This afternoon, kids performed traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols at the International Cottages in Balboa Park. They sang and played guitar in front of the House of Ukraine cottage.
I saw small wise men, an angel, a bright guiding star, and possibly Mary and Joseph on donkeys. When I asked about the riders, I learned animals from the stable where Jesus was born are often represented in traditional Ukrainian skits performed by kids wandering from door to door during the holiday season.
In this world where adult wars never seem to cease, let us remember the children. May there be Peace on Earth.
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Christmas Tree ornaments in the House of Mexico cottage.
Many of the International Cottages in Balboa Park are already getting ready for the holidays. And others cottages will soon be decorating. December Nights is less than two weeks away!
I poked my nose into most of the cottages today searching for Christmas and seasonal decorations. These photographs represent what I found.
Hand-crafted holiday gifts inside the House of Sweden cottage.Hand-painted Christmas ornaments available inside House of Italy’s cottage.Beautiful candles and greenery inside the House of Hungary cottage.The House of Scotland Pipe Band will be performing during December Nights.Santa and elves at work inside the House of Denmark cottage.A uniquely beautiful wreath inside the House of Ukraine’s cottage.Here comes Santa Claus inside the House of Finland’s cottage!
As I walked around, I noticed other parts of Balboa Park are getting ready!
The big poinsettia Christmas Tree that is coming to the San Diego History Center has its framework set up. Santa, his sled and reindeer are already taking to the sky between the Plaza de Panama and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. And the the religious nativity scenes have been set up in back of the pavilion. No Gingerbread House yet!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
I often look down at this old plaque in Balboa Park as I walk from the Spreckels Organ Pavilion into the International Cottages. It’s situated next to the walkway after you cross Pan American Road.
To me this little plaque is a mystery.
The name Peggy Angus is probably known by some who are knowledgeable about our city’s history. When I perform a Google search, I see she was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of San Diego. She’s mentioned in two different San Diego Kiwanis Tidings newsletters back in 1955.
The plaque celebrates Peggy’s birthday in 1983. Why was it placed in Balboa Park?
Please leave a comment if you know anything about the history. Other readers might be interested to learn more about Peggy Angus and her birthday plaque, too!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Day of the Dead displays are beginning to appear in San Diego. I observed an amazing example today at the International Cottages in Balboa Park.
Inside the House of Mexico cottage, a large Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, altar has been created. There are sugar skull decorations, and papel picado, and marigolds, and candles, and framed photos, and pan de muerto, and a variety of beautiful Catrina figures, large and small.
Día de los Muertos is a beloved Mexican holiday that remembers family members and ancestors who’ve passed. Their spirits return to mingle with the living.
In San Diego, it’s an early November tradition that many love.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Today’s lawn program at Balboa Park’s International Cottages was high energy!
The House of Germany began their annual cultural program with instrumental music and an adult and children’s choir. The two choirs ended their part of the program by singing Edelweiss together. As you might expect, many in the audience sang along.
The audience grew and grew, and by the time the German American Societies Children’s Dance Group came on stage to dance, many on the lawn were ready to join them!
Oh, and the authentic German bratwurst with sauerkraut (and lots of ketchup and mustard) was delicious!
The German Theater Group San Diego, a sub group of the German American Societies, is based in El Cajon. Check out their website here!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
The band u3zubmusic will be opening for legendary Ukrainian band SKRYABIN tomorrow, August 15, in Ocean Beach at Winstons Beach Club. What is the band u3zubmusic? A rockin’ group of musicians representing the House of Ukraine in Balboa Park!
I was walking near Balboa Park’s International Cottages this evening when I heard the band rehearsing out on the lawn. I listened for a bit and got some smiles for my camera.
If you want to hear music that is filled with Ukrainian spirit, you might check out the concert. Read more about it and purchase tickets here!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A big celebration of Panama and its culture was held today in San Diego. The House of Panama brought food, dance, folk costume and family fun to the International Cottages in Balboa Park!
Before the speeches and entertainment commenced, I visited the House of Panama cottage, then walked about the International Cottages lawn. Lots of people were lined up for traditional Panamanian treats like empanadas and arroz con pollo. There were also many flavors of piraguas.
At one table, author Tamika Burgess told me about her new novel, Sincerely Sicily. It’s about a young Black Latina who learns about her Panamanian heritage. Check out her book here.
Another table celebrated the relationship between San Diego and Panama City. The two are Sister Cities. A cool LEGO model demonstrated how the Panama Canal works!
What is Panama City’s connection to San Diego? San Diego is the first American port-of-call after ships pass into the Pacific Ocean and head north. Balboa Park during its 1915 Panama-California Exposition promoted this fortuitous geographical fact.
At another table a raffle was being held to support the House of Panama. If you want to offer your support, or simply are curious, visit their website here.
Then speeches . . . and dancing! Several cultural groups participated in the lively folkloric dancing. Performers came to San Diego from as far away as San Francisco and Los Angeles! Everyone watching applauded loudly. Smiles were in the dancers’ eyes.
Between dances there was a fashion show. We were shown different types of beautiful pollera dresses, and quickly could see why some of the elaborate polleras could cost several thousand dollars. So many different colors whirled on the stage!
As you can see from my photographs, the annual House of Panama lawn program in Balboa Park is an exceptionally festive and colorful event!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Independence Day was celebrated in San Diego today, a couple days before the Fourth of July! The House of USA of Balboa Park’s International Cottages hosted a special Sunday afternoon lawn program that featured speeches, dancing, food and fun!
After peering into the House of USA cottage for a moment, I checked out a patriotic display by the Sons of the American Revolution San Diego Chapter, then joined the gathered audience holding my camera at the ready.
The most powerful part of the program were speeches by various House of Pacific Relations International Cottages members. They explained how people from many nations–not just France and Spain–helped the United States in its historic battle for independence.
Incidentally, tomorrow, July 3, a special organ concert will be held at Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion. At 7:30 pm, renowned organist Robert York will be performing American classics, including music by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin! It’s part of the 35th Annual San Diego International Organ Festival. Bring the whole family! It’s free!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Sometimes I find myself taking the broad freedoms we enjoy in this country for granted. Then I hear harrowing stories told by those who lived under brutal dictators and authoritarians.
This afternoon a moving Memorial Day Commemoration was held in San Diego. It took place at the International Cottages in Balboa Park.
There was patriotic music performed by the San Diego City Guard Band. There were tributes to those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country. There was the reading of the famous In Flanders Fields poem, and the handing out of symbolic poppies.
There were guest speakers with powerful, painful memories of past wars fought. And there were many who were thankful to have come to our country, escaping from places where people have been denied freedom and human dignity.
I arrived at the Memorial Day Commemoration when it was about halfway through. I stayed a long while, listening.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
This year’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration is bringing dance, music, art and lots of cultural fun to the International Cottages! Until about 4 pm, that is. If you read this in time, you might go check it out!
Today’s event includes participants from the Houses of USA, Chamorros, China, India, Korea and Philippines.
Special festivals and lawn programs are held nearly every weekend at Balboa Park’s International Cottages. You’ve never been? You’re missing out! Here’s the webpage that lists all the upcoming events!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 