Marching Mocs

Never have I experienced anything so, if you’ll excuse the cliché, spine-tingling and awe-inspiring.

Easter in Spain. I’ve read about it, I’ve seen the photos, I’ve watched it on TV. And now I can say that I have been there. What an experience!

Firstly, I’m sure many people have read about Easter in Spain and may think that it’s something only those with a religious incline would appreciate. But this is simply not the case: yes it helps if you have a bit of background on the Easter story, but to simply appreciate the atmosphere, the sights and sounds, I really don’t think you have to be a church-goer.

If you are going to Spain for Easter, don’t expect to get much sleep. We were woken on several occasions by trumpet blast and thumping drums outside our hotel at 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am… the processions go on all through the night.

Be prepared to drop everything at the sound of the marching bands! Whilst enjoying breakfast in the hotel one morning, we heard the notorious beating drum and trumpet sound, and smelt the scent of incense wafting in through the open back door. Within seconds, the dining room was deserted; everyone had grabbed their cameras and made for the back door – including the hotel staff! I followed them, and was met with a head-on view of one of the processions. To see the march-past so close was thrilling, but to also witness the emotion of those watching, was very touching. Imagine these people who live and work here; they see these processions year in, year out. But still, they down tools at the faintest inkling of a passing procession, and still, they watch, with tears in their eyes, in awe, as the brethren carry the amazing Tronos, and the bands march past.

Before we went, I obtained a timetable from the Tourist Office website, so that I could see which Brethren were marching, where and when. This proved very useful.

We arrived in Jerez on the night of Maundy Thursday and were instantly thrown into an electric atmosphere. We followed the sound of the marching drums, not really knowing what to expect. And then there it was: the first Trono we had ever seen in real life: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It was dark, night time, and the Trono was lit with hundreds of candles. The candles cast shadows on the face of Our Lady, and as she drew closer, she seemed to look me straight in the eye. She was so beautiful and was dressed in a flowing, rich red and gold velvet gown. The first of many shivers prickled the back of my neck.

The morning of Good Friday was spent darting from street to street, and running along with other onlookers trying to ‘head off’ the processions to get a full frontal view. We saw three different brotherhoods that morning, each parading their own spectacularly ornate Trono. I read that the brotherhoods spend months preparing for the Easter processions; practicing their marches and polishing those amazing floats. You can see the evidence of this as soon as you lay eyes on them.

The Good Friday processions are followed by ‘penitents’ who wear the renowned pointed headdresses and flowing gowns.  Men, women and children were marching in these costumes, carrying large candles and heavy crosses. Some of them were barefoot.

The morning processions subsided around lunchtime and all fell quiet in Jerez, leaving us to visit some of the sights.

For a few hours you’d never believe what you had been in the midst of that morning. Until, that was, around 5pm, when that now familiar beating drum stimulated a distant band to strike up their notorious sound. We joined the hundreds of eager onlookers lining the streets just outside our hotel. Our excellent front line view gave us the opportunity to witness exactly what happens during the parades. The distinct and mesmerising sound of the band drew closer in a gradual crescendo and we saw, in the distance, the first of many Tronos approaching.

Just before it reached us, the parade came to a halt. The band stopped playing, and began ‘El Silencio’. Everyone was totally quiet, even the young children. The silence lasted for around three or four minutes and was incredibly moving. At this point, on two or three occasions over the weekend, we witnessed a member of the crowd breaking into a ‘saeta’. This is an impromptu solo mantra, in a crude Flamenco style, and is aimed at the pausing Trono. The passion of the singer was evident by their falling tears, their outstretched arms, hands curled with veins pronounced. They sang praise, continuing until they had their say. Heartfelt applause and tears from the crowd followed.

Then the procession was ready to move off again. One of the brethren would tap three times on the front of the Trono, on what looks like a door knocker.

Then one drum would start beating slowly, joined by another, then another, then all of a sudden, the Trono would be lifted with a mighty sigh and gasp from the crowd, who may even cry ‘guapa’ or ‘guapo’ depending on who the Trono depicts.  The band launches into one of its emotive numbers, and the march starts again.

Some of the Tronos are so amazing – if you are lucky to get a close up view then you won’t believe what you are seeing: filled with fresh and silk flowers, candles stood in highly polished gold and silver candelabras, all set on intricately carved wood. The statues on them are so life-like – they actually seem to be looking at you.

One of the most emotive sights we witnessed was when the brethren carrying the Tronos would make them ‘sway’ in time with the music from the following bands. This really has to be seen to understand, but I will try to explain: imagine this amazing, emotive and very loud music, the crowds in awe, shouting their appreciation for the passing procession, you indulge yourself in the rhythm of the music and actually start to move in time with it: then you see the Trono in the distance, moving towards you. You are totally in tune with the beat of the drum, and your eyes are fixed on the face of Our Lady, Our Lord or St John the Evangelist. Then you see them start to ‘walk’ towards you, one shoulder in front of the other, ‘swaying’ in time to the music. It is so real, you actually forget that these are statues and the atmosphere enhances this feeling. The swaying motion is met by applause and cheers from the crowd, as it is appreciated how difficult it must be for this effect to be achieved.

On Easter Sunday, we followed the entire procession from start to finish. We witnessed some amazing sights including exquisitely dressed women wearing white Mantillas held in place by intricate brooches, (on Friday they were wearing black Mantillas) and brethren carrying heavy gilded crosses. And the sight of sights: the amazing Trono of Christ of the Resurrection.

The procession lasted two hours and culminated at the Cathedral, where the achingly heavy float was carried, with utter eminence, up steps and slopes, to the entrance, where in a rapture of applause, it disappeared inside.

After some hours inside the Cathedral, every Trono that had been involved in the Semana Santa processions filed out around early evening, and we saw some of the best processions of the weekend. The feeling in the crowd was uplifted, the mood one of hope, happiness and joy, and even the incense smelt different.

This weekend was such an experience, truly heart-wrenching. Put this on your Traveller’s Wish List: Semana Santa in Spain!

Leading off the 121st annual Tournament of Roses Parade, the Farmers Insurance 60-foot tall marching band bugler turned heads all along Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard. Appropriately titled “A Salute to the Bands,” our float not only fit perfectly with our sponsorship of the parade bands, it also personified the parade’s theme: “A Cut Above the Rest.”

Not only was it among the tallest parade entries, it was one of the most colorful. Our giant bugler wore a vibrant band jacket made of whole red carnations with trim created with yellow strawflower and gold clover seed. In his hand was a glimmering brass bugle accented with clover seed, flax seed, silverleaf, ground lentil and blue statice. At his feet were eye-catching floral depictions of streamers and bright red roses. And cannons shot confetti from the base of the float to start the parade with a bang. He was accompanied by the 200-member Riverside Community College Marching Tigers (renamed the Farmers Insurance Group Band for the parade).

Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the parade route to watch America’s favorite New Year’s Day tradition, and millions more tuned in on TV. In fact, our bugler put Farmers’ name and brand in front of nearly 40 million Americans in 16.5 million households on ABC, NBC, Univision, Travel Channel and Discovery HD. The worldwide exposure was also phenomenal, as the parade was broadcast live in 150 countries and territories around the globe.

Undoubtedly the best seats in the house, right on the float itself, were given to some special Farmers VIPs: Agent of the Year Al Candos, Orland Park, Ill., and District Manager of the Year James Hawkins, Belmont, Calif. Also onboard, Farmers’ top 2009 fundraisers for the March of Dimes: agent Jimmy Gary, Arlington, Texas; district manager Dan Siegfried, Johnston, Iowa; senior auditor Cathy Guevara, Oklahoma City, Okla., and state executive director of Arizona, the top fundraising state, Frank Soldano.

Did you know?

Farmers’ first Rose Parade float, a drum-beating clown, rolled down Colorado Boulevard in 1959. We also participate in the Portland, Ore., Rose Parade and the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Tournament of Roses Rose Parade began as a modest line of flower-decorated horse-and-buggies in 1890.

The Farmers journey began in 1928, when two men who shared a dream of providing a quality insurance product at a reasonable price opened the doors to the Farmers Automobile Inter-Insurance Exchange in Los Angeles. In the eighty years that followed, we’ve grown and adapted to meet the changing needs of Americans – but one constant has remained. We have an unwavering commitment to upholding the ideals with which we began by providing industry-leading products and services to the customers we’re privileged to serve.

Today, Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is the country’s third-largest insurer of both private Personal Lines passenger automobile and homeowners insurance also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers operates primarily in 41 states across the country through the efforts of approximately 20,000 employees. Farmers exclusive and independent agents, along with Farmers employees, are responsible for servicing more than 15 million customers.

For more than eight decades, Farmers has been helping Americans get back where they belong after life’s unexpected events. Our story began with the simple goal of insuring the vehicles of rural farmers, but as the world changed, so did we. Our co-founder John C. Tyler once said, “The measure of our worth is not what we have done for ourselves, but what we have done for others.” Farmers agents, district managers and employees make up what we call the Farmers Family, and as a family we’re proud to give back to our communities.

Hail to the Chief is one of the most famliar patroitic marches. Learn the story behind the famous presidential song. The playing of the march typically signals that the President of the United States is about to arrive and is generally associated with the U.S. Marine Marching Band. The march is also played at the inauguration of U.S. Presidents.

The march was not originally composed for the President. It is often traced back to a poem by Sir Walter Scott’s “The Lady of the Lake” a poem first published in 1910. It was later performed in London and was adapted to James Sanderson’s “Hail To The Chief” melody.

Legend has it that Julia Tyler, wife of President John Tyler, first requested that “Hail to the Chief” be played to at official occasions. Sara Polk, wife of President Polk is credited with first using the march to announce the official arrival of the President From that point forward the tradition began.

Hail to the Chief was first played as part of an inauguration March 4, 1837 for the occasion of the inauguration of President Martin Van Buren and later as a more formal march to honor President James Polk at his inauguration in 1852.

In 1954 the U.S. Department of Defense announced that  “Hail to the Chief” would be the official music to announce the arrival of the President of the United States.

The U.S. Marine Band was formally established in 1798 by an Act of Congress. The Marine Band is the official organization that provides music for the President of the United States and is most closely associated with the song.

For a free copy of the lyrics and song visit loriferber.com

The song is not without its detractors. President Chester Arthur is said to have disliked the march so intensely that he requested that John Philip Sousa (who at the time was the conductor of the U.S. Marine Band) to compose a more dignified salute to the President called “Presidential Polonaise”.

Lori & Steve Ferber having been selling and collecting presidential memorabilia for over 35 years. They specialize in collectibles, souvenirs and memorabilia for all U.S. Presidents and operate a website at www.loriferber.com.

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In the military of the United States and other militaries, the Color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag (Army, Navy, or Air Force). In addition to the flag bearers, who are positioned in the center of the color guard, there are two individuals who carry rifles.

Colorguards can be found in most colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, and independent drum corps. Members of colorguard teams march along with their fellow marching band members. Today the guard uses choreography and equipment for added visual appeal during a marching band show.

There are several types of color guards. The two most popular are:

* Military color guards.
* Marching band color guards.

Being assigned to the Color guard is considered an honor due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country. Depending on the circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms. The Color guard is formed and marched in one rank at close interval (shoulder-to-shoulder). Since the National Colors must always be in the position of honor on the right, he Color guard must execute a special movement to reverse direction. It does not execute rear march, nor does it execute about face. Rather, it performs a maneuver derived from the standard countercolumn command, generally known as counter march or colors reverse march. Other drill movements performed by the Color guard include presenting arms, left and right wheel marches, eyes right (upon passing the reviewing stand during a parade), casing/uncasing the Colors, and fixing/unfixing bayonets (by the arms bearers).

The Color guard renders honors when the national anthem is played or sung, when passing in review during a parade, or in certain other circumstances. In these cases, the unit and departmental flags salute by dipping (leaning the flag forward). However, with the exception of a response to a naval salute, the United States national flag renders no salute.

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The sales team at phones24.co.uk has confirmed that the long awaited Nokia N95 with the latest web technology on the move will be on sale through their web site in the United Kingdom.

The Nokia N95 mobile phone is the latest addition to the popular Nseries range! The N95 will definitely be the cream of the crop, connecting you to your people and passions 10 times faster than 3G! If you live life on the move you won’t get lost as the N95 hosts a GPS system with maps for over 100 countries and 15 million places of interest.

The Nokia N95 epitomises quality with an amazing 5 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss Optics. In addition you can take advantage of the auto focus and flash to capture those magic moments no matter the time of day or night.

Nokia have provided a first class entertainment experience and the ultimate multimedia mobiles computer all in the palm of your hand.

The following are some of features and functions of the Nokia N95:

· Unique 2-way slide for fast transition from a powerful multimedia computer to a multimedia player

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· Download and stream multimedia with a music and a video player

· Take your tunes anywhere with the integrated MP3 player

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· Make use of Word, Excel and outlook on the go with Microsoft Windows Mobile

· PC synchronisation of your Microsoft documents for seamless work on the move