HlaMin

Tag: January

  • January 1st

    January 1st

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    New Year

    In most parts of the world, December 31st is celebrated as New Year’s Eve. In the Times Square in New York, many tourists wait for the count down to the New Year.

    January 1st is celebrated as the start of the New Year. For many, it is a holiday.

    Peasants’ Day

    In the early days, Burma celebrated January 1st as Peasants’ Day. It was a holiday.

    The Revolutionary Council staged a Coup D’etat on March 2, 1962. The BSPP government moved Peasants’ Day to March 2nd.

    Birthdays

    Saya U Than Lwin (Eric Lwin, my cousin uncle, GBNF) celebrated his birthday on January 1st.

    Ye Than

    For several years, U Ye Than (Winner Inn, son of my cousin brother Sayagyi U Ba Than) has celebrated his birthday on January 1st with a Soon Kyway.

  • Gatherings — Jan 2018

    Gatherings — Jan 2018

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    There were several gatherings during my visit to Yangon in January, 2018.

    • Mini-gathering hosted by me
    • 69er Monthly Gathering
    • UCC gathering hosted by the Myints
    • 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of ICST and UCSY
    • Lunch gathering hosted by MARB sayas

    Mini-gathering hosted by me

    Host : Me

    During my visits to Myanamar, several friends gave me rides.

    U Win Maung (Lake) gave a ride to three alumni:

    • U Myint Maung (Bu, Volleyball)
    • Ashin Okkantha (Uzin Aung Chaw, Victor) who came down from Sagaing Hills
    • Yours truly

    Since it was short notice, some former classmates could not show up.

    A notable exception was U Win Thein Zaw (“Wai Lu”) who came down from Nay Pyi Taw at the breakfast gathering. His spouse is a cousin of U Win Boh (Robert).

    Standing:

    • U Shwe (Treasurer of the 69er HCF and EE 69er HCF)
    • U Sein Myint (Major donor of the HCFs, RIT Selected for Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo)
    • Ashin Okkantha (Uzin Aung Chaw, Sagaing Hills)
    • U Win Maung (Lake, RIT Selected for Swimming and Water Polo)
    • U Hla Min (Host, also donated to the HCFs)

    Seated :

    • U Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet, Survived a fall from the ceiling)
    • U Win Thein Zaw (Member of Pyithu Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw)
    • U Kyi Win (Kyaw Gyi, former sea farer, yogi)
    • U Myint Maung (Selected for EE Volleyball, One of the youngest 69er, Eligible bachelor)

    Sharing Merits

    • I hosted the mini-gathering.
    • I also donated to the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund) and the EE69ers HCF.
    • Ah Hmya, ah hmya, ah hmya
  • Month — January

    Month — January

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Background

    • It is the first month of the Gregorian Calendar.
    • It is named after Janus, two-faced God to symbolizetwo tasks : bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new year
    • It has 31 days.

    Events

    January 1

    • New Year’s Day (Start of the New Year). For most people, it is a holiday. In most parts of the world, New Year’s Eve is celebrated on 31st December.
    • Annual Soon Kyway at Panditarama (Shwe Taung Gone) by Ye Than (Winner Inn)
    Birthday Soon Kyway by Ye Than
    • Peasant’s Day in the Union of Burma. It was a holiday. It was moved to 2nd March by the Revolutionary Council.
    • Sometimes : Lunar (Chinese) New Year
    • Sometimes : Sar So Daw Nay

    January 4

    • Burma gained Independence on January 4, 1948 at 4:20AM
    • Grapevine : Burma was given a choice: “January 4th or January 6th”
    • In Lighter Vein : A British Official said, “We would have to get up early once on January 4, 1948. The Burmese will have to get up early January 4th of the following years.”
    • Unsolved Mystery : Who chose 4:20AM? Why?

    Third Monday in USA

    • Martin Luther King’s Day

    Birthdays

    • Saya U Than Lwin (Eric Lwin, my cousin uncle, GBNF) celebrated his birthday on January 1st.
    • Dr. Khin Kyi Nyunt (Cherry Tin Gyi, GBNF) and her elder Dr. Khin Tun (Peter Tin U, GBNF) celebrated their birthdays together on or around January 12. They offer requisites to the monks at Chan Myei Yeik Tha.
    Ma Cherry’s 87th Birthday with family and friends (Jan 12, 2018)

    Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948

    U Tin U, Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick San Pe), Dr. Pe Thein (Tom San Pe) and Bobby Tin rowed for RUBC against the Burmese Laung at the Independence Day Regatta.

    Independence Day Regatta in 1948
  • 2017

    2017

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    January 2017

    U Tin Htut

    Donation by Saya U Tin Htut (M60)

    • Saya U Tin Htut donated K10 lakhs to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation on January 3rd, 2017.
    • Saya U Moe Aung accepted the donation.
    • Present at the ceremony were several Executive Committee members of SDYF.
      Photo (L to R) : Sayama Daw Khin Sandar Tun, U Hla Min, U Wynn Htain Oo, Saya U Tin Htut, Saya U Moe Aung (Patron, SDYF), U Myint Pe and U Tin Latt

    September and October 2017

    Sayagyi U Ba Than

    M75
    U Ba Than

    M75

    • M75 paid respect to Sayagyi U Ba Than on September 25, 2017.
    • H.E. U Win Khaing, U Tin Soe, U Than Po, U Hla Win, U Ye Lin Oo, U Zaw Min … attended the birthday celebration ceremony and received blessing from sayagyi.
    • The group handed over garawa birthday gifts of K750000, USD$350 and SGD$300 to sayagyi.

    69ers

    69ers
    • The Class of 69 (mostly M69) paid respect to Sayagyi U Ba Than on October 1, 2017.
    • U Aung Min, U Tin Shein (Chinlon), … attended the birthday celebration ceremony and received blessing from sayagyi.
    • The group handed over garawa birthday gifts that they had collected before and on the monthly breakfast gathering held earlier that day.
    • Sayagyi usually performs dana with the “garawa” money he received for his birthday and for attending the SPZPs and mini-SPZPs.
    • Sayagyi has supported various charitable associations (for the needy, the sick, the blind, the deaf and dumb, old people, “Nar Ye” …).
    • On or around October 2 every year, Sayagyi offered “soon kwyay” at a monastery.
    • Soon kwyay was held on October 2, 2017 at YAW SAYADAW’s monastery . It was attended by sayas, alumni, relatives and friends.