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Buddha’s Birthday

Among the many practicing Buddhists in the United States, Buddha’s Birthday (Hana-Matsuri) is celebrated today!

Dating back to 1968 in the California Bay Area, the first circumambulation of Mt. Tamalpais to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday was conducted. The director of the Esalen at Stanford program designed a leaflet and had it distributed to all universities in the Bay Area. Some people brought sleeping bags and slept overnight in Muir Woods to enable an early start up the Dipsea Trail. For the several hundred people invoved, it was a memorable day clear, sunny, calm, and somewhat warm. Gary Snyder, Allen Ginsberg, and Philip Whalen were there. Taught by Gary and Allen, a different mantra was chanted at every station of the clockwise circumambulation. They all stopped for lunch on a sunny hillside. Allen brought miso for lunch, and he passed it around for others to enjoy.

Continuing into the 1970s Hana-Matsuri was celebrated each spring at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Dressed in formal black robes, the roughly 70 monks and students formed a formal procession to the Horse Pasture with the leader periodically ringing a small, clear bell. A temporary stone altar was built under a huge oak tree in a gorgeous field of green grass and abundant wildflowers; a small statue of a baby Buddha was placed upon it in a metal basin. Then each person would in turn and approach the altar, ladle one thin-lipped bamboo dipperful of sweet green tea over the statue, bow, and walk to one side.

How will you celebrate Buddha’s birthday today? Why not relax with one of our Yoga releases (http://www.putumayo.com/worldyoga and http://www.putumayo.com/content/yoga) or one of our dreamland releases (http://www.putumayo.com/latindreamland, http://www.putumayo.com/instrumental-dreamland-0, )

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Happy Parents Day!

Parent’s Day // 어버이 날 in Korea is a combination of both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Even though it is not a nationally recognized holiday, it’s still an important date on the Korean calendar! This tradition came over to Korea in 1956 originally as Mother’s day, but from 1973 the names changed to Parents day to include the Fathers and give them some love as well!

If you are new to Korean customs you will be able to tell Parent’s day is coming by the number of special gifts and displays set up in stores, and you’ll see lots of Carnations! In Korea the symbol and iconic gift for parents day comes in the form of a carnation flower~traditionally it is red, but others are available.

If you have Family in Korea make sure you bring a small gift or flower arrangement, flowers are the standard gift here and the street will be filled with cute baskets! It does not have to be a carnation gift. (They are just the most common) Family outings and dinners are common and these days beauty/spa treatments are given as gifts

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Cinco de Mayo

Sunday is Cinco de Mayo! (The fifth of May) Originally it started out as a celebration of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). Although a minor holiday in Mexico, it’s evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage,  here in the United States. Traditionally people celebrate Cinco de Mayo with parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals across Mexico and the United States.

Here are some of our favorite Mexican Putumayan featured artists:

Los Lobos (From our Mexico release) – Flor de Huevo

Lila Downes (From our Mexico release) – Naila

Amanda Martinez (From our Latin Dreamland release) – Cucurrucucu Paloma

Café Tacuba (From our Music from the Coffee lands release)- Esa noche

How do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

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Happy Earth Day!!

Seasonal clothing purges are the best! The clothes that no longer fit you or you’re tired of will be a friends treasure! It’s also a great excuse for getting your friends together. Organize everything into piles by type, (Coats, Shirts, Pants, Shoes, Accessories) Donate whatever isn’t taken to your nearest Good Will or Salvation Army.

2. If you’re near a farmers’ market or co-op, shop there for in season produce and organic, pasture raised meats and eggs.

You’ll get the freshest goods and your stomach will thank you later. You’ll also be supporting the local economy and a healthier planet.

3. The household cleaners you use everyday can easily be made at home.

Here are a few recipes from MindBodyGreen:

• All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 teaspoon of washing soda (aka sodium carbonate)
2 teaspoons of borax
1/2 teaspoon of plant-based liquid soap
two cups of hot water

Combine all of the above in a spray bottle. Shake well. (Keep in mind that while washing soda and borax are natural minerals, they’re still caustic, and borax can be toxic if swallowed.

Keep them away from children!)

• Glass & Window Cleaner

Spray a 1:1 combination of white vinegar and water.

You may have to remove the waxy build-up left behind by conventional glass cleaners.

To do that, add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap to 1 cup each of water and white vinegar.

• Mold & Mildew Cleaner

2 cups of water
2 teaspoons of tea tree oil

Combine ingredients above in a spray bottle. Shake well, spray, and let sit for several hours before wiping. Hydrogen peroxide is also good for mold and mildew.

Find out more cleaners you can make at home at: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8609/diy-9-non-toxic-cleaning-products.html

4. Make Travel Eco friendly

When possible, take the train or bus instead of flying.

Seek out destinations that are very walkable or that you can bike around.

Submerge yourself in the food culture. Not only are you supporting the local economy, but you’re really experiencing where you are. (Isn’t that the whole point of the trip?)

What are you’re favorite ways to be eco friendly? Write them in the comments below.

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Celebrating 20 Years of Putumayo World Music

When Putumayo World Music opened for business on April 13th, 1993, I had an idea that people would appreciate the international music I had started playing in my world clothing and handicraft stores. Little did I realize that it would become a stepping stone to a new career, one that has allowed me to spend endless hours listening to music, watch hundreds of talented artists perform and help them reach a wider audience.

As I sit here in New Orleans on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with the sounds of the French Quarter Festival echoing all around, I fully recognize the power of great music. Last night, I bumped into Peter Rowan, one of the many talented musicians we’ve included on Putumayo CDs over the years and I immediately smiled when I thought of his amazing rendition of No Woman No Cry on Reggae Around the World. He spoke of seeing Bob Marley perform many times when he was younger and how much he affected him. Great music is a seed that grows, blossoms and spreads.

I’ve also been blessed to know so many exceptional people who have given so much to help Putumayo reach people around the world. And, of course, one of the greatest parts of the Putumayo experience is the exceptional cover art by the British illustrator, Nicola Heindl. Her illustrations over these past 20 years has embodied the uplifting spirit of Putumayo music and helped us present a positive view of other cultures through our CD collections.

We are pleased to be planning a year of celebration with exciting new releases, updated classics, retrospectives, new cultural products and live events. We hope you will continue to travel the world with us and enjoy the music and cultures you discover along the way.

Finally, I’d like to express my utmost appreciation and thanks to you, our customers, who have made these past 20 years possible.

Dan Storper

Founder/CEO

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Happy Hindu New Year!

Today is the Hindu New Year in the eastern part of India. The new year is celebrated a few different ways. One way is with lots of colors and lights. Some favorite New Year activities among Hindus are rangoli making and cracking fireworks. People perform puja (or worship) of the Goddess Laxmi or Lord Ganesha in the evening as well as buy gifts for their friends and family. Everyone gathers together at each others houses, bringing sweets and coins.
Here’s a wonderful (sweet) recipe you could bring to someones house to celebrate.

Muttai Roti Pudding

Ingredients

Milk : 300 ml
Sugar: 30 gm
Egg: 2
Raisins:15 gm
Bread slices: 6
Butter: 10 gm
Nutmeg powder:1 tsp

Method

Wash raisins and dry.
Smear butter in one side of the bread slices.
Mix sugar, egg , milk and beat well.
Smear ghee in a broad vessel.
Place 3 bread slices.
Place the raisins over the slices.
Place the remaining slices.
Pour milk over the slices and soak for 30 minutes.
Heat a baking oven and cook the pudding for ½ an hour.

What’s your favorite sweet to bring to your loved ones during celebrations? Wanna get more into the Hindu New Year spirit? Celebrate with our India release!