Syarikat Produksi Filem Dulu-Dulu

Beberapa bulan ni, aku suka tengok cerita Melayu lama. Kaler hitam putih. Lagi lama lagi best sebab karakter orang zaman dulu, cara hidup dulu-dulu, rekaan produk dan selera fesyen diterjemahkan dalam filem. Kata orang, filem ni sebenarnya paparan budaya. Korang boleh compare transisi perubahan pemikiran masyarakat Melayu, umumnya, melalui pembikinan filem. Kalau orang dulu suka buat filem legenda, nasihat dan kehidupan. Sekarang ni lebih pasal cinta, samseng, rempit dan genre seram. Tapi jujur aku cakap, filem seram tempatan tak seram sangat.

Sebenarnya, entri kali ni bukan pasal filem tapi syarikat produksi filem yang bertanggungjawab menghasilkan filem-filem tersebut. Minggu lepas aku tengok Saloma Biopic, nostalgia zaman dulu sangat terasa. Props yang digunakan sangat klasik dan menepati zaman. Itulah yang dikatakan 'paparan budaya'. Jadi aku nak ambil kesempatan untuk kata: Kudos to Kus Semangat Aktor by Melissa Saila and husband. Aku suka penceritaan macam ni.

Okey, ini senarai pendek syarikat produksi filem dulu-dulu. Kalau terkurang, tertinggal...sila tinggalkan info kat kotak komen. Sekian.

Shaw Brothers (Malay Film Production)

Shaw Brothers, dimiliki oleh 3 bersaudara (Runje, Runde dan Runme) menubuhkan syarikat produksi yang berpangkalan di Shanghai, China pada 1925. Pada 1958, mereka membuka syarikat produksi di Hong Kong. Industri filem Melayu di bawah urusan Shaw bermula pada 1937 iaitu di Singapura. Pada 1947 mereka dengan menubuhkan Malay Film Production (MFP) manakala ibu pejabat Shaw terletak di Kuching. Perpindahan Run Run Shaw ke Singapura seawal tahun 1928 juga membantu mengembangkan industri filem Melayu sehinggalah era pendudukan Jepun sekitar 40an. Menjelang 50an, ia kembali rancak dan didominasi barisan pelakon terkenal Melayu seperti P. Ramlee, Nordin Ahmad, S.Roomai Noor, Siput Sarawak dan lain-lain. Pada 1967, Shaw memutuskan untuk kembali semula ke Hong Kong dan menutup syarikat produksi di Singapura. Pada masa itu Singapura sudah berpisah dari gagasan Malaysia. Shaw Brothers kembali semula ke Hong Kong dan beralih ke industri drama TV iaitu melalui subsidiari TVB.

Cathay Productions dan Keris Film Organisation

Cathay Productions ditubuhkan oleh Loke Wan Tho dan ibunya, Loke Cheng Kim di Kuala Lumpur pada 1936, mengembangkan industri filem Melayu pada masa itu. Cathay Productions mendirikan panggung wayang pertama di Kuala Lumpur dan mempunyai 1200 tempat duduk serta memiliki panggung wayang berhawa dingin pertama. Pada 1939, bangunan Cathay dibina di Singapura. Pada 1953, Cathay Production bergabung dengan Keris Film Organisation dan menjadi Cathay-Keris, memberi saingan dengan MFP. Pada 1950an, Loke Wan Tho membuka pasaran di Hong Kong. Pada 1980, Cathay berdepan dengan perubahan ekonomi dan Cathay memutuskan untuk menjalankan perniagaan panggung dan menutup filem produksi.

Studio Merdeka

Pada 1961, Studio Merdeka memulakan operasi di Jalan Hulu Klang, Selangor dan dimiliki oleh peniaga tempatan iaitu H.M Shah dan rakan kongsi, Ho Ah Loke. Studio Merdeka merupakan syarikat produksi filem terbesar di Tanah Melayu pada masa itu. Barisan pelakon di Singapura berpindah ke Studio Merdeka dan menjadi salah satu punca penutupan MFP pada pertengahan 60an. Studio Merdeka menampilkan barisan pelakon Melayu seperti Mustapha Maarof, Abdullah Chik, Salmah Ahmad dan lain-lain. Pada 1966, Shaw Brothers telah mengambilalih Studio Merdeka. Pada 1985, Perbadanan Filem Nasional Malaysia (Finas) membeli Studio Merdeka dengan nilai RM1.4 juta dan menjadi pejabat perbadanan tersebut. Nama Studio Merdeka dikekalkan.

@themagi2014
ruj: Bernama/Status Quo Industri Filem Malaysia| Wikipedia/Shaw Brothers| Wikipedia/Cathay-Keris Productions| Wikipedia/Cathay Organisation|
 *updating

The Legend of Chinese New Year

The Legend of Nian

Long time ago, there was a mythical beast called Nian lived and hiding inside the cave. Every year, Nian will go out from its cave and hunting for food. So, on the first day of Chinese New Year, the villager begin their festival by fighting against the monster. Nian the monster would eat everything such as the livestock, crops, and even children and villagers. In order to protect themselves, they decided to prepare foods in front of the door so Nian would not attack more people. 

Until one day, there was a girl wearing a red cloth for the first day of Chinese New Year and scared away the monster. The villagers finally understood that Nian is afraid the colour of red. Since then, they decided to wear all red, preparing red lantern,red spring scrolls, making noise inside the house and using firecrackers to frighten the monster. From then on, Nian never come to the village anymore and finally been captured by Taoist monk. 

Later on, they repeated the custom from next generation to the next generation, congratulated each other and had a big celebration.

Angpao; The Red Package

After the great influence of red in celebrating the new year, the culture of red item become common among Chinese people. Red is associated with Lunar holiday, also for wedding ceremony and other Chinese festivals. As they realized red means luck and fortune, even the village has safe from the monster attack, they decided to thread coins with red string. Later on, the red string replaced by a red package as they believed to protect the elderly from evil spirits, sickness and death while for children is to memorialize the increase of age and year commutation . Angpao, Hongbao or Ya Sui; what ever the name it is, it become the 'money of warding off evil spirits.'

The Meaning of New Year Food

Chinese New Year is a great celebration against Nian the monster. To make it joyful and meaningful, Chinese people relate foods with luck, fortune, prosperity and wealth. Spring rolls symbolize wealth because it looks like a gold bars while clams are similar like bouillon. Pomelo in Chinese sounds like 'to have' and tangerine or orange been given to guests because those fruits sounds like wealth and luck, respectively. Fish, or 'yu' in Mandarin sounds like abundance and wish as sticky rice cake symbolize the rich abundance for the coming year.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL


Ref-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
http://www.qingdaochinaguide.com/news/culture/chinese-new-year-nian-legend.html
http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese-new-year-legend.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_envelope
http://tmcatalyst.wordpress.com/blog/prima/the-history-of-angpao/
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/a/symbolicnewyear.htm
http://chineseculture.about.com/od/chinesefestivals/a/Countdown-To-Chinese-New-Year.htm

The White and Dark of Valentine

February is the Valentine's month, and Valentine's Day is around the corner. As you can see roses and chocolates are everywhere in every shop, people around the world believe that this is the best day to show their love to the most beloved one. Inside the common custom of giving sweet things, a bouquet of flower, gifts and a special dinner, there are more to know about the Valentine's day.

The Saint Valentine's Day

14th February is the day to celebrate love and affection. The celebration was begin by one or more Christian saints called Valentinus. The most well-known martyrology story is Saint Valentine was been imprisoned by the reason of performing the wedding for the soldier who were forbidden to marry. While waiting for the punishment, it was said that he is helping his jailor's blind daughter. Right after she healed, his punishment is around the corner and before his execution he wrote "for your Valentine" as a farewell to her (as the legend said). 

For Anglican Communion, Valentine's Day is the official feast day, as well as Lutheran Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. However, Eastern Orthodox celebrated it on July 6th and July 30th as the former date in honour of the Roman Presbyter Saint Valentine and the latter date in honour of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna.

Behind the culture of Valentine

"The rose is red, the violet's blue,

The honey's sweet, and so are you.

Thou art my love and I am thine;

I drew thee to my Valentine:

The lot was cast and then I drew,

And Fortune said it shou'd be you."

[Gammer Gurton's Garland-1784]

The 14th February suggests the sentimental value of love, often being described with the symbol of heart shape, doves and cupids. It produced the high-selling of greeting cards, wrapping papers, chocolate industries and flower mass-produced.

However, it is not exactly known that why 14th February become the Valentine's Day and it is almost impossible to obtain the real sources from any archives. It becomes more to legend than the fact. The modern Valentine's Day celebrations are said that it was been derived from the ancient culture of pre-Christians and Roman traditions. There were three men associated with the name 'Valentine' but the scholar believed that he was a priest who disfavour by Roman Emperor and lived around 250 AD in Rome. He was sentence to death by performing wedding and the sacrament of matrimony for young lovers in secret. So, the real Valentine's Day was existed in bad time; it was the era of lack of quality administrator, education declined, taxation increased and trade witnessed in pressure time. It was the counting black days of Roman Empire.

The Black Valentine turned white

Valentine's Day was existed from the story of hardship in marriage and love; the situation where matrimony is not allowed and all men were reserved for war as marriage is sealed to be the forbidden thing for them. Valentine's Day was more of remembering the terrible day of poor living in Roman Empire and so it was considered as the dark day of love until Geoffrey Chaucer linked the day with romantic love.

"For this was for Saint Valentine, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."

It was firstly recorded in Parlement of Foules (1382) and the poem was written in honour to the first anniversary of engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemina (Both of them were 15 years old when they getting married 8 months later). Since then, the tradition of 'Chaucer's love bird' had spread as there were no such kind of tradition before Chaucer. 

But actually, there were more poem about bird-mating in Saint Valentine's day in the same year; Otton de Grandson from Savoy, John Gower from England and a knight from Valencia. However, due to the difficulty of dating the medieval work, no one sure who is the first one released the idea of 'love bird' and turned the Valentine into 'white'.

The Roman tradition in Valentine

It was believed that there were part of Roman tradition in Valentine even some of people argued about it. According to World Book Encyclopedia (Valentine's Day: Vol.19, 1966, pp.205-206) states that the custom of Valentine's culture had no relation with the saints. It was the Lupercalia tradition who took in every February 15th in honoured for Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, as well for Pan, the god of nature. After the spread of Christianity, Pope Gelasius adopted the tradition into the Christian festivals (similar like Halloween celebration) and gives Christian meaning to pagan festival. Most of historians are disagreed about the identity of Saint Valentine. Cupid, the god of love was supposed from the pagan beliefs and all kind of various pagan gods (Eros, Juno Februata, Kama or Priapus) now replaced with the image of Christianity. 

The Saint Valentine's Feast day was derived from the tradition of the Feast of Lubercus. The Roman people were believed that the God Lubercus is helping them watching all shepherds and their flocks.

There were some crazy practices that happened in Lupercalia festival such as:

- It was the day men whipped the women and sacrificed dog and goat.

- It was the day for them to get naked and women got hit by men as they believe that   

  would make them fertile.

- It was the day for them to matchmaking the mate by drew the woman's name from a jar. 

  The couple would date during the festival or longer, if the match was right.

- It was the day for them to get lust, drunken and having a lover.

Valentine Nowadays

Today, Valentine's day is the day for young people enjoying their love and relationship with the theory of Christian's thought on love and ways to show the affection to their Valentine. This celebration had been civilized but it was essentially built upon lust of the eyes and not a true Christian holiday (Apostle John).

Valentine's day is the day for Christian people to show affection and according to Christian  Today (2009), it is believed that how God reminded nine singles of his love for them on Valentine. But according to COGwriter, this statement is more to dating service and viewed God as a Valentine.

As the Valentine's day is derived from Juno's festival and Juno is the Queen of Heaven (or Hera in Greek), it is also the holiday for the Queen of Heaven. But there is the statement from Jeremiah 7:18-20, NKJV:

"...the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?" says the LORD. "Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?" 

So, this is it; the white and dark of Valentine.

p/s: I don't celebrate Valentine. I love everyone who loves me-every day and every night, alive or dead. 

For more information

http://www.cogwriter.com/valentine.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

#tmg2013

Numbers and Symbolics

Numbers, the collection of digits. The independent item for pure mathematics and beyond the abstract idealization of continuous variables. In many traditions, they were linked with cosmic principles, governing the movement of the moon, the theory of algebra and geometry, and now, the computer. Pythagoras (c569-475 bc), the mathematician in ancient Greece is quoted as saying:

"Number rule all things."

That's the best way to describe numerology is one of the oldest sciences of symbols.

ONE

Number one (1) represents the beginning, the symbol of creation. It is depicted as the staff, the standing stone or the erect phallus. Its is the number of God for the monotheistic religion. According to Carl Jung, the famous psychologists, one represents the unifying symbol. The Native American believed that one represents Grandfather Sun and fire, which means the sparks of life. Number one refers the importance as an individual and it represents the male principle according to Pythagorean theory.

TWO

Taoist, the Chinese teaching believed that the number two (2) represents the universe where the universe is made up of polarity, expressing the theory of Yin and Yang, the pairs, duality, separating the creator and creation, man and woman, dark and light. Two become the influence in many culture and regard as sets of two as the Native American believed that two represents Grandmother Earth, the body and death. Pythagorean theory said that two represents the female principle.Two also represents the symbol of twins, the double forces, and the warring spirits.

THREE

The number three (3) consist the aspect of creation; birth, life and death; past, present and future; mind, body and soul. For Chinese, three represents the perfect number to express the wholeness and fulfillment; Heaven, Earth and Humanity. In Pythagorean theory, three is the harmony number; the union of unity (ONE) and diversity (TWO). In Islam, three means the soul and three is the earth.

FOUR

The number four (4) is related to the cardinal directions, the four seasons, the elements and the phases of moon. In Islam, it represents the matter while in Christianity, four represents to the Four Evangelists. Four is depicted as the square symbol, suggesting the idea of stability and solidity. In Hindu, the number four is divine for the Four Hindu Vedas as the Japanese is believed the number four or shi sounds like death so four is a death number. In Pythagorean theory, it represents perfection.

FIVE

According to Pythagorean theory, humanity is related to the number five (5); the human body with its four limbs and head. In Native American, five denotes the human as a sacred being, bridging the gap between earth and sky. The Chinese believed that five consist two (yin) and three (yang), the harmonic union. In India, five represents fire, earth, water, air and ether. For Muslims, five represents the pray, and the five pillars of Islam.

SIX

In China, the number six (6) means the celestial power and longevity. It signifies the harmony and balance is linked with the universal human with the shape of hexagon or six pointed star, which becomes the emblem of Judaism. In Pythagorean theory, six means justice while six is the basic teaching in Buddhism; the six realms of existence. In Christianity, six related to sin in New Testament Book of Revelation and 666 becomes the number of beast of the Apocalypse. The 24 hours also related with the number six (2+4=6).

SEVEN

The number seven (7) has widespread significance in magic and divine mystery. There are seven planets in antiquity (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), seven days in a week, seven colours of rainbow, seven main chakras in human body, and seven branches to the shaman cosmic tree. In ancient Egypt, there were seven gods of light and darkness, as seven is the symbol of eternal life. In Judaism, the New Year begins in the seventh month of Jewish calendar. For Muslims, they believed in seven stages of heaven, seven hells, and seven levels of earth. In Christianity, seven is the number of  heavenly virtues as well as the deadly sins. Seven associates with seven holes in human's head; nose, mouth, eyes and ears.

EIGHT

Eight (8) is the number of cosmic balance. The Taoists teaching believed in number eight; the Eight Immortals, and the Eight Precious Things. In Hindu, god Vishnu has eight arms to correspond to the eight guardians of the space. In Buddhism, eight represents the dharmachakra, the eight spoked wheel of life and the eight petals of the lotus. For Chinese, eight means lucky.

NINE

The number nine (9) represents the triple power of three. It associates with the pregnancy stages, the number of gestation and the fulfillment of creation. In China, nine is highly auspicious because it is the number of celestial spheres. For Aztecs, nine represents nine-storey temple echoed the nine heavens. In Native American, nine signifies the moon, change and movement. For Muslims, nine represents the ninth month of holy Ramadhan in Hijr calendar.

TEN

Ten (10) means the divine power in Pythagorean theory. It is the number of Ten Commandments in the Bible. The Native American called it as the intellect. 

Additional info:

ELEVEN

Eleven (11) means the repetitive. It represents the qualities of human; sensitivity, honesty, patience, spiritual, intuition and idealistic. It also represents sin; transgression and peril. When the number is broken down, it becomes 1 and 1, the symbol of twins, the pillars and duality. It is related to the energy of opposition and the balancing. In England, the 12 almond paste is on top of Easter cake but one is excluded because it represents Judas Iscariot so eleven becomes the main number. Eleven is the only number who can understand whether is written up or down and some said that watching 11: 11 on the clock spontaneously means someone is remembering you.

TWELVE

In Christian symbolism, twelve (12) is the number of universal fulfillment, 12 disciples of Christ and the Tribe of Israel, one of it was Judah. It is related with the space time continuum; the zodiac, the months of the year -the solar year). Twelve means the complete of the cycle and it becomes the important number for the Israelites; the twelve stones in Genesis, the twelve portions in Exodus, and twelve part in the land of Israel. Twelve associates with time; 12 hours for day and night.

THIRTEEN

Thirteen is always considered as unlucky in the West. The superstitious belief said that 13 derived from the Last Supper theory (Christ and his 12 disciples-including the betrayer, Judas Iscariot). The Kabbalah lists 13 evils in the teaching and the Westerners believed the Friday 13th is the the most unlucky night. However, Islam did not consider this number as unlucky and the ancient Greece believed that 13 represents their god, Zeus, the 13th deity and important number in Mexican astronomy, calendars and theology. In Native American, 13 represents the Goddess.

_________________________________________-

Ref:

http://www.wolframscience.com/reference/notes/901d

http://www.greatdreams.com/eleven/num11.htm

http://www.betemunah.org/twelve.html

The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to DSS (Hermes House:2007)

#TMG2013

The Tales of New Year

Before, the beginning of the year was celebrated in March. The beginning of the spring, the end of winter and the new day for resolution. It is the oldest tradition, it was happened in ancient Babylon as far as 4000 years ago, celebrated in some manner and now falls on 1st January. According to Roman calendar, 1st January designed by Julius Caesar to make sure the days were back in touch with the changes that the sun went through. However, even the days were out of sync with the sun, the date remained as the day of New Year in Roman calendar, until now.

Alarm chrono: "That's me, yea"

New Year is associated with happiness, the beginning, new wishes and readiness to get through the whole year. Some cultures believed that the old year symbolized the 'Father' and the new year is the  'Baby'. The ancient Roman is used to personify the 'Father' as Cronos, father of Zeus--the origin of alarm chrono,  if you know what I mean >>>

In every New Year, the new resolution of the undone matters is become of the tradition all over the world, which can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians. Now, instead of making resolution, new year parties become more important across America and believed that kissing in the midnight gives them more love, warmth and affection for a whole year. It is said that if they failed to do it, the relationship will be cold and dark for 365 or 366 days. Actually, there's more...

Before begin the new year, the lore said that:

1. You must paid the bills and unsettled debts. It is time to bury the forgone and begin fresh. How about house or car payment? I guess a lot of people withered for many years.
2. Begin afresh with brand new clothes- to give a positive mind and charms to begin the first day of New Year. Well, everyone like the smell of new clothes.
3. Make loud noises, to chase the evil spirit so they won't harm you. So that's why Americans loved new year parties.
4. Don't break anything, including your bones. That's the omen, a bad sign for you to get through the year. 
5. The first visitor must be a great person. It is said that the influence, luck and chances of the person indicates what kind of year will you have. So, say 'no' to beggars?
6. Have babies in 1st January. It is said that new babies in New Year gives luck and prosperity on their side. I guess new parents should work hard 9 months earlier before the 1st January.
7. Don't pay debts on 1st January. It is believed that once you let your money out on 1st January, your money will flow non-stop for a full year. So my advice, pay debts on second day ~
8. Return everything that you had borrowed from anyone. Or else, trouble will follow you--which means, 'they' will follow you.
9. In various South American, wearing a yellow underwear means good luck while Mexican girls have to wear red underwear in order to seek true love. Oh my, colours are really important there.
10. The Spanish rituals said that eating twelve grapes brought them twelve months of happiness. No grapes in the fridge, how about durian?

And, the other facts of New Year said that:

1. January name came from Janus, the two-face god of Roman. Janus means door.
2. January is the coldest month and day of the year.
3. Christianity said that New Year is the incarnation of Jesus (in March 25).
4. Pope Gregory XIII (1582) made plans to converted Jews to Christian and forced them to believed 1st January is the New Year's day. It becomes the day of torture and death for Jews.
5. Some culture believed that the New Year should begin in April.
6. 1st January took a very long time to accept by many countries as the universal day of New Year. Thailand was the last one in the list--adopting the date in 1941.
7. April Fool (1st April) was used to be the date of New Year. This prank day was born when some people refused to accept 1st January as the new date.
8. Spring fever was the main cause why new Year was being celebrated in April.
9. 1st January was revived as New Year in 1582 by the Gregorian calendar and celebrated by the most of the countries.
10. Aud Lang Syne which means 'the old days' composed by Robert Burns is the midnight toast of New Year.
11. The old Saxon believed that those who born on 2nd January is unfortunate, they could expect to die in unpleasant death. Scary?

So, New Year is getting near. What's your resolution?

References:
http://weirdfacts.com/weird-fact/holiday-facts/3192-new-year-facts.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21990.asp
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/new-year/superstitions.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year
http://projectbritain.com/year/january.htm

Food For Thought: The End Of The World

Nostradamus had predicted that the world will meet the end, soon enough for the mankind to collapse and lose the civilization. The Mayan said that this year will be the tick-tock for the apocalypse. 20 or 21-12-2012 will be the deadliest date. As the Hollywood is busy making movies of their own imagination of destruction, History and Discovery Channel is arguing about how it will be? When it happens? What the effects? Where it begins? And for sure, where is Jesus, the Devil, the archangel and God? 

For now, the clever men said that the causes of the doomsday are by war, natural disaster, diseases, economy failure or extraterrestrial forces. But first, let us think the definition of the  doomsday according to two holy-books:

According to Bible- Matthew 24:4-14, 

• Jesus said watch out for doomsday deceivers [4], 
• many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming 'I am Christ, the Messiah' [5], 
• when reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end [6], 
• nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in end [7], 
• this is nothing compared to what is coming [8], 
• they are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name [9], 
• and then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other [10],
• in the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people [11], 
• for many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in- nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes [12], 
• staying with it-that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll saved [13], 
• all during this time, the good news- the message of the kingdom- will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come [14]

According to Al Quran- Surah Al Qiyamah,

• He questions: "when is the day of resurrection?" At length, when the sight is dazed and the moon is buried in darkness, and the sun and moon are joined together that day will man say; "where is the refuge?" [75.6-10]
• In that is a sign for those who fear the penalty of the hereafter; that is a day for which mankind will be gathered together: that will be a day of testimony. Nor shall we delay it but a term appointed [11.102-7]
• we will show them our signs in all the regions of the earth and in their own souls until they clearly see that this is the truth [41.53]
• And Isa (Jesus) shall be a sign (for the coming of) the hour (of judgement: therefore have no doubt about the hour), but follow ye me: this is a straight way [43.61]
• Verify in this is a message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth)...and listen for the day when the caller will call out from a place quite near. The day when they will hear a (mighty) blast in truth: that will be the day of Resurrection [50.37-42]
• And on the day when the Hour riseth the guilty will vow that they did tarry, but an hour- thus were they ever deceived. But those to whom knowledge and faith are given will say: "the truth is, ye have tarried, by Allah's decree, until the day of resurrection. This is the day of Resurrection, but ye used not to know" [30.55-57]

The end of the world is obviously will be happened, both religions had confirmed that the final day will be come in a matter of time. However, this final day is not a day for us to easily predict and expecting that we can survive by preparing foods, underground bunkers, weapons and hiding golds. It is all about your faith to God. And God has given the sign to warn us, to remind us that the promise of the last day is real. This whole universe and our world will be off in service when the exact time is come. The end of the day is far more frightening.

Fruits: The Symbolic Conceptualization

Recently, the book- The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to DSS attracted me with the section 'Flora and Fauna' under the fruit subject..overall, it's all about symbolic conceptualization that been used by human since prehistoric days. I bought this book 3 years ago, which was not very expensive (in Ringgit: 39.90) and until now, I'm still flipping the pages- hopefully I can make an end of reading someday. So, I want to shared with you the symbolic conceptualization of fruits- which appeals directly and powerfully to senses.

(Hermes House; 2007; 188-189)

Apple is identified as the 'fruit of knowledge', whether of good and evil, or of life, wisdom and immortality as in the golden apples of the Hesperides. 

The Celts: The apple tree is the 'otherworld' tree, the doorway to the fairy world (King Arthur took refuge on the legendary Isle of Avalon, the apple orchard).

China: apple blossom symbolized feminine beauty and the tree means peace.

New York: In early 19th century, Johnny Appleseed pursued his dream of blossoming apple trees where no one went hungry throughout America so the great metropolis New York city now known as the  'Big Apple'.

* Japan: In Death Note, apple is the dead's god  favorite fruit.

* South Korea: In G-Dragon's Heartbreaker MV, apples were the symbol of heartbreaking, the evil woman who left him.

*America: Steve Jobb used 'apple' as a symbol of his product, which obviously a success in marketing promotion and holding the symbol of intelligence identity.

Peaches originated from China, it were considered as the holy tree of life, producing the elixir of immortality.

Taoists: Peach blossoms associated with virginity, and 'tao' is the Chinese word for 'peach'.

Early Europe: The peach was called as 'the fruit of Venus' and was sacred to Hymen, Roman god of marriage.

Christianity: a peach in the hand of the infant symbolizes salvation.

* Modern America: 'peachy' or 'peaches' sometimes been used to describe the great satisfaction or wonderful feeling toward something.

A cherry colour in the lips of a Chinese woman is considered as a quality of great beauty and eating cherries become the phrase of sexual intercourse.

Western: The cherry is associated with Hymen, and the losing cherries become the phrase of losing the virginity.

Japan: Cherry blossom is the national flower for Japanese and samurai, paralleling to the Samurai's willingness to face death in his prime.

Dates originated near the Persian Gulf, grown prolifically in Iraq.

Egyptian: The fruit was the fertility symbol, the date palm is referred to as the king of oasis by the Arabs.

Islam: Dates were the favorite fruit of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.

Plums in the Far East is common symbol of the spring, also the end of winter. It blossoms as the threshold between two seasons: representing the renewal and youthfulness. 

Japanese and Christianity: Both religions used plums as part of the tradition, to symbolized the fidelity.

The orange tree's Latin name, Fructus Aurantia refers to the golden colour of the orange.

Spanish: the orange fruit 'naranja' comes from the Persian 'narang' means 'interior perfume'.

Christianity: an orange in the hand of the infant Christ represents fertility and good fortune.

Europe witches: It represents the heart.

China: Still eaten as the symbol of good fortune on the second day of the New Year.

Judaism: In modern Judaism, an orange placed on a seder plate came to symbolize the leadership of Jewish women.

Mangoes are native to eastern India and Burma.

India: Considered as the sacred, representing fertility and good fortune.

Buddhism: Legend has it that the Buddha was given a mango grove in which he could seek to repose. 

Apricots were the symbol of woman's beauty in China, and also the symbol of sexuality. Red apricots symbolize a married woman who has taken a lover and often compared that the stone of apricot is like the eyes of the beautiful woman.

Banana botanical name, Musa Sapientum means 'the fruit of the wise men', was given by a Swedish botanist named Linnaeus who heard Alexander the Great encountered the sage in India who lived entirely on bananas.

Islam: According to Quran and Islamic stories, bananas are the forbidden fruit in paradise.

Buddhism: Banana is the symbol of transient nature, weakness of matter and mental construction.

Hinduism: The symbol of fertility and prosperity due to its tendency to fruit regularly.

Lychee is the small fruit from Southern China, believed by married couple as the best way to express the desire to have children by placing lychees under the bed.

Grapes and vines often appear in Roman art, suggesting wealth and pleasure and associated with Baachus the Roman equivalent of the Greek Dionysus, god of the vine, sexuality, fertility and liberation of passion and expression (huh~ what a long name).

Israelites: Grapes represented the possibility of new life.

Christianity: Grape wine is the symbol of the blood of Christ, and associated with Christ himself on how Christ changed the plain water into a delicious wine with his miracle.

Pomegranates were growing in Mediterranean climates, glistening inside with the juicy red, jewel-like seed. Their name means 'the apple of many seeds'.

Islam: It was one of the gifts of Allah s.w.t in the Quran.

Israelites: It represented the charm of their land and the wisdom of its people.

Egyptian: Pomegranates were left as a food in Egyptian tombs to accompany the dead on their journey.

Greece: A pomegranate is broken on the floor as a symbol of fertility and abundance.

Christianity: A symbol of hope in Christian art.

The fig tree and its many-seeded fruit are the symbol of plenty and fertility, often associated with feminine qualities.

Rome: Romans considered figs lucky or unlucky according to whether they were light or dark.

Christianity: In the Book of Genesis, Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves when they were naked and shamefully aware with their nakedness.

Africa: Kotoko people of Chad connect the fig with childbearing.

MaGi2012

p/s: please correct me if I've been mistaken about the connection between fruits and religions. TQ ^^