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Bienvenidos! A belated Happy New Year!
We at Olvera-Street.com have been on a temporary hiatus while our web-site self-imploded and dissolved into the abyss of cyberspace. So one thousand apologies for our absence, and ten thousands thanks to our loyal readers who hung in with us while we licked our wounds and plugged ourselves back in.
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The Month
of Love
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February, the shortest month, is also known as Black History Month, Presidents' Month, and the month of love.
Since we have no short black presidents, we'll focus on the love angle. So we focus on our blessings, our loved ones, and the best ways to let your significant other know that we are happy they are in our lives.
It is a time to be grateful for our blessings and to express our appreciation.
We would like to focus on our good fortune and encourage everyone to forge ahead and make a difference with your family, friends and your community. Volunteer to help someone or a nonprofit. One person can make such a world of difference!
Your heart will be well rewarded.
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The History
in Chocolate
“Food for
the Gods”
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In honor of Valentines Day, we created an article about the history of chocolate. From the ancient Aztecs and Mayans to the chocolatiers’ boutiques of Beverly Hills, chocolate has been one of our favorite foods and a delicious gift for Valentines Day. We trace its growth from a ceremonial drink to a billion dollar industry. To learn more about this food of the Gods, see Valentine & Quetzalcoatl, a Chocolate Match Made in Heaven!
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Annoucements:
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Olverita's Village has re-opened it's doors to the public, after undergoing renovations for the past few months. Come visit their beautiful store and enjoy the great service and upgraded selection of items from Mexico and Latin America
The store is located upstairs at W-24 Olvera Street, where for almost two decades Martha Vasquez has been featuring folklorico costumes, accessories, folk art, books, furniture, and crafts to local and national dance groups, teachers and celebrities. Olverita's Village provides a commitment to cultural awareness through its hospitality and family environment.
 In keeping with the tradition of Valentines Day, this month Olverita's Village is featuring the authentic and finest Oaxacan chocolates from The Soledad and Mayordomo. Come pick some of for your sweetheart!
To see more about Olverita’s Village online, visit www.Olveritas.com
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What’s Happening!
Olvera Street
February 2006
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As Angelinos, we have been given the gift of living among so many cultures. This month Olvera Street is proud to celebrate the traditions of life in México, France and China. We hope you will come and enjoy the festivities. Join us to learn more about these wonderful cultures and traditions with family and friends.
To view our Fiestas at Olvera Street for 2006, click here!
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Fiesta De
La Candelaria
Thursday
February 2
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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Have you taken down the Christmas lights yet? If it’s 40 days past December 25, somewhere around February 2, it must be Fiesta De La Candelaria. The Latin holiday marks the day Jesus Christ was presented in the temple by his parents, following the Jewish practice. Historically, Mexican families celebrate by "raising" the Christ Child figure from the nativity scene. The Christ figures and icons were also brought to the church to be blessed. Finally the nativity set was put away until the beginning of the next season’s Christmas celebrations.
The blessing on Olvera Street included a procession, free entertainment throughout the historic street, and refreshments.
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Chinese
New Year
Parade
Year of the Dog!
Saturday,
February 4
2 PM
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 The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from more than 4000 years ago. It will be “Gung Hay Faht Choy” as Chinese New Year will be celebrated on Saturday, February 4 at 2 PM. New Year’s Parade from Olvera Street to Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles. To view a flyer for more information, click here!
We are celebrating the 107th Annual Golden Dragon Parade. The 4704 Year of the Dog festivities will continue throughout the day by Olvera Street and Chinatown.
Are you a Dog, an Ox, a Rat, a Monkey or a Sheep? To learn about your personal Chinese Zodiac, click here!
To learn more about the history, click here!
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5th Annual
“Lantern Festival”
Saturday
February 18
Noon - 7 PM
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 The following Saturday, February 18, the Fifth Annual Lantern Festival will be held at the Chinese American Museum at the El Pueblo Historic Monument on Olvera Street from Noon to 7 pm.
Come with your friends and family and enjoy a day filled with exciting live dance, musical and acrobatic performances! Admission is free.
Afterwards, visit Southern California’s newest cultural landmark, the Chinese American Museum, and enjoy a special FREE ADMISSION rate that day!
To learn more about the history and our schedule of events click here!
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Olvera Street,
Mardi Gras
Tuesday
February 28
12 PM - 10 PM
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 American college students home from Paris in the 1820s brought the bizarre party rituals of Mardi Gras to New Orleans, Louisiana. The scholars had celebrated Mardi Gras in France, and now home, they saw no reason to stop.
The tradition has held, and today in New Orleans, Paris and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”) means a traditional huge annual funfest.
Here in Los Angeles, it doesn't take much to awaken the spirits of Olvera Street, and Mardi Gras is a great excuse to join in. On Fat Tuesday, February 28, from the stroke of midnight until 10 p.m., Olvera Street will feature Brazilian singing and dancing, a colorful parade, floats, a crowning of Miss Olvera Street, a costume contest, and a burning of a piñata representing evil spirits.
To learn more about the history, click here!
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News About
Our World
Updates:
Altar of Iraq War
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 As of February 1, 2006, according to a CNN count: “There have been 2,444 coalition deaths, 2,242 Americans, one Australian, 100 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, two Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 26 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq. The list on the site are the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. At least 16,548 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan and examine U.S. war casualties dating back to the Revolutionary War.”
That is 1194 more deaths since the original 1250 deaths we had honored at Olvera Street for the 2004 Dia De Los Muertos.
 The “Altar of the Iraq War” was created on October 28, 2004 to honor and respect the memories and lives of all those who have died. NOTE: It does not count the estimated 100,000-200,000 Iraqi deaths, including women and children. To learn more about the altar, click here!
We would like to pay our respect and send our love to them, their families, and dear friends. This altar is dedicated to their memories so they won’t be forgotten, true to the meaning and spirit of íDa De Los Muertos!
To write a letter to a beloved one, visit:
www.MailboxToHeaven.com
* (The "Altar of the Iraq War" was created by six artists and does not necessarily reflect the thoughts of the Olvera Street merchants or El Pueblo Historic Monument.)
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Recent History
Olvera Street
Los Tres Reyes Magos
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 Historic Olvera Street created a reenactment of The Three Kings (Los Tres Reyes Magos) in January. The celebration of the Feast of Epiphany was complete with music, costumes, and a colorful procession of The Three Wise Men along Olvera Street. The event was free to the public.
For more information about the history of this event, click here!
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“Las Posadas”
Olvera Street
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“Las Posadas,” a beautiful presentation of the nine-day journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, was celebrated on Olvera Street in December. The event was reenacted evenings from December 16 to 24 with singing, a candlelight procession and the breaking of the piñata. We were excited to share our event with families and friends during this holiday season.
For more information about the history of this event, click here!
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“La Virgen
De Guadalupe”
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 In addition, on December 11 and 12, we commemorated the miracle of “La Virgen De Guadalupe.” Families brought their children dressed-up in authentic costumes throughout the day and night as they enjoyed the festivities on Olvera Street. It was a beautiful celebration and we hope you will join us later this year!
For more information about the history of this event, click here!
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Thank You
for visiting!
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Bookmark Olvera-Street.com and visit us often to find out about the latest arts, fundraisers, business mixers, screenings and much more. We hope you will visit us often in February and throughout 2006.
Please e-mail this page to anyone you think may be interested.
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Quote
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"Spread love everywhere you go:
first of all in your own house.
Give love to your children, to your wife or husband,
to a next door neighbor...
Let no one ever come to you
without leaving better and happier.
Be the living expression of God's kindness;
kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes,
kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
-Mother Theresa
"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities."
- Janos Arany (1817-82), Hungarian poet
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May all your wishes and dreams come true.
We hope you will have a wonderful Valentines Day!
John Trausch, Editor & Ginette Rondeau, Director
For more information about www.Olvera-Street.com
comments or suggestions, contact our Webmaster@ProjectWWW.com
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