• Recent Events: Two More El Portal Performances

Happy Holidays to Jaguar!

• Tips & Tricks: Holiday Traditions Around The World

• About Us: What We Can Do for You

• Holiday Ideas: Caroling We Will Go!

• Featured Artists: Our Christmas Performers

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Two More El Portal Performances

Once again our resident harpist Carolyn Sykeswill be playing at the El Portal Restaurant in Pasadena. For the next two weeks, you can join us for lunch Fridays between 12 and 1:30pm to enjoy the delectable Yucatan/Mexican cuisine while listening to the exquisite music of the harp.

El Portal Restaurant
695 E. Green Street, Pasadena CA
626-795-8553
www.elportalrestaurant.com

Happy Holidays to Jaguar!

We are proud and happy to provide the music and entertainment this year for Jaguar's company party. Happy holidays and happy New Year to everyone at Rusnak Jaguar!

Holiday Traditions Around The World

Though we tend to focus a lot on our own celebrations, there are many holiday traditions celebrated at this time of year. Take a moment to explore below some of the traditions from other countries and faiths.

Christmas (Ireland - Christian)
St., Bridget's cross is traditionally hung on the doors and barns as protection. The tree is toped with St. Bridget's Cross. The Irish never adopted the tree as a symbol of Christmas preferring to display the nativity in its place. On Christmas Eve candles are lighted and placed in the windows and the front door is left unlatched, so that those seeking shelter on this holy night will not be turned away. The candles shine all night and should be blown out by those having the name of Mary. It is a symbol of welcome.

Hanukkah (Jewish)
Hanukkah is celebrated from the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (about the middle of December). The central item of the celebration is the Menorah. The Menorah is a nine-branched candlestick. It represents light, truth and liberty. The middle candle (Shammash) is also called the servant candle for it is with this candle, that the remaining eight candles (representing the eight days the lamp burned in the Temple) are lit. On the first night the first candle is lit and so on until on the eight nights all eight candles are a flame symbolizing the ancient miracle.

Diwali (Hindu and Sikh)
The day before Diwali is a school holiday, the children use this day to create the oil burning clay lamps (Dipa). The dipa is a little clay saucer, which holds mustard oil and a wick. The lamps are placed everywhere; ledges, balconies, rooftops and along garden paths, A house may contain as many as a thousand of these lamps. The children receive presents in celebration of Diwali. Not only do these lamps guide the souls of the dead they also guide Lakshimi to their houses so that she will come down on the wings of a heavenly swan to bring them prosperity for the coming year.

Kwanzaa (African-American)
An African-American holiday based upon ancient customs of Africa. Dr. Maulana Korenga created Kwanzaa in 1966. It is based upon harvest or first fruit harvest traditions found through out Africa. Dr Korenga sought to develop a celebration that would reaffirm African heritage and culture, introduce and reinforce the seven principles (Nguzo Sara), create a purely African-American holiday, serve as a communal celebration that reaffirms and reinforces the bonds between African-Americans, and serve as an act of cultural self-determination as an African people.

Eid-ul-Fitr (Muslim)
After the Ramadan fast, there is a three-day festival called Eid-ul-Fitr. On the first morning of Eid-ul-Fitr, families begin their day at the mosques (Masjid). They greet everyone saying "Eid Mubarak" (Happiness to everyone). After returning from the mosque, the families gather for their first midday meal in a month. The meal includes lamb, goat, spicy vegetables and thin noodles cooked with milk, sugar and coconut (Saiwiyan). For dessert there is candy made of ground nuts, honey sesame seeds and grated cheese.

Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the new moon of the first term of the twenty four terms or cycles. Today the Chinese hang red lanterns and set off firecrackers to keep the trouble from coming back. It is a time when the Chinese people give thanks for the past year and wish each other good fortune in the coming year. Even though the climax of the New Year lasts only three days, the New Year season extends from the mid twelfth month of the previous year to the middle of the first month of the new year.

What We Can Do for You

Music for Events owner Carolyn Sykes began her journey in the music industry as a harpist, performing in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States. She came to Los Angeles where she was highly successful in establishing her own private teaching and performing studio Pacific Harps, teaching, supplying harps and performing in orchestras, on concert stages and for special events, both locally and abroad. Carolyn still performs at events, solo as well as with other instruments such as flute, bass, violin and string ensembles and vocalists, but has most recently decided to take her expertise in performing and her expansive knowledge of music and musicians to a higher level, launching Music for Events.
Music for Events is unique in that it is a boutique-style agency that works with our clients every step of the way to ensure that their event fits their vision. We have over a hundred hand-picked musicians and vendors in our roster, and specialize in providing excellent musicians of every genre, as well as other services such as event planning, photography, floral, and much more. With over 30 years in the event industry, our goal is our client's peace of mind. We make the process of choosing your music and planning your event easy so you can focus on what matters most - your occasion.

Visit our website at www.music-for-events.com to see videos of our artists, browse our music and schedule a consultation!

Caroling We Will Go!

Christmas carolers are a great way to bring holiday cheer to any party! Not only is the music they provide beautiful and fun as well as traditional, but carolers are always dressed for the occasion in vibrant and cheerful traditional holiday attire, and the performances they give are more intimate with more interaction with their audience. Also, don't forget that these performers are mobile, so you get music in every room!

Artist ID 70739: Good Time Carols

Comprised of seasoned vocalists from Broadway, film, television and the Disneyland resorts, Good Time Carols is one of the most sought-after caroling groups in the Los Angeles, Phoenix and New York City areas. Their costumes, designed and constructed by artists in the film, television and fashion industries, spare no attention to detail in stunning Dickens’ style, and their showmanship and dedication ensure a classic Christmas caroling experience that will be remembered for years to come. Good Time Carols’ repertoire has over 80 song titles from traditional to heartwarming, upbeat, and stylized jazz arrangements, and special requests are always encouraged.

Artist ID 70746: William Weitler

Virtuoso William Weitler is one of only a handful of glass armonica players worldwide. Invented in 1761 by Benjamin Franklin, the mesmerizing sound of this instrument was a favorite of royals such as the Princess of Czechoslovakia and Marie Antoinette until it disappeared in the mid 1800s. Through the efforts of William and others, the glass armonica is being slowly rediscovered in venues across the world where he has been commissioned to compose and perform music, such as the Seattle Philharmonic and the Akron Symphony, on the soundtracks of numerous films alongside actors such as Michael Douglas, Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson, and in venues across the country from the Getty Research Institute and Franklin Institute to Warner Brothers Studios and the California State Capitol. William’s instrument is custom built and was a year in the making, containing 44 glass bowls mounted on a hand crafted stand of cherry and oak. The sound of the glass armonica is both mysterious and soothing, and from Tchaikovsky to Rachmaninov and Bach, William’s repertoire includes a vast range of classical music as well as original compositions to create the atmosphere you desire.

www.music-for-events.com

@ Copyright Pacific Harps

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