MARCH 2022

 First some newsworthy items:

• New COVID-19 cases are shifting to the Orient.  Yesterday (new cases/million population):
• #1   South Korea  139,615 (2722)
• #2  Russia  106,920 (732)
• #3  Germany  95,396 (1136)
• #4  Vietnam  94,385  (955)
• #5  Turkey  64,275 (747)
• #6  Japan  63,703 (506)
• #7  USA  32,918 (99)
• California  5,231 (132)
• New York  1,999 (103)
• Idaho 2,526 (1403)
• Hawaii 142 (101)
• World  1,110,611 (141)
• Singapore  13,544 (2257)
• Bahrain  2577 (1431)...a small island country in the Persian Gulf
• Estonia  2278 (1752)
• Luxembourg  1274 (1990)
• French Polynesia (3986)
• Brunei  (9223)...a small country on Borneo in the South China Sea
• Gazing at those numbers, the USA has a new cases/million rate only 1% of Brunei.  Not only did we survive the pandemic, but if fully vaccinated and boosted, much safer than from the seasonal flu.  Further, this Omicron subvariant BA.2 is more contagious, but only kills those who are unvaccinated.

For a variety of reasons, March is one of my favorite months.  Spring brings better weather, University of Hawaii sports are rampant, the Major League Baseball season is soon to start (although perhaps not this year), although I already drafted a fantasy team, plus much more.  

The whole of March is National Umbrella Month.  You would think this should be April, but it turns out that June is the wettest month in the USA.

Today is Fat Tuesday (which is English for Mardi Gras), also known by the more religious as Shrove Tuesday.  

• Mardi Gras, the Carnival, lasts from four to eight weeks.  Starts on the 12th day after Christmas, which most say is January 6, and ends on Ash Wednesday, when Lent starts, which is always the day after Fat Tuesday, a day of feasting.  

• 
  The problem is that Lent, that 40-day period of sacrifice before Easter, drastically changes each year.  Usually in February, this day falls into March in some years, or, of course, tomorrow, March 2.  Ends this year on Thursday, April 14, which means that Easter Sunday will be on April 17.

• 
  Just when you think you have a  formula to predict Fat Tuesday, for it is again on March 1 in 2033, then March 1 in 2044...something else happens, for it is March 2 in 2055.
• Those Mardi Gras parades began in New Orleans on January 6, and there are eleven of them on today in and around the city.  But that is not the end, for Mandeville has one on March 5 and Covington on March 6.

• 
  Rio in Brazil has more elaborate and risqué parades, but these have been pushed to 20-30 April because of the pandemic.
• Other locations also celebrate Mardi Gras, including Venice (Italy), Sydney (Australia) and Nice (France).

How did Mardi Gras get started?

• The whole concept can be traced to medieval Europe, originating in Rome (Catholic), shifting to Venice, then the French House of the Bourbons in the 17th Century.  The King Cake served today in New Orleans originated then.
• From there, the revelry of Boeuf Gras, or fatted calf, was passed on to French colonies.

• 
  However, because of the Catholic religion, Carnival or Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro had early origins from the 1650s.  To worship Bacchus, the god of the grape-harvest.  It was not until 1723, though, that the first Carnival has held in Rio.  There is no historic connection to what was happening near New Orleans, except that they both are linked to enjoying life before Lent.

• 
  So back to the Mardi Gras, in March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sier de Bienville arrived in what would become Louisiana, 60 miles south of New Orleans, and knowing that it was Fat Tuesday in France--when Boef Gras transitioned into Mardi Gras--called it Pointe du Mardi Gras.  
• In 1702 Bienville established Fort Louis de la Louisiane, which later became Mobile, Alabama.  In 1703, this fort celebrated the very first Mardi Gras, so what is famous in New Orleans today actually originated in Mobile, for the first Mardi Gras in the Big Easy did not occur until 1718.

• 
  The Spanish rulers of this region and later, U.S. authorities, cracked down on these secret parties and masked balls, so the first actual street parade in New Orleans did not happen until 1837.  This was the beginning of various secret societies called Krewes, which are responsible for those floats and parades.  Separate Black and White Krewes formed, although masks allowed anonymity, so who knows what really happened in those early days.
• Wars, hurricanes and this pandemic have cancelled several Mardi Gras periods.

• 
  If you've been to a Mardi Gras parade, you might wonder how beads got into the act.  Virtually anything cheap is tossed out into the crowd, from hot dogs to stuffed animals to plastic cups.  
• In time fake strands of gems were added, which led to those beads.  

• 
  In 1872 Grand Duke Romanov Alexandrovich visiting New Orleans introduced the color combination of purple, green and gold, which became beads of this combination by the King of Rex, leading to what became the official colors of Louisiana:  purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.  
• LSU uses purple and gold, while Tulane is green and white.

I feel compelled here to introduce the history of doughnuts, and their relevance to Mardi Gras:

• Began in Europe with an attempt to use up all the butter, sugar and fat in the house into the serving of fried dough for Shrove Tuesday, which by now you know is the Christian day for what is also Fat Tuesday.
• And, incidentally, in parts of the world, Fat Tuesday is also called Paczki Day, which are puffy jelly-filled doughnuts.
• 
  In Portugal, they converted all those ingredients into Malasadas, a somewhat heavy "middle of the the donut" delicacy.  They brought them to Hawaii, and this has become a big deal here on this day.  It's impossible to buy one at Leonards, unless you want to stand in line in the hot sun or rain.  Zippys is also known for them, and today only, you can't buy individual pieces, you need to pre-order.

• 
  In Germany and parts of the U.S., they are called fastnachts.
• But BEIGNETS, pronounced benyayz, are the ultimate, a lighter, fluffier hole of the donut, covered with powdered sugar.  Of course, like in Hawaii, you can't go to Cafe du Monde today for them.  But anytime you're in that city, this is a worthy experience, with a special kind of coffee with chicory.  Or you can make them.  

Today, 15 Craigside provided malasadas, filled with either azuki beans or a coconut concoction.   I selected one with haupia (coconut pudding):

So already this morning, I just had to mix a Sazarec to enjoy with the giant malasadas microwaved with a sphere of butter, filled with haupia:

My Sazarec (there are a hundred variations, but the original began in France with brandy) blended Courvoisier Cognac, Green Chartreuse, Absinthe (what results when an ancient bottle topped with a cork fell apart, so I had to filter the remains into this Mickey's bottle), lime and no bitters.

• 
  Why Sazarec?  In New Orleans, Pat's Hurricane, Ramos' Gin Fizz and Sazerac are the top three on Fat Tuesday.  
• Fat Tuesday is not over.  For dinner, it will be Popeyes chicken, as it first opened in 1972 in New Orleans when I lived in Louisiana.

I might add that I walked around the lobby area and basement of 15 Craigside, and observed that everyone was exceptionally happy.  I actually asked someone, and she said it is the first of the month and Spring is here.  I also think the malasadas were catalytic.

Okay, what else in March?

• 
  March 3 is What If Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day.
• March 7 is Clean Monday.  Nothing environmental, for this is Ash Wednesday for the Western Church.
• March 8 is International Women's Day, having to do with women's rights.

• 
  March 9 is International Fanny Pack Day.
• Be aware of March 13, that early Sunday morning when you spring your clock forward, as Daylight Saving Time starts.  Also National Ear Muff Day.

• 
  The Ides of March occurs on March 15, the day Caesar was assassinated, and considered an ill-fated day.  Like for example, this is the day Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton, for the first time.

• 
  March 16 is National Panda Day.  
• There are fewer than 2000 pandas left, they live 15-20 years in the wild, but longer in captivity.  There were once only 268.
• Why so extinctive?  Females are fertile only 2-3 days in the year.  
• There are 27 zoos around the world with them.

• 
  Yup, Teddy Roosevelt and his brother in 1929 were the first foreigners to shoot pandas.
• Their machoism began a lot earlier, for they led a Smithsonian African Expedition in 1909-10 and collected 11,400 animal specimens.  The larger animals totaled 512, of which 43 were birds.  17 lions, 11 elephants, 11 black rhinos and 9 white rhinos WERE SHOT DEAD.
• Ironically enough, the teddy bear was named in his honor.
• Finally, finally, in 1940 his statue was removed from the Museum of Natural History, for, in addition to his kills, he reeked of colonialism and racism.

• 
  Ah, March 17 is always mine, St. Patrick's Day.  It is a national holiday in Ireland.  But why is this Day so popular worldwide?  One good reason is the Irish diaspora:  Ireland has the highest native-born population percentage living overseas of any country.  Spirits are prominent, and here are seven you can consider.  I generally have a couple of different Irish whiskies.  My recollection is that 15 Craigside never recognizes the significance, but hopefully this year they will serve corned beef and cabbage on March 17.

• March 18 at 3:30AM EDT:  the Worm Moon.  There was a Super Worm Moon last year.  Why such an odd name?  Something to do with earthworms and robins and spring.

• 
  Spring arrives on March 20 if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, Fall in the South. 
• There is something called The Spring Equinox:  4 oz gin, 2 oz green Chartreuse, 1 ounce lemon juice, and edible flowers for garnish.  I just finished my bottles of Chartreuse, so I'll need to find the green one today.  
• Canada has another version, using vodka, soda and cider, topped with a lime.
• Another popular one is Spring Equinox Kiwi Elderflower Smash, using botanical vodka, elderflower, kiwi lime a kiss of wine, dash of bitters and splash of soda.

• 
  Absolutely Incredible Kid Day on March 21, sponsored by Camp Fire, which almost merged with the Girl Scouts of America in 1911.  This day was started in 1997.  Adults write letters of love and support to the young people in their lives.  The  Camp Fire Alumni include Marian Anderson, Shirley Temple, Janis Joplin, Gladys Knight, Rita Moreno and Madonna.

• 
  March 23 is World Meteorological Day, established in 1961.  Linked to the United Nations.  They have a particularly long theme this  year--Early Warning and Early Action:  Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• March 26 is when the Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony will occur.
• March 31 is World Backup Day.  You figure that out.
• March 31 is the final day of the Dubai World Expo.  There are 200 pavilions, 200 more food venues and dozens of daily live performances.  These are the ten best.  Alas, my #1 must stop of 2020 was supposed to be this world's fair, but the pandemic ended that thought.

• The March birthstone is aquamarine.  Princess Diana had a 30-carat ring made after her divorce.  Surrounded by  small diamonds, it is now worn by Meghan Markle and is worth $87,000.  I just saw a copy on sale for $24, with free shipping.

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