Welcome to the Frederick Puzzler's Corner!
This is a monthly event to encourage puzzle solving in the geocaching community, and all are welcome.
May 1st - May-Day is Lei Day.
On May 1st each year, Hawaiians celebrate "Lei Day", first conceived in 1927 by poet Don Blanding. In sharing his idea with a co-worker, the phrase “May Day is Lei Day” became popular, and from there, the Hawaiian song, "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii" was composed by Ruth and Leonard "Red" Hawk.
Lei is defined as a garland, necklace, yoke or wreath intended to be worn, and most commonly consists of fresh natural foliage such as flowers, leaves, vines, fern fronds, and seeds. Other types of lei may include sea or land shells, fish teeth, bones, feathers, or any material that can be strung, braided or bundled. Children and sweethearts are also known as lei.
Reasons for giving leis include love, honor, and friendship for another person. Historically, they were worn by ancient Hawaiians to signify rank or royalty, or as a form of honor to each other and their gods. The lei niho palaoa is a whale tooth, or ivory pendant from a whaleʻs tooth, and a symbol of high rank.
A lei can be open or closed, depending on its purpose. Most are closed, i.e. a complete circle, while open ones - essentially a string or garland - are traditionally only given to women who are pregnant or nursing.
All of the major islands celebrate Lei Day, and each island is symbolized in pagentry by a specific type of lei and a color. Below are the materials and colors associated with each of the eight main islands, showing the island (youngest to oldest), color, and plant (or other material, with latin plant name):
• Hawaiʻi: red, ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
• Maui: pink, lokelani (Rosa damascena)
• Kahoʻolawe: gray or silver, hinahina (Heliotropium anomalum var. argentum)
• Lānaʻi: orange, kaunaʻoa (Cuscuta sandwichiana)
• Oʻahu: yellow or gold, ʻilima (Sida fallax)
• Molokaʻi: green, kukui (Aleurites moluccanus)
• Kauaʻi: purple, mokihana (Melicope anisata)
• Niʻihau: white, pūpū o Niʻihau (Niʻihau shells)
Should you decide to grace someone with a lei, lift it only above the heart and allow the receiver to take it from there. Raising your hands to the head of the receiver and above is a sign of disrespect in the Hawaiian culture.
And now, for the usual spiel…
This event is open to all cachers, no matter what your statistics say or whether you even like puzzles! So newbies and addicts, socialites and lone wolves, mark you calendar.
If you've got a puzzle or mystery cache that's currently got you stumped and you'd like to pick some brains, this event is for you! Zombies are not welcome here though, so please leave your pets at home - we want everyone to leave with the brains they brought, at minimum.
This event has evolved to a think-tank type gathering, with everyone collaborating on the latest tantalizing quizzler on their radar. Occasionally there may be a short tutorial on some aspect of puzzle solving, but the learning seems to come from working with one another to solve a teaser. You don't have to work on puzzles to enjoy this, as there are plenty of stories to be heard. However, you'll have plenty of others to commiserate with, or maybe find someone who has already solved a puzzle using a similar technique. We continue to see successes and progress at each gathering.
For the puzzle junkies, bring your puzzle paraphenalia - cache listings, laptop or tablet (Wi-Fi is available), theories, worksheets, (sp)eye glasses, HTML color code charts, Enigma machine, abacus, scratch paper (don’t forget your writing instrument) - you never know who (or what!) will show up, and what kind of help you might encounter. Maybe you’ve recently cracked a tough one and want to see the wheels spinning while others tackle it - that can be loads of fun! Yes, we have regular head-slapping moments!
If you have a topic you'd like to learn more about, or have a specific puzzle you'd like help with, feel free to make note of it in your Will Attend log.
When & Where:
Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 6pm - 8pm
Wegman's Market Cafe
7830 Worman's Mill Road
Frederick, Maryland
If you also bring your appetite, all costs are your own responsibility.
Field trips not included.
(But it's a good time to plan them!)