine’s Day may appear, its traditions and customs originate from two of the most sexually perverted pagan festivals of ancient history: Lupercalia and the feast day of Juno Februata.Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia (known as the “festival of sexual license”) was held by the ancient Romans in honor of Lupercus, god of fertility and husbandry, protector of herds and crops, and a mighty hunter—especially of wolves. The Romans believed that Lupercus would protect Rome from roving bands of wolves, which devoured livestock and people." Read more here
Chinese New Year
photo credit, wiki
"Kung Hei Fat Choy" is the greeting one hears on Chinese New Year, meaning cheers, wishing people luck and have a wonderful future.
When I was a child, this was a great day for me because I would be getting "tikoy" from my aunt because she had many Chinese clients
.
Tikoy is made from glutinous rice, dipped in egg before frying.
This year, 2015, the celebration is on Thursday, February 19.
The celebration at Binondo, a Chinese-dominated area is characterized by: Lion dances, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives giving red envelopes.
"Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity." Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes." Read more
EDSA Revolution
photo credit,Stuart Xchange
The EDSA Revolution carried out in February 1986 to topple the dictatorship of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, triggered by the assassination of Sen Benigno Aquino II, the father of Pnoy.
When the late Cardinal Sin called on the people to protect Pres, Ramos and Sen Enrile, (the break away men of Marcos) who were holding up in Camp Aguinaldo, against the coming armored vehicles of the army, thousands of people responded, people of all walks of life. People prayed, ignoring the threat in their lives because they were confident that God was with them. It was world widely known as a victorious, bloodless revolution.
This year, I did not send greeting cards for couples on hearts day, nor will I greet "Kung Hei Fat Choy" on the 19th to go with the crowd of these pagan practice and belief for fortune. God is our source of our abundance and of good health, so ask Him.
