Tomb Sweeping Day

The company I'm currently working for has a factory in China with whom we converse on a daily basis. Today, we received an email letting us know that they would be closed on April 4th & 5th in honor of Tomb Sweeping Day.

"Tomb Sweeping Day?" you wonder, "What is that?"

Since I didn't know what it was either, I did a little Googling and this is what I found:

"Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox, Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the solar calendar-- typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6. Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities."

"With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to honor past ancestors. "

Very interesting. You can read more about it here. Cheers to learning new things everyday.

St. Patty's Day is not for me.

Once again, I missed the dyeing of the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day. It happened on Saturday the 15th. Whoops. Since I missed this time-honored tradition, here's a photo I ganked from one of my favorite travel blogs (http://www.debohobo.com/), so we can all just pretend that I was there to capture the magic for you...


I'm sorry, but St. Patrick's Day is just one of those holidays that makes me want to stay within five minutes of my humble abode (along with New Year's Eve). I hate going to bars and waiting 30 minutes for a drink only to have it knocked over by some drunken idiot before I even reach my table... and that's assuming that I got to the bar early enough to grab a seat between all the sweaty bodies looking for a little green beer or Jager Bomb action. I like to drink and I like hanging out at bars, but I don't like drinking and hanging out at bars on St. Patty's.

Anywho, I hope that you all enjoyed this holiday for me. If you have any photos or tips of awesome places to hang out for "party holidays" such as this one, send 'em my way.

Oh, yeah - Erin Go Bragh!