Two Girls, One Purpose, & A Forgotten People

Happy New Year! So are you confused? I know what you're thinking New Year's was in January. They must be crazy or really behind in updating their blog. But we are actually neither of the above. Our host country just celebrated their historical New Year's! Our language school was closed for two days so we had a holiday. So you're thinking big deal you got to celebrate a second New Year's. Actually it was a big deal. You see this New Year's celebration was culturally eye-opening. Yes, it was a time for people to be off work, and visit friends and especially family, but it was a religious event for the majority of the people as well. We know because we saw what most of the people were doing during the holiday. They were at the temples worshipping in many different ways. You will see some of the ways they worshipped in the pictures below. The temples are Buddhist temples, and while strict Buddhism teaches each person must find there own way to enlightenment many people end up basically worshipping the buddha. Many of the people during this time will ask their parents or elders for forgiveness for the bad things they have done in the past year, and they receive a blessing from them. Even when they go to the temple, they are seeking forgiveness and hoping for a better year. Many I'm sure resolve to live better lives this next year, but on leaving the temple they have no assurance that the coming year will really be any better.