Easter Celebrations across the Globe

-      By Gautam Nath

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL,

Have you ever wondered how this day is celebrated over the globe while we attend our church service on this day and spend it together with near and dear ones.

Come on a journey with us to find out.

Our travel first takes us North bound into the Russian Republic and their beautiful city of Moscow.

The USSR as it was called earlier did not recognize the Christian faith and many wonderful churches were let to ruin but since independence, Russia has reached back its glory to the Christian faith and celebrates Easter with great pomp and glory.

The Russian Paschal salutation "Khristos Voskrese!" or "Christ is Risen!," a statement that could land believers in prison in Soviet times, has been reverberating through Moscow's churches where most of the spiritual music is being performed as well as in concert halls like the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall on Mayakovsky Square, where a gala performance of all the choral ensembles was held on Tuesday.

In all churches special Easter Services take place all night through. At midnight people kiss each other, exchange painted Easter eggs and exclaim: "Christ has been resurrected!"

And off we go, across Europe, to the romantic city of lovers, no not Venice but Paree. Yes the city where romance flows in the air.

Notre Dame de Paris is a day of remembrance (in particular Good Friday), when traditionally from 12:30 to 3 pm is the time reserved to remember Christ.
 

And as the weeks draw down to Easter Sunday, Parisian chocolatiers work triple-overtime filling their shops with a glorious array of delectable chocolates made only for this special season.  Tempting chocolates are everywhere … in the patisseries, the speciality chocolatiers and in those sweet little candy shops called confiseres, which stock candies from all over France including copious selections of chocolates. 

Indeed, a gift of chocolate at Easter is an absolute must for friends and family of all ages.  Not surprisingly, the vast selection available in the French capital goes way beyond adorable bunnies and chicks.  The offerings include the very traditional dark-chocolate fish of various sizes, including the darling ‘friture,’ tiny dark chocolate fish often packed into straw baskets or chocolate boxes so that they resemble a school of delicious little fish.  Then there are chocolates shaped like bells symbolizing the ringing out of the good news on Easter, along with goblets, crosses and scallop shells, the symbol of St. James. Add to this bounty all manner of flavored and pure chocolate eggs in various sizes and a fantasy array of chocolate animals such as donkeys, elephants, camels, rabbits, bunnies, chicks, ducks and geese.

With our sweet tooth satiated, we went to Prague, The Czech Republic, as it is known today.

Prague is one of the mot picturesque cities in the world and where one can spend days just walking about the streets enjoying the beautiful architecture. Although the Germans destroyed many of the buildings in the World War, they have been painstakingly rebuilt into its glory of the past.

One Easter tradition is pagan Czech Easter celebration is the "pomlazka". Farmers used to believe that a strong whipping after the winter period guaranteed health, prosperity, and most importantly a good harvest. This tradition remains to this day, although slightly modified. It is only the women who are given a good spanking with whips made of willow twigs, decorated with colorful ribbons (as if a little bit of decoration would help to ease the pain!). It is mainly younger boys who go from door to door, hoping to thrash a few girls to get some eggs in return, while singing traditional Easter carols.

The whipping or "pomlazka" is to get rid of all the bad things that had accumulated during the winter and bring the vitality back in the ladies, as well as ensure beauty and, of course, fertility.

Soon we flew up into Scotland, the land of castles and whisky.

There are the traditional Easter Feasts and church on Easter Sunday and the days leading up to Pasch (Easter) or Càisg (in Scottish Gaelic). In olden days there were those who lit huge fires to celebrate the beginning of spring and the end of winter.

There is an old Scots rhyme that is taught to children that goes like this:

First comes Candlemass,
Syne the new mune;
The neist Tyseday aifter that
Is aye Fester Een.
That mune oot
An the neist mune fou,
The neist mune aifter that
Is aye Pasch true.

Another Scottish tradition involving the Easter Season is Maundy Thursday. It is also called “Holy Thursday”. It is to commemorate the day when Christ washed the feet of his disciples. Maundy Thursday custom dates back to the Middle Ages.

The Friday before Easter is Good Friday, or Di-haoine na Ceusa (that is how it is written in Scottish Gaelic) was also known as Crucifixion Friday. In the 1800’s it was believed that no iron spade or plough should be put in the ground. It was also tradition that the band from the spinning wheel should be removed so it could not be used to bind Christ's hands and feet.

Lastly another tradition in Scotland involving Easter is the 'hot cross buns', which are baked and contain spices and fruit. These buns are then “glazed” with white pastry cross. They have been a symbol of Good Friday and in the past were made fresh and served on Good Friday and throughout the weekend.

And having had our fill of Europe, if there could be such a term, we crossed the Atlantic and were soon landing at Pearson International Airport. Yes, Toronto.

Canada, a land of immigrants, celebrates Easter in many different ways according to the community you are staying with, Polish, Greek, Indian, Chinese all have something unique according to their culture.

But that’s another story for another day.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

– Building Your Brand Series IV - Multicultural Marketing

Multicultural Marketing

(Canadian Immigrant magazine February 2012 Issue)

 

This month I would like to share an experience which was very exciting for me in my journey in Canada and a real turning point as a newcomer.

It has been just three years since we landed and there have been lots of trials and tribulations in my life since coming here but last week was a great milestone.

Coming from a professional marketing background, I measure my success in Canada by my acceptance among the marketing fraternity. I am sure all readers similarly would envisage such acceptance among your fraternity in Canada.

One of the most prestigious marketing associations here in Canada strangely is called The AMA or the American Marketing Association. The AMA was founded in the USA and has over 20,000 members there. The Toronto Chapter is relatively smaller with about 2000 members but is really the go to place for all marketing professionals in our city and offers a wide array of learning opportunities.

In my journey, I reached out to the President of AMA with the offer of volunteering to be part of the group and what great timing. They were actively looking at the topic of multicultural marketing and we started a dialogue. This led to my volunteering to coordinate an event for the AMA on the subject.

The AMA format is a round table breakfast series and we dialogued about a session in the New Year and selected 12^th of January 2012. I had to find a co partner and nominated Roxanne Tsui, who runs a Chinese communications firm in the city. Roxanne and I were then entrusted with putting the full program together which included deciding the subject, identifying and inviting panelists, finding an event sponsor and then marketing the event. Volunteers from AMA joined our team and we saw three months of dedicated work being put into this.

There were days when we were tense, days when we were anxious and days when we were nervous, but took each one in our stride.

We opened registration, and then came the December holidays and we all held our breath as we had only 5 sign ups. Surely a testing time but we persevered and slowly saw more registrations come in. And a week before the event, as we turned into the final lap and the last weekend before the show, our numbers crossed the average number of bookings AMA usually had. They were just coming in like crazy and there was a time when we seriously considered closing registrations due to capacity sell out.

The final day was cold and wet but it did not hold back the audience, such was the interest that at one time, people were lined up into the street.

The opening was wonderfully handled by Michael Adams, Chairman of the Environics Group and he took us through a journey on the evolution of Multiculturism in Canada. After 20 minutes, the panellists were introduced. Bobby Sahni (Rogers), Camon Mak (RBC), Gautam Nath (Monsoon Communications), Kamal Baig, (Rubicon Foods) and Robin Brown (Environics Research Group). The discussion was moderated by Roxanne Tsui (Sensu Communications). Each one discussed their experiences with multicultural marketing, the success factors, the challenges and also touched upon some misconceptions that companies may carry. Then the discussion was rounded off with a vision about the future of multicultural marketing in Canada.

With over one hundred participants, it was truly a grand moment for all who were associated. The President of AMA, Craig Lund, then formally announced that multicultural marketing was here to stay with AMA and that Roxanne and I were appointed as co chairs for this initiative. Truly a winning moment in my life and proof of how dedication and hard work always pays off. This goes to show how volunteering in Canada can showcase your skills and helps you get recognized.

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Born of Czech and South Asian lineage, Gautam Nath now lives in Toronto. He is a partner with Monsoon Communications and serves on several Boards and Committees in the city. Gautam is also one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2011.

- Building Your Brand Series III - The Emotional Roller Coaster

The Emotional Roller Coaster

(Canadian Immigrant Magazine January 2012 Issue)

In my last article (December 2011), I spoke about the 30/60/90 day plan for new Canadians.

While that has its place and there is a regime that one needs to set up, I would like to share something else that goes on in parallel.

The emotional Roller Coaster. And if you have been on a real roller coaster, you will know what I mean.

In the first three months after arriving in Canada, the number of emotions I never knew existed manifested themselves. Sure, I face new emotional issues even today but have now learned how to live with them compared to the early days.

We landed here on a high, a real high, excitement of finally being in Canada, it was so surreal, we could not believe it. It had taken us so long to get here; we had lost hope at times and finally we were really physically here. What a feeling, we had arrived, we now belonged, this was our new life.

Then the next emotion hit me.

So what, nobody cares, nothing against me personally but life goes on, people have their lives to lead and so I found that unless I made the move, I stayed in one place. The party was over, ground reality hit me, I have to look for a job and I discovered new things. Lack of Canadian experience, credentials are not recognized, savings diminish quickly and the relative high cost of living. All hit me like a pile hammer bringing home a new truth. Get up, get going or get left behind! No time to rest on my high, feeling proud for making it to Canada but it was time to be noticed, time to stand and to be recognized.

A different set of emotions takes over – anger, depression, helplessness, anxiety all bundled in one. Why did I come here? What am I going to do? Questions that hit me again and again. But I realized I was not alone.

I could sit back and lament about it or I could get up and do something about it, and chose the latter. I spent my early days going to the gym staying fit and active, volunteering at some organizations so got to meet new people, writing articles for the media for mental stimulation, starting a blog and a self help group. All this helped take away my negative emotions and I found my mood and my enthusiasm pick up as each day passed. My circle of friends and my network increased and I soon moved from being a nobody to being somebody.

Then a new realization begins, a sense of belonging, I realized that I was not a guest in this country but one of its population. This was now my home and I have to take charge of my life and move ahead.

That is the next emotion that came to me, the one of belonging and one where I realized that the future is mine to make. I knew I did not have the luxury of time unlike those born here so had to move faster. There was a lot to learn and imbibe. Learning about doing things in the Canadian way and that had begun to seep in.

Giving back, sharing my knowledge and operating from a positive sense of mind with patience and perseverance.

Canada was my country now, the bed where I put lay my head to rest at night, the nation where I must make my mark and that gave me inner strength. So shall it be for you.

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– Building Your Brand Series II - The 30/60/90 Day Plan

The 30/60/90 Day Plan

(Canadian Immigrant Magazine December 2011 Issue)

What is the 30/60/90 Day Plan?

It was not Camp Obama, but this was as serious to me as it must have been for them.

Landed in Canada, a new land of opportunity but where do you go? I needed to put down a plan, a guideline to move forward, a template to follow.

Having a corporate management background, I put on my thinking cap. My plan would have to be as strategic as when I was leading a team that re-engineered a 4000 strong organization some years ago.

Simply put, it was going to be my 30/60/90 day plan for Canada.

The first 30 days, I decided, was going to be spent primarily putting all my ducks in a row: Opening a bank account, getting a credit card, getting my SIN number, driving license, cell phone, new connectivity, calling cards and such formalities. And I realized, I needed to understand the terrain that I was operating in, the lay of the land.

A TTC pass and a flask of hot coffee and I was equipped for the days to come. Every morning, I would get ready and leave the house at 0830 hours and catch the TTC - no book to read, no iPod to listen to and no cell phone to talk on, I was out with a mission. The mission was to map out the lay of the land in Toronto, and a Toronto map was my only companion. I spent 3 to 4 hours those initial days going up one end of the subway to the other, getting familiar with the route. Soon confidence had grown and I would venture out and connect on a bus route crisscrossing the city getting familiar with the place I now had to call home. My eyes and ears were open, taking in the ambiance, watching how life went on by and listening to a multitude of languages and variety of English accents.

Occasionally, I would get an opportunity to speak to a fellow passenger and that would add to my knowledge of the terrain around me.

Yes, this was the first 30, as any general worth his salt would do - understanding the terrain before deploying your troops.

Now that I was a little familiar with the landscape, the next 30 days would begin my networking. I had identified several networking groups during my initial month and now was time to reach out. My initial homework was done online and connectivity was one of my initial investments as it allowed me 24 hours access to the internet.

Then I ventured out and physically attended the networking meetings assessing several things – who were the members, what was their background, what were they looking for, how could I leverage my skills, how often did they meet, did I get a warm vibe and was it expensive?

The answers helped me select a few that were closer to my field and my area of expertise. And then I began my involvement. “If you are taking the trouble to belong to a group, give it all you have”. I did not sit in the back row nor waited for things to happen. I put up my hand, got involved and ensured that I made a mark there. “Giving back is an integral part of networking and so I volunteered my time and my aptitude to the groups I was involved in”. I made friends, got involved with their events and began to slowly shape up a brand personality for myself. Gautam Nath soon was moving away from being a mere statistic and an unknown face to a human being with a face and a name and a slow network of Canadians who were beginning to see what I could offer.

At the end of my 60 days, I was offered a marketing advisory role in two organizations, however on a voluntary basis. But this helped me build my Canadian experience.

The next 30 days to my 90 day target was all about meeting more and more people, my confidence grew as I volunteered my time and my familiarity with the ways of life here became easier. I travelled outside the city when I could and slowly was able to see differences between the city of Toronto and some other smaller towns like Kitchener, Waterloo, Kingston, Hamilton, Georgetown and even got to Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.

And surely, by the end of my 90 days, i had met many people, not all but some were in relation to finding a job and soon was in serious dialogue with the President of a well regarded Canadian firm, one that would take me into their fold for the next two years. More to come in my next month’s column.

Building your Brand Series I - Building your Personal Brand

Building your Personal Brand 

(First published in the Canadian Immigrant Magazine)

1095 days, or 26280 hours, or 1576800 minutes or 94608000 seconds ago, my feet touched Canadian soil at Pearson International Airport, Toronto.

From being a full Indian citizen, in a few minutes from now, I would achieve landing rights and formally, Permanent Resident status.

It took me 5 and a half years to get here, no I was not crossing the Sahara desert, I was merely a statistic in the skilled worker queue, a faceless file, lying on a shelf in the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi before they breathed life into it. It seems so very long ago but here I was, in true live blood and flesh, standing at the doorstep of my new home, Canada.

A wait, a real long wait, one many of us have experienced in our own journey between application and finally receiving the PR visa stamped in our passport. While the wait was long, the period after receiving the visa had its own share of anxieties.

We were now in the queue, there was a limited number of months within which we had to land in Canada and like many others, we too had nights of panic and days of anxiety. Were we doing the right thing? Could we unattach ourselves from our well settled life? Could we leave the cocoon of family and friends that provided us behind? Do we liquidate a lifelong of belongings and fly half way across the world? So many choices, so many decisions and so much emotion.

We took the plunge, closed up shop and moved - literally 6 weeks after receiving the visa, and were on the flight to Canada. A clean cut heals the fastest they said.

Many who came before us and those who followed share the emotions that emerge after getting the visa in your hand. What was a vision earlier turns into a reality and a mixed bag of excitement of the adventure ahead yet fear of the unknown.

And soon enough, here we were, in a taxi with our limited baggage going down the streets of Toronto to what would be home for the next 8 months.

That was October 2008, this is November 2011 - three years have passed under the bridge and much water. I landed a mere statistic, a stranger in a new country and without any safety net. I am now a partner in a leading multicultural strategy & communications firm based in Toronto; I received the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award 2011 and have been felicitated by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

This column is all about how one navigated the waters in this new country of choice, how one overcame the barriers of settling in a new country and how one rose from being a mere statistic to a recognized individual. I hope to be able to place before you my journey, my learning’s, my experiences for you to take away what fits your path. Far from over, many more miles before I sleep, please join me in my journey as it unfolds.

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     Note: Gautam Nath is Partner at Monsoon Communications and serves on several Boards and Committees across Toronto. He is one of the earliest newcomers to Canada to be featured on CBC National Television on Canada Day as well as receive the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award in 2011. Follow his bi monthly column in the Canadian Immigrant magazine, where he shares his journey underlying the importance of building a personal brand and the value of giving back in Canada. Stay tuned.