This Post Is For You. This Post Is For Everyone.
Yesterday’s post marked my friend Andrew’s 100th post. Congratulations to him, as I know I’d be proud of myself if it were me. As a country, China is very aware of the world (in contrast with our stark oblivion). So, naturally, they were thrilled (and aware of the fact) that the 100th post was going to happen (they were the ones who brought it to Andew’s attention – did you think he actually counted all those posts?). They proceeded to arrange for a celebration to commemorate the event (see his blog for further details), about which I will now post.
- China is no stranger to celebrations. In fact, the root words of “celebration” - “celeb,” meaning “brain” and “rat,” meaning “crazy,” are of Chinese origin.
- The words were first used together (to form a compound word) in about 532 B.C.
- The first recorded use of the word was by Chinese astronomer, Zuo Zhuan, when he discovered a nova.
- According to Chinese records, upon seeing the nova, Zuo Zhuan exclaimed, “Celebration!?”
- As with all cosmological discoveries, Zhuan wasn’t entirely certain if what he had observed was indeed a real thing or his brain playing tricks on him, after having looked through a telescope for approximately 3 days straight.
- Zhuan called one of his students over and, after observing the same thing, decided he liked the sound of the word (again, he was the first to have used them in that arrangement and by that, i mean together) and made it part of the vernacular.
- For, you see, in China at that time, everyone read reports. The general populace read scientific findings, they read astronomers’ reports, farmers’ reports on the agricultural state of their farmland, financial statements, nutrition facts - the people were informed.
- Thus, Zhuan knew that if he used that word in his claim of discovery regarding the nova, the people would read it, recognize that it was a new word and start using it themselves. He felt that it added a new dimension of feeling to the language.
- His plan worked.
- Cut to 2,540 years later where celebration is one of the most widely recognized words in the world. And with good reason! Who can argue against such an event?
- Anyway, since the word was begotten (I’m going to use this word despite the fact that it might not fit) in China, they obviously know how to do it up better than most other countries in the world. Why else would the 100th Olympics be held there?
- Okay, okay. I don’t want to make things up here. Why else would the 103rd Olympics games be held there? Right? Whatever.
- Add to that the fact that 85% of China is surrounded by water and you’re sure to see water shows incorporated into their celebrations.
- Case in point with the “100th Blog!” festivities that occurred this past week.
